Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon PowerShot D10 12.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD

I am a strong believer that the best pictures are taken by a camera that you have on your person at the time. For this reason I am a big fan of Nokia cell phones because I always have a decent camera with me. As long as the image quality is acceptable, it is more important that you have the camera on your person then anything. While a good cell camera is great, because you always have your phone with you, the Canon D10 takes this a step further. With the D10 you need not worry about the camera getting damaged, so you can take it anywhere and I mean anywhere. It is the ultimate adventure camera, as it is waterproof, shockproof, freeze proof and well just all around life proof. If you have an active life and you want pictures of it, then this is the camera for you. A camera for an active life. The photo quality while not the best in the world is more then adequate, the camera is fast and it is easy to use. If you need the best pictures then get a DSLR, if you want a camera that is ready to take pictures any time and any place get the Canon D10. I also recommend a cell phone with a decent camera, as you will always have your phone.(except in the water, snow, etc.... where the D10 is perfect)

This camera is nearly perfect though I could see a few improvements for the next version.
HD zoom video with auto focus and a GPS receiver for geotagging would put this camera over the top.

My only complaints are that the shutter button needs to be pushed in about a millimeter to far for the focus detent and picture. I also wish the optional AC adapter could charge the battery in the camera, as I do not like taking the battery out to charge it.(Afraid I am gonna break a nail or the waterproof door which is hard to get open and for good reason) Canon might consider making the battery a higher capacity built in battery like Apple has done with the macbooks, then have just one door to access the SD card, usb, charging port.

This camera takes phenomenal photos under ANY circumstance and has no glaring flaws. If you have an active life style and need a camera that can keep up, look no further.

*update*
OK I have an update, this camera is great!
I was at the Waipio Valley beech in Hawaii when this camera really got put to the test. My buddy lost the camera in the surf!(why he was not wearing the wrist band, I don't know!?!?) The camera spent 10 minutes underwater in the big waves pounding against rocks and sand on the beech. Our entire group of friends rushed into the water to look for it and amazingly we found it! It has been beat up and scratched pretty good, but still works great. There is not a scratch on the lens, so it must be well protected. I can't think of a more brutal test for the camera and it came through(and back) amazingly. So there you have it. I will try freezing it during the ski season.

I fully agree with the great reviews presented here -- it's a great camera for all the camera functionality you are looking for. But what about the shock-proof and water-proof aspects?

My daughter and I have had four trips recently where the D10 got its workout in the water. While we never took it deeper than 12 feet, it performed flawlessly, and I was most impressed with the automatic color correction in the water -- those typical blue and green casts were barely there -- and I wasn't even in the "underwater mode".

For the shock-proof feature, we dropped it onto concrete from five feet (not on purpose!). It landed on the lens housing first; there is a tiny little scratch there. Other than that, there is no evidence it was ever dropped. All the functionality is still there, and the pictures look great. Shock-proof test: passed.

I was initially a bit disappointed that there was no lens cap or automatic lens cover. I can understand about the automatic cover posing problems for the waterproof feature, and I know that I would not like having to deal with a physical lens cap. However, with a lot of real use, I actually like it the way it is. The scratch-proof lens is quite recessed in the lens housing, so I don't know how I'd ever damage it.

The other thing I wish the camera had was a RAW mode. As of the time of this writing, CHDK (Google it) doesn't have the D10 version available yet, but I guess it won't be too long. (I use CHDK on my other two Canon Powershot cameras.)

One final (minor) disappointment was the absence of GPS capability built in. I guess I'll have to keep using my current manual merge approach (whose inconvenience limits my desire to actually map the images).

One thing that appeared to be quirky at first, but I absolutely love now, is the wrist-strap attachment design. The attachment is a quick-disconnect design, and it can connect to any of the four corners of the camera. At a recent trip to an amusement park, I loop-locked the strap around my belt and put the camera in my pocket. I had no fear about going on any of the roller coaster rides -- the camera was safe. When I wanted to take a picture, I'd just pull it out of my pocket, release the quick-disconnect, and use the camera.

Overall a great camera, and well worth the lengthy pre-order wait.

I bought this camera as a vacation companion to my DSLR. During a recent vacation to the beach, the D10 exceeded my expectations. I had previously used an Olympus waterproof camera and was disappointed with its usability and image quality. I had no such qualms with the D10.

The image quality on the D10 is excellent, especially when used during the magic light hours after sunrise and before sunset. Even during the middle of the afternoon with harsh sunlight, I was able to get acceptable images. Like most point and shoots, the D10 does struggle indoors in low-light.

The focusing system is quick and usually put the focus in the right location. The close focus is excellent and allowed me to get close-ups I couldn't get with my DSLR (as I don't have a macro lens yet). The OPTICAL image stabilization system really helped steady my shots while hunched down in the sand.

One of the frustrations I had had with my Olympus was my difficulty seeing the screen in the bright sun with my sunglasses on or when I was underwater. In the same situations, the D10 had no such frustrations. I was able to see the screen in landscape and portrait orientations, even with polarized sunglasses on.

The startup on the camera is pretty quick (not as quick as a DSLR, but great for a P&S). Menu layouts are very easy to read and navigate. I went most of the week before I had to charge the battery.

Some things I don't like:
(1) size - the D10 is larger/more bulbous than most point and shoots; cargo pockets did fine, but otherwise this is no pocket camera.
(2) manual control - perhaps not practical on a P&S like this, but I would like it none-the-less
(3) RAW - another pipe dream
(4) High ISO ability - I wouldn't take the camera over 400 ISO unless you really, really needed to get the shot

Overall in all, this is a great P&S camera that happens to be waterproof and shockproof. Canon didn't use durability as an excuse to skimp on features.

INTRO
I had just purchased an amazing Olympus Stylus 1010 (7x optical zoom was amazing) a few months back and was very pleased. However, it met its demise at a bachelor party while driving a boat on lake. Long story short, the boat was not going fast enough, the wake was too great, and the boat began to sink and water flooded the front of the boat where my backpack was sitting. A zip lock bag MAY have saved my camera (but who does this?), but others had said on Amazon that this Olympus was no where close to weatherproof like it's predecessors. The Olympus was ruined, and a new search was initiated the very next day.

THE SEARCH
I would feel much better with a new camera that could withstand small accidents AND potentially water based activities. I usually go to boat parties, float the river, and occasionally DJ pool parties so water is a part of my lifestyle. Even at bars/clubs, taking pictures around inebriated people can often involve spillage around my camera. There were only a few cameras that could offer me peace of mind.
I narrowed it down to the Fuji WP Z33, Olympus 6000/8000 Stylus Tough Series, and the new Canon D10 (blue submarine). The Fuji was nice, took great pics outdoors, was water proof to 3M BUT had a lot of noise when taking pics indoors. Score: Average The Stylus took absolutely horrible pics whether it was indoors or outdoors. Score: Poor The Canon both took excellent pics indoors and outdoors and also was built like a tank. Score: Above Average Of the three, the Canon was an obvious choice.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
The Canon is new so it will be pricy ($300+). Also, because it is built like a tank, it is bulky and will feel like a tank in your jeans and khakis. It feels most comfortable when wearing shorts with large pockets. Last but not least, it's difficult to hold due to it's slippery rounded design, and when you attach the wrist cord...it's even MORE bulky. Oh yes...only 3x optical zoom...although this is typical of a waterproof camera.

CONCLUSION
If you are okay with size and price tag, then this camera is an exceptional option. And the best part is you can wash it off in the sink (or sink the boat like I did) and it'll perform as if you bought it yesterday.

Good luck to all with their camera searches... (check Steve's Digicam Reviews on the web for an expert's opinion)

one of the things that I did not see anyone talk about in reviews was the video mode for underwater use. It was a nice surprise for me when I got this camera to Maui and found that it takes really nice video! I posted a couple of shots that I took, but could not post videos... but I did want to post a review that highlighted this feature!

Really nice camera, above water and below. No, there is no lens cap, but I keep mine in a case when not in use!