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Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Digital Camera

(4 out of 5)

A superb camera with a whopping 20X optical zoom lens, rotating LCD, nice movie mode, and full manual controls.

Review by Jeff Keller | Dec 10, 2008 | + Share

When a 12X or even 15X zoom lens just isn't enough, Canon offers their new PowerShot SX10 IS. It offers a whopping 20X zoom lens (with a really nice 28 - 560 mm range), along with a 10 Megapixel CCD, full manual controls, hot shoe, rotating LCD display, and VGA movie mode. Photo quality is generally very good, as long as you don't let the ISO wander too high (most notably in low light situations). Most of my complaints fit into the "well, it would be nice if it had..." category. I wish it had an HD movie mode, a larger LCD, and RAW support. But, taken as it comes, the PowerShot SX10 is a very good choice for those looking for a super zoom camera.

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Pros	Cons
Very good photo quality (in good light) Whopping 20X optical zoom lens, with a 28 - 560 mm range Optical image stabilization Generally snappy performance Flip-out, rotating 2.5" LCD display Full manual controls, with plenty of scene modes too Hot shoe for external flash Customizable menu, button, and spot on mode dial Great movie mode allows for up to 45 mins of continuous recording at 640 x 480 (30 fps) with stereo sound, optical zoom and image stabilizer use Super macro mode lets you be 0 cm away from your subject Redeye (usually) not a problem thanks to automatic removal tool Good face detection (with subject tracking) and handy face self-timer features Elaborate playback mode Best-in-class battery life -- uses AA batteries	Noise reduction visible at ISO 80 -- noticeable detail loss above ISO 200 in low light, ISO 400 in good light Occasional purple fringing Low light focusing could be better Doesn't support filters and conversion lenses like its predecessor Easy to block AF-assist lamp with fingers -- scroll wheel movement seems inconsistent I wish it had: HD movie mode, RAW image support, larger LCD Petty stuff: No bundled memory card, no lens cap retaining strap

Pros

Cons

Very good photo quality (in good light)
Whopping 20X optical zoom lens, with a 28 - 560 mm range
Optical image stabilization
Generally snappy performance
Flip-out, rotating 2.5" LCD display
Full manual controls, with plenty of scene modes too
Hot shoe for external flash
Customizable menu, button, and spot on mode dial
Great movie mode allows for up to 45 mins of continuous recording at 640 x 480 (30 fps) with stereo sound, optical zoom and image stabilizer use
Super macro mode lets you be 0 cm away from your subject
Redeye (usually) not a problem thanks to automatic removal tool
Good face detection (with subject tracking) and handy face self-timer features
Elaborate playback mode
Best-in-class battery life -- uses AA batteries

Noise reduction visible at ISO 80 -- noticeable detail loss above ISO 200 in low light, ISO 400 in good light
Occasional purple fringing
Low light focusing could be better
Doesn't support filters and conversion lenses like its predecessor
Easy to block AF-assist lamp with fingers -- scroll wheel movement seems inconsistent
I wish it had: HD movie mode, RAW image support, larger LCD
Petty stuff: No bundled memory card, no lens cap retaining strap