Canon PowerShot G10

canon-g10 Last update 08 July’09 – Review and Sample Photos @ Photocrati

Canon PowerShot G10 is an optically image stabilized 14.7 Megapixel CCD sensor digital camera and succeeds the PowerShot G9. G10 features a 5x optical zoom (35mm film equivalent: 28-140mm), DIGIC 4 for better Face Detection, RAW, an ISO range from 80 to 1600, and a 3.0-inch TFT color LCD. Camera dimensions are 4.30 x 3.06 x 1.81 in./109.1 x 77.7 x 45.9mm and weighs Approx. 12.3 oz./350g.

Overall Rating: 16 votes, average: 3.88 out of 5

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Review Index – (updated 08 July’09)

Photocrati
“All in all, the Canon G10 will not replace my DSLR, but there is a reason to own one. I’d certainly use it in the capacity that it’s being used by many pros, namely to shoot background elements that they can incorporate into complex digital composite images.

Verdict: Buy it. It’s easy to carry and will always come in handy. Besides, there’s nothing better out there in this genre–at the moment, at least.”
Not Rated

Technoligizer
“Most of the pocket digital cameras I’ve tried are small–around the size of a pack of cigarettes–and lightweight. At 14 ounces (with the battery), the G10’s bulky and heavy. Yeah, I know, there’s lot packed into the camera, but putting it in perspective, it’s a little shy of a pound. My Nikon SLR is a pound and a half.”
Not Rated

Steve Huff Photos
“After it was all said and done though, I do prefer my little Leica D-Lux 4 to the Canon G10. That is most likely because I am used to that camera. Main problem with the G10 is its low light capability. Mainly, the slower lens. If it has a fast F2 lens and a little bit better high ISO performance it would be THE best compact on the market.”
Not Rated

OutBackPhoto
“If the ZS3 would allow RAW and more manual control it would come close to the camera we are looking for. The main issue with the G10 is just size and weight. I would say if you plan to own only one camera the G10 has lot going for it. If you look for a smaller pocketable camera the ZS3 could be your choice.”
Not Rated

PCW
“Just as with previous models in the Powershot G-series, image quality is superb. The G10 uses the same 1/1.7in CCD as the G9, but it’s the first Powershot to use Canon’s Digic 4 image processor, which allows for faster operation and better shots. Some chromatic aberrations were apparent in high-contrast scenes, but on the whole it’s hard to fault the G10 – our test shots were superbly detailed.”
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PhotographyReview
“Personally I think the G10 and Ricoh GX200 are the finest fully featured compacts currently on the market (and there are MANY), but the G10 has the best build and operating speed. In fact, the G10 may very well be the best built compact of this decade.”
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LetsGoDigital
“The Canon G10 performs at its best at low ISO values. However, in reality, it is not always possible to use these. And that is the weak area that needs improvement in order to become the ‘perfect’ compact camera. The Canon PowerShot G10 is recommendable without doubt, although you have to keep in mind that it is not applicable everywhere like a popular DSLR camera would be.”
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DPExpert
“If we were in the market for a compact camera to supplement the DSLR we would be torn between the G10 and the Panasonic LX3. The LX3 is daintier and has fewer pixels, which we like. It has an outstanding Leica-branded lens that doesn’t have quite the range of the Canon. Image quality is excellent. But we like the look of the G10 and will always prefer a camera with an optical viewfinder. And the brilliant ergonomics would probably win us over.”
Not Rated

RegHardware
“Performance-wise, we were very pleased with the results. Resolution is sharp, colours are rich and, despite over-dosing on pixels – noise levels are low, provided you stick to the lower – 200 and under – ISO settings. In short, you can get some stunning images with the G10.”
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CPN
“Out of the box, AF response and subsequent delay on shutter release can seem a little slow. Fortunately, this is down to the default settings. For a quick fix, go into the menu and set AF Frame to Flexizone, then choose the centre AF point. Immediately the camera becomes responsive and shutter delay becomes user friendly.”
Not Rated

InfoSync
“In bright light, we found the dynamic range to be broad enough to accommodate highly contrasted portions of the frame, though there were moments when we were forced to shift positions depending on the light source. In all of our testing we stumbled across a modicum of blown out white levels, though at full resolution we could detect some purple fringing along certain borders.”
Rating:

ImagingResource
“Optical quality is quite good, especially considering the extremely high 14.7-megapixel resolution, with only moderate softening in the corners. Image quality is also impressive, with good color control and low noise at most ISO settings, exemplified by the ISO 800 shots that are usable printed at 11×14.”
Not Rated

CrunchGear
“It is, however, one of the best point and shoots I’ve ever tested and that says a lot considering my righteous anger towards the point and shoot market.”
Not Rated

PhotoInduced
“Here is our only concern- the weight of this camera is way too much to make it the one you want to toss in your jacket. Maybe a bag or for the women, your purse, but at 13 oz. it is a solid brick of a camera. The lens does retract fully, so the profile is trimmed, and the grip is subtle enough.”
Not Rated

PCWorld
“Overall, the Canon PowerShot G10 was a pleasure to use, but I wish the company had focused more on noise control instead of just cramming in more megapixels. I loved carrying this sturdy camera around and I appreciated its highly useful dials, but for the money you can easily find better overall performers.”
Rating:

Steves Digicams
“This compact powerhouse produces sharp images that show pleasing exposure, vivid colors, and nice contrast. The camera even did well on a very overcast snowy day, where there wasn’t much outdoor light to be found.”
Not Rated

GoodGearGuide
“It excels in low-light environments and it’s also ideal for macro shooting. At its widest point the G10 will focus as close as 1cm away from your subject and will render the background with a beautiful bokeh effect.”
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Trusted Reviews
“The Canon PowerShot G10 is still going to be the benchmark by which all other high-spec compacts are measured, but it’s no longer the top dog. It is beaten on picture quality and portability by the smaller, lighter and slightly cheaper Panasonic LX3, and is beaten badly on value for money by most entry-level DSLRs.”
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Cameras.co.uk
“I am struggling to think of a more impressive compact digital camera than the Powershot G10. It is simply the best. Yes the price tag is high, but you pay for great picture quality, build quality and set of features.”
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AIRC
“Based on combined results based on color depth, dynamic range, and low-light ISO performance, the Canon G10’s image quality is rated 37.8 (out of a possible 100).”
Not Rated

Popular Science (Compared to the Panasonic G1 and Olympus E-420)
“Canon’s G10 aced bright outdoor settings and also produced stunning nighttime photographs using its built-in flash. But with low light and no flash, it was virtually useless.”
Not Rated

Digital Trends
“This digicam is slow when it comes to saving images and the burst mode is paltry when compared to any D-SLR. And digital noise is a problem for the device.”
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DPReview
“The G10 leaves that lingering question. Just how good could this camera have been, had Canon taken a more conservative approach to resolution and put as much effort into optimising image quality as it did into making such an impressive camera body?”
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DCResource
“Photo quality is a mixed bag. If you keep the ISO low and stay in good lighting, you’ll get really nice results from the G10. Photos are well-exposed, with nice, vivid colors. Images have just the right amount of sharpness, and minimal purple fringing.”
Not Rated

TheOnlinePhotographer
“And, contrary to my October remarks, in the final analysis I did find the G10’s incremental improvements over the G9 to be worth the investment. The G10 is now my main carry-around camera.”
Not Rated

PhotoReview
“The built-in image stabiliser allowed us to use shutter speeds as slow as 1/8 second without blurring close-up shots. Auto exposure performance was consistently good with most subject types and we encountered very few problems with backlit subjects when using normal shooting strategies.”
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CNET Asia
“Now for the million-dollar question: How does the G10’s image quality compare with the LX3? Personally, we prefer the LX3’s image quality even though it has a softer feel compared with the G10’s.”
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Camera Labs
“It’s built like a brick yet comfortable to use, boasts full manual control along with a flash hotshoe and RAW recording, has an excellent looking screen, a flexible zoom range with wide angle capabilities and decent stabilization, and the potential to deliver images packed with detail – again so long as you stick to the lowest sensitivities and largest apertures.”
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CNET.co.uk
“We love the Canon Powershot G10: it looks and feels like a serious camera should, yet makes operation easy with a selection of controls that aren’t as intimidating as they may initially appear.”
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ByThom
“If you need pixels, you need the Canon, hands down. If you need the fast, wide, defect-free lens, you need the Panasonic. You don’t need the Coolpix.”
Not Rated

Digital Camera Review
“In our view, its new control arrangement, impressive dynamic range for its resolution, and improved raw shooting and in-camera JPEG processing make the G10 the most high-function PowerShot yet for serious photographers.”
Not Rated

Photography Blog (Compared to Nikon P6000)
“The Nikon Coolpix P6000 is a good camera, but the Canon PowerShot G10 is better – it’s as simple as that.”
Not Rated

Luminous-Landscape (Compared to Nikon P6000)
“I can wholeheartedly recommend the Canon Powershot G10 to anyone looking for a high quality coat pocket-sized digital camera with raw capability.”
Not Rated

Ken Rockwell
“The G10 is the best compact digital camera I’ve ever used. The gotcha words are “digital” and “compact.” Maddeningly, like all other compact (non-interchangable lens) cameras, the G10 still takes too darn long to adjust or change anything. Forget the G10 for moving subjects.”
Not Rated

PhotographyBlog
“The G10 is undoubtedly the best ever Canon G-Series camera, and is a serious alternative to both an entry-level DSLR and other similar compacts. It ultimately fails to gain our whole-hearted recommendation, however, principally because of the noisy images at slow ISO speeds, and the rather prohibitive price-tag”
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CNET
“Mixed performance–not bad, just not as fast as it should be for the price–brings down its overall rating. And even if the Canon PowerShot G10 eventually turns out to not be best-in-class for whatever reason, it’s still a great camera.”
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Luminous-Landscape
“At one point I found myself looking at raw files on-screen and not being sure if I was looking at Hasselblad P45+ files or Canon G10 files. That includes at 100% onscreen enlargements.”
Not Rated

ePhotozine
“It’s a worthy successor to what is arguably the most popular DSLR back up camera. The addition of the bracketing dial on the top plate will help with quicker, more varied exposures as well as HDR fans.”
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60hzproductions
“The camera has evolved and been refined with each new release. Most welcome additions in my book are the 28mm wide angle lens, the improved grip, the new exposure compensation dial, and servo AF.”
Not Rated

The Online Photographer
“Canon has now demonstrated that a small camera with a small sensor can provide the ergonomics, speed, flexibility, and image quality that would please most serious photographers.”
Not Rated