Canon PowerShot D10 Review
Ted Kritsonis
waterproof camera
It's not really all that elegant and stylish, but Canon's PowerShot D10 is still somewhat ruggedly refined. It's bulky enough to withstand at least some punishment up to a 4 ft. drop. It's a waterproof camera up to 33 ft. and can stay out in the cold down to 14-degrees.
Point-and-shoot digital cameras are increasingly being made to function in all kinds of situations involving nature. It isn't enough to just pose for photos when you can be adventurous and snap some pics when out in the elements. The PowerShot D10 is bulky to the point where it might be a turn-off for those looking for something durable in a smaller frame. Still, it feels tough in your hands, and it manages to take some great photos.
The basics are a 12.1-megapixel image sensor, 3x optical zoom with image stabilization in the lens. Face Detection is somewhat enhanced in that you can shooting a person, even when he or she is moving. In cases where you snap a photo of people who have their eyes closed, a Blink Detector will flash on the 2.5" LCD screen to point it out for you. Even more impressive is that up to 35 different faces can be detected on the screen, and the camera's sensor can adjust the focus, exposure and flash accordingly. There is also a timer for self-portraits or group shots. You just press the shutter button and then two seconds after you walk into the frame, the D10 should recognize your face and snap the shot.
Under the Auto setting, the D10 chooses the ideal shooting mode based on 18 different presets. It's generally accurate, but there are times where it misses the mark. If you're looking to take the D10 for a couple hours of snorkeling, your best bet is to just choose the underwater shooting mode to begin with. Once you get the camera underwater, you will find that it does a good job of capturing detailed images. Colours are vibrant and the camera has no problem focusing on a subject. Sunlight helps though, as without that shining through the water, the D10 might struggle a little more.
Even outside the water, whether it be at the beach or on a hike somewhere, the D10 is consistently good at capturing images in vibrant detail. The menu system is pretty standard for Canon cameras, so if you've used one before, you probably won't have any problem adjusting. The good thing is that the LCD screen is bright, even underwater, so it becomes a little easier to navigate through the menu and playback images.
One of the interesting elements the D10's body has lies in the four corners where you can choose where you want the wrist strap to go. It's a little thing, but considering where you might use the camera, it's a convenient little perk.
Overall, the bulky form factor might not make the PowerShot D10 the prettiest of cameras, but that's partly the point. The rugged and durable design is made for tough and challenging situations in the elements, of which it performs really well under those circumstances. It's reasonably priced at $329.99, so if you're looking for something that might fit your summer plans, then the D10 could work for you.