Canon’s PowerShot G10 digital camera looks very similar to its direct predecessor, the PowerShot G9. However, the G10 is slightly larger and the handgrip, optical viewfinder, and right hand control dial have been redesigned. Keep reading for a full Canon PowerShot G10 review.

One of the best changes to the Canon PowerShot is that the lower dial now controls ISO sensitivity, which is much more user-friendly than having to scroll through menu after menu to adjust ISO settings as you have to do with many similar cameras. This mid-sized camera usually retails below $500.

There aren’t many changes on the inside of the G10, except that resolution has been bumped up to 14.7 megapixels from 12.1 on the G9. The DIGIC processor has also been upgraded to a DIGIC 4 type that allows for autofocus tracking. A little has been lost with the zoom lens though, as it has dropped from a 6x optical zoom on the G9 to a 5x zoom in the PowerShot G10. This shouldn’t limit you for most uses as the G10 employs a 28mm wide angle rather than the restricting 35mm wide angle on the G9. Another nice change is that the LCD display on the G10 now boasts 461,000 dot resolution, up from 230,000 on the G9. ISO range is unchanged at ISO 100 to a maximum of ISO 1600, with a possible 3200 in a special high sensitivity scene mode.

The Canon PowerShot G10 includes fairly standard exposure modes: program, aperture- or shutter- priority, and fully manual. The G10 also comes with a total of eighteen scene modes, such as portrait and landscape. These scene modes will automatically set the aperture and shutter speed for whatever shooting situation you find yourself in. Something else that should help you in whatever situation you’re in is the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has a capacity of 1000 shots per charge in optical viewfinder mode. In LCD monitor mode, however, you only get 400 shots per charge. You should plan on buying a backup battery to charge and have on hand for extended outings.

The zoom ratio of the Canon PowerShot G10 is slightly more than most consumer digital cameras at the equivalent of 28-140mm on a 35mm camera. The G10 produces good images at wide-angle with minimal blurring or distortion, though some minor flare is noticeable around brighter areas in a scene. At full telephoto, details become a bit softer. The G10’s 4x digital zoom does a good job preserving fine detail.

Using the macro setting on the G10 results in images with excellent detail and resolution, though there’s quite a bit of softening in the corners from the lens as well as some chromatic aberration. The exposure in the macro setting is actually quite uneven because the flash is blocked by the lens when shooting as close as macro requires. It is best to use an external light source for very close macro shots with the G10.

Images taken by the PowerShot G10 have very good color saturation overall with only slight over-saturation in reds and blues. Color in images taken by the G10 appear to have natural looking color without looking dull or subdued or extra intense as is the case with most consumer digital cameras. While the Canon G10’s skin tones have a slightly reddish cast, this shouldn’t be a problem or even noticeable for most people. Color balance indoors under incandescent lighting was a little warm with the auto settings on the G10, but the camera does better with white balance than most digital cameras. Overall, the G10 produces very sharp and detailed images, with little noise up to ISO 400. Noise creeps in at higher settings with a pronounced increase in noise at ISO 1600 which greatly interferes with detail and color. The Canon G10 does not have an adjustable noise reduction setting.

Recommended: Yes

Canon PowerShot G10 Features

- 14.7 Megapixels with Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer

- 28mm wide-angle lens gets you up close and personal to your subjects as well as captures more in your frame

- New DIGIC 4 Image Processor improves Face Detection, adds Servo AF, Face

- Detection Self-Timer and Intelligent Contrast Correction for greater flexibility

- Full range of shooting and recording modes including RAW + JPEG for the ultimate creative control

- 3.0-inch PureColor LCD II (460,000 dots/VGA) with even greater true-to-life color reproduction

- A wealth of accessories including optional Speedlite flashes, an underwater housing and a teleconverter lens

- Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading

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