Canon Powershot SD10 Review

The SD10 features a newly developed single focal length 6.4mm f/2.8. (Equivalent to approximately 39mm f/2.8 in 35mm film format.) By using high-diffraction, low-dispersion glass, the lens is made even slimmer. It has a 5.7X digital zoom option. When the camera is powered down the lens is retracted inside of the body and a built in shutter closes to protect the lens.

An advanced TTL AiAF five-point autofocus system permits the camera to automatically select the primary subject even when off-center. Focusing range is 4 inches to infinity in normal mode and macro coverage is 1.2 to 4 inches.

The autofocus is light-assisted and works properly even in the dark. The AF-illuminator also functions as the selftimer indicator.

The built in flash offers Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Reduction and Slow-Synchro modes. 30 cm--2.0 m (1.0--6.6 feet) (When sensitivity is set to AUTO.) The focus-assist lamp also serves as the red-eye reduction lamp.

Absent from the SD10 is any type of optical viewfinder. The 1.5-inch color LCD is used to frame your pictures as well as reviewed captured images and access the menus.

On the top you'll find the Power On/Off button and the Shutter Release button. On the right is the built-in speaker.

Controls on the back are simple and minimal: On top is the Mode Switch with positions for Playback, Movie and Record. The 4-way controller lets you navigate menus and select images during playback. In record mode you press "Up" to zoom-in with the digital zoom, press "Right" to change flash modes, press "Down" to zoom-out (delete images in playback) and press "Left" to enable the selftimer. The SET button accepts menu selections and calls up the Functions menu in record mode. The MENU button calls up and dismisses the menus

See the next page for a description of the Record mode menus.

The AV Out handles monaural audio and the video signal (NTSC or PAL) to connect to your TV set with the supplied cables. The DIGITAL port connects USB 1.1 to the computer for image download, it is plug-n-play with the newer operating systems like Windows XP or Me.

The SD10 is the second Canon Powershot camera to be equipped with a Secure Digital (SD) card slot and comes with a 32MB SD card. It can handle any capacity SD card.

The SD10 comes with a Canon NB-3L 3.7v 790mAh lithium rechargeable battery pack. Canon claims a fully charged battery can record 180 shots with the LCD on or 480 shots with it off and a replay time of approx. 150 minutes.

The supplied 100-240V CB-2LU 2-hour rapid charger (in N. America) plugs directly in the wall socket and charges the battery "out of the camera" which is very handy if you have a second battery (highly recommended.)