PowerShot S10 User Review

This is the Setup Screen, the choices should be obvious

First part of the Record Menu:

• Resolution (L) 1600x1200, (M) 1280x960 or (S) 800x600
• Compression (S) Super-Fine, (F) Fine or (N) Normal
• Gain (ISO boost) see below
• Digital Zoom On/Off
• Review On/Off
• File number reset

Two more items from the Record menu when you scroll down

• Contrast adjustment: - (low), 0 (normal), + (high)
• Sharpness adjustment: - (low), 0 (normal), + (high)

Here's the Record menu showing the options for boosting the ISO speed which is: 0 (100), +1.0 (200) and +2.0 (400)

Onscreen slider control for EV compensation during Record mode. It is settable for +/- 2.0 in 1/3-step increments.

Onscreen sliding menu bar for the White Balance settings:

• Automatic
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Tungsten
• Flourescent

On the left is all of the current settings for the other Record mode options. On the right is the current zoom lens setting.

This is the Image Mode menu which is more or less like a Programmed AE mode. Settings for Landscape, Fast Shutter, Slow Shutter, Night Scene and B&W.

This is the Play mode menu with options to Delete single frames, Erase the entire card, Protect selected images, Rotate (super handy for TV playback!) portrait mode shots to landscape, Slide show playback and DPOF print order information.

The S10 can display 9 small thumbnails to allow you to quickly select and playback full-screen the desired image.

This is a typical playback screen with all of the onscreen info being displayed. Toggle this info display with the Display button next to the LCD.

Steve's Conclusion

Seems like everyone these days is touting their digicam as "the world's smallest" in its respective image resolution category.  Canon is no different, they have already proclaimed their new PowerShot S10 as the world's smallest 2-megapixel with a 2X optical zoom lens.

Does "size" really matter?  You bet it does!  The S10 easily slips into your pocket and goes wherever you go. And it's ready in just seconds to snap the biggest 1600x1200-pixel JPG file of all the current 2-megapixel digicams. The S10 has a "Super-Fine" high quality mode that uses very little JPEG compression and yields files that range in size from 1.2-2MB. It does not have an uncompressed mode but who needs it -- those Super-Fine JPEG images print gorgeous 8x10-inch prints, and even larger.

As with all of Canon's super-compact digicams, the S10 is housed in an all-metal and highly durable aluminum body. When the lens is retracted into the body it is protected by an automatic-closing lens cover that never gets lost. I would not be afraid to toss the S10 into a suitcase or duffle bag and then turn it over to the baggage handlers (gorillas) at the airport. This camera should be called a Timex because it will certainly take a licking and keep on clicking!

This shiny, little marvel is packed with high-tech goodies like a 2.11-megapixel CCD imager, a 2X optical (35-70mm) zoom lens that exhibits little to no barrel distortion and a light-assisted autofocus system that works even in total darkness.   As with a lot of the newer cameras, it features adjustable ISO (100-400) speed. There's a USB port for fast image downloads and very robust image processing firmware that processes and stores even the largest images in seconds. Attracting a lot of interest is the CompactFlash Type II slot that allows the S10 to use standard CF cards or the newer CF/2 devices.

I thought the one-use 2CR5 lithium batteries got eaten up a little too fast, even when being conservative with the LCD useage.   I highly recommend buying the optional DK110 power kit with the NiMH rechargable battery and rapid charger. Our landfills are full enough of one-use batteries as it is and it's only a one-time expense of $100 for a battery that can be recharged hundreds of times!

There's a near flawless fully automatic mode and a manual mode where the user can adjust EV compensation, white balance, image quality (gain, contrast and sharpness), flash modes or shoot in continuous mode. And then there's the Image Mode with its presets for Landscape (stitching), Fast Shutter (action shots), Slow Shutter (intentional blurring), Night Scene (subjects against dark backgrounds) or Black & White mode.

The Landscape mode features "Stitch Assist" where the user is prompted with overlays on the LCD to build a perfect panorama shot easily. Combine the Stitch Assist mode with the supplied PhotoStitch 3.0 software and you can quickly build a high-quality panorama shot like this one of my office.   I am no panorama expert but it only took me about ten minutes to create this spectacular shot!

Onscreen view of Stitch Assist mode

The S10 has got a fairly large internal RAM buffer and you can shoot pictures as fast as you press the shutter (without using the flash or the LCD.) Shutter lag time is almost nonexistent if you have prefocused on your subject. The instant you press the shutter all the way down it snaps the picture, the delay isn't zero but it is very fast. Put the S10 into continuous mode and you can push the shutter down and hold it there and it will capture at the speed of 1.7fps with the LCD off. It will slow down once the buffer is full but it is more than ample for most people's needs.

For a pocket camera the S10 has a very respectable macro mode. You can capture extremely detailed closeups of objects as close as 4.7 inches from the camera. For exact exposure control you can select between the default center-weighted metering or a spot metering option. There is a Review feature like the one on the Pro 70 that lets you see the last picture taken on the LCD as long as you keep the shutter button pressed.

For the ultimate in image storage you can pop an IBM Microdrive in the CompactFlash Type II slot and shoot pictures until the cows come home!   I won't lie to you, the Microdrive does pull on the S10's battery but if you keep the LCD off you can put a LOT of shots on the Microdrive before the battery goes dead.

All things considered this is one great camera. It's everything the A50 is plus twice the resolution and even faster image processing. I'm no real fan of small cameras but the S10 is a very durable camera that performs better than other cameras three times its size. And at a price of only $699 I see it flying off the dealer's shelfs and landing in a lot of stockings this Christmas.

Canon S10/Microdrive Compatibility Update

Thanks to Timothy Robeck at IBM's Technical Support Center for letting me know that Canon has posted the S10 firmware upgrade on the BeBit site for English users.

S10 users with Microdrives please be sure to read all of the information posted at the above site BEFORE attempting the firmware upgrade or you risk turning your camera into a door stop -- enough said?