Canon Powershot A10 Review

HOME Camera-Reviews Canon Powershot A10 Canon Powershot A10 Review
Jump to Page:

By: Steve's Digicams

Review posted 5/3/01

Click to take a QTVR tour of the A10

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is providing consumers with a fun and affordable way to experience digital photography with the introduction of the $499 PowerShot A10 digital camera. The PowerShot A10 has a 1.3-megapixel CCD with a newly developed 3x 35-105mm optical zoom lens and offers features and image quality normally found only in more expensive models. Features such as a primary color filter and adaptive signal processing for maximum image quality, high-precision auto white balance, exposure sensitivity automatically set according to brightness, three point AiAF autofocusing system for precise and simple focusing, shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/1500 second and a built-in flash with slow-sync functions for creative photography in low light.

A new digital signal processing IC in the PowerShot A10 camera enables high-speed image processing and rapid data transfer through the cameras' USB interface. The PowerShot A10 takes advantage of this feature by offering a Direct Print mode that enables users to print hard-copy images using Canon's new CP-10 printer. The CP-10 makes printing from digital files simple and fun by allowing users to control all print settings directly from the camera's LCD monitor. Printer data is then transferred to the CP-10 directly through a dedicated interface cable.

Bundled with a comprehensive suite of programs enabling image management, editing, compositing and printing, the PowerShot A10 and A20 come with Apple QuickTime 4.1, Canon RemoteCapture 1.3, and PhotoStitch 3.1 for both Macintosh and Windows, as well as Canon ZoomBrowser EX 2.6, PhotoRecord 1.2 and WIA and TWAIN drivers for Windows, plus ImageBrowser 1.6 and a Photoshop-compatible plug-in for the Mac. Features integrated in both ZoomBrowser EX 2.6 and ImageBrowser 1.6 include TimeTunnel and SlideShowMaker. When using ZoomBrowser EX 2.6 or ImageBrowser 1.6, users can take advantage of new and improved features for auto layout printing, self-running full-screen slide shows, and automated preparation of images for use as e-mail attachments.

Canon will be offering its own WP-DC100 underwater case for the A10 and A20 that's good for depths of up to 30 meters or to protect it for use in the rain or at the beach.

The CP-10 Card Printer makes printing from digital files simple and fun by allowing users to control all print settings directly from the camera's LCD monitor. Printer data is then transferred to the CP-10 directly through a dedicated interface cable. The new, ultra-compact printer produces beautiful, 300 x 300 dpi credit card-sized (4.3 x 2.1 inches) color prints in as little as 56 seconds.

Click here to see our Canon CP-10 Card Printer review for more details.

Physical Views

The very compact Canon PowerShot A10 and the pocket-sized Fujifilm 6800 Zoom for size comparison.

Continue on to
Page Two

PowerShot A10 Specifications

Image Sensor Device

Approx. 1.32 million-pixel (total). 1/2.7 in. CCD (effective pixels: approx. 1.25 million)

Lens

5.4 (Wide angle) - 16.2 (Telephoto) mm (35 mm film equivalent: 35 - 105 mm)
f 2.8 (Wide angle) - 4.8 (Telephoto)

Digital Zoom

Maximum 2.0x (Maximum 6x with optical zoom)

Optical Viewfinder

Real-image optical zoom viewfinder, approx. 80% coverage.

LCD monitor

1.5-inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, 117,600 effective pixels

Autofocus

TTL 3 point AiAF

Optical Construction

9 elements in 7 groups (all glass design); one aspherical element.

Focusing Range
(from tip of the lens barrel)

Normal	76 cm (2.5 ft.) - infinity
Macro	16 - 76 cm (6.3 in. - 2.5 ft.)(Wide angle) 26 - 76 cm (10.2 in. - 2.5 ft.)(Telephoto)

Shutter

Mechanical + electronic

Shutter Speed

1 - 1/1500 sec.
* 1 sec. in manual mode with the flash off or in slow synchro mode.
* Noise reduction processing on speeds slower than 1/6 sec.

Sensitivity

ISO 100 equivalent (automatically raised to ISO 150 in low light)

Light Metering Method

Evaluative metering (linked to focusing point)

Exposure Control

Program AE; Exposure is locked once focusing is complete.

Exposure Compensation

+/-2 stops in 1/3-step increments. (Manual mode only.)

White Balance

TTL Auto / Pre-set (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent) / Black & White

Flash

Red-eye reduction Auto / Auto / On / Off

Flash Range

Normal Mode	76 cm - 4.2 m (2.5 - 13.8 ft.) (Wide angle), 76 cm - 2.5 m (2.5 - 8.2 ft.) (Telephoto)
Macro Mode	26 - 76 cm (10.2 in. - 2.5 ft.) (Wide angle/Telephoto)

Shooting Modes

Auto / Manual / Stitch Assist / Playback

Self-Timer

Shoots after approx. 10 sec.

Continuous Shooting

Approx. 2.5 images/sec (Large/ Fine mode, LCD monitor off)

PC Connected Shooting

Available (USB connection only. Exclusive software program RemoteCapture is included in the camera kit.)

Recording Media

CompactFlash™ Card (Type I)

File Format

JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system, DPOF compliant)

Compression

Superfine / Fine / Normal

Resolutions

Large	1280 x 960 pixels
Medium	1024 x 768 pixels
Small	640 x 480 pixels

Replay Modes

Single image replay / Index replay (9 thumbnails) / Zoomed view (LCD monitor zooms images up to 2.5x) / Auto play / Printing with Card Photo Printer CP-10 (print image directly)

Interface

USB (mini-B)

Power Source

Four AA alkaline batteries or four AA rechargeable NiMH batteries
Compact Power Adapter CA-PS500

Operating Temperatures

0 - 40^oC (32 - 104^o F)

Operating Humidity

10 - 90 %

Dimensions
(W x H x D)

4.3 x 2.8 x 1.5 in. (110.3 x 71.0 x 37.6 mm) (excluding protrusions)

Package Contents (U.S./N. America)

Digital Camera

Wrist Strap

AA Alkaline Battery (x4)

CompactFlash^TM Card FC-8M

Case for CompactFlash^TM Card

USB Interface Cable IFC-300PCU

Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM

Camera User Guide

Software Starter Guide

System Map

Return To Our
Reviews Menu

Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.