Canon PowerShot D10 review

For the longest while, your options were highly limited in the waterproof / rugged point-and-shoot arena. In fact, it was arguably better to just buy a standard P&S camera and a waterproof casing for said camera than to worry over any of the standalone waterproof alternatives. When Canon introduced its PowerShot D10 earlier this year, we immediately noticed that this waterproof shooter was quite unlike the models before it. Outside of a somewhat bulbous casing, it didn't look drastically different than some of the thicker, non-waterproof options out there. Not to mention the respectable 12.1 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and ten meter waterproof rating. Needless to say, we couldn't resist the opportunity to grab this bugger and test it out for a week along the shores of Playa Tamarindo in Costa Rica and Lago Cocibolca in Nicaragua, so follow us past the break to find out if this cam is the perfect accessory for your upcoming beach holiday.

Canon PowerShot D10 hands-on

Introduction

Unlike some of the more frail waterproof cameras out there, Canon integrated a certain level of toughness and rigidity into its D10. Indeed, the company markets this as an "adventure cam," and that's exactly what we went on with this by our side. Designed to be waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof, we were able to sufficiently test all but the middle quality down in Central America, and we have to admit that we're pretty impressed.

Just to give you an idea of what our PowerShot D10 survived, here's a quick rundown: hours upon hours in salty Pacific Ocean waters, numerous drops in the sand, countless button mashes from moist fingertips, a wild ride down Class II / III rapids, a snorkel tour with eels and puffer fish, lawless monkeys grabbing for shiny gadgets, a dodgy border crossing in the pouring rain and a few dips in the pool. And that's just the half of it. In other words, we sought to really see if Canon's D10 would live up to its own claims, and now that we're back -- nursing sunburned patches and mulling the decision to unpack or simply live out of a suitcase for the next month -- we figured it prudent to share our experience.

Design

As a overall camera, the D10 will definitely suffice as your primary point and shoot if you're kosher with toting around a rather large (comparatively speaking) device. We always thought our SD850 IS was pudgy, but the protruding lens on the D10 makes this one even less convenient to tote around. Still, as an adventure camera, it's plenty small. If you're trekking through Nairobi or surfing on the North Shore of O'ahu, you can definitely make room in your backpack or cargo pocket for this. Weight wise, it's perfectly acceptable, and the brilliant decision by Canon to build in four accessory posts around the edges was one we learned to adore. Our D10 shipped with a small accessory kit, which included a trio of colorful face plates and a number of cables that can be affixed to any corner of the camera. The thick, braided cable with twin carabiners on the end proved invaluable in keeping the camera attached to our person while in rafts and getting tossed around like a rag doll in the mighty Pacific. If you're planning on using this in any kind of precarious situation, we'd highly recommend forking out the extra for it. Granted, we would've loved for at least one serious cable to come bundled in (a short wrist strap is all that ships with the unit itself), but hey, you can't have it all.

In most respects, the D10 looks and feels just like a normal camera. Sure, a few of the buttons are rubberized and there are nice internal seals on all of the port openings, but we were yelled at on numerous occasions from onlookers who thought we just accidentally ruined our regular camera by dunking it underwater. In fact, the bottom opening (where the rechargeable battery and SD / SDHC card is slotted) was so traditional that we were legitimately frightened that water would rush in as soon as we plunged in. Thankfully, not a drop of liquid managed to squeak into any port over a solid week of abuse and countless hours under water.

Features and performance

Of note, the rear LCD was truly a gem. Even in broad daylight, we never had an issue seeing the images on-screen. The button layout was also well designed, and Canon Digital Elph users will be particularly at home. The only major differences were the zoom mechanism -- which is handled by two rubber buttons to the right of the LCD -- and the movie mode, which is triggered by a button atop the LCD. Generally speaking, we had no issues navigating the UI, switching from movie mode to still mode (or vice versa) or zooming.

Start up was snappy (well under a second), and all of the buttons were well placed and easy to operate, even while submerged. Unfortunately, the actual shutter and autofocus performance didn't follow suit. In most cases, the camera focused quickly enough for us to capture whatever action was in front of us, but there were a few occasions where we missed out due to sluggish shutter response. It's hardly worse than the average non-waterproof point-and-shoot, but you best be on top of your game if you're hoping to snap that perfect shot before a wave eats you alive.

Toughness and battery life

So, now that we've ran you through the basics, let's talk toughness. Canon advertises this shooter as one that's cut out for adventure, and after surviving more adventures in a week than we've faced in the entire year prior, we'd have to say it really delivers here. The camera didn't flinch after being drug through sand, shoved under salty waters for hours on end or banged up against a surfboard. It even managed to go mano-e-mano with a number of slippery rocks during a white water rafting tour, and it somehow escaped with only minor scratches. Frankly, we were shocked at how well the PowerShot D10 managed to handle abuse, and at the end of the week, everything still functioned like new.

Speaking of battery life, we were able to squeeze out around 45 minutes of VGA video along with a couple hundred snapshots before the battery warning indicator popped up. And, mind you, that's 40 minutes of having the rear LCD flipped on. Outside of that, we never once took enough shots to drain it completely in a day. We didn't go about any formal battery life testing, but overall we were mighty impressed by just how long the rechargeable cell held out. Unless you plan on firing off a thousands shots with flash, battery life shouldn't be a concern.

Canon PowerShot D10 hands-on, post abuse

Image and video quality

Now that we've established everything else, how's about the image quality? In a word, it's solid. When you consider that this is an "underwater camera," which typically arrive with lackluster image quality as a trade off for their adeptness in the seas, we'd say this is easily one of the best we've seen. While out of water, we generated results that were on par, if not slightly better than our SD850 IS. Canon loaded this shooter up with some of its more advanced features (DIGIC 4 processor, optical image stabilization and face detection), and in most cases, you'd never be able to tell that you were shooting with a made-for-water camera. You can have a look at some sample shots we took below (which are completely unedited save for resizing) to judge for yourself, but all in all, we were quite pleased. Also of note, the video mode was perfectly suitable. If you've seen a video from one of the recent PowerShot SDxxx cameras, you've seen a video from the D10. The nice part here, however, is that you can get that quality of video while falling over rocks in an oversized inner tube. Dreamy, no?

Canon PowerShot D10 sample images

That said, we do have our own list of gripes to share. Aside from the slight sluggishness at times, we had more than a few shots marred by fog, water droplets or other foreign matter on the crystal. We know it's impossible to coat this thing with a substance that prevents all buildup, but it's something you should definitely keep in mind. We tried to wipe the crystal clean with our fingertips whenever we could, and in most situations, that sufficed -- even if our fingers were wet. Also, shooting underwater proved quite challenging when outside of the pool. When trying to snap clear, bright images of fish while snorkeling, we had an exceptionally difficult time. We know that it'd be much easier if shooting just inches from the shore in the crystal clear waters of Bora Bora, but you should definitely lower your expectations when trying to snap stills in anything but the clearest, cleanest water. We were, however, satisfied with the underwater video performance (and the video performance in general). Have a look at the clip below to see how it fared underwater on a dark afternoon at sea.




Wrap-up

All told, Canon's PowerShot D10 is a stellar adventure camera. It's more than just a waterproof camera that's only marginally larger than a standard P&S, it's a rugged, lightweight shooter that should suit most everyone but the professionals in attendance. For you all, there's always the $3,000 5D Mark II housing. Priced at around $300 on the streets, we'd say that you'd be hard pressed to find a better bargain considering just how flexible this is. If you've already got a DSLR for your serious shooting, there's no reason the D10 can't be your one and only point-and-shoot companion, regardless of whether you're in or out of the drink. And as for you argonauts -- well, you'd just need a darn good excuse to avoid this.

[maztec Posted Jun 25th 2009 4:36PM]

I played with the Olympus. I repeatedly took pictures of my finger in front of the lens. I do not have that problem with the Canon.

[solmar Posted Jun 25th 2009 11:33PM]

I also had the Olympus 1030SW, and I can say the opposite.

The pictures were beyond lousy. The video was unusable, and limited to 10 seconds (WTF!). The xD cads were overpriced, and only available up to 2GB. The price was way too high for what it did.

In other words, it was an overpriced piece of equipment that didn't deliver, but you could put it in the water. That's about it.

The Canon, otoh, looks like it addresses most, if not all, of these shortcomings.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 1:52PM]

Nice

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 1:56PM]

anyone else find this as bizarre looking as I?

[decryer7 Posted Jun 25th 2009 2:04PM]

Can't wait to buy it!

[UCFw00t Posted Jun 25th 2009 1:59PM]

Kinda funny you were in Tamarindo. I lost a Pentax Optio WPi in Tamarindo. Using my broken spanish I tried asking some construction guys if they had seen it but of course not.

A year later I had a Pentax Optio WP20 die (the seal didn't hold in the surf) in Playa Grande (just north of Tamarindo). Pentax thankfully repaired/replaced it no problemo.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 2:06PM]

Is the chain removable like a kensington lock?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 2:20PM]

Nice read.

Some site needs to do a waterproof group test... Panasonic, Olympus, Canon, Pentax, etc. head-to-head in their respective price categories.

Shutter Lag. Pic quality. Submersibility. Usability. Pocketability.
And then maybe throw in some non waterproof cams with optional waterproof housings...just for fun.

The (optional? expensive?) fat cable on this one looks great.
I hope it's immune from Canon E18 lens errors, and I'm guessing the protruding lens bit keeps it safe from near-instant death. Overall, a very iconic camera design that falls into the love-it-or-hate-it department for many for sure.

Thanks for the review.

[Anatidae Posted Jun 25th 2009 2:23PM]

I agree. There are a lot of options for underwater cameras. Canon is a big name, but not always the best camera (though I do love by Canon DSLR)

[jawlz Posted Jun 25th 2009 2:25PM]

Pretty sure that the D10 has all of its lense inside of that bulb; ie it still extends, but all extension is done inside of the bulb/bulge thing, so that should cut down on the lens errors caused by the lens trying to pop out while being blocked by something.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 2:34PM]

jawlz,
that's exactly what I was suggesting by the bit that projects out of the face of the camera, protecting the lens.
I think my wording wasn't the best.

I think that's finally some adequate protection, which is definitely needed for this class of cam.
Cheers.

[nimbuscrenel Posted Jun 25th 2009 3:45PM]

cute

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 3:45PM]

want

[maztec Posted Jun 25th 2009 4:34PM]

I just bought one of these Monday, I love it. Works great so far. The only warning is read that warranty closely. I am not exactly sure what Canon will actually do for repair if it gets fried by water, but they have some pretty strong words on the matter.

In particular - if the seals are frayed and you did NOT pay to get them repaired [they will charge you to repair them], then they will not fix it. Additionally, if for any reason they decide you have abused this camera [aka dropped it from more than 6 feet onto anything other than wood] then you are out of luck.

Other than the warranty, I love it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 5:11PM]

Wow, got the XSi soon after it came out, but we're still using an ancient SD200 as our pocket cam. We'll definitely buy the D10 before our next trip. Awesome.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 5:19PM]

I am waiting on Parcelpool(the worst ever) to deliver this camera to me from Amazon here in Hawaii. Was supposed to get here yesterday. Can't wait to take some awesome pictures while freediving off the reef. I have to say Engadget, that you chose some horrible pictures to post up. Whats with the picture of peoples feet?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 5:41PM]

What happens if you go a little deeper than 30ft? Let's say 40-50ft?

[jawlz Posted Jun 25th 2009 6:01PM]

Probably nothing, but if something does happen, it's not going to be covered by any warranty.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 21st 2009 2:13AM]

If you go deeper than it's rated it's more likely to leak.

I tested my Olympus 1030Sw (lousy optics but small and tough) while diving.
It worked fine to 20 feet but as I went deeper the LCD got a dark circle in the center that got larger as I went deeper. At 30 feet half the screen was dark. At 35 feet half the buttons pressed down by themselves due to the pressure and I could no longer take any photo's. I continued down to 45 feet in the dive and the camera would not work until I got back to the surface. As I came back up to 4 feet deep the buttons popped back out and the camera recovered. The LCD was ok. I maintain the seals and had no leaks in the shallow dive and a week of snorkeling in Jamaica. Note the 1030sw has pretty much unusable audio because while underwater it produced constant loud popping sounds and other noises on the audio track. Then the battery ran out after 1 hour while taking about 60 pictures.
This is why I got the Canon D10, it has 3x the battery life and at least double the resolution.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 25th 2009 8:51PM]

I can't believe you spent time on this camera. Try the Olympus Stylus Tough series. You wont have to demo it in a pool because you won't mind bringing it out in public.

[brothaa Posted Jun 25th 2009 9:48PM]

this camera is great, i have had it for 2 months now.

it is the most worry free camera ever, i just toss it.. where ever and its all good.

also the battery life is REALLY GOOD, i bought second battery with it on ebay and have no yet used it once. I have been taking medium ammounts of pics for 2.5 weeks now and havent needed to recharge

[umijin Posted Jun 25th 2009 10:16PM]

Thanks for the review - this camera looks to be good for both play and work in the water. As someone that does both, I'll certainly consider this camera when I'm making preparations for field work far from home.

What strikes me is its ability to withstand exposure to saltwater, which has always been an issue for electrical devices.

The decent optical quality is also a selling point, as I've not been impressed with what I've read about the Olympus µ series. Focusing in or underwater is always very difficult, regardless of the camera - so the comment about shutter-response doesn't worry me too much. When both the subject and photographer are moving - you'd need a killer ISO (or a strobe) to solve that problem.

Still, this won't make underwater housings obsolete - those work well past 33 feet (100 feet or more) and have other features that divers will want to have.

But you gotta love a camera takes great photos and can just be tossed in your surf bag with other gear.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2009 1:11AM]

I heard it costs more money compared to other waterproof cameras from Nikon and Olympus. However, I think it deliver better quality images.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2009 6:24AM]

I like Canon cameras(I owned the SD 880IS/ IXUS 870IS) but I really cannot love the look of this D10.
I had a Sony DSC-U60 back in 2003 (now it is dead), and it looks and handles really great. Too bad Sony doesn't come up any new waterproof models any more.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2009 2:26PM]

I have the olympus 8000sw, you can use micro SD as well as XD memory cards, the 10 second video has been fixed with a firmware update on the 1030sw and the 8000sw never had that problem, I can do 30 minute videos on my SD card with no problems, its an awesome camera, takes good pictures and it takes a beating, I taken it snowboarding and it had no problem with the cold weather and I was scuba diving last week in the florida keys and I actually took it down to about 55 feet, (not recommended, problably not smart, but I had no problems), awesome camera.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 1st 2009 1:33PM]

I like that thick, braided cable with the twin carabiners. Do you know what its official name is, or what its part number is? It would be ideal when sea kayaking.

[Jaxx89 Posted Jul 12th 2009 8:05PM]

the LUMIX DMC-TS1 wins over for the quality of the video and the 28mm wide-angle lens........
but the fact that i can attach cables to any corner of this cam like the safety cables and hooks used while bungee jumping, paragliding or parasailing(still gotta be careful tho), this one is awesome......plus the looks don matter if the cameras output quality is good.
still confused between these 2 tho

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 21st 2009 1:14AM]

The D10 is a full featured, good quality camera with no obvious compromises (other than no real manual mode) with the added feature of full waterproof construction.

It's also MUCH higher resolution (at least 2-3x) over my previous waterproof camera, the expensive Olympus Stylus 1030 SW. The 10Meg Olympus has a true resolution of about 3Meg due to excessive noise from the CCD and a tiny lens that produces marginally blurry images of subjects past 20 feet. Folks that still write about the 1030SW being a "great camera" regarding photo quality need to compare it to any quality camera since they obviously haven't done that. Look at any photo from the 1030sw at it's native 10Meg size and try to find a single clear building, tree or mountain in the photo. It can't do it. The only way to make it clearer is to reduce the 10Meg shots down to 1600 lines or less, or 2-3Meg size. Then it's not too bad. The 1030sw also has a weak flash, and it's hard to see the silver writing on the tiny silver buttons. I eventually sold mine after having it checked and calibrated at the factory. They said it's operating as designed but don't expect much resolution out of it. They had to make it 10Meg due to marketing reasons and it should have had a 3- 4Meg sensor to match the lens quality.

Anyway, I'm very glad to have the Canon now after working with the Olympus for half a year. The Canon D10 has optical image stabilization, a much quieter CCD sensor, and the f2.8 lens is 2x faster than the slow f3.5 lens on the Olympus The Canon battery life of 200+ shots is 3x better than the 60-70 shots that I got in real use on the 1030sw. I would not have bothered to write this review if there was not that many people claiming they get great photo's with the less than marginal 1030sw.

The Canon D10 compares quite well to other 10-12 Meg cameras such as the 10Meg Canon A640, which is a decent workhorse of a camera with full manual controls. The D10 is fast, accurate, tough, and takes photo's equal to or better than most camera's.
It's not compromised in daily use by it's waterproof rating and it works quite well.

Clean the seals with a lint-free cloth to maintain waterproof seal because a single hair or grain of sand across the seal can cause a leak in any waterproof camera. I also use Torr-lube (commercial Hi-Vac sealant) once in a while to maintain the rubber compound. Rinse the camera in fresh water to remove salt after using it in the ocean.
Take care of it and it will last.

[MotorollaVE440 Posted Aug 20th 2010 1:54AM]

It is claimed to be waterproof up to 10 meters, freeze proof up to -10 degrees, shockproof

when dropped from a height of 1.22 meters and dust proof. Be very careful of the warranty on this product. I contacted Canon support and after being transferred to a supervisor I was told the warranty does not cover water damage, sand/corrosion damage, dropping the camera. I could not believe this so I looked at the warranty card included with the camera and sure enough that's exactly what it says. Canon does not warranty a camera that is designed to go in the water against water damage.
http://www.digitaldesires.net/canon-powershot-d10-a-bubble-body-camera.html