I’ve been playing around with Canon’s G10 compact camera and it’s not too bad.

One thing to note: this isn’t a test. Our official data hasn’t been updated with the G10 yet – but we rate its predecessor, the G9, as one of our top digicams.

I’ll update this blog as test results come in – in the meantime, here are a few thoughts on Canon’s latest.

Get your stylistic kicks elsewhere

The G10 isn’t going to win over anyone with its rugged good looks. Compared to more casual point-and-shoot models designed to look sleek and appealing, the G10 is chunky and forgettable.

But that’s okay! Because what the G10 has is functionality by the bucket load. If you’re looking for more control over the photos you take, but don’t want to go right up to a dSLR, then this may be the camera for you. You can easily adjust ISO ratings, auto and manual settings and saturation levels without diving into the detailed menu system.

To be fair, Canon may be stretching the term ‘compact’ with the G10 – it’s not going to fit in your pocket and it’s hefty to boot. I’d recommend using a neck strap when traveling with this camera.

Snap

More importantly, the G10 can take good pictures, particularly if you’re not afraid of tweaking the settings.

While it would be nice to have greater zoom capabilities in a camera this size, macro (close-up) shots are easy to set up, and produce decent results. You can see a couple of macro shots below (if you’re wondering why they’re all of lizards and spiders - my partner is a zoo keeper):

    

Wide shots are very detailed, thanks to the 14 megapixels under the hood and a new image processor that seems like an evolutionary step up from the G9. You can pick out some visual ‘noise’ when you zoom in too far (it’s more pronounced at higher ISO levels) but for a compact camera it performs well.

Movie recording functions are limited. The maximum resolution is 640x480 – I’d expect higher in a camera like this. You also can’t zoom while recording. Keep this in mind if you think you’ll be shooting a lot of video with your digicam.

Overall

This is a camera that dSLR owners can take with them if space is limited. It provides a wide range of options and  settings that can be customized, and one of the better image processors available in a compact model.

For casual users looking for a step up, the G10 might appear intimidating. But taking basic shots on the automatic settings is easy, allowing you to move into the more advanced features at your own pace. Of course the price tag (it retails for between $800 and $1000) will put off those who don’t need more than a simple point-and-shoot camera. But if you want to take control of your photos without stepping up to a dSLR, the G10 is a good option.

Look for our test results soon – I’ll update the blog when they’re available.

Tristan Clark - Technical Writer

 

Enjoy the blog? Join the Consumer Facebook fan page, or follow Tristan on Twitter for up-to-the-minute impressions and upcoming blog topics. 

Comments

Post a comment

Be the first to comment!

Post a comment