Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Review

So many things in one relatively small camera, wow!

Let's start with the lense. Very wide angle, careful to keep your foot out of the picture all the way to 20X zoom. Stood on the beach shooting an island a mile away and zoomed to people on the island beach not visible with the unaided eye without changing lenses. You are looking through the lense in this DSLR with diopter control if you wear glasses.

The DIGIC 4 is the computer chip that arranges pixels from the 10meg digital CCD. Even most triple priced DSLR cameras do not have this next generation digital chip yet. They have the DIGIC III (3). Want to change colors in the picture or black and white pictures with or without one color? It will take some time to learn all the composing powers this SX10IS has to offer because of the DIGIC 4 chip.

Needs 4 AAs instead of two like my other "pocket" cameras. That adds to the size and weight putting the SX10IS into a heavier catagory BUT way lighter than most DSLRs. Easy to hold with one hand. Four batteries means the right handed grip protrudes more with a nice little lip for your second finger to fit into to leaving your first finger on the picture button.

Several hundred pictures down the road with many armchair reviews in the 2 1/2" LCD that pulls out and swivels no battery change yet. AAs are cheap and available everywhere. Won't even bother with rechargeables because one set lasts so long the rechargeables will run down waiting to be used. Two and half inch LCD and not highly detailed but adequate. Zooming in while reviewing taken pictures nice. I suspect that DIGIC 4 is helping too.

SX10IS is not a pocket camera in size or weight. Last trip to Mexico took the 590IS which is pocket size along with this one but never used it. 20X and wide angle and other features were so nice to have. Generally I do not try to carry a camera ALL the time. Like to carry with one hand and wrist strap. Never around my neck.

Smallest quality bag that fits is the LowePro Apex 100AW roughly 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 by 6". That is pretty darn small. Plenty of room for batteries. Too small for instruction book. Tossed the neck strap and cut the water proof bag off to gain storage. I carry bag with built in handle. Usually just carry the camera without the bag. Think I bought this from Amazon. Might also fit in shoulder bag where you carry other things.

Settings for special picture conditions like night, or action, or many many others extensive. "Auto" seems to come pretty close to compensating for most pictures. And you have all the manual choices too. If you shoot a lot of pictures in specific lighting conditions you can set ISO, shutter speed, etc then record that group of settings along with multiple others as custom choices easily selected again later. DIGIC 4 again?

Easy camera for no-brainer shots. If you are a technocrat that likes many composing elements here is a camera that offers choices you never imagined. Movies with sound and zoom, yes! Panorama 180 or 360 degrees...........or just pick it up and shoot.

I would suggest this camera is an excellent choice that fits above point and shoot and below much bigger much more expensive, change the lense, type cameras. Moms that just want a simple, small, light camera, might find SX10IS more than they wanted...........unless you want a close-up at the other end of the soccer field when your little hero kicks a field goal. It is just not an easy walk around, carry it all the time, type of camera. It is a super-power camera of picture choices that will look spectacular in you large digital picture frames.

P.S. Just noticed Consumer Report gave this camera a "78" rating. Among all the other digital camera categories only one had a 78, Nikon D300 which is in the "advanced" section and costs $1600 before you buy lenses. No other camera of any type rated as high. Type of personal usage still determines which is best. Multiple photographing choices make up for being a little larger than a point and shoot for me. Get more detail about Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.