Canon G10 Review – Canon PowerShot G10 now with wider angle zoom – G-factor

With PowerShot models of the SX series, the features (stabilized super-zoom optics with a slight wide angle, flash/accessory shoe with TTL flash contacts, rotatable and tiltable screen, manual adjustment options, etc.) are becoming more and more popular in the G series territory or with more and more features that appeal to advanced/demanding users (actually, the SX models only lack a RAW mode), a PowerShot G10 should have a little more to offer than a resolution increased to 14.7 megapixels and just as much wide-angle as the SX models. But these are still the main differences between this innovative camera and its predecessor, the PowerShot G9.

Brief assessment

Pros

• Highly efficient video compression (video resolution and output but not HDTV-compatible)
• Stabilised wide-angle zoom
• Large and high-resolution screen
• Unexpectedly good image quality up to ISO 400 (despite 14.7 megapixel CCD)

Cons

• Shortcut button cannot be assigned to RAW function or image stabilizer settings
• Built-in flash unit cannot be used as control flash for TTL wireless flash mode
• Battery/memory card compartment not accessible in tripod mode, mains connection via battery dummy
• No built-in RAW converter function, no image parameter settings

Among the Canon cameras in the PowerShot series, the G-Class models have always had a firm place. Their special features are better adjustment and expansion possibilities than with other PowerShot cameras and the noble minis of the Digital-Ixus series; where the digital SLR is too large and/or conspicuous, the need for such a camera often arises.

Among the Canon cameras in the PowerShot series, the G-Class models have always had a firm place. Their special features are better adjustment and expansion possibilities than with other PowerShot cameras and the noble minis of the Digital-Ixus series; where the digital SLR is too large and/or conspicuous, the need for such a camera often arises.

 

 

Whether one can even talk about a further development with the resolution increase from 12 megapixels (G9) to now 14.7 megapixels (G10), first image quality tests have to show – because so many pixels on such a small image sensor (1/1.7″ CCD) are anyway already the subject of many controversial discussions about the expected image quality. After all, the new Canon PowerShot G10 integrates a brand-new DiGIC-4 processor (as in the EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 50D & Co.), which at least has the computing power to execute highly efficient noise reduction algorithms. The increased processor power is also responsible for such new functions as the i-Contrast function (for “intelligent” contrast correction, i.e., electronic contrast compensation), subject tracking with focus tracking (Servo AF), and the Face Timer function (for delayed automatic shutter release as soon as a new face appears in the picture).

In contrast to the higher sensor resolution, the PowerShot G10’s new (zoom) lens should be welcomed more unanimously. Although the “zoom power” drops from a 6x to a 5x zoom factor, and you are still far from the zoom power of the SX models, the G10 is now more wide-angle (28-140mm/F2.8-4.5 equivalent KB) than its predecessors. The G10 remains compatible with the optional TC-DC58D teleconverter of the G9. What makes the G10 different from the G9 is, among other things, the video storage format (MOV format with H.264 encoding), the shutter speed range (15 to 1/4,000 s), the lithium-ion battery used (type NB-7L for approx. 400 to 1,000 shots depending on screen usage), the resolution of the 3″ or 7.6 cm screen (461,000 pixels) and the frame rate in continuous mode (which has dropped slightly to 1.3 fps due to the higher resolution). The operating concept has also been slightly improved; the handle of the G10 is somewhat more pronounced and the sensitivity dial (now replaced by a dial specifically for exposure corrections) merges with the program dial to form a single unit.

Other functions, settings and features of the PowerShot G10 (some of which are already familiar from the G9) include the optical image stabilizer, motion detection technology (subject movement is detected to prevent motion blur by increasing light sensitivity and reducing shutter speed/exposure time), face detection-assisted focusing and exposure, automatic red-eye detection and retouching, iSAPS technology (subject analysis for more precise exposure/white balance), the manually adjustable sensitivity level range (corresponding to the camera’s sensitivity level), and the ability to adjust the camera’s brightness and contrast. ISO 80-1,600), raw image data storage (RAW/CR2 format), 16:9 compatibility (through appropriate image size settings), PictBridge compatible USB-2.0 high-speed interface, the remote shutter release connection (for the RS60-E3 electric cable remote release), storage on SD/SDHC cards (also MMCplus and HC MMCplus), the semi-automatic and manual setting options (aperture and shutter speed control, manual exposure control), the numerous scene mode programs (26 for the G10) – and much more.

Ergonomics and Workmanship

Like its two previous models, the PowerShot G10 combines traditional and modern design elements. We wouldn’t unanimously describe this design concept, which Canon calls Yurukiri, as a feast for the eyes and a treat for the hands, but the G10, with its external dimensions of 109.1 x 77.7 x 45.9 millimetres, is not quite as massive as it appears in some product images and photos. Nevertheless, it is somewhat more voluminous than a Nikon Coolpix P6000 or Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 – and with a weight of 401 grams including battery and memory card, also heavier than these. After all, parts of the camera are made of metal (including the tripod thread), and the G10 generally makes a cleanly finished and solid impression

The G10 is a bit reminiscent of old rangefinder cameras with the dials characteristic of the Yurukiri design. One of them is used to directly input an exposure compensation, while the other one sets the exposure program or recording mode (upper dial) and the light sensitivity level (lower dial). The shutter release is framed in the ring-shaped zoom rocker. Most of the other controls, such as the numerous function keys/buttons and the multicontroller (rear dial with framed control keypad and central function/enter button) surround the huge 7.6cm screen (3″ TFT LCD) on the back of the camera, which is not only very detailed (461,000 pixels), but also reproduces colours very neutrally (thanks to Pure Colour LCD II technology) and has a scratch-resistant, low-reflection protective glass. Canon does not specify the maximum viewing angle, but it seems to be quite high. The monitor image is virtually jerk-free during fast camera pans, but it does make a little noise when light is scarce.

Although the camera screen is still easy to read even outdoors in bright sunlight, the G10 has an optical viewfinder. It is a through-the-lens viewfinder with parallax correction, diopter adjustment (-3 to +1 dpt.) and lens coupling (the viewfinder zooms in, so to speak) and is of good quality (i.e. bright and colour-neutral), but it only shows 77% of the actual captured image detail and is a little narrow for people wearing glasses (eye relief of 15 mm). Whether you prefer to use the viewfinder or the camera screen to focus on the subject is up to your own shooting habits.

Once you have gotten used to the Multicontroller, the G10 is relatively quick and easy to use. Some buttons have a dual function; for example, the button for selecting the metering mode is also used to switch to the aperture setting for manual exposure control (M). Typical for Canon is the quick selection menu that can be called up via the Func. /Set-key and that allows the adjustment of important image parameters (among others white balance and image quality/resolution settings) without having to “dive” into the “big” camera menu. For the sake of clarity, the latter shows different main categories depending on whether you are in recording or playback mode. The main menu works with a tab system, whose sections can be easily distinguished by different icons/pictograms and colors, but where the menu items sometimes extend beyond one screen page. Then you have to “scroll down” – which can sometimes be a bit tedious. The MyMenu for creating your own menu and the two user programs of the camera (C1 and C2 on the program dial) can be of some help. The G10 even offers a reassignable shortcut key; annoyingly, it is not possible to assign such important functions as for example the switching on and off of the RAW mode or the image stabilizer!

It’s also a pity that the tripod thread of the G10 is not only outside the optical axis (which makes it difficult to align the camera precisely when taking panorama pictures), but also directly adjoins the battery/memory card compartment. Thus, one has to take the camera off the tripod again if one suddenly has to change the lithium ion battery (NB-7L) and/or the memory card (SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus or HC MMCplus) during tripod photography; better charge the battery and empty the memory card while still at home, so that such a case does not occur unexpectedly. What’s really “cool”, on the other hand, is the spring-back, hinged hard plastic flap of the G10’s connector panel, behind which the PictBridge-compatible USB 2.0 high-speed interface, the analogue audio/video output (PAL/NTSC) and the electrical cable remote release connector are hidden. You won’t find a built-in infrared receiver for wireless remote release, a digital audio/video output (HDMI or similar) and a power input on the G10; the optional AC adapter ACK-DC50 connects to the camera via a battery adapter.

Equipment

With a full auto mode and a handful of scene modes (including one for underwater shooting with the optional WP-DC28 UW housing), as well as advanced exposure programs and functions (program auto, time/aperture priority, manual exposure control, auto bracketing, live histogram, grid, switchable ND filter, RAW mode, metering mode selection, and more), the PowerShot G10 is designed for both beginners and advanced photographers. Further special functions are available in the form of a panorama assistant, a colour emphasis function (= color key effect), a re-colouring function (a single colour in the image can be “exchanged” for another colour), a function called i-Contrast (= electronic shadow brightening or contrast compensation) and the FaceSelfTimer function (camera only releases when a new face appears in the image). Even the lead time and number of releases in self-timer mode can be set thanks to the custom timer function.

Especially when travelling, the possibility to add small voice notes to the pictures and to classify pictures according to certain categories (portraits, landscapes, events, own category 1/2/3, tasks) is very practical. The G10 also offers built-in image post-processing functions; you can crop or resize images, have red eyes removed automatically, experiment with different color effect filters (color enhancement, sepia, black and white or monochrome, slide film effect, lighten/darken skin tones, rich red/green/blue) and rotate images. A whole menu page is dedicated to the personalization of the camera (change the welcome image and/or melody, set different beeps) and another page is dedicated to the print settings for direct print operation. But there are two functions that we missed in the G10 that might be quite important: a function for converting RAW/CR2 images into JPEG images while still in the camera and the PictureStyle function that is known from other Canon cameras (= image parameter adjustments for colour saturation, sharpness and image contrast).

If you want to film with the G10, you can do this for up to an hour at a time and also zoom while filming. The optical image stabilizer also works during video recording, and an electronic wind filter ensures clear sound. Unfortunately, the G10 is only HDTV-compatible in terms of the recording method (it uses the highly efficient H.264 codec), but not in terms of the resolution (max. 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) and also not in terms of playback options (it doesn’t have a digital video output like HDMI or similar). The recording is interrupted earlier when the data volume reaches the 4 Gbyte limit. On the other hand, there is no limit in the G10’s continuous shooting mode: Provided you use a sufficiently fast memory card, the camera shoots 1.3 frames per second as long as you hold down the shutter release button or until the card is full.

When it comes to flash, the G10 leaves hardly anything to be desired. It has both an integrated miniature flash and a flash/accessory shoe with extended TTL contacts for connecting a more powerful external flash unit. Even for the on-board flash, a synchronization to the 1st or 2nd shutter curtain (in this case rather a flash ignition either at the beginning or end of the exposure) and a long time synchronization are possible. For advanced users, it is recommended that the Safety-FE function be turned off to allow flash photography at shutter speeds slower than the camera shake limit. There is also flash compensation and flash metering (FE-L). All advanced flash functions are located in the camera menu under the flash control menu option.

But here too there are two points of criticism: For example, the built-in flash cannot be used as a control flash in a wireless flash system (which increases material and cost), and when photographing with the camera in manual exposure mode (M), TTL flash operation is no longer possible or the flash only works with manual three-step power control. The latter is useful for studio photographers and has always been so at Canon, but it would be better if you could define the behavior of the flash at this camera setting. Despite the short distance to the lens or optical axis, the on-board flash hardly provokes red eyes; it also illuminates relatively evenly, has little tendency to overflash even at short distances, emits white light in a neutral color, and – with a reduced frame rate – also flashes in continuous shooting mode.

Lens

What the G-Series PowerShot cameras have lacked up to now to fully meet their purpose as small reportage and travel cameras for advanced users was a wide-angle, more powerful lens. With the G10, Canon ventures more into the wide-angle range – even if still a bit hesitant. An initial focal length of the equivalent of 28 mm (equivalent to a 35 mm camera) is a good start, but cameras like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 or the Ricoh GX200 with their zooms starting at 24 mm show that it can be a little more wide-angle. With its optical 5x zoom, the G10 covers a focal length range of 28 to 140 millimetres. When the lens is retracted, a built-in lens protection curtain protects the front lens especially from dust and scratches; the lens then protrudes only about 0.8 cm from the camera body.

When fully extended, the distance between the front lens and the front of the camera increases to just under 5.5 cm. The zoom control is motorized via the ring-shaped zoom rocker on the shutter release; about twelve zoom positions can be controlled, whereby the focal length adjustment is accompanied by a still audible but very discreet zoom noise. Nonstop from one focal length end to the other, the zoom takes about 1.7 seconds. The light intensity decreases progressively (from F2.8 to F4.5). However, because light intensity is not always a sufficient protection against camera shake, the lens also integrates a movable lens group to compensate for the shaking movements of the camera or the photographer’s hand. The so called Image Stabilizer System (IS) works quite effectively (with a little practice it is still possible to take halfway sharp hand-held pictures at 1/8 s at full telephoto), knows three modes of operation (permanent image stabilization, image stabilization only at shutter release, partial stabilization for drag effects) and can be switched off completely in the camera menu.

The G10 offers a little more zoom or telephoto power, either with the additional digital zoom (4x magnification) or virtually without any loss of quality with the optional TC-DC58D teleconverter (1.4x magnification). For the latter, you also need the LA-DC58K lens adapter, which, however, allows quick mounting and removal of the teleconverter thanks to the bayonet connection. The connection of filters and close-up lenses is not recommended in most cases due to sometimes strong edge shading. But if you only want to take pictures from very close up, you don’t necessarily need close-up lenses. Although the macro mode on the G10 has to be switched on explicitly at the touch of a button, the lens then focuses down to 1 cm. In general, the G10 focuses quite quickly and precisely. In face detection mode, it should be able to recognize up to 35 individual faces and focus on them (for moving persons also with subject tracking). In practice it is more likely to be 9 to 11 faces, of which only 3 to 4 are marked; but especially considering the speed with which the system recognizes faces, this is an excellent hit rate. If no face is detected, the camera automatically switches to classic AiAF mode with or without focus tracking (subjects are then captured in either a large or small 3 x 3 field area). Other features include Flexi-Zone AF (a freely positionable measuring field of variable size), Safety MF (manual pre-focusing with final automatic fine focus correction), the option of completely manual distance setting (with electronic focusing magnifier and distance scale) and the function for automatic focus bracketing.

Image quality

About 15 million pixels (14.7 megapixels effective) on a fingernail-sized image sensor (1/1.7″ CCD) sounds very daring at first – some experts believe that the critical limit for cameras with a very small sensor is reached at six megapixels. One can justifiably ask how even Canon, with its immense expertise in the field of image quality and image optimization, is up to the challenge. And how powerful the new DiGIC-4 processor is and the image processing algorithms it executes.

The fact that Canon has done its “homework” very well is proven by the software test. The G10 really shows this with a very high resolution at open aperture with only a small or moderate edge drop in the wide-angle position and in the medium focal length, and with even better consistency of resolution in telephoto position. However, some fine image details are disturbed by strong artifacts (especially color moirés and brightness artifacts). Also the resolution values break down immediately when stopping down (with more than one f-stop even quite drastically); first diffraction blurs occur already at F4.0. F-stop is also not absolutely necessary, as the depth of field on cameras with such a small image sensor is already quite large even with the aperture open, and the G10 lens has relatively little vignetting even with the aperture open (just under 1 f-stop at wide-angle position, just under 1/2 f-stop at medium focal length, and only slightly more than 1/2 f-stop at telephoto position). The lens of the G10 also cuts quite a fine figure when measuring distortion. Only at the wide-angle end is the curvature of straight lines strong to very strong (barrel distortion), while at the medium focal length the – still barrel-shaped – distortion is only slight and it reaches zero when the lens is fully extended, i.e. at the telephoto position.

The G10 is preferably used with light sensitivity settings from ISO 80 to 400, as everything is still in the green zone with regard to image noise and input and output dynamics. Above that, the noise and input dynamics deteriorate considerably, so that one should only use the ISO-800 and ISO-1,600 settings in emergencies and it is then also recommended to limit oneself to small prints/printouts. With ISO 3.200 (this setting can be found under the motif programs), one is even fixed to smaller output formats from the beginning, as individual pixels are then combined to more light-sensitive pixel groups and the resolution consequently decreases to two megapixels; one should not hope for a significant improvement of the image noise anyway.

On some pictures of the G10 you can see very small, not really disturbing color fringes. Rather inconspicuous are also the slight overdrive effects at some image edges (so-called white clipping at dark to light transitions and black clipping at light to dark transitions); the sharpening responsible for this is generally low to very low and hardly shows any dependency on the alignment of the resharpened edges. The interventions of the camera electronics in the image result are not very strong here and simplify the subsequent processing of the images on the computer, but there are still the already mentioned image disturbances in the fine image details! Compression artifacts, however, can only be seen in the image quality settings “Fine” (low to hardly visible artifacts) and “Normal” (strong artifacts); in the “Super Fine” setting, compression is just about visually lossless.

As one is used to from Canon cameras, the G10 exposes very accurately when taking pictures with or without flash. It is designed for a somewhat low-contrast reproduction of the brightest and darkest parts of the image (highlights and shadows), so that overexposure and/or black shadows are largely avoided. The colours are also right. Even when the subject is illuminated by different light sources (such as natural daylight and incandescent light), the G10 reproduces colours in a very balanced way. Like any camera (across brands and models), it has some problems when only incandescent light illuminates the scene, but with a manual white balance (for which there are two memories) you can get the hang of it.

Conclusion

With its wider angle lens (compared to previous models), Canon’s PowerShot G10 is fully suited to its purpose as a small digital travel and reportage camera. The “noise hurricane” expected from its image sensor are absent at least up to ISO 400, and the G10 even exceeds expectations in terms of image quality. However, the G10 is also a camera that demands some self-discipline from the photographer. As it runs up to maximum performance at the lowest light sensitivity adjustments, one will want to switch off the image stabilizer from time to time (what is unfortunately not possible at the moment in a comfortable/quick way over the shortcut key) and put the camera on the tripod. As then the access to the battery and memory card compartment is blocked, one should always only start with a full battery and empty memory card. Those who would like to get the full control over the image result and want to exhaust the quality reserves of the RAW images will not be able to avoid to spend some time at home with their images on the computer due to the lack of a built-in RAW-to-JPEG-converter and due to the missing image parameter adjustments.

Firmware update for Canon PowerShot G10

Before the PowerShot G10 photographer goes to work and sends the camera to Canon service or updates it himself, he should check if his camera even has this error, as only some cameras are affected. For example, the serial number must show a 0 or 1 at the fifth position from the left. If this is the case, check on the inside of the battery door to see if a mark is visible to the left of the hinge. If there is no marker there, the firmware update should actually be installed, because it corrects the error of magenta-stitched RAW recordings that appear correctly on the camera display. This issue also only occurs when the sensitivity is manually set to ISO 1,600.

You can install the firmware update on your own, but you do this at your own risk. If you are afraid of the possible risk involved, you should seek help from a dealer or Canon service.

Canon PowerShot G10 Datasheet