A great pocket camera - especially if you know a few tricks.
Written: Feb 22 '07
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Pros: small size, good macro, good image quality
Cons: noise at higher iso, needs a steady hand
The Bottom Line: The number one camera I would recommend if you want to take it everywhere with you and take dynamic, interesting photos.
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| blacksheep's Full Review: Canon PowerShot SD10 / IXUS I Digital Camera |
How could I resist the tiny size and beautiful design of this camera?
For a couple of years, the SD10 has been my everyday camera. It has traveled absolutely everywhere with me and taken thousands of pictures. It even won a photography contest! Hopefully my review will tell you if this camera can do the same for you!
Before I get started, http://flickr.com/photos/steffster/265531576/in/set-72157594320675752/ is an example of a photo I took with this camera. It not only looks good on the web, but it prints very well too.
Physically:
The metal wrapping around most of the body makes it feel solid, yet it is tiny and light. There's a compartment for the battery and memory card that is easy to open. The battery charger is beautifully designed.
Use and tips:
I keep my camera set on Manual - press Set and choose the 2nd icon, the camera with an M on it. This lets you adjust a few settings that will make your pictures great.
The first thing you should do you get your camera (after switching it to manual mode) is to set it on ISO 100. Higher ISOs have too much noise (200 is OK...but it's best to do a quick test first).
The second thing is to get familiar with the white balance settings. Personally, I switch back between white balance settings when I'm in indoor light versus outdoor light. This is one of the most important things to know how to do if you want your photos to look good. To get to this menu, click the 'set' button and go down two icons. The two I use most often are the cloud (overcast) and lightbulb (indoor).
The third tip which will help you get great photos is to know how to get to the macro setting. Press set and move to the right until you get to the icon that looks like a flower. This will let you take pictures as close as 3 centimeters. The macro mode on this camera is great for capturing detail and taking really interesting photos (make sure to switch it back if you want to photograph anything far away). One of my complaints about the camera is the number of clicks it takes to switch to macro and back, but it's not difficult at all.
Fourth, try to keep a steady hand. This is important especially when taking photos in darker conditions without a flash. It takes a bit of getting used to with this camera because it is so small.
This is the camera for you if:
You want a tiny camera to take everywhere. You like nicely designed electronics. You like taking pictures of items close to the camera. You have a somewhat steady hand.
This is not the camera for you if:
You need a viewfinder or optical zoom (Personally, I did not miss either of these at all). You don't care about having a tiny camera (in which case you might as well look for a fuller-featured, larger one).
Note about similar models: I don't know if these are being produced anymore, but if you can get one used, I would recommend it. The SD20 is exactly the same camera with one extra megapixel and one (negligible) feature, so if you can get it for the same price, do! However, higher models (sd30 and up) have been getting bad reviews, so I recommend sticking with one of these.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 249
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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Epinions.com ID:
blacksheep
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Member: Stephanie Obodda
Location: NJ, USA
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 2 members
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