Canon PowerShot D10 Unique adventure cam shot
The gang at Photography Blog have got their hands all over the PowerShot D10, and it looks like Canon didn't fare too badly with its first "adventure camera." Even if the reviewer didn't really drop it from a helicopter or shoot it with a bazooka (as we had originally hoped) the unit was found to be as intuitive, sensible, and dependable as the company's other point-and-shooters. Of course, a device with this robust of a design is going to suffer in a few areas, and the 3x, 35-135mm zoom lens and 2.5-inch display can easily be considered "rather hum-drum" for a camera in this day and age.
Unlike its fellow water baby, Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FT1, the D10 can reach depths up to 10 metres without an additional casing. It's also freeze proof to temperatures up to -10 degrees Celsius, and shockproof from drops up to 1.22 metres. The Mju Tough 8000 from Olympus, however, matches the D10 point for point on these specs, and pips the D10 at the post by being crushproof, just in case someone really heavy sits on it.
Inside the little mermaid is a 12.1-megapixel sensor and a 3x optical zoom, plus a 2.5-inch LCD screen with Canon's PureColour II technology. Image stabilisation is again standard. As with the rest of the Canon range, we have high hopes for image and build quality, which may just give us enough of a reason to opt for the new PowerShot over the host of other brands doing the same thing.
Shutter lag is a problem endemic across the range of rugged cameras, and we doubt the Canon will be any different. The frustrating delay between when you press the shutter button and the camera taking the photo is part and parcel of the underwater photography experience, so we hope for the best, but expect the worst with the D10.
We were also disappointed to see HD video recording shunted aside on the D10, after Canon's commitment to the format in its IXUS compact range.
Plus, there's one more drawback to the D10 we can see. It's not exactly, shall we say, attractive in the conventional sense; bulging corners and visible bolts don't exude sophistication in the style stakes. We also are wary of the additional snap-on covers that are available in orange, grey and camouflage (honestly, what was Canon thinking with this one), most likely being an additional cost.
As for pricing, Canon is remaining tight-lipped on the final cost of the D10. We will be interested to see where in the market the company chooses to place it: up with the more expensive AU$699 AVCHD Lite capable Panasonic FT1, or more towards the lower segment with the Olympus Mju Tough 6000 which is available at a street price of around AU$200. The D10 is set for release in May 2009, and we'll have a full review as soon as we get our snow mittens on one of these little cameras.
The verdict? If you're going to be dropping from airplanes or scavenging sunken treasure (actually, make that "reading on the beach" and "taking the kids snorkeling") this summer, you could do worse than shell out $329.99 for this bad boy.
