Customer Reviews

 good but not amazing pictures - Aug 29, 2010

I typically shoot with a DSL in RAW but also used to have a little Panasonic Lumix that recently died. Bought this camera for family trips that tend to include water activities (and hopefully it won't die anytime soon). Wish this camera had RAW.

I shot over 700 pics on recent lake trip. What I found:
- camera is waterproof
- used on P (not Auto) mode almost exclusively - I set the ISO to lower amount as the higher ISO pictures (that Auto often chose to shoot in) aren't worth bothering with - they have a ton of grain and poor color. I also found I needed to use exposure compensation typically at around -2/3rd stop to get rich colored pictures and not have a ton of blown out highlights. I am not sure why Canon likes to have its shots overexposed but my DSL has same tendency. If I had been using camera right out of the box in Auto mode (as I did at home for a couple weeks before the trip) I would be very disappointed with the resultant pictures (as I was). In Auto mode too many end up grainy, poor color, etc.
- macro - works pretty well although item has to be fairly near center of picture - couldn't necessarily get it to focus where I wanted it to focus.
- did shoot underwater but lake was cloudy so can't comment on underwater setting color
- isn't great for low light action but does great in bright light
- using flash for fill (forced flash mode) on bright days was a bit of a disaster - the flash was so bright even at 7' or so away that pictures look unreal. Unless I can figure out a way to turn flash down I won't be able to use it for fill. It does seem to do a decent job in darker light settings as flash (or does what you expect a small camera flash to do but at least correctly exposes main/centered subject).
- movies - what you'd expect
- I did buy an extra battery (based on other reviews) but didn't end up needing it on any one day despite a fair amount of shooting and movie taking and reviewing pictures each day.

Good camera for outdoor wet activities - and children who drop things. Spend a little time with the manual and camera and you will improve your shots immeasurably - camera CAN take good pictures but won't necessarily without a little help.

The camera is "cute" and my kids love the way the hand strap can be put on any of the 4 corners. You can't use a neck strap without buying another custom corner thingie to hang it from. Clever of Canon. I like that the tightener on the handstrap can be used to open the tight latch on the battery compartment.

 Not worth the money - Aug 27, 2010

I would purchase a different camera. I went with Canon because they are THE camera people. However, the camera started failing shortly after I purchased it. It started getting these "lense error" messages and at first I thought nothing of it. Over time, it got more and more frequent. The battery life ids horrible, I went through two fully charged battery in about a day. I am not saying Canon is bad, just this specific camera.

 Canon D-10 - Aug 27, 2010

I purchased the Canon D-10 as my first underwater digital camera. I was pleased with the pictures overall. Had no problem using it but found features somewhat cumbersome.

I have read many reviews about the dreaded "Lens error- re-start camera." I felt very lucky because the camera made it through my whole trip to Cozumel without a glitch. Once I came home though, that message started to pop up. At first I could charge a battery completely and replace the one inside the camera and the problem would resolve.

As of today, the Lens Error message came on and changing the battery did nothing. I am so disappointed. I guess my little blue camera has succumbed to the problem Canon says they don't have
BH

 Making my friends and family jealous! - Aug 26, 2010

I got this camera for Christmas after drooling over it for a year or so. The last time I had a point and shoot I was 16 and it had film in it. I needed something to take where I didn't dare take my SLR but I wasn't willing to suffer in the picture quality department. I've taken this camera everywhere. I can give it to my students to take pictures with and not worry about them dropping it or spilling something on it (though I make sure they wear the wrist strap). If I'd written this review just after Christmas it would have been positive but having used it extensively on vacation, in tide pools, on hikes and in the pool I'd very highly recommend it. At first I was irritated by some of the auto settings (it tries to make each scene medium gray, as far as density/exposure). However, when I played around with the Program mode I was able to adjust all of the little things that I was used to having control over in my SLR, not as precisely but sufficiently for a point and shoot. Figuring that out, I realized I could also use some of those things (exposure and white balance and manual focus among others) when shooting video. I've had a great time shooting underwater video of minnows, trout, salamanders and friends. The Macro feature is good but sometimes it rebels when the flowers wiggle in the breeze, I found placing my steady hand next to the flower and focusing on that works for a quick shot. Otherwise I use the Manual Focus which lets you get pretty close, 2in away... The pictures are of lovely quality, the auto white balance is good enough on most occasions. However, as with any other camera I find it's best to choose a light situation for the camera otherwise it tries to make yellow sandstone white as if there were Tungsten light and that looks gross. The underwater settings are great. I've used them to create vivid color when the color isn't working in other situations too. I was a color corrector at a big photography lab for years and I know that color can make or break a shot. I also know it's better to not have to make too many changes after the fact. I've been pleased with the accuracy of color and density and can often send pictures to print with no color correction requested. Something I don't dare to do with my SLR. On the other hand, I was recently taking a picture of a purple delphinium and everything was a fine color except the flower which the camera insisted on making a weird sapphire blue that it invented. The camera is a little heavy for a cocktail purse or most ladies clothing pockets but otherwise it's fine. The zoom is good but definitely only in comparison to point and shoot cameras. I wouldn't take this on a bird watching trip as a substitute for an SLR camera though it does do better than other point and shoots in this department. It takes a nice landscape though not as wide angle as I'm used to with my SLR. It also takes lovely arm-out self-portraits. The self-timer is fun to play with, you can set the custom timer for a 1-30 second delay and have it take 1-10 shots. It's perfect for a silly picture series, family portrait, you riding your horse over a jump... all sorts of things. It also takes good pretty dark shots, if you hold steady it can usually do a good job for you. The 3200 setting helps, but it isn't usually necessary. It's a great tool and the more I play with it the more I discover. The pictures I've taken impress my family and friends because it's an awesome camera I've learned to use well. They're all jealous I can drop, submerge, nearly freeze my camera, hand it to cookie dough covered second graders and then wash it off with a little soap and water. Good to go again. A couple of friends who are in the market for a new camera are seriously considering it. You're going to like this camera and you won't regret having bought it.

 Fun camera to have when it is wet - Aug 25, 2010

The Canon PowerShot D10 is a great little camera that provides excellent images and it can take a bath. I've used it on several swimming and whitewater swim trips and it is a lot of fun. Just get you a spare battery and don't forget your charger like I did the other day. I shot the pro cameras that provide about 1000 pictures per batter charge. The D10 will give you about 300-400. I also turn the flash on even in daylight to provide fill and that sucks the juice out of the battery. It is a lot of fun to have around for the wet stuff and to journal a day. I do wish he had a lens cover. That bugs me. It does video in the .mov format. I am very pleased with mine and even take it when I go walking or into town. Never know.

 Liked it until it leaked - Aug 24, 2010

I purchased this camera for a once-in-a-lifetime snorkeling trip to the Indian Ocean, and based on several days of research opted for the Canon D10 over the Olympus Stylus Tough-6000. Coincidentally, my brother purchased the Olympus Stylus due to its lower cost and we were able to compare the cameras during the first few days of the trip. I was particularly concerned about the on-line reviews that mentioned camera leakage with the Canon, and was diligent about securing any openings and following the proper steps for cleaning after salt water exposure. The camera behaved beautifully for the first two days; picture quality underwater was superior to the Olympus camera, and I found navigating the settings much easier with the Canon camera than the Olympus. Unfortunately, despite my precautions, the camera leaked while snorkeling on the third day in mild ocean currents. The leakage happened at multiple sites, not only ruining the battery and LCD display, but also my memory card. Since I didn't have a backup camera, I wasn't able to take any more photos for the entire vacation, and the ones taken previously were also lost due to memory card corruption. The Olympus, despite my brother's less than ideal maintenance and cleaning, performed well throughout the entire month-long trip and survived snorkeling every day as well as a few small tumbles on the beach. Needless to say I was extremely disappointed with the Canon camera, and have also been a little disappointed with the difficulty connecting with customer service for a refund (two weeks in the trying and still playing phone tag).
I'm sure this was a manufacturing defect and not necessarily a reflection on this model as a whole, but I would be wary of relying on the Canon D10 as the main camera for a vacation.

 Totally Awesome camera, great value - Aug 21, 2010

Ok, I did research for a waterproof camera for three weeks before deciding on this one. It just had the best reviews of them all even the more expensive waterproof cameras. Well, I am sooo glad I made this choice. I love it! It has performed better than I imagined it would, it has done everything it said it would do (except float). I have floated the river, been on the lake, boating and playing in the pool. My kids love to swim to the bottom of the pool and take pictures, and because it is shockproof up to four feet I even let my 5 year old use it around the pool to take her pictures too. As per another reviewer I just make sure the battery department is snapped tight before we go in. All my friends want this camera now. Like I said before it doesn't really float so I would make sure and get a float strap, one that is bright in case it gets away from you. Love, love, love this camera!

 Fantastic underwater camera - Aug 20, 2010

I bought this camera for our summer vacation in the US Virgin Islands. Besides our masks and fins, this was the most important item on the trip. Everyone wanted to use it. And we had so much fun taking pictures underwater, above water and around the water. The pictures were fantastic and the videos wonderful. I made a series of slide shows and movies from all the clips that really has memorialized our vacation.

 Fantastic gadget - Aug 19, 2010

Photography is my hobby. So that you can imagine I own a Nikon D300S with nice lenses. I wanted a camera to take pictures underwater as I was going for a vacation to Bahamas. There are several cameras out there which are 'underwater', but this seemed to be the only one with max F-stop at 2.8. All the rest were from 3.5. And under the water you need much more light to take the pictures at the same ISO, so the max aperture was the main reason I chose this very camera among the rest, and this pro outweight all the cons. The price is a little bit high compared to others, but the difference is about 60-70 USD. The other cons: a little bit bulkier than others, and the LCD screen is not high resolution and bright enough to see what picture you are taking under water, especially when you are also wearing goggles.

P.S. Oh yeah, and don't forget top buy a an Olympus orange floating strap. You will need that big time.

 Love It So Far - Aug 19, 2010

Got the camera a few months ago. So far, I've used it out of water, in pool water, and in saltwater. Haven't had any problems and the resolution is excellent. Easy to understand, and easy to use.

I've taken videos and photos with it. Both with great results. I realize it's not a super high-end camera, but for my fishing, snorkeling, and everyday usage, it's an excellent camera for the application.

I also bought a floating camera strap and camera case at the same time as the camera. I highly recommend going ahead and purchasing those items - not much more money and you have then have everything you need for any potential usage for the camera.

Finally, I had a SeaLife 35mm film camera for years and was never satisfied with the quality. The first underwater shots with the D10 greatly exceeded the quality of the SeaLife and my own expectations.

 The perfect family holiday camera - Aug 17, 2010

I own an Ixus 95S and was looking for a waterproof housing for a snorkelling trip to the Bahamas and for a little more $$s I found the D10.

It was a tense moment when I threw the then brand new purchase to the kids in the pool (and they threw it around to each other often dropping) then got it covered in sun cream, then sand then sea then back in the pool then out for the evening but I can say with confidence it is both shock proof and child proof.

When we saw the quality of the pictures both above and below water, the original Ixus never left the bag and not sure it ever will again. The reef shots were very detailed after a little lighting adjustment on Photoshop perfect hue and the big screen and button made it easy to use under water. The above water holiday shots had that slightly over saturated look that most compacts lean towards but not a problem for us - some purists may not like. I prefer detail capture over saturation so I don't have to be too accurate in framing and can crop/expand later. The D10 was perfect for this as a lifeless reef shot from 10m away produced some amazing sharp fish close ups when blown up on the PC. I never once took it out of full auto mode - I was on holiday!!

My only two minor points were the size - it is too fat for a pocket and the wrist strap as if snorkelling you really need a good floating strap. Canon sell an attachment which is a crazy price so bought a cheap Olympus one with a bright orange float on it which worked perfectly. Olympus STRAP FLOAT ORANGE I am also wary of the rubber flap covering the cable socket as looks like a point of weakness (you have to make sure it is pushed fully in to ensure waterproof).

We are off skiing in February and it will be the only one travelling with us as no problem dropping this in the snow.

 battery runs out quick and super bulky - Aug 16, 2010

get the pentax way way better this cam is huge compared to other underwaters but pics are really great

 It's an OK camera, but poor on land picture quality - Aug 11, 2010

I got this camera about a year and a half ago for a trip my husband and I took to South Africa, because we were doing the shark cage diving thing and I wanted to take underwater pics. It worked OK for that purpose, but not great. The buttons were fairly easy to push with a wetsuit on, but it was very slow to take the picture in the water, so the only decent shots I got with it were luck since I just had to push the shutter as many times as I could and hope one actually caught the shark. Of course, when there's a 14ft great white 5 inches from your face, working a camera is not the top priority, so that could be partially to blame. On land, the picture quality is worse. Landscapes sort of fade away into the distance- anything far away will often be lost. There are almost no manual controls. And the size is also an issue- I thought the little blue camera was cute, but its bubble like shape makes it really hard to put in a pocket or a small purse, so it did not replace my old Canon Elph point and shoot (I usually use a Nikon D90 on land, but there are those times when you just can't or don't want to bring a giant dslr). My friend got one of the Olympus rugged waterproof cameras, and hers takes way better pictures on land and under water. We took pics of the same things using the same settings, and hers just came out a lot clearer, brighter and better. Plus, the size and shape fits in a pocket a lot better. If you need one of these type cameras, go with an Olympus instead.

 Great all-around rugged camera - Aug 11, 2010

Great camera for an active lifestyle - swimming, kayaking, hiking, boating, etc. Rugged and completely waterproof, takes great shots underwater and in most settings. A bit bulky, and I'm worried that the lens will get scratched (although so far there have been no issues). Would love to see how this handles in Caribbean waters that are very clear (so far i have mostly used in darker lakes). Great battery life as well.

 Nice Camera but a few things to be aware of - Aug 10, 2010

I bought this from Amazon for my wife who does a lot a canoeing. It's a sweet camera that takes nice pictures. However, there are a few things we are not happy with and users should be aware of. FIrst, the bar of soap / submarine shape is not very good for something you want to hold on to. It slid out of my wife's hands one time when she went to pick it up and hit the floor. One of the strap mounts popped out and it got a little ding on the corner of the LCD display. Fortunately it continued to work, remains watertight and I glued the strap button back in with some G-Flex epoxy. Second is an occasional "lens error" message that pops up. We have had three Canon cameras in this price range over the years and two out of three suffered from this problem. I figured some dirt had gotten into the mechanism that moves the optics for zooming but this is not possible for the D10. All of the mechanism is totally sealed and all motion takes place inside the camera. Dirt and water can't get in. I'm surprised that after having the "lens error" problem for about a decade that Canon hasn't resolved it. Search the web for "canon lens error". Third, be very careful using this camera where there are jets of water i.e. around a running hose, the water park, etc. The streams of water can have enough force to get past the seals in the camera. I suspect that tossing the camera into the water or moving it swiftly through the water can also breach seals in the camera. I noticed a few spots of condensation inside the LCD screen cover while taking pictures at the water park. Though the camera still worked fine, I immediately removed the battery, and set it in the sun for about an hour with battery and connector doors open. The condensation cleared and all is well.

So, nice camera but needs some help in the ergonomics department and Canon needs to dispense with the "lens error" problem some of these cameras have once and for all!!!

 bad quality camera - Aug 10, 2010

Ordered this camera for cruise trip so that kids can have fun. It works fine underwater, however the quality is bad. Use for one trip only at first 3 month, the camera stopped working and got lens error messenger. Sent back for warranty repair at my own costs and received "repaired" item back. In 3 months after repair during second use, got the same problem again. Called Canon warranty service and was told they will not replace the defected camera, but will keep repairing it till the warranty expires. Then I need to pay repair service from there. Not sure you have similar problem as mine. But be careful before you buy this item.

 Great value for the quality of pictures - Aug 10, 2010

My wedding photographer partner recommended this camera for taking to the beach and pool. I have been more than satisfied with this camera! I have Canon 5D Mark II and lots of L lenses, but I never want to take them to the beach and I'm not serious enough about water photography to buy water housing.
This was perfect for my family shots in Hawaii and when we jump in the pool. The pictures and video you can get on a sunny day are amazing, but when it is cloudy, shots will look muddy and not so good. I use the "P" mode and force the flash for best results. Also it gets hard to hold steady for video when snorkeling.
Easy to use, my wife who doesn't like electronics, has no problem with it.
My only criticisms are the size (much bulkier than other point and shoots) and that it doesn't shoot in RAW mode.

 It can't really go under water... - Aug 10, 2010

We bought this camera for our family vacation and it broke on the second day so the only vacation pics are from cell phones. The camera got water damaged when we took it into the swimming pool. That was the whole point of buying it.

 This guy takes a beating! - Aug 09, 2010

My last camera broke because I dropped it, so I bought this one partially because it's shockproof (I've already dropped it from about 4 feet).

The other reason was a a trip to Central America. I've taken it snorkeling, swimming, to the top of a volcano and through the jungle. It withstands even salt water really well (just make sure to rinse it out). The one thing I might change -- the strap is designed to attach to multiple corners of the camera. However, after the first dip into the ocean, the attachment got stuck, so I haven't been able to change it around. But other than that, I love this camera! I love not having to worry about destroying it (beach, rain, etc)and I love the photo quality of Canon powershots.

 Didn't last Eight Months - Aug 06, 2010

Bought this for my daughter for Christmas 2010. Today is August 6th and the touch pad has gone defective. We have taken the best care of this camera because she loved it so much and it takes wonderful pictures but now that I'm looking to return it it's a nightmare because I can't even find an email to send a complaint to at Canon.
Funny enough I was just boasting about this camera to a friend yesterday, saying it was expensive but worth it. Now I can just say it's like paying $40 per month for a camera!

 Surprising quality! - Aug 01, 2010

I bought the Canon PowerShot D10 this past winter, for a Caribbean vacation. I didn't have time to read the manual, but the back-panel controls were very intuitive and easy to figure out. It worked SO WELL in the water! I took it with me in the surf, in the pool, on a snorkeling trip, and the pictures all turned out wonderfully. Once I finally had time to read the manual I realized that it offers more adjustments than I'd realized - and, after playing around with it a bit, I've found it can adapt to just about any shooting situation. My "real" camera is a Nikon D80 digital SLR ... but, on my next vacation, the PowerShot is coming along instead - it's much more portable, offers just as many megapixels, and I won't need to worry about using it in the rain.

 Awesome Camera - Aug 01, 2010

I first bought the Olympus waterproof camera and I was disappointed with the picture quality. I didn't know Cannon had a waterproof/shockproof/freezproof camera as well! I've had it for about 3 weeks and I couldnt be happier! It takes great underwater shots in the pool and still is a great point and shoot. I used it bar hopping with the friends, taking pictures at the pool, and going fishing up in the Sierra's. I couldnt be happier. It was even dropped by a friend while bar hopping from about 5 ft and nothing happened to the camera's functioning.

The only thing they could add is high def video, since most camera's come with it now a days.

 Water leaked in above 33 feet - but Canon handled it well - Jul 29, 2010

Hello!

I anxiously awaited this camera because I had previously had a leaky waterproof Olympus camera. I had previous been very loyal to Canon and Nikon, and I regretted going to Olympus and having trouble. So was quite excited that Canon was getting into waterproof cameras.

The camera is great - great images, easy to use, great video, etc. But water leaked in rather quickly and at about 8 feet in a pool and then later in the ocean.

Each time it leaked, the LCD display would go off and there was water in the lens area. I was able to leave it alone for a few days each time and it would "repair itself" as it dried out. But this last time (the third time) it refused to turn on any longer. So I begrudgingly sent it in.

It's been about ten days now and I got my camera back today - a new one! I think it may be slightly updated as well. I'm very excited to have it back; it has come with perfect timing.


So yes, I do actually recommend this camera (despite the leaks) because Canon handled it well and it really is a great item.

 Does the Job - Jul 29, 2010

i don't know what the problem is? i had purchased this camera for a huge family vacation at the Bahamas. I read the reviews and the problems that might occur, (water seeping into camera etc) i did research and came to the conclusion that this was the best camera for price. After reading reviews regarding warrenty etc, i made sure i followed instructions carefully and made sure ALL CLOSURES were closed (battery flap etc)
turned out to be an excellent camera and would recommend it. Made the vacation snorkeling and swimming that much better!

 Good Product but has some issues - can't be your only camera - Jul 28, 2010

The Canon D10 malfunctioned once with the error message of "Lens Error". We read some reviews online that had the same problem. Some of the reviewers returned the product while others just waited for the error to disappear. Since this is not our only camera, we just waited till the next day. We removed the battery overnight. The next day we replaced the battery and it worked. We have not gotten that error message again but we rarely use it. I hope it works when we need it to take that breath-taking picture :)
Canon PowerShot D10 12.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD