Canon PowerShot D10

By Leonard Goh
Aug 5, 2009

Not too long ago Olympus was the only major player in the rugged camera segment. Then earlier this year, Panasonic joined the fray with the Lumix DMC-FT1. Now Canon, not to be ousted, has introduced the PowerShot D10.

The D10 is the Japanese company's first tough digital camera, and it has decent hardy specifications to pit itself against the competition. However, Canon told us the main selling point of this shooter is its lens design, which we will elaborate on later in the review. The other specifications are pretty standard, and the picture quality is what you'll expect from Canon--better than its rivals.

Design

Looks-wise, the PowerShot D10 provoked two extreme reactions when we showed it to other people--they either thought it looked cute, or that it was downright ugly. This was hardly surprising, given that this rugged camera takes on a rather radical approach to design compared with similar offerings. If one has to describe this, the D10 looks like a submarine with rounded edges. That said, design is subjective, so it's really up to the individual whether he likes it or not.

At the four corners of the D10 are mounts which allow you to attach accessories such as a shoulder strap to secure the camera. Canon has also introduced other peripherals to suit users with active lifestyles such as a carabiner strap for rock climbers. It's easy to fix the straps onto the point-and-shoot--just plug in and turn until you hear a click. However, you won't be able to use your own straps as the shooter doesn't support unauthorized third-party ones.

The battery cover is difficult to open and this is good for a shooter that can dive down to 10m depths. However, users with short fingernails may experience some difficulty prising open the cover, like this reviewer.

The slightly bulky body means the D10 is comfortable to hold and the front cover has a rubbery texture which adds to the grip. Divers who are wearing gloves or holiday-makers in cold countries will find the large buttons on the point-and-shoot easy to press. However, we noticed the four-way navigation buttons are a tad too close to each other and there were instances where we pressed two buttons at once.

One thing to note about the D10 is that you are able to change the front plate, much like Nokia phones of the past. The snapper ships with an aquamarine plate, but you can purchase the camouflage, orange and black covers as a bundle for S$59 (US$42.57). Other accessories such as the straps and soft case range between S$49 (US$35.35) and S$89 (US$64.21).

Tags: Strap, Nokia Corp., Camera, D10, phone

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