Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

The Canon PowerShot SX10, successor to the popular and top-rated Canon PowerShot S5 IS (*Est. $350), wins accolades from reviewers and users as a robust and versatile camera. The Canon SX10 has plenty of upgrades, among them a faster processor and 10 megapixels. Most notable, however, is the whopping 20x zoom lens, with a 28 mm wide angle so it's great for close-ups and panoramic shots. Like other cameras in its class, the Canon PowerShot SX10's zoom is supported by optical image stabilization to reduce image blur in the upper telephoto ranges. Fast shutter speeds include a 1.5-second power-up and shoot speed, as well as nearly instantaneous prefocus shutter snap. Additional upgrades abound: a higher-resolution LCD display and electronic view finder, the addition of MMC Plus and HC MMC Plus memory-card support, increased battery life and an additional 13 minutes of movie recording time, for a total of 45 minutes. The 2.5-inch LCD display is small for a camera in this class, but the flip-out screen gives you flexibility for over-the-head shots or self-portraits.  

These features are formidable but not without shortcomings. An obvious issue is size. The hefty Canon PowerShot SX10 weighs 19.8 ounces, as much as some digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. Reviewers also criticize the lack of RAW support and HD movies. Lori Grunin of CNET notes that these features are available in other cameras in this class, such as the less expensive Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 (*Est. $275). Other common denominators among expert and user reviews include the lack of internal memory,  imprecise autofocus, problems shooting in low-light conditions and some image artifacts, although overall, image quality rates highly. For a few, these setbacks undermine the Canon PowerShot SX10's value, especially given the more affordable and user-friendly Panasonic FZ28. For most, though, the Canon PowerShot SX10 can't be beat, and it takes top honors among reviewers, particularly among other 20x ultra-zoom cameras.

CNET, Imaging-Resource.com, DCResource.com and DPReview.com offer the most in-depth testing and evaluations of the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. ConsumerReports.org includes the SX10 in its comprehensive digital camera report. Topping off our sources are more than 250 user reviews at Amazon.com that reveal problems experienced by a wide range of users over an extended period of time.