"Picky Details" for the Canon PowerShot SD10 digital camera
(Timing, Power, and Storage Info)
Timing
I measure both cycle times and shutter delay times, using a test system I designed and built for the purpose. (Crystal-controlled, with a resolution of 01 second.) Here are the numbers I collected for the Canon SD10:
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(secs) |
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| Power On -> First shot | |
LCD turns on and lens extends forward. On the fast side of average. |
| Shutdown | |
Lens retracts to be stowed. May take up to 16-17 seconds to finish writing to the memory card before you can remove it, if you've just shot a long series of images. |
| Play to Record, first shot | |
Time until first shot is captured. Average to slower than average. |
| Record to play | |
Time to display a large/fine file after capture. Average. |
| Shutter lag, full autofocus | |
First time is at full wide-angle, second is full telephoto. Slower than average. |
| Shutter lag, prefocus | |
Time to capture, after half-pressing shutter button. Extremely fast. |
| Cycle Time, max/min resolution | 2.83 |
First number is for large/fine files, second number is time for small/basic images. Times are averages. In large/fine mode, shoots this fast for 4 shots, then slows to 6.8 seconds per shot. In small/basic mode, the buffer holds more than 35 frames. (I got tired of pressing the shutter button after 35 shots. ;-) Buffer takes ~16 seconds to clear. Overall slower than average, although not unusual for a subcompact camera. |
| Cycle Time, continuous mode, max/min resolution | 1.07 / 1.01 |
First number is for large/fine files, second number is time for small/basic images. Times are averages. Regardless of image size, interval between first two shots is 1.24 seconds, drops to 0.98 seconds for subsequent shots in large/fine mode, 1.0 seconds in small/basic mode. Buffer holds 4 large/fine shots before slowing to 4.45 seconds per frame. Buffer holds 40+ images in small/basic mode. Buffer takes ~16.3 seconds to clear regardless of image size. |
Like many subcompact cameras, the SD10 is a bit on the slow side of average. Its full-autofocus shutter lag is slower than average at 1.22 seconds, but like most Canon cameras, its prefocus shutter response is blazingly fast at 0.049 seconds. Shot to shot cycle time is also on the slow side, at about 3.2 seconds, although its continuous-mode speed of one frame/second is somewhat better.
Power
The PowerShot SD10 uses a custom rechargeable LiIon battery for power.
I haven't yet conducted explicit measurements of the SD10, but its battery life seems to be fairly typical (eg, on the short side) for a subcompact camera.
Storage Capacity
The SD10 stores its photos on SD memory cards, and a 32 MB card is included with the camera. (I strongly recommend buying at least a 64 MB card, preferably a 128 MB one, to give yourself extra space for extended outings.) The chart below shows how many images can be stored on the included 32 MB card at each size/quality setting.
| Resolution/Quality 32 MB Memory Card |
Fine | Normal | |
|
| 2,272 x 1,704 | Images (Avg size) |
15 2.1 MB |
27 1.2 MB |
54 593 KB |
| Approx. Compression |
6:1 | 10:1 | 20:1 | |
| 1,600 x 1,200 | Images (Avg size) |
30 1.1 MB |
54 593 KB |
102 311 KB |
| Approx. Compression |
5:1 | 10:1 | 19:1 | |
| 1,024 x 768 | Images (Avg size) |
52 607 KB |
93 344 KB |
162 197 KB |
| Approx. Compression |
4:1 | 7:1 |
12:1 |
|
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Images (Avg size) |
115 278 KB |
177 180 KB |
115 KB |
| Approx. Compression |
3:1 | 5:1 | |
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Download Speed
The PowerShot SD10 connects to a host computer via a USB interface.
Downloading files to a Sony desktop running Windows XP, I clocked it
at 614 KBytes/second. This is about as fast as cameras with USB v1.1
interfaces get. (Cameras with slow USB interfaces run as low as 300
KB/s, cameras with fast v1.1 interfaces run as high as 600 KB/s. Cameras
with USB v2.0 interfaces run as fast as several megabytes/second.)
SD10 Test Images
SD10 Specifications
SD10 "Picky Details"
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