Canon PowerShot A10Canon introduces a "value priced, full featured" 1.3 megapixel with 3x zoom lens and great image quality!<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 5/16/2001 |
Video Out
The A10 does not feature a Video Out connector jack.
PowerThe PowerShot A10 is powered by four AA batteries, either alkaline or rechargeable NiMH. Canon warns against using manganese or lithium batteries, which may overheat or cause explosions or leaks, and NiCd batteries, because their performance is unreliable. Four AA alkaline batteries accompany the camera, but we highly recommend picking up a couple of sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries and keeping a spare set freshly charged at all times (Canon offers a CBK100 charger and rechargeable NiMH batteries as an option). Canon estimates that a freshly charged set of Canon NB-1AH AA NiMH batteries should record roughly 350 shots with the LCD monitor on, or 1,000 shots with the LCD off (or provide 240 minutes of playback time). A red battery icon flashes in the LCD display whenever the batteries are getting low.
Because the A10 offers an optical viewfinder as well as an LCD monitor, you can operate the camera more efficiently without the LCD monitor in use. While an information display automatically appears on the LCD screen whenever a control button is pressed (even when the LCD monitor is turned off), the display quickly disappears a few seconds after the adjustment is made. There's also an Auto Power Down feature, enabled through the Setup menu, which turns off the camera after a few minutes of inactivity. Canon offers an optional AC Adapter Kit for connection to the camera's DC In jack and a standard electrical power supply. This is highly recommended for time-consuming tasks such as downloading images to a computer.
The A10 also uses a CR2016 lithium battery to power its internal clock. If the LCD monitor displays the Set Date/Time menu when the camera is powered on, the CR2016 battery is running low.
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(At 4.3v) |
(Watts) |
| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
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| Capture Mode, no LCD |
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| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
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| Half-pressed w/o LCD |
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| Memory Write (transient) |
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| Flash Recharge (transient) |
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| Image Playback |
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The A10's power consumption was also somewhat lower than that of the A20,
again suggesting different electronics. (The lower-res CCD would likely take
a bit less power, but playback power is lower as well.) With a high-capacity
set of AA NiMH rechargeable batteries, we'd estimate nearly three hours of
run time in capture mode with the LCD on, and easily four hours in playback
mode. This is excellent battery life, but we still suggest (as always) packing
a second set of batteries.
About
Batteries
We've gotten so many emails about power issues for digicams, that we're now
inserting this standard notice in the reviews of all AA-powered cameras on
our site: Don't even *think* about using alkaline AA batteries in a digicam!
Despite their being packed in the box with many cameras, they simply don't
have the juice to handle typical digicam demands. (Even the "high power"
ones the battery manufacturers say are designed for devices like digital cameras.)
Spend the $35-40 or so it takes to get a set (or two) of high-capacity NiMH
rechargeable batteries and a good charger! The few dollars up front will save
you literally hundreds of dollars in the long run, not to mention the hassle
of wimpy batteries running out in the middle of the action. We suggest you
buy two sets of batteries, so one can always be in the charger, ready to go,
and so have two sets available for longer excursions. Good brands of batteries
include Maha (our favorite), GP, Kodak, and Nexcell. Also, buy the highest
capacity AAs the manufacturer makes, the few extra dollars for the extra capacity
is usually well worth it. Getting a good charger is critical though, almost
more so than buying good batteries. We recommend the Maha C-204F (see the
photo at right), the charger we use the most in our own studio. - Read our
review
of it for all the details. Or, just click
here to buy one, you won't regret it.
Included Software
Packaged with the A10 is a software CD containing Canon's Digital Camera Solution
Disk Version 4.0, which is compatible with Windows 95/98/98SE/2000/Me/NT 4.0
and Macintosh OS 8.1 or higher. The Solution Disk software provides an image
browser tool that handles image downloading, manages files (displays, moves,
copies, etc.), sets up images for printing, and allows you to set up images
for e-mail. The included PhotoStitch software allows you to connect panoramic
sequence images by automatically arranging them in the correct order. The
software also assists with cropping and alignment. A Remote Capture utility
allows you to operate the camera from the computer and control various exposure
features remotely. Remote Capture also offers a time-lapse function, which
takes a series of still images at specified intervals.
In the Box
Packaged with the PowerShot A10 are the following items:
- WS-200 Wrist strap
- Four AA alkaline batteries
- IFC-300PCU Interface USB cable
- 8MB CompactFlash Type I memory card
- Software CD containing Canon Solution Disk Version 4 software
- Camera User Guide
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