CANON Powershot V10
The Powershot V10 is a new vlogging compact for smartphone users looking for better quality photos, stills and audio
Canon has announced the new Powershot V10, a compact camera aimed at vloggers on-the-go, capable of recording 4K video in UHD at 29.97p and up to 15MP still images.
Canon’s new compact truly lives up to its name with petite dimensions of 63.4x90x34.3mm, making it roughly the same size as a deck of cards, so easily fits into a coat or jeans pocket. It also only weighs in at 211 grams.
Although small and lightweight, the V10 fits in some impressive features, including a 6.6mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens, this is a full-frame equivalent of 18mm when shooting stills or 19mm when shooting video. Its 1-inch back-illuminated CMOS sensor is considerably larger than those in most smartphones and paired with its bright f/2.8 maximum aperture should deliver good image quality. Although total sensor pixels are stated as 20.9MP, the ‘effective’ megapixels vary, partly due to if you’re shooting in 16:9 for videos or 3:2 ratio for stills images. Canon UK’S product team also explained: “For video: 13MP size area of the sensor is used to produce 4K and Full HD video. For stills: although the calculated pixel count adds up as 20MP, due to distortion correction the final output images end up being lower resolution at 15MP.”
Megapixels aside, we think it will be low-light scenarios where the V10 stands leagues ahead of smartphone cameras. It can shoot up to ISO6400 when recording Full HD, or up to ISO3200 for 4K, and has Movie Digital IS which crops your footage a little to produce more stable video.
Build quality
The V10 has a 2-inch flip-up touch screen that makes it easy to record self-facing videos and has a built-in stand for easy setup on flat surfaces. It can also be used as a webcam via
its USB-C connection. There’s a standard 3/8in tripod mount on the bottom of the device, though if you wish to mount the V10 in the portrait orientation you can use a bespoke cage from Smallrig which has extra mounting points.
The V10 isn’t just for smartphone users looking to improve their video and photos, it has dual stereo microphones too, as well as a 3.5mm mic port for an external microphone if preferred. This means audio should be crisp and clear, ideal for vloggers talking to camera or even journalists wanting to record an interview or podcast. It has built-in speakers too, so you can listen to your audio when playing back the recorded footage.
Video and JPEG photos are saved to the Micro SD card. However, the battery is built-in not removable, which could be a bit of a stumbling block if you plan to shoot on remote locations without mains power to recharge. Canon claims the battery life is around an hour, and unlike other compact cameras, you can record for the full hour rather than the standard 29:59 mins. It also boasts a 3-stop Movie Auto ND filter to reduce light in bright conditions to prevent overexposure, has 14 colour filters to choose from, can shoot remotely via Wi-fi and has impressive live streaming capabilities.
The Powershot V10 is on sale mid-june at £429 for the vlogging kit with lens cap, windshield and case, or the Advanced vlogging kit that comes with the Smallrig cage costing £459.
“It will be low-light scenarios where the V10 stands leagues ahead of smartphone cameras”