Top 20 Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Digital Camera Questions & Answers

I have had this same problem with Canon digital cameras. It seems that either the contacts in the camera or the batteries make a weak contact. On one such camera I can move the battery cover back and forth across the batteries and it will sometimes made good contact. Try cleaning the batteries with steel wool. I am not sure how you can improve the camera's contacts.

Dear Olia, Just a quick check on your camera. You have a focus issue so check the settings for the ISO - increase the value, eg. 800 or above and reduce the shutter speed. You can do that by the quick access dial (wheel) facing you. There are four direct access menus in a criss-cross direction. One is assigned to shooting mode - single, multi, timed etc. The other direction will have macro, standard, telephoto etc. the 3rd direction will (towards right) will take you to the ISO settings and the last will take you to the shutter speed settings. you manipulate the ISO and shutter speed and see your screen will brighten up and the subject will be clear. Refer to the picture attached. Hope this helps.

There is an issue with the camera electronics and it needs repair. Only thing is that if not under warranty, the repair cost may not be worth it and you might be better off just replacing the camera.

In windows? goto configuration screen and choose programs, then choose remove program, and in the screen that opens, goto the Canon program's (yes there are more) choose the first and click remove. Repeat this till all canon program;s are removed. Then use the CD that came with your camera, or just download the new software from Canon you can find in this link, to install the software again. Canon Support Drivers ZoomBrowser

It's possible that your camera is like my Canon 20D and 5D cameras. If so, the power switch on the back of the camera is a three position switch. Make sure you try each of the two "ON" positions as one will give full access to available buttons while the other will restrict the use of many of the buttons. Good luck

The Time/Date battery is a small round lithium battery the size of a dime in the battery compartment. You can get the numbers off it and buy one at Walmart or Ebay. Instructions for replacing it: http://www.manualslib.com/manual/275745/Canon-Powershot-Sx10-Is.html?page=267

I am presuming you are saying that when you move the screen so that it rests in the back of the camera, the screen goes blank. If so the bundle of wires connecting the screen to the camera's main board has a wire that's breaking, and unless the camera is still pretty new about all Canon will do about it is tell you to buy a new camera. That is a very common problem and it effects all their cameras as they get old but it doesn't stop the rest of the camera from working well. I've even tried to buy the cable and install it myself but Canon stops making cables a few years after they stop making that model camera. The best they will do is offer to swap you old camera for discount on a new one, that coincidentally will be so highly priced that you can buy one for less if you just look for deals on the internet. It's sad because it's really planned obsolescence that could be engineered out of their cameras if they used better quality insulated wire which would last many times longer, or were willing to continue supporting those cameras by continuing to sell that $25 part about when they know the original parts will fail. The cable wires are very thin and the relatively thick strands of wire cant' take the repeated stress they have to endure as you open and close the view screen, not that much unlike 99c store ear-buds. If they made them like Apple ear-buds, they would probably not fail until the camera was an outdated antique, but then again remember, they want you to have to buy an new one.

Unfortunately it sounds like the locking clip inside the SD card slot is broken or some how stuck? If you can try to look inside the SD card slot in the camera with a flash light, there should be a small clip like plastic to the left sticking out. That is what locks the SD card in place. See if anything is stuck in between like debris, you might gently poke that clip and see if it is stuck? That is what locks the SD card in place, if it is broken or missing, that will require some work to replace the plastic lock.

The lag time is due to a buffer overload whereby the capacitance is trying to catch up. It is like a sponge soaking up water and there is only so much room for water and the residual waits for the sponge to empty some. Your storage buffer fills and is slow to empty or expand. Your hardware may not have the capacity to act in the fashion that you wish, and perhaps a better model may me suit your needs.

Google search on the camera will find the drivers.

Do you really need the Canon software? The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa ( http://picasa.google.com ).If you really want the SX10 software, you may download it from http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/digital_cameras/other_powershot/powershot_sx10_is#DriversAndSoftware

I don't know if you have a voltage meter, but you do, check the voltage of the batteries, you just tried. I have seen many "new" batteries that aren't good, and had similar problems as a result.Even so I'd suggest a brand new set of Duracell or Energizer batteries, BUT.....Why aren't you using NiMh rechargables?????They have much more power will give you over a year of picture taking even if you shoot hundreds of pictures a day. All you need to do is make sure you charge them about once a week, even if you don't use the camera.

Here are some troubleshooting steps for this problem. And here is a video summary of these steps:

The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries. Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy selected pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy selected pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

Sounds like the unit is defective. Image upside down - will not stay on.

The SX10 has a standard flash mount, which will fit just about any flash unit. The manual recommends the Canon Speedlite 220EX, 430EX II, or 580EX II units. Other manufacturers' flash units will also work, though perhaps not as automatically.The big thing to watch for is that older (film-era) flash units may have higher trigger voltages that can fry newer digital cameras. Before buying such a unit, check this list.

Try formating your memory card first.