Canon PowerShot V10 Black 2023

A pocket vlogging studio with a great sensor and a frustrating autofocus system. Buy it for the form factor, not the performance.

The 20.9MP 1-inch sensor is the star here. It's the same guts as the popular G-series, so low light footage looks cleaner than you'd expect from a camera this size. The 19mm equivalent lens is wide enough to keep your arm from falling off during selfie shots, and the 4K30 video is crisp. But the autofocus is a letdown. 31 AF points and subject detection sound fine on paper, but in practice it hunts more than we'd like. The 30fps burst is fun for stills, but the 15.2 effective megapixels in photo mode feels like an afterthought. The 2-inch tilt screen is sharp and responsive, but it's tiny. You'll squint.

The V10 doesn't really compete with the Panasonic Lumix G9 II or Fujifilm X-S20. Those are proper hybrid cameras with interchangeable lenses and real autofocus systems. The Sony Alpha a6600 is a closer rival for vlogging, and it smokes the V10 in autofocus and lens flexibility, but it's bigger and pricier. The Nikon Z5 is a full-frame stills monster, but it's not a pocket vlogging tool. Honestly, the V10's real competition is your smartphone. If you have a recent iPhone or Pixel, you already have better autofocus and a screen that's actually usable. The V10 wins on sensor size and the built-in stand, but that's about it.

At USD 380 to USD 480 depending on the vendor, the V10 is priced like a serious tool but feels like a toy in hand. The cheapest US listing at USD 380 is the one to grab if you're set on it. But even then, you're paying for the form factor and the sensor, not the build or autofocus. If you can find it closer to USD 380, it's a decent deal for a dedicated vlogging cam. At USD 480, you're getting fleeced.

The Canon PowerShot V10 is a weird little camera that makes total sense once you hold it. It's a vlogging machine first, stills camera second, and it nails the one thing it was built for: making you look good on video without thinking about it. The 1-inch sensor from the G-series pulls its weight, and the built-in stand plus stereo mics mean you can just set it down and go. But don't expect a do-everything camera. This is a specialist, and it knows it.

If you're looking for a hybrid camera that does stills and video equally well, this isn't it. Go get a Sony Alpha a6600 or a Fujifilm X-S20 instead. And if you already have a flagship smartphone from the last two years, you probably don't need this at all.

The Canon PowerShot V10 is a one-trick pony, but it's a pretty good trick. If you're a vlogger or streamer who wants a dedicated, pocketable camera with a big sensor and a built-in stand, this is a solid pick, especially at the lower end of the price range. But if you need reliable autofocus or any kind of stills performance, look elsewhere. This is a video-first, video-only machine.