Color (8.88)
We test the color reproduction of each camera by recording a series of photographs of our GretagMacbeth color chart, which sets the industry standard of what colors should ideally (and naturally) look like. We took several exposures of this chart with the Canon PowerShot A510 and uploaded the images into Imatest Imaging Software to analyze the produced tones. In the modified chart below, the outer square of each tile represents the color produced by the A510, the inner square represents what the color would look like when color-corrected by a computer software application, and the small vertical rectangle is the original color from the GretagMacbeth chart.

 

 

To standardize what our viewers are seeing through individually adjusted computer screens, below is a chart plotting the error of each color. The squares represent the Canon A510’s produced colors; the circles represent the ideal colors. The greater the distance between the two shapes, the greater the inaccuracy of that particular color.

 

The Canon A510 performed better than most of its PowerShot counterparts with an overall color score of 8.88. The camera tended to exaggerate the reds and blues, but was pretty accurate throughout the rest of the spectrum. The 8.88 overall color score is a big improvement on the Canon PowerShot A95’s 7.07 score and is slightly better than the score from the new SD500, an 8.12.

Still Life Scene
Below is our eccentric still life scene photographed by the Canon PowerShot A510.

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: The linked image is very large!)

 

Resolution / Sharpness (2.2)
The Canon PowerShot A510 has a 1/2.5-inch CCD under its hood with an advertised 3.2 effective megapixels of its 3.3 total MPs. To test how many pixels the A510 is actually using, we took several exposures of the International Standards Organization 12233 resolution chart and uploaded the pictures into Imatest Imaging Software. The software analyzed each picture and determined the number of pixels that were used to form the image. A camera that records within 70 percent of the advertised effective megapixel count receives a “good” designation. A camera within 80 percent receives a “very good” score, and a camera within 90 percent receives an “excellent” score — although this is quite rare.

Click on the chart for the full res image

 

The Canon PowerShot A510 used 2.2 megapixels, which is 70 percent of Canon’s advertised 3.2 megapixels. This earns the digital camera a “good” designation, but it still hovers on the relatively low end of the resolution scale.

Noise Auto ISO (9.6)
We tested the A510’s noise levels while shooting in the automatic ISO setting. Most compact digital cameras score in the 3-4 range (overall score), but this model blasted the competition with an impressive 9.6 overall noise auto ISO score. This is definitely the best automatic ISO setting on a compact digital camera that we’ve tested. The high score is impressive, but it's really attributed to the camera’s strong light sensor, which sets the camera to the lowest ISO setting when there is enough available light. While this may seem obvious, many cameras stumble in the auto ISO test because they do not accurately perceive the amount of available light and select a lower ISO rating than is needed. This will often lead to images that have far more visible noise than is necessary.

Noise Manual ISO (6.0)
The Canon A510 offers the following manual ISO ratings: 50, 100, 200, and 400. Most digital cameras perform more accurately when the ISO is manually set; however, the A510 proved that this is not always true. We tested the noise levels at each ISO rating and compiled the results into a regression analysis to determine the overall score. The results are broken down in the graph below; the horizontal axis shows the camera’s ISO ratings and the vertical axis represents the noise at each of those ratings.

 

Receiving an overall noise manual ISO score of 6.0 is quite an achievement for a compact digital camera. This camera records much less noise than most other compact PowerShot models we have tested, and I am glad to see this improvement finally appear in the PowerShot line.

Low Light (5.0)
To test the A510’s low light capabilities, we recorded multiple exposures of our GretagMacbeth color chart at four decreasing light levels. The shots were all taken without the assistance of a flash, using the camera’s highest available ISO rating (400) at varying exposure durations. The purpose of this test is to isolate the sensitivity of the image sensor to light and find the point at which the camera is no longer effective.

The images were shot at 60, 30, 15, and 5 Lux to simulate typical low light shooting conditions: 60 Lux looks like a bedroom might after dark, while 30 Lux is roughly the illumination emitted from a single 40 watt lightbulb, and 15 and 5 Lux approach relative darkness.

 

Low Light Tests
60 Lux	30 Lux
15 Lux	5 Lux

Click on the above charts for additional analysis

The A510 handled 60 Lux with relative ease, producing images that were slightly washed out but still very much discernible. This is important because 60 Lux approximates the illumination level of a range of outdoor night scenes as well as indoor shooting scenarios. Under 30 Lux, the colors began to dull and blend together. The overall composition at 30 Lux is muddy with all vibrancy lost. The image is not much noisier than at 60 Lux, but overall the image is greatly compromised. At 15 and 5 Lux color and noise analysis is virtually irrelevant as the A510 (even with an AF assist beam) could not attain focus. Uses will have to opt for external illumination when light levels drop below 30 Lux – this will include shots in moderately lit indoor scenes when the shooter and subject are not near the light source.

For night shooting, the A510 will be adequate, but certainly not stellar. The improved performance at ISO 400 helps to make the A510 one of the strongest PowerShot models for night scenes and landscapes, but it will still have some problems. Noise will be present, but not overwhelming. The only true concerns will be focus and color, though shooting nighttime colorscapes can be a good time for the user to stray from naturalism and try a more expressionistic rendering of the scene.

Speed / Timing
Start-up to First Shot (7.26)
The A510 requires over 2.7 seconds to boot up and record an exposure. This will be far too slow to capture a fleeting moment or moving object.

Shot to Shot (7.07)
Consecutive shots can be recorded 2.93 seconds apart using the A510. This is quite slow, especially considering you could power the camera off and then back on and almost maintain the same speed. Automatic focusing time and exposure lock factor into the slowed recording rate.

Shutter to Shot (8.1)
Speed is not a strong element of the A510; however, unlike start-up time and consecutive shooting rate, the A510 restricts shutter lag to just .45 seconds - not bad for a point-and-shoot. Intro Page 2 of 12 Physical Tour Canon PowerShot A510 Digital Camera Review Navigation