Canon IXUS 510 HS review

Canon's 10.1MP, Wi-Fi-enabled attempt to wrestle with camera phones

Canon IXUS 510 HS review
Canon has introduced Wi-Fi for uploading photos straight to Facebook and more on this 10MP compact camera

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The Canon IXUS 510 HS offers an enormous amount to the casual photographer. In particular, the ability to send images to the internet is useful for those who don't want to travel with a laptop in tow. Alternatively, being able to send images to an iPad - which could be loaded with an image editing app - is a good way of processing and sending shots.

Other aspects of the wireless features feel a little under-developed - it would be nice if you could define Facebook albums, for instance, or single email addresses.

We liked

The Canon IXUS 510 HS is a very reasonable amount of camera for the money, with the long lens and integrated Wi-Fi being particular draws. It's good value as long as you're sure you'll use the extra features.

We disliked

The aesthetics-led design makes for a camera that's occasionally awkward, and the Wi-Fi, while certainly useful as it is, could do with a few more features.

Final verdict

Build and image quality are both more than up to par, leaving you only with the unpleasant task of actually paying for the Canon IXUS 510 HS.

At around £350 (about $550), it's expensive for a compact camera; in fact, it's actually a little more than Canon's cheapest DSLR, the Canon EOS 1100D, is currently selling for in some places, albeit without a lens.

If you're willing to compromise on the integrated Wi-Fi and a bit of lens length, you'll find cheaper cameras out there, but it's unlikely you'll find anything more convenient.

Dave is a professional photographer whose work has appeared everywhere from National Geographic to the Guardian. Along the way he’s been commissioned to shoot zoo animals, luxury tech, the occasional car, countless headshots and the Northern Lights. As a videographer he’s filmed gorillas, talking heads, corporate events and the occasional penguin. He loves a good gadget but his favourite bit of kit (at the moment) is a Canon EOS T80 35mm film camera he picked up on eBay for £18.