Canon PowerShot ELPH 510 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full HD Video and Ultra Wide Angle Lens (Black)

by Canon

• World's Thinnest Camera with 28mm Wide-Angle Lens, 12x Optical Zoom, and Optical Image Stabilizer
• 12.1 Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor
• Full HD Video Recording at 1080p in Stereo Sound
• 3.2-Inch Wide Touch Panel LCD
• Smart AUTO Funciton Based on 32 Predefined Shooting Situations

Product Details

Canon PowerShot ELPH 510 HS Camera User Guide [50.1MB PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 3.9 x 2.3 inches ; 7.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B005I6DUKS
• Item model number: 5685B001
• Batteries 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #895 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 23, 2011

Product Description

Color: Black

From the Manufacturer

The Leading Edge of Design and Technology

Beautifully and Astonishingly Thin
At a slim 0.86 inches, the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS is the world’s thinnest camera with a 28mm Wide-Angle lens, 12x Optical Zoom, and Optical Image Stabilizer.* Its stylish form is enhanced by its lustrous finish, which gives you a choice of three refined colors: Red, Black and Silver. But real beauty goes beyond skin deep with the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS. Amazingly, Canon did not sacrifice performance for style.

*As of August 23, 2011

12x Optical Zoom with 28mm Wide-Angle Lens
The PowerShot ELPH 510 HS features a powerful Genuine Canon 12x Zoom Lens that delivers outstanding optical performance and versatility. Fitting such a high-performance lens with such wide zoom range into a camera so thin would normally be considered an impossible feat. Canon’s expert optical engineering met the challenge by developing a light-folding retractable-prism lens barrel, which achieves outstanding compactness with high zoom power and superb performance. The zoom starts at 28mm wide-angle and extends to 336mm telephoto (35mm equivalent), covering an exceptionally wide range. The telephoto reach gives you the freedom to capture subjects from a considerable distance, while the 28mm wide-angle makes it easy to shoot sweeping landscapes, large groups of people and tall buildings.

Optical Image Stabilizer
Handheld shooting can often lead to camera shake, making photos and videos blurry. Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer is a sophisticated system that uses lens-shift technology to correct for unwanted camera movement. It makes handheld photography more practical, providing excellent image quality in many difficult shooting situations: outdoors at dusk, inside without a flash, and even at the telephoto end of the zoom range without a tripod. For photos, it enables shooting at slower shutter speeds, accommodating more low-light shooting situations than ever before without having to boost ISO sensitivity. With camera shake and vibration reduced, you get a sharper, steadier image. And because it is an optical system, there is none of the image degradation typical with electronic image stabilizers.

Experience the Power

Canon HS SYSTEM
The Canon HS SYSTEM lets you take bright, clear photos in an even wider range of shooting situations. Beautiful low-light shots are possible with minimal noise and maximum detail in highlight and shadow areas. The system is the result of two technologies brought together in PowerShot cameras: a high-sensitivity imaging sensor, which is able to capture more light; and the DIGIC Image Processor, which actively reduces noise with high-speed image processing. The 12.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor in the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS incorporates advanced light reception technology that enhances sensitivity. The DIGIC 4 Image Processor provides a major boost in noise reduction, expanding the usable ISO range to an amazing high of 3200. The Canon HS SYSTEM takes the frustration out of low-light shooting, delivering clear, blur-free images.

Canon DIGIC 4 Image Processor
Canon DIGIC Image Processors have set the standard for functionality and performance since their groundbreaking introduction in 1999. With each successive generation, DIGIC processors have brought elevated performance and powerful new features to PowerShot digital cameras. The DIGIC 4 processor has ushered in a new level of picture quality and accelerated processing, making possible features such as high-speed continuous shooting, Full HD video and Face Detection Self-timer. New, more powerful noise reduction algorithms also provide improved low-light capture.

Memorable Moments in Spectacular Full HD

Canon Full HD Video Advantage
In addition to the Canon HS SYSTEM, the combination of the advanced CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor in the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS makes it possible to shoot crisp, clear high definition video. Imagine the fun and excitement of being able to shoot spectacular 1080p Full HD video with stereo sound that you can later watch on your HDTV or download to your computer to share with family and friends. In addition to being able to shoot Full HD 1080p video at 24* frames per second, the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS can also shoot 720p HD video at 30** frames per second.

*Actual frame rate is 23.976 fps.
** Actual frame rate is 29.97 fps.

HDTV playback via HDMI output and CEC
It’s easy to enjoy and share the videos you shoot with the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS. Simply connect its HDMI terminal to your HDTV using an HDMI cable. And because the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS supports HDMI-CEC technology, you’ll be able to control the playback of your images and videos on any CEC-enabled HDTV using the TV’s remote control. (CEC – Consumer Electronic Control – is part of the HDMI specification, enabling components in a system to communicate with one another.)

iFrame
With the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS, you can also shoot video in the Apple iFrame format, which is a computer-friendly standard that speeds up importing and editing of videos. It keeps file sizes small, making it more convenient to upload or e-mail high-quality videos. The iFrame format enjoys native support in compatible Mac and Windows video applications, making it unnecessary to perform time-consuming and often quality-degrading conversions.


Get the Shot You Want with Just a Touch

PureColor LCD System
The PowerShot ELPH 510 HS digital camera’s large and bright 3.2-inch PureColor LCD wide screen makes it easy to view and frame your shots in high resolution (461,000 dots). PureColor technology delivers excellent contrast with rich, true-to-life color. Moreover, you can view the LCD screen over a surprisingly wide angle – above, below or to either side – without color shifts and with minimal reflections. A scratch-proof hard coating and a dust-repellent fluorine coating ensure a durable screen that dependably displays clear, vibrant images. The wide aspect ratio (16:9) provides ample room for information icons and touch buttons, preventing them from getting in the way of the image, and you can enjoy a brilliant full-screen image when shooting or playing back your Full HD videos.

Touch Panel LCD with Touch Shutter
The PowerShot ELPH 510 HS features touch panel technology that makes using the camera more intuitive and fun. Simply touch the screen to choose and track an AF point, change camera settings, record and play videos and much, much more! It also has an innovative Touch Shutter function that allows you to release the shutter right from the screen. Just touch the desired subject with your finger. An AF box will appear and track the subject as it moves. Then just lift your finger to release the shutter. It’s that simple.

A PowerShot that Keeps Up with the Action

High-Speed Burst Mode
Capture amazing action shots like the pros with the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS camera. Using High-Speed Burst mode,* you can shoot at exceptionally high speeds – 7.8 frames per second. It’s a great feature for those who enjoy taking pictures at sporting events. High-Speed Burst is also an excellent way to make sure you capture that perfect instant in time when shooting any moving subject.

*Image resolution is 1984 x 1488 pixels when shooting in High-Speed Burst mode.

Super Slow Motion
The Super Slow Motion Movie mode* on the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS gives you a fun and useful option when shooting videos. It records video clips at a very high speed – up to approximately 240 frames per second. When the clips are played at normal speed (30 fps), the action is dramatically slower. This video shooting mode can be used to capture memorable plays at sporting events or to analyze and study motion.

*Records 640 x 480 pixels at 120 fps and 320 x 420 pixels at 240 fps.

A Steady Image Is a Beautiful Image

Intelligent IS
The latest advance in Canon Optical Image Stabilization technology, Intelligent IS analyzes camera movement and applies the best shake correction method for the shooting situation. For stills, the system automatically selects among Normal, Panning, Macro (Hybrid) and Tripod IS modes. When shooting video, the system automatically selects among Dynamic, Powered, Macro and Tripod IS modes. With Intelligent IS, you can concentrate on image capture, letting the camera make the most effective IS settings to assure the steadiest possible image.

Normal Corrects for a wide range of camera movement when shooting stills.	Panning Panning motion is detected so that IS does not interfere with desired camera movement.	Hybrid Corrects for shift-type camera shake, which typically occurs in macro (close-up) shooting.	Dynamic Effective for video shooting at wide-angle focal lengths, eliminating the unwanted shaking that typically occurs while walking.	Powered Compensates for hand movement when shooting video at the telephoto end of the zoom range, where camera shake is magnified.	Tripod When tripod use is detected, the Image Stabilizer is stopped because it is not needed.

A Smarter Camera Means Better Photos and Videos

Smart AUTO
Photographers of all levels appreciate a camera – especially a go-anywhere compact digital – that takes the hassle out of capturing beautiful images. The PowerShot ELPH 510 HS gives you Smart AUTO – sophisticated Canon technology that makes getting that great shot as simple as pressing the shutter button. Smart AUTO automatically detects scenes by assessing various factors in both the background and the subject. Detected scenes are analyzed using 32 predefined shooting situations. The camera then makes optimal settings to ensure the best possible image capture, whether you’re shooting stills or video. Smart AUTO also includes Advanced Subject Detection, which allows the camera to detect and track non-human moving subjects like animals and vehicles. With Smart AUTO, all you have to do is frame your shot and capture away.

Shooting Modes/Special Scene Modes

Smart AUTO	The camera automatically selects the best shooting settings for optimal quality based on subjects and environmental factors to provide point-and-shoot simplicity.
Kids & Pets	Reduced focusing time freezes fast-moving subjects, so you won't miss those special shots.
Portrait	The camera sets a large aperture, focusing the subject and artistically blurring the background to make your subject “pop.”
High-Speed Burst	The camera shoots continuously at a high speed while you hold down the shutter.
Low Light	For high quality image capture in an amazing range of dimly-lit situations.
Toy Camera Effect	Simulates photos taken with "toy" or pinhole cameras, darkening the image at the edges to create a vignette effect.
Poster Effect	Poster Effect combines several similar shades into one color, turning subtle gradations into eye-catching, scene-popping contrasts.
Beach	Beach Get clear shots of people at a sunny beach without darkened faces.
Fireworks	Grab brilliant images of skyrocketing fireworks.
Super Slow Motion Movie	Record your clips in high speed (approx. 240 fps), and then watch your videos in slow motion.
Program	Access advanced exposure compensation features while shooting mostly automatically.
Fisheye Effect	Add a classic photo distortion without a fisheye lens.
Best Image Selection	The camera takes five photos in succession, and then chooses the best one out of the bunch.
Monochrome	Choose from three single-tone effects: Black-and-White, Sepia, or Blue.
Color Accent	Choose to retain a single color in your image while other colors turn monochrome.
Foliage	Capture brilliant shots of autumn foliage, greenery and blossoms.
Long Shutter	Use to blur moving subjects for artistic effect, ideal for urban night photography.
Movie Digest	Records a video clip before capturing a still image and then combines one day’s worth of clips into a video.
Smart Shutter	The camera automatically takes the photo when people smile, wink, or get into frame.
Handheld Night Scene	Suppresses image blur even without the help of a tripod.
Miniature Effect for Movies & Stills	Emphasizes perspectives for a miniature effect by blurring upper and bottom portions of the image.
Super Vivid Super	Vivid intensifies existing hues, saturating the scene with bright colors.
Color Swap	Select a color and replace it with a color you specify for special effects.
Snow	Shoot clear snow scenes without darkened subjects or an unnatural bluish tint.
iFrame Movie	The Apple® movie format, iFrame, makes it easier and quicker to import and upload videos while retaining high image quality.

Easier, More Enjoyable Photography

Face Detection Technology including Smart Shutter
Special Scene Modes
Best Image Selection

What's in the Box
 PowerShot ELPH 510 HS Body
• Battery Pack NB-9L
• Battery Charger CB-2LB
• Wrist Strap WS-DC10
• USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
• Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM

Product Description

World’s thinnest camera with 28mm Wide-Angle lens, 12x Optical Zoom, and Optical Image Stabilizer. 12.1 Megapixel CMOS image sensor combined with Canon’s DIGIC 4 Image Processor creates the Canon HS SYSTEM for outstanding low-light performance up to ISO 3200. Capture stunning Full HD 1080p video in stereo sound with a dedicated movie button, zoom while shooting and play back videos on an HDTV via the HDMI output. A 3.2-inch wide touch panel LCD offers easy and intuitive operation, and Touch-shutter makes shooting easy and interactive. High-Speed Burst Mode allows continuous shooting and Super Slow Motion Movie records video at high speeds to allow playback in slow motion. Intelligent IS automatically chooses from six different modes to optimize image stabilization for the shooting condition. Improved Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper settings for the camera based on 32 predefined shooting situations. Movie Digest Mode records a short video clip right before shooting a photo and then combines one day’s worth of clips into one video. There is no SD card included.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

546 of 562 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Oh Canon, what have you done??? October 21, 2011

By S. Scott

Color Name:Silver|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me start by saying I am a huge Canon fan boy. I brag about Canon like people brag about Apple or a Toyota Prius. I own two Canon DSLRs (5D and 40D) and several Canon point and shoots (including the S90 and SD800IS) and always recommend Canon to anyone buying a digital camera.

I bought this camera for my wife to upgrade her SD800IS and chose it because of the large screen, big zoom, and HD video capability (all great features). After four days of shooting, I returned it. Read on ...

The good.
Photos in bright light = 5 stars (normal great Canon photos like you would expect). The photos in brighter light were all fairly good and the screen is large and looks great.

Zoom = 5 stars. The camera zooms in/out REALLY fast which is great when you're trying to take pics of action shots or something that's moving fairly quickly. Loved having the big zoom.

The not so good.
Photos in low light (automatic mode) = 1 star. If the distance of your subject is more than about three feet, the camera would switch to shooting at 1/16th (bad) of a second and closer than three feet would shoot at 1/60th of a second (good). So when photographing my kids, that move frequently, many of the shots would blur because the shutter speed at 1/16th was just too slow. When I switched to program (manual) mode and put the flash to ON instead of to AUTO the camera switched back to 1/60 and the shots are fine but for an automatic user, this is awful when shooting subjects in the three to six feet range where the flash is still significant.

Screen = 2 stars. While the screen is very large, I think it's using a resistive display which is what the original touch smart phones used (now all using capacitive). This requires much more pressure when touching the screen than say and iphone or android phone. The touch interface itself is also fairly clumsy and needs some work when navigating the menus. One nice feature is the ability to touch the screen anywhere in order focus to that point of the frame (like an iphone does which is great) but by holding that point a bit longer, it also fires the shot and takes the picture which caused quite a few accidental shots (not so great). Similarly, to take videos, you also press the video icon on the screen so if you have the camera in your lap (which we did at one point) you may end up taking a bunch of accidental videos of your lap (which we did several times).

Battery = 1 star. I took the camera to Disneyland for the day and the battery lasted from about 8AM to about 3PM, that's all (compared to my 800IS that would last literally and entire trip). The battery itself is shaped like a tube and is smaller than a chapstick container. Not sure why they went with such a small battery when they have that big screen to power.

Video = 1 star. The video was the actual deal break for me and caused me to return the camera. While the videos looked great, the sound was horrible. In one video, all you can hear is background noise and not the people that are talking that are only several feet from the camera. The camera also lets you zoom in/out when shooting video which is awesome; however, when zooming while videoing, you can hear the buzz of the lens moving in/out which is horrible. With all my other Canon cameras, I've never had any of these video issues.

103 of 107 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars On the fence still... October 20, 2011

By MKinz

Color Name:Red|Amazon Verified Purchase

First, let me say I purchased the Powershot 510 and the Powershot 310. The 510 is a much more solid camera and a lot less plastic than the 310. I think my two largest complaints and frustration comes with the touch screen and the 12 power zoom. The touch screen drains the battery faster than my other Canon Powershot cameras and the zoom is incredibly difficult to get stable when at full 12 power and my pictures haven't turned out as well as I would like at that distance. Overall, I really didn't like the Canon Powershot 310, so I am on the fence as to whether or not I will keep this one. I have a few more days to think about it. For now... here is a more detailed list of pros and cons:

Pros:
- Takes incredibly good photos with regard to color.
- Easy to use.
- The vivid setting is great for flowers and fall colors.
- I love the fisheye effect without having to carry around my Canon DSLR camera and lenses. I also love having the wide angle.
- The miniature setting is kind of fun to use.
- Feels incredibly heavy and solid, unlike the new 310.
- Fits easily in my purse and pocket.

Cons:
- Can't stand having finger prints all over the screen when I go to take my picture.
- Touch screen drains the battery pretty quickly over the other Canon Powershot cameras.
- When zooming out, it is very difficult to keep it steady.

Not sure what to order if I send this one back. So, I am still on the fence, as I am partial to Canon cameras over Nikons. The red color is not as it is shown in the picture. It is more of a rust/burgandy color of red... it has a bit more brown to it, but I actually like it.

UPDATE: 12/12/2011 - I ended up sending this one back and kept the Canon 310. I am really glad I did. I get a great battery life and when I compared the photos on this camera vs. the 510, the photos had better color and looked a lot more crisp from the 310. I am happy with my decision.

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Works for me February 10, 2012

By Harry

Color Name:Silver|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have had this camer for about a week and so far, it has met or exceeded all of my expectations. I bought it as an upgrade from a Canon PowerShot A710 IS that I have had for years and which has served me very well. I bought the ELPH 510 HS primarily for the longer zoom and the more compact size. The extra megapixels were not a big factor for me. I have been experimenting with the camera and exploring the features and capabilities. I have read the reviews and the complaints about short battery life. The camera comes with a relatively low power battery (870mAh). I was able to burn through that in an afternoon of playing with the camera, taking and viewing shots, video, etc. and hardly turning off the power at all. I bought a pair of 1200mAh batteries for spares. They provide almost 50% more power which should translate to more photos and video between charges.

I am totally satisfied with the camera. It is not a full size digital SLR, which I also considered. But, I wanted a camera that I could keep with me that would give me more flexibility and better pictures than my smart phone. While I am certain the full size camera would provide even more capabilities, it wouldn't do me any good if it was inconvenient to carry along. This camera provides all of the essential, and many not so essential, features that I wanted. It takes great pictures in nearly all lighting conditions. The AUTO mode works pretty well for most shots. I did, however, find that using some of the other scene modes can make a difference, i.e. using Kids & Pets mode when shooting pictures of the grandkids seems to speed up the focus process and results in a better picture. The video is outstanding, especially for the compact size of the camera. I have read reviews claiming that you could hear noise from the zoom while shooting video. I have not noticed that to be a problem.

I like the touch screen. It does take more pressure than my smart phone, but it is not problematic. The menus are intelligently constructed and make it quick and easy to find what you need. I love the way the switches work for powering on the camera, switching between shooting and viewing, and between snapshots and video. The camera is always ready to do whatever you want. The power on time is faster than my previous camera. It is also faster between shots. So, I have no complaints.

The video diary feature is quite nice, but is limited to low resolution video. The same is true for some of the other rapid shooting features, like the five shot group where the camera picks the best shot, or the 8 shot burst, or the continuous shooting. These features work well, but do not produce HD size images. These are the only features of the camera that have not lived up to my hopes.

I also did an accidental drop test on the camera. I had it in my shirt pocket. I dropped something else and when I bent down to pick up what I had dropped, the camera fell out of my shirt pocket onto a tile floor. It powered on just fine and everything seemed to work just fine, but it seemed like it took the image stabilization a little while to reorient itself. It has been working flawlessly since.

One feature that I was looking forward to was the ability to control the camera from the TV remote when connected via an HDMI cable. That does not work with my TV even though it has an HDMI CEC capability. The camera user guide warns that this could be the case. So, I have to hold the camera and manually control it when sharing photos and video with the camera connected to the TV. The full HD video is great. No need to carry a separate video camera anymore.

The bottom line -- This is a very capable, very compact camera that takes very good photos and video. I am completely satisfied and would recommend it.