Remember the Canon PowerShot D10?
The company's first ruggedized underwater cam was a solid snapper, but
its bulky submarine-like design made it impractical for most
surface-based shoots. The PowerShot D20
offers a drastic improvement over its predecessor in the appearance
department, more closely resembling a compact point-and-shoot than a
subaqueous vessel. We can't speak to the cam's image quality just yet,
but assuming its on-par with the D10, we'd say the latest D model is
worth some serious consideration as an upgrade, even for a reduction in
footprint alone. The D20 includes a 12.1-megapixel HS (high-sensitivity)
CMOS sensor, a bright 3-inch LCD and a 5x 28mm optically stabilized
zoom lens. It's waterproof to depths of 10 meters (33 feet), can survive
drops from a height of 1.5 meters (5 feet) and can operate in
temperatures ranging from 14 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. There's
also a top sensitivity of ISO 3200, and a built-in GPS.
We spent a few minutes with the D20 at Canon's booth at CP+ 2012
in Yokohama, Japan, and were quite impressed with the improved design.
Naturally, it's a solid-feeling point-and-shoot, with protected
components and airtight port covers. Company reps didn't bat an eye when
we unintentionally tested the camera's durability with a mild drop.
There's a standard-issue PowerShot interface, with a fairly
straightforward menu structure, and the camera felt plenty snappy,
focusing and firing off an image almost instantaneously. It's noticeably
larger than the company's more compact land-limited models, but there's
no reason you wouldn't feel just as comfortable using this to shoot
your child's first birthday party as you would their first scuba lesson.
The $349 PowerShot D20 won't be hitting stores until May, but you can
jump past the break for a quick look in the meantime.
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