The Canon PowerShot D20 is a rugged waterproof camera designed for use outdoors in the kind of environmental conditions you'd hesitate to take a conventional camera. It's waterproof to a depth of 10 Metres, dustproof, shockproof and can be used in temperatures from -10 to 40 degrees Celsius.

5x stabilised optical zoom; Designed for purpose; 1080p24 video recording; built-in GPS receiver with track log

Very poor continuous shooting; Poor noise handling; No 'door open' warning; Relatively expensive

The Canon PowerShot D20 ($349.99 direct) is a very tough 12-megapixel camera with a fun aqua and black design and a sharp 5x zoom lens. It can go as deep as 33 feet underwater, survive drops up to five feet, and operate in temperatures as low as 14°F.

Large, even for a rugged camera; So-so speeds.

The Canon PowerShot D20 is one of the better waterproof cameras we've tested, featuring a rugged, element-defying design. Its 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor and 28-140mm zoom lens deliver good quality still and video images, but not good enough that you'll be mistaking the Canon D20 for an...

Curvy and comfortable to hold; 28-140mm zoom lens; the Canon D20 has a solid zoom range; Large 3-inch LCD display perfect for outdoor viewing; even in bright sunlight; Simple; easy menu navigation; Diverse array of shooting modes; filters and effects -- including; appropriately; Fisheye; Manual

A little awkward to operate one-handed; Bigger than most other waterproof cameras in its class (though this could be also seen as a positive; depending on what you're looking for; No in-camera panorama mode; Power-up; shutter lag and shot recycle times at best average; Chromatic aberration and

By our count, there are no less than 15 new waterproof cameras in the 2012 model year. We've never seen the pool so crowded before. The industry is counting on these adventure-ready cameras to close the sales gap left where cheap point-and-shoots used to be.

Nice outdoor photos; Waterproof and drop-proof design

Mediocre lens hurts image quality; Feature set is relatively sparse

Canon's second underwater-dedicated compact camera, the PowerShot D20, is chocked full of impressive features and functions that include a 12.1MP HS System, a 28mm wide lens with 5x optical zoom, GPS tagging, Full HD movie quality and a bright 3-inch LCD display.

After a few years of waiting, Canon has finally released its next lifeproof camera, the PowerShot D20. Features like a 12.1-Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS imaging sensor, DIGIC 4 image processor, Intelligent IS optical image stabilization, 5x optical zoom lens, built-in GPS and full 1080p HD video...

Smart Auto shooting mode is accurate and easy in all situations; detects up to 58 scenes; Dedicated Video Capture Button is always ready to record; "Tough" features: Waterproof; Dustproof; Shockproof and Freezeproof protect the camera; Solid built feels sturdy; Excellent image quality; Intelligent...

Using the GPS shortens the battery life considerably; Battery Life is less than 300 images; not very much for an adventurous trip; Screen can be hard to see underwater at certain angles; Placement of the Playback button is odd; and caused confusion when shooting

Canon has finally got round to expanding its range of waterproof compacts with the PowerShot D20 (the D10 was launched at the beginning of 2009, after all).

Waterproof to 10 m; shockproof from 1.5 m; Excellent macro mode; Good image quality up to 400 ISO; Clear; user-friendly interface; GPS with journey tracker function

Handling could be improved; Photos with flash are slow to save; Lens doesn't give the most even results at wide-angle settings; From 800 ISO; noise management is a bit disappointing for a BSI CMOS sensor; No A,S; M modes

Canon's second underwater-dedicated compact camera, the PowerShot D20, is chocked full of impressive features and functions that include a 12.1MP HS System, a 28mm wide lens with 5x optical zoom, GPS tagging, Full HD movie quality and a bright 3-inch LCD display.

The PowerShot D20 is the best rugged, waterproof camera I've tested. Canon has made very few compromises and paired good -- although not perfect -- performance with a striking design.

GPS photo tagging; Waterproof; Can withstand impact; Good colour reproduction; Cool design

Some chromatic aberration; Grain apparent at conservative sensitivities; Wind noise on movies; even with wind filter active

Rugged, waterproof cameras are perfect for the chronically clumsy, but Canon seems to have a more glamorous group in mind for the D20. Its sweeping contours look like something we'd expect to find in a surf shop, especially in the blue finish we were sent for testing.