Canon PowerShot D20 Digital Camera Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification


The Canon PowerShot D20, announced in February 2012, is a digital camera designed for extreme outdoor activities. An upgrade to the D10, which has been available for over 3 years, it is water, shock, freeze and dustproof, available in white, blue and yellow for £279.00.

Canon PowerShot D20 Features

The rugged D20 is waterproof to 10m, shockproof to 1.5m, freezeproof to -10°C and is dustproof. It has a 12.1 CMOS megapixel sensor and is designed to let you shoot in low light without the flash or a tripod. It also has a 5x optical zoom lens, which is a 35mm equivalent of 28-140mm, and has Intelligent IS to help take the sharpest pictures possible.

To make picture taking as easy as possible there is Smart Auto, which selects from 32 scenes and changes the camera settings accordingly. When shooting underwater there is Underwater Macro to take sharp close-ups with Quick AF for fast automatic focusing. The GPS tags images with location data so you can keep a track of your journey.

Videos are recorded at full 1080p HD with optical zoom and Intelligent IS to keep footage steady. The D20 can be connected via a HDMI cable to a HDTV for playback. Other movie modes include Movie Digest and Super Slow Motion.

Key Features

• 12.1 megapixel sensor
• 5x optical zoom lens (35mm equiv: 28-140mm)
• Intelligent IS (Image Stabilisation)
• 3 inch PureColor II LCD screen
• Water, shock, freeze and dustproof
• GPS
• Full 1080p HD video recording
• ISO 100-3200
• 1cm minimum focusing distance
• Smart auto
• Available in white, yellow and blue

Canon PowerShot D20 Handling

The D20 has a mostly rubber exterior making it extremely easy to grip, which is also aided by its slightly unusual shape. There is also a groove on the front and a raised dotted area on the back. The buttons on the rear are big and chunky, making it easier to press them when wearing gloves. The ones on the top don't stick out as on the rear, but are still quite big. The playback button can be pressed when the camera is off to view your pictures and videos, you can cycle through by tapping either side of the camera. The battery cover has a secure catch, but is tricky to open, although this means it's unlikely you'll accidentally open it in the water.

The 3 inch LCD is a good size and is bright and clear to view. The D20 has a simple to use menu system, which will be familiar if you've used other Canon compact cameras. The battery has a CIPA rating of 280 shots, we managed over 350 during testing. The battery life will be reduced by consistent use of the GPS. The GPS activates within seconds of switching on.

We tested the camera's performance at focusing, shutter response, shot-to-shot time, continuous shooting etc. and have posted the results below. To test this we took 6 or more shots and calculated the average.

Shutter Response		0.15 seconds
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response		0.45 seconds
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response		0.65 seconds
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo		1.65 seconds
Shot to Shot (without flash)		2.0 seconds
Shot to Shot with Flash		3.5 seconds
Continuous shooting		2 fps

Continuous shooting records at full 12.1 megapixel resolution.

Canon PowerShot D20 Performance

Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review and product ratings.

Canon PowerShot D20 Sample Photos

Portrait | 1/50 sec | f/4.5 | 12.3 mm | ISO 250 High-Res	Landscape | 1/250 sec | f/8.0 | 5.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
Miniature | 1/250 sec | f/4.8 | 25.0 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	Pet | 1/250 sec | f/4.8 | 25.0 mm | ISO 320 High-Res

Sample Photos - Images are really well exposed with excellent colour reproduction. Portraits have good skin tones and are free of red-eye.

Canon PowerShot D20 Lens test images

Wide Angle | 1/200 sec | f/8.0 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	Full Optical Zoom | 1/250 sec | f/10.0 | 25.0 mm | ISO 100 High-Res
Digital Zoom | 1/250 sec | f/10.0 | 25.0 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	Macro | 1/15 sec | f/3.9 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100 High-Res

Lens Performance - Images have a good level of detail at both ends of the lens, particularly as it is an internal lens, this often leads to a reduction in image quality. In contrasting areas, there is some purple fringing. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of just 1cm, which makes it possible for the camera to get close enough to take a very impressive macro shot.

Canon PowerShot D20 ISO test images

ISO100 | 1/8 sec | f/4.5 | 14.4 mm High-Res	ISO200 | 1/15 sec | f/4.5 | 14.4 mm High-Res	ISO400 | 1/30 sec | f/4.5 | 14.4 mm High-Res
ISO800 | 1/60 sec | f/4.5 | 14.4 mm High-Res	ISO1600 | 1/125 sec | f/4.5 | 14.4 mm High-Res	ISO3200 | 1/250 sec | f/4.5 | 14.4 mm High-Res

ISO Noise Performance - A sharp, noise free image is produced at ISO 100, with only a small amount appearing at ISO 200. The small increases in noise continue at ISO 400 and ISO 800. Images become a little soft at ISO 1600 and at the highest setting of ISO 3200 there are some black and white dots, but image quality is still good.

Canon PowerShot D20 White-balance test images

AWB preset - incandescent lighting | 1/13 sec | f/3.9 | 7.5 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	Incandescent preset - incandescent lighting | 1/10 sec | f/3.9 | 7.5 mm | ISO 100 High-Res
AWB preset - fluorescent lighting | 0.4 sec | f/3.9 | 7.5 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	Fluorescent preset - fluorescent lighting | 0.4 sec | f/3.9 | 7.5 mm | ISO 100 High-Res

White Balance Performance - Under the incandescent lights the AWB preset image has an orange cast, with the incandescent preset taking a good picture. Under the fluorescent lights, both the AWB and fluorescent presets perform really well.

Canon PowerShot D20 Other sample images

Landscape With Building | 1/320 sec | f/8.0 | 5.0 mm | ISO 160 High-Res	Sport | 1/320 sec | f/4.5 | 16.2 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
Trees | 1/100 sec | f/3.9 | 5.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	Underwater | 1/25 sec | f/3.9 | 5.0 mm | ISO 1600 High-Res

Canon PowerShot D20 Low light images

Low Light Mode | 1/20 sec | f/3.9 | 8.6 mm | ISO 1600 High-Res	Low Light P Mode | 1/20 sec | f/3.9 | 8.5 mm | ISO 1250 High-Res

The above images have been taken with our studio lighting on very low, on the left we have used the dedicated low light mode, with the one on the right taken using P mode.

Canon PowerShot D20 Digital filters

Colour Accent | 1/30 sec | f/4.5 | 18.3 mm | ISO 800 High-Res	Colour Swap | 1/30 sec | f/4.5 | 18.3 mm | ISO 800 High-Res	Fish Eye Effect | 1/60 sec | f/4.5 | 19.2 mm | ISO 1600 High-Res	Monochrome | 1/60 sec | f/4.5 | 19.2 mm | ISO 1600 High-Res
Poster Effect | 1/30 sec | f/4.5 | 19.2 mm | ISO 800 High-Res	Super Vivid | 1/30 sec | f/4.5 | 19.2 mm | ISO 800 High-Res	Toy Camera Effect | 1/30 sec | f/4.5 | 19.2 mm | ISO 800 High-Res	My Colours Black And White | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res
My Colours Neutral | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	My Colours Off | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	My Colours Positive Film | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	My Colours Sepia | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res
My Colours Vivid | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	My Colours Vivid Blue | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	My Colours Vivid Green | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res	My Colours Vivid Red | 1/4 sec | f/5.0 | 20.6 mm | ISO 100 High-Res

Digital Filters - The D20 has a number of creative shooting modes, as well as my colours, with many examples above.

Video - Below is a video recorded at full 1080p HD. Optical zoom is available when recording videos, with an example on the ePHOTOzine Youtube Page, you can also watch a video shot using the high-speed mode.

Value For Money

The Canon PowerShot D20 is priced at £309.00. If you want the most waterproof and shockproof camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT4 ticks the box, as does the Olympus Tough TG-1.

Camera	Waterproof	Shockproof	Freezeproof	Price
Kodak Easyshare Sport C123	3m	-	-	£50.00
Nikon Coolpix S30	3m	0.8m	-	£79.99
Olympus Tough TG-320	3m	1.5m	-10°C	£114.00
Fujifilm FinePix XP50	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£119.95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT20	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£138.00
Pentax Optio WG-1 / (GPS)	10m	1.5m	-10°C	£164.00 / (199.00)
Fujifilm FinePix XP150 GPS	10m	2m	-10°C	£174.00
Olympus Tough TG-620	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£179.00
Canon PowerShot D10	10m	1.2m	-10°C	£209.00
Fujifilm FinePix XP170	10m	2m	-10°C	£219.00
Olympus Tough TG-820	10m	2m	-10°C	£219.00
Nikon Coolpix AW100	10m	1.5m	-10°C	£219.00
Pentax Optio WG-2 / (GPS)	12m	1.5m	-10°C	£229.00 / (£269.00)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT4	12m	2m	-10°C	£249.00
Canon PowerShot D20	10m	1.5m	-10°C	£279.00
Sony Cyber-shot TX20	5m	1.5m	-10°C	£294.00
Olympus Tough TG-1	12m	2m	-10°C	£309.00
Ricoh G700	5m	2m	-10°C	£599.00

You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Canon PowerShot D20 Verdict

Many of the rugged, waterproof cameras we have previously reviewed score heavily for their features, but image quality is often lacking. This is where the D20 bucks that trend, it's not quite scored full marks for its features, but image quality is amongst the best of the outdoor cameras. It is also well designed, with a largely rubber exterior and large chunky buttons, great when out shooting in the less than ideal conditions. We were fairly impressed by the D10, since its launch, most of the other manufacturers have released a number of impressive waterproof cameras, but the D20 has certainly been worth the wait!

	The Canon Powershot D20 produces some of the best pictures we taken on a rugged, outdoors camera.

Canon PowerShot D20 Pros

Excellent image quality
Full 1080p HD
GPS switches on quickly
Large, chunky buttons
Low noise throughout the ISO range

Canon PowerShot D20 Cons

Continuous shooting isn't particularly quick
Battery cover is tricky to open
One of the more expensive waterproof cameras available

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Canon PowerShot D20 Specifications

Manufacturer	Canon
Lens
	Max Aperture	f/3.9 - f/4.8
	35mm equivalent	28mm - 140mm
	Optical Zoom	5x
Image Sensor
	CCD pixels	12.1Mp (Megapixels)
	Pixels (W)	4000
	Pixels (H)	3000
	Sensor Type	CMOS
	Sensor Size	1/2.3 inch
	Sensor Size (width)	No Data
	Sensor Size (height)	No Data
	Aspect Ratio	4:3 3:2 16:9 1:1
LCD Monitor
	LCD Monitor	3in
	Screen resolution	461,000 dots
	Touch Screen	No
Focusing
	Min Focus	1cm
	Focusing modes	Autofocus Face Detection
Exposure Control
	Shutter speeds shortest	1/1600sec
	Shutter speeds longest	15sec
	Exp modes	Program Scene modes A
	Metering	Centre-weighted - Average Spot
	ISO sensitivity	100 - 3200
	White balance	Auto Manual Outdoors/Daylight Cloudy Incandescent Fluorescent Underwater
	Exposure Comp	+/-2
Shooting Options
	Continuous shooting	1.9fps
Video
	Movie mode	Yes
	Video Resolution	1920x1080 1280x720 720p 640x480 VGA
	Video FPS	24
	Stereo Sound	No
	Optical Zoom with Video	Yes
Other Features
	Image Stabilisation	Yes
Interface
	HDMI	Yes
	USB	USB 2
	Wi-Fi	No
Storage
	Card Type	SD SDHC SDXC
	File Type	JPG
Power Source
	Battery Type	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-6L
	CIPA Rating	280
Box Contents
	Box Contents	Battery pack, battery charger, interface cable, wrist strap, strap mount, getting started guide, manual disk, solution disk and warranty system booklet
Dimensions
	Weight	228g
	Width	112.3mm
	Height	70.8mm
	Depth	28mm

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