14 DAY TRIAL // Having seen the Sony Handycam HDR-GW77V, we now get to take a look at another rugged camera, one that Canon made and gave the name of PowerShot D20.
Before we get into the perks that make the PowerShot D20 good for less than stellar environments, we may as well show what performance warranted that level of protection.
To start off, the camera relies on a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor and uses a 28mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom.
A 3-inch LCD screen is present as well, along with a shutter button that can capture photos and small video clips at the same time (Movie Digest feature).
Also, the Smart Audio feature chooses from up to 32 scene modes, like Advanced Subject Detection, which tracks living and non-living moving objects.
What's more, the Underwater Macro mode can magnify the subject being photographed or caught on video, more than the normal Macro mode allows.
And so we reach the matter of the waterproof exterior of the Canon PowerShot D20.
Not only is the product protected from dust and such, but it can also be submerged in water at a depth of up to 10 meters (33 feet).
In addition, the camera has an anti-fogging feature, for image clarity, and can withstand freezing temperatures of up to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
As for effectiveness underwater, the camera should be able to capture images and film at a distance of up to 40 meters.
Finally, a GPS marks your photos and movies with location coordinates, should you so wish, and you can drop the PowerShot D20 from a height of 1.5 meters without breaking it.
Canon intends to start shipping the PowerShot D20 in the third week of May, for the price of around $349 / 279 Euro, give or take. An accessory set (shoulder strap, carabiner strap, soft case, float and silicon jacket) will sell for $103 / 78 Euro.