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Canon PowerShot D20 review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £263
inc VAT

A rugged waterproof camera with dependable image and video quality

Specifications

1/2.3in 12.0-megapixel sensor, 5.0x zoom (28-140mm equivalent), 228g

http://www.jessops.com

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.

Canon PowerShot D20

Its rugged credentials are up to scratch, rated as waterproof to 10m and shockproof to 1.5m. We like the chunky strap that fastens securely around your wrist and its quick-release mechanism for when it’s not needed. The substantial buttons should be easy to find by touch or sight when you’ve got a face full of sea spray to contend with.

Canon PowerShot D20

GPS makes perfect sense in a camera that’s destined for some interesting locations, and its implementation here is first rate. It calculated its position within a couple of minutes of switching on. An option to keep tracking its position even when switched off means that it can be ready to tag photos straight away. This drains the battery if left on permanently but it’s useful to enable it when you’re out and about. Tagging was invariably within a couple of metres of our true position.

Canon PowerShot D20

GPS aside, the inside of this camera is fairly run-of-the-mill. The lens has a modest 5x zoom and its f/3.9 maximum aperture is a little darker than usual. The 12-megapixel sensor strikes a sensible balance of detail and noise levels, but this isn’t the same 12-megapixel sensor that impressed us in various other recent Canon cameras.

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Basic Specifications

Rating ****
CCD effective megapixels 12.0 megapixels
CCD size 1/2.3in
Viewfinder none
Viewfinder magnification, coverage N/A
LCD screen size 3.0in
LCD screen resolution 461,000 pixels
Articulated screen No
Live view Yes
Optical zoom 5.0x
Zoom 35mm equivalent 28-140mm
Image stabilisation optical, lens based
Maximum image resolution 4,000×3,000
File formats JPEG; QuickTime (AVC)

Physical

Memory slot SDXC
Mermory supplied none
Battery type Li-ion
Battery Life (tested) 280 shots
Connectivity USB, AV, mini HDMI, DC in
Body material aluminium, plastic
Lens mount N/A
Focal length multiplier N/A
Kit lens model name N/A
Accessories USB and AV cables
Weight 228g
Size 70x112x28mm

Buying Information

Warranty one year RTB
Price £263
Supplier http://www.jessops.com
Details www.canon.co.uk

Camera Controls

Exposure modes auto
Shutter speed auto
Aperture range f/3.9 (wide), f/4.8 (tele)
ISO range (at full resolution) 100 to 3200
Exposure compensation +/-2 EV
White balance auto, 6 presets, manual
Additional image controls contrast, saturation, sharpness, red, green, blue, skin tone
Manual focus Yes
Closest macro focus 1cm
Auto-focus modes centre, face detect, tracking
Metering modes multi, centre-weighted, centre, face detect
Flash auto, forced, suppressed, slow synchro, red-eye reduction
Drive modes single, continuous, self-timer, smile detect