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On regular specs alone, the Powershot D10 holds up pretty well: it has 12.1-megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom, as well as image stabilising technology and the new Smart Auto mode has "Scene Detection Technology", which analyses the scene and compares the contrast, brightness and hue of the subject in comparison to the surroundings before picking an optimum shooting mode.

Extreme imaging

But enough about the regular stuff, what you really want to know is how much water, dirt and extreme temperatures it can take. The D10, you will be happy to know, is waterproof to 10 metres, will survive a drop on the head from 1.22 metres and will keep on snapping in temperatures as low as -10C!

While testing the Powershot D10, I didn't have a chance to go snorkelling, rock climbing or skiing, but I did plunge it into a sink of water, drop it on the ground a few times and stick it in the fridge for a while. The result? It doesn't seem to mind!

However, if you're going to take it as a given that it is waterproof, what you will really want to know is how well it takes pictures under water.

From my adventures in the kitchen sink with a rubber goldfish (!), I can say it works quite well, but I would keep the image stabiliser on and use auto if I was trying to swim and snap at the same time because capturing the perfectly focused image can be tricky at the best of times.

On the flip side, a colleague of mine took it for a jaunt when canoeing and found there was some shutter lag in comparison to other non-waterproof Canon cameras he had used (this has been noted about other makes of waterproof cameras, as well) and like me he came back with a couple of blurry photos so it is not completely fool proof - you will have to be slightly au fait with its workings before you head off hoping to capture some amazing tropical fish.

Design

The Canon Powershot D10's design is reminiscent of a ship's port - I quite liked the cutesy retro design. More importantly, it is neon blue, so you're not going to have trouble finding it underwater if you lose your grip on it.

The casing is durable plastic with a metal frame around the lens and surprisingly it is not much bigger than the average digital compact, but you probably won't squeeze it into your jean's pocket.

The logic

Despite the fact digital cameras have become so powerful and compact, the Canon Powershot D10 is still an amazingly versatile and good-value gadget.

If anyone had told me even last year that I could get a 12-megapixel camera with video recording that was small, compact, extremely durable, totally waterproof and could go to depths of 10 metres underwater for around the €300 price mark, I wouldn't have believed them.

There are already waterproof cameras and waterproof casing for cameras on sale out there, but this is bringing a whole new dimension to the consumer market.

If you've gone on your dream holiday that involves swimming with dolphins, jellyfish or sunken wrecks, you'll want to capture it on camera and now you can with a camera that will also easily double as your regular digital compact.

More logic ...

If you head to Flickr.com and have a look at the images captured by Powershot D10 users, not only will you be impressed by the picture quality, but you will notice one obvious thing: the majority of people using this digital compact are not taking underwater pictures but the majority are taking pictures in adventurous places, so this camera may be waterproof but the masses love its rugged all-terrain appeal.

Pricing: SRP €449 from most good camera shops nationwide

By Marie Boran