Overview
Canon’s PowerShot D30 is a waterproof and ruggedized compact camera designed to compete with the Nikon Coolpix AW120, Olympus Tough TG-3, Panasonic Lumix FT5 and Ricoh WG-4 GPS.
To keep pace with these cameras, Canon made the D30 considerably tougher than the previous D20. It now boasts a best-in-class 25-metre waterproof rating and will survive drops from two metres.
The camera’s sensor, processor and lens specs remain unchanged from its predecessor, but the new camera does have a slightly lower RRP.
The Powershot D30 will let you dive deeper than any of its rivals, with its 25-metre depth rating being leagues ahead of the competition. The camera’s two-metre shockproofing and -10ºc freezeproofing are more typical stats though, and unlike the Olympus TG-3, Panasonic FT5 and Ricoh WG-4, the D30 doesn’t have a crushproof rating.
At the heart of the camera is a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with a maximum sensitivity of ISO3200. It’s an identical spec as the sensor in the outgoing D20 and you also get the same DIGIC 4 processor which is now a couple of generations old. The D20’s 5x optical zoom lens has been carried over to the new camera too, but it does feature image Stabilisation to help keep your shots sharp. Its 28mm-equivalent wide-angle focal length isn’t the widest in the class, but the 140mm-equivalent telephoto reach will get you relatively close to the action.
GPS location logging is present in the D30, as is Full HD video recording and a funky Movie Digest mode that’ll capture a short video clip in conjunction with your images and compile everything into an HD movie.
A 3.0-inch, 460k-dot LCD screen with enhanced brightness and a redesigned, extra-grippy casing help make the D30 easier to use in extreme environments.
Build quality and handling
Although the D30 isn’t rated as crushproof, it still feels very solid in the hand. At 228g ready-to-shoot, it’s also reassuringly heavy without being a burden.
Rounded plastic corners help absorb shocks and hide chips and scratches, while the flaps covering the battery and connection ports are nice and chunky. These are usually double locked on waterproof cameras to prevent accidental opening when underwater – but the D30 makes do with a single clip on each. The clip design is very secure, however.
The new camera may be similar to the old D20 on the inside, but externally it’s been given a major overhaul. Gone are the small, oddly-shaped buttons, replaced by oversized controls which are easily accessible underwater or when wearing gloves. The new, larger video record button has been moved to a more prominent position on top of the camera, and the shutter release is also nice and big.
Despite the enlarged buttons on the rear panel, Canon has still found room for a large and grippy rubber thumb rest. Combined with the equally-prominent front finger grip, the D30 feels more secure in the hand than all but the Olympus TG-3.
An action-orientated camera also needs a good screen, and the D30 doesn’t disappoint here either. It’s 3.0″, 460k-dot specs may sound fairly average, but this particular LCD monitor boasts excellent viewing angles for easy contrast assessment, plus accurate colour reproduction. It also packs a Sunlight mode that’ll ramp up the brightness, and though colour and contrast accuracy take a slight hit, the screen is noticeably easier to see under harsh lighting.
The D30 uses Canon’s tried and tested menu interface. It’s hardly the last word in visual flair, but it is clear and easy to navigate. Various buttons are used to access different menus, which can be initially confusing. As there’s no mode dial, the up button on the rear directional pad is used to switch modes, with the centre button beneath it reserved for accessing frequent settings like exposure compensation, image quality and the self-timer. All other settings are found using the Menu button.
Performance and verdict
A camera designed to be at home in action-packed environments needs to keep pace, and fortunately the D30 is ready to shoot in approximately one second and doesn’t waste time autofocusing. In good light the system is almost instantaneous, though in darker conditions you’ll need to wait up to 1.5 seconds for the camera to find its mark. Although the D30 is capable of focusing down to 1cm from a subject, it doesn’t focus at or near this distance as reliably as the Olympus TG3 or Ricoh WG-4 will, whether in Auto or Program Auto modes.
Exposure metering is usually reliable, though high contrast scenes can cause the camera to expose primarily on highlight areas, causing midtones and shadows to look unrealistically dark. However, when the system does capture an accurate exposure, the sensor’s underwhelming dynamic range becomes apparent as highlights are susceptible to burning out.
Chromatic aberration (purple fringing) is also visible in high contrast scenes, though it’s rarely severe and is usually only apparent when pixel peeping. The lens also produces very low distortion and has good corner sharpness, while its Image Stabilisation system does an excellent job of ironing out camera shake.
The D30’s 12.1MP sensor now trails the competition in outright resolution, though at low sensitivity settings it’s still capable of resolving decent detail levels. At ISO400 detail is battling with some grain noise, but Canon hasn’t tried to conceal this with excessive smoothing, hence distant subjects don’t display the painterly look that’s all too common with compact cameras.
By ISO800 grain and colour speckling are visible, but aren’t distracting unless you scrutinise at full image size. ISO1600 is certainly the limit for acceptable image quality though, with noise being high enough for most images best viewed at 50% or smaller.
Colour reproduction is as restrained as the D30’s noise reduction processing, meaning that although images never look oversaturated, they can lack some instant visual appeal.
The My Colors menu hides plenty of colour enhancement options to boost vibrancy though, or the Color Swap mode will completely replace a colour in a saved image. Other extra features like the Move Digest mode also work well, capturing a couple of seconds of video prior to a still snap and compiling the results into a video montage. Canon’s wink-activated self-timer is another nice touch.
Annoyingly there’s no automatic panorama mode though, as the D30 has to make do with just a stitch-assist mode designed to prepare multiple overlapping frames for stitching in Canon’s PhotoStitch software. The results are generally better than the low-resolution panoramas created by most compact cameras, providing you’ve got the time to snap multiple adjacent images and process them later.
Verdict
The Canon PowerShot D30 represents a significant toughness and ergonomic upgrade over its predecessor, the PowerShot D20. Now capable of withstanding class-leading 25m underwater depths, it’s certainly a fine choice if you’re a keen diver. It’s also one of the easiest cameras to use and hang on to once you’re submerged or wearing gloves.
Unfortunately there’s little else to make the D30 stand out. Its sensor and processor specs are unchanged from the D20 and are showing their age, producing only average quality images in the tough camera class.
We liked
The D30 leads the way in terms of underwater ability. It’s also a pleasure to use thanks to a carefully considered design and a bright LCD display.
We disliked
Image quality isn’t bad compared to rival cameras, but a tendency to underexpose can make shots look initially uninspiring. Macro focusing isn’t as reliable as it could be, and the camera lacks Wi-Fi connectivity and an automatic panorama mode.
Final verdict
The D30 excels underwater and its new external design makes it one of the most ergonomic tough cameras on the market. However, its direct rivals will all go to at least 14m depths, which should easily be deep enough for a typical spot of snorkelling or recreational scuba diving.
The D30 does also make a case for itself with its bright LCD monitor and GPS location tagging, but unless you’ll use the camera’s extra underwater ability, more feature-packed rivals like the Panasonic Lumix FT5 and Ricoh WG-4 GPS can be had for similar money and are better all-rounders.
Sample images
Click here to see full resolution image
Detail is fairly good in this image, though colours would benefit from being slightly more saturated.
Click here to see full resolution image
Here the D30 does a better job of capturing colours with good vibrancy.
Click here to see full resolution image
Despite a lower pixel count, the D30 is capable of resolving similar levels of detail compared to its more pixel-packed rivals.
Click here to see full resolution image
Another image with decent detail, though there is noticeable purple fringing to the right of frame.
Click here to see full resolution image
Shot at maximum wide angle, equivalent to 28mm. Note the blown highlights on the boat and fringing to the right of frame.
Click here to see full resolution image
Zoomed in 5x to a 140mm-equivalent focal length.
Click here to see full resolution image
The D30 should be capable of focussing 1cm from your subject, but when shooting this image it refused to focus closer than 5cm, regardless of shooting mode.
Click here to see full resolution image
By ISO800 colour speckling is clearly visible in neutral tones and shadow areas, and though plenty of detail is preserved, image noise is starting to overpower it.
Click here to see full resolution image
Regardless the metering method used, the D30 wouldn’t correctly expose this scene and has exposed solely for the highlight areas.
Powered by WPeMatico