Waterproof Canon not much of a splash

— -- It's a crowded pool for waterproof cameras. The camera industry is counting on adventure-ready snapshooters to keep sales of compact cameras afloat (iPhones don't swim, after all) and they've flooded the market with more than a dozen new models in the past year. With so much competition, today's best tough-cams need to do more than just survive the elements — they need to take great photos, too.

The PowerShot D20, with a list price of $349, is Canon's latest rugged snapshooter, replacing the D10 from 2009 (an eternity ago for a compact camera). It's waterproof down to 33 feet and shock-proof from 5 feet, and can withstand freezing temperatures and dusty or sandy locales.

Photos are vibrant and lively—even underwater—with enough crisp detail for sharing online and making modest-sized prints. It's a straightforward, user-friendly camera with responsive controls and reliable performance. The in-camera GPS for geo-tagging is surprisingly accurate and quick to lock on, too.

Unfortunately, the D20 is hindered by a mediocre lens. It's too slow for indoor or low-light shooting, so this camera is really only suitable for outdoor scenes, not as an all-around family camera. The smooth, rounded design can be hard to handle, especially when it is wet, and the bulky body is even less portable than most tank-like tough-cams.

With so many solid tough-cams to choose from, the Canon D20 gets lost in the shuffle. It's a great beach camera, so if you're looking for a fuss-free, hands-off snapshooter for playing in the surf and the sand, it's one to consider. But there are hardier cameras for truly rugged adventures, including the Panasonic TS4, and more versatile cameras for everyday shooting, like the Olympus Tough TG-1.

—

To read Reviewed.com's in-depth review of the Canon D20, check out DigitalCameraInfo.com. Reviewed.com is a division of USA TODAY.