ScubaLab: Underwater Camera Systems - Canon Powershot D10

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The Pros Say

A point-and-shoot, the D10 is ideal for the advanced snorkeler or Junior Open Water PADI diver. There are no strobes to mess with and it really is plug-and-play. But its maximum operating depth is only 33 feet.

The Test Diver Says

I’m not much into photography, but even I can see that this little camera has a lot going for it. It’s virtually idiot-proof, and extremely easy to use. Put it on the Smart Auto setting and anybody can take good shots without having to hassle with settings. Just point and shoot.

The way the menu is laid out makes it easy to access various features, it has a nice-size LCD that is really easy to see at depth, and the zoom feature is also easy to access and use. Also, the playback feature is really cool, because it makes it easy to review your shots while underwater. It’s a small camera, however, so it can be hard to handle if you’re wearing gloves. And it’s waterproof to only 33 feet, so you can’t really take it diving without being constantly paranoid you’re going to dive too deep and ruin the camera. But if you’re more of a snorkeler and just want a simple camera that’s easy to use and takes good pictures, you can’t beat the D10. — Chuck Chanin