The Canon EOS Rebel T6i – Best Budget DSLR camera has great specs, so this Canon model is off to a great start too. Canon’s third compact waterproof camera shows a major improvement in physical design over the first two versions, as well as a significant increase in the water depth in which it will work. If you can’t afford to spring on a DSLR right now, take a look at our Snapgrip Wireless Bluetooth camera remote shutter release controller review to make your smartphone into the best camera. Or, take a look at our review of the best underwater camera.
I must note that you should not confuse this Canon PowerShot D30 waterproof digital camera review with the Canon D30 DSLR camera that was released more than a decade ago. This D30 waterproof camera is nothing like the EOS D30 DSLR model. Compare this waterproof camera with the Olympus Tough TG-610 camera review to determine which is best for your photography needs.
Going from 33 feet of water depth in the two older models to 82 feet in this new model is the highlight of my Canon PowerShot D30 review. It also makes this model the best waterproof camera of 2016.
Overview
Summary: The Canon PowerShot D30 waterproof camera struggles a little bit with image quality, but its tough design allows it to be used successfully in harsh environments.
WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Compact, and easy to use, the D30 is an excellent deep waterproof camera.
Price: $299 from Amazon
Available: April 2014
What We Liked
- Camera’s rubberized pads make it easy to hold D30 comfortably
- D30 measures only about 1 inch in thickness
- Camera works in up to 82 feet of water depth
- LCD screen is a sharp display
- Camera is extremely easy to use
What We Didn’t
- Small image sensor hinders overall image quality
- Limited to 12.1 megapixels of resolution, which is below average
- LCD screen suffers from some sunlight glare problems
- Camera limited to 5X optical zoom lens
Canon PowerShot D30 Key Specs
| Image Sensor Type | 1/2.3-inch |
| Megapixels | 12.1 |
| Optical Zoom Lens | 5X |
| Articulating Screen |  |
| Viewfinder | |
| HD Video |  |
| Operational Water Depth | Up to 82 feet |
| ISO | 100-3200 |
| Avg Battery Life | 300 photos |
| Weight | 7.69 oz |
| Size | 4.3 x 2.67 x 1.08 inches |
| Price | $299 |
| Buy Now |
Design and Build
The PowerShot D30 looks a lot like the best point-and-shoot camera options with a thin, colorful body, measuring about 1.08 inches in thickness. It has a limited number of buttons, which isn’t a bad idea with an underwater camera, as the simple operation is important when shooting in a harsh environment under the water. The D30’s specific dimensions are 4-5/16 x 2-11/16 x 1-1/8 inches. Also, its max speed while continuous shooting is 2 fps.
And even though the Canon D30 is a very thin camera, it’s easy to hold, whether you’re using it in the water or on dry land. Canon placed a rubberized thumbpad on the back of the camera and a larger rubberized pad for your fingers on the front, allowing you to hold the D30 in a pinching motion. If you like what you have read so far, also check out our Apeman A79 review.
Similar to most thin underwater cameras, the PowerShot D30 includes a small optical zoom lens at 5X. It’s difficult to use a large zoom underwater, because of the lack of light, but the small optical zoom lens does limit the usefulness of the D30 when using it in normal shooting conditions on dry land.
The zoom lens housing doesn’t extend beyond the boundaries of the camera body. This feature allows the D30 to maintain the integrity of its waterproof case, without creating any areas where water could penetrate. Canon also included its Smart Auto technology in the D30, so by simply pressing the shutter button, the camera automatically detects key details in the foreground and background so that settings are adjusted automatically and you can just focus on capturing the moment, especially while underwater.
Canon gave the D30 a built-in GPS unit, which allows you to add location data to your images as you shoot them. This can be a beneficial feature for underwater photography, as you won’t have obvious landmarks to help you identify the location of a photo when shooting underwater.
Waterproof Features
The D30 offers amazing waterproof capabilities, allowing it to operate in a water depth of up to 82 feet! Few waterproof cameras have a thin design style, much like the best compact digital cameras, and can work in this type of water depth.
Beyond its waterproofing capabilities, the PowerShot D30 can survive a fall of up to 6.5 feet (2 meters). It will work in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 C), should you want to use the D30 while skiing or hiking in the winter.
Both the HDMI/USB ports compartment and the battery/memory card compartment are protected by latched doors that swing on a hinge. Both compartment doors are protected with rubber gaskets to prevent leakage while using this underwater camera.
Related: Also check out our Campark Act74 review.
Image Quality
One area where the Canon PowerShot D30 waterproof digital camera struggles versus others in its price range is in terms of image quality. Canon placed a 1/2.3-inch image sensor in this waterproof model, which is the smallest image sensor in physical size that you’ll find in digital cameras. The D30 also only offers 12.1 megapixels of resolution with the CMOS sensor, which is well below average in today’s market. For a camera with 16.4 megapixels, check out the Fujifilm XP 140.
The Canon PowerShot D30 manual control features are extremely limited. You’ll have a Program shooting mode you can use, but it only offers control over features such as ISO and white balance. Canon designed this model to be used in the automatic mode most of the time.
Low Light Performance and Movie Mode
Most cameras with such small image sensors don’t perform well in low light. However, Canon gave this model HS (high sensitivity) technology, which allows the small image sensor to work a little better than expected in low light. This is an important feature to find in a waterproof camera, as the lighting conditions underwater can vary greatly.
The D30 offers a flash embedded in the corner of the front panel of the camera, which is what you’d expect to find in a basic camera. Unfortunately, there’s no option to add external flash units, which would help quite a bit with the dark conditions you’ll encounter in underwater photography. If you choose not to use the flash, you can increase the ISO to around 800 before you’ll notice significant noise (incorrect pixels) in the images.
You can shoot full HD movies with the Canon D30, but you’re limited to a maximum of 24 frames per second. Canon gave this camera a large movie recording button on the top panel of the camera, making it easy to start and stop movie recording.
Battery Life
If you’re using the camera under normal shooting conditions, you can expect about 250 to 300 shots per charge. However, if you use the GPS feature quite a bit, the battery lifespan could be closer to 150 to 200 shots. For other devices with decent battery life, check out our reviews for the Canon EOS 4000D, the Canon PowerShot G7 X, and the Crosstour Action Camera.
Because the D30 has no viewfinder, you’ll have to use the 3.0-inch LCD screen to frame all photos. The screen produces a sharp display, but it wasn’t quite as bright on the default setting as I’d like. Glare from sunlight when using this PowerShot camera outdoors forced me to increase the brightness of the display screen beyond the standard setting, which will further decrease the battery lifespan.
Wrap Up
This Canon PowerShot D30 tough camera review shows a model that has very strong waterproof and shockproof capabilities. Versus other compact waterproof cameras, the D30 offers above-average tough features and amazing submersion skills. However, a small image sensor and only 12.1 megapixels of resolution hinder the Canon D30’s image quality. And its 5X optical zoom lens lags well behind other models in its price range, though in all fairness it is a tough camera. I wouldn’t recommend this model if you’re just looking for an everyday camera. But if you need a camera to use primarily for diving and outdoor activities or sports, while also using it occasionally on dry land, the PowerShot D30 is a solid camera for those who want an easy-to-use model.
Related Articles:
