Canon PowerShot D30

£239/$330

The PowerShot D30 is getting on a bit, but you wouldn’t know it from its 25-metre waterproof rating, which is only beaten by the much pricier Nikon W300.

A 2m drop resistance and -10°C freeze proofing are also respectable although, unlike the Olympus TG-5 or the Ricoh WG‑50, there’s no crushproof rating. Extra features include Full HD video and GPS for image location tagging.

The D30’s exterior manages to be sleek while including rubberised panels on the front and rear for improved grip. Combine these with the oversized, logical controls, and this is the easiest camera of the bunch to operate, especially underwater or if you’re wearing gloves. The 3in LCD monitor is also one of the brightest on test.

Image quality is a mixed bag. Detail levels are relatively high and there’s little evidence of smearing, but noise becomes clearly visible at only ISO 400.

Pros: Great case design; respectable waterproof rating

Cons: Lackluster low-light image quality; no Wi-Fi connectivity