Ok, I'll take a swing at this. Basically zippo dive/UW photo experience so grain of salt here (some 50 years ago, certified 1978 and not a tank on since until we set up for a medical mission trip to the Solomon Islands and went through total start from scratch refresher). Was looking for something to take and decision was between the D20 and a Sealife DC1400. Finally cost plus perhaps better out of water performance/ease of use and carry of the D20 led me in that direction. Figured if really got into both the diving and the under water photography more could then go to better equipment. And a housing is to be available ( I think was not at the outset but it costs as much as the camera. I bought the camera online ($329) through a local (for delivery as did it 3 days before we left) retailer on 5/15 so it was out about 2 weeks. Didn't have time to read the full manual so was playing operation by ear mostly.
The camera performed flawlessly throughout. Made 4 dives (one had to be cancelled for illness) on our trip. Camera "certified" to 10 meters. I sort of semi accidently found myself at 15m one time and no problems. Frequently went to 13m. No leaks and worked at that depth. Optical zoom is nice and gives nice clear pictures. If you go past that into digital zoom area thing get grainy. Though not sure I could really tell (camera probably recorded the settings but I just got home and barely have looked at them) the underwater color balance setting did seem to give pretty decent color rendition, at least at the depths I went too. ( I know this is an issue but no experience to judge by). When I get some time will try to pick out a few photos to post but I can't now.
Charged the battery before I left and I know took couple hundred shots and some video on that first charge. I had some trouble with a power converter (220to 110) that I think fooled the electronics in the battery charger and it didn't fully recharge the batter so on a couple of dives and on land once the battery died mid session. I then figured that with adapter could plug the charger in direct and then it propery charged the battery and I went the rest of the trip with no problems and a week between charges taking the usual tourist type shots for the rest of our (non diving) trip. I would think this is good battery life.
So, all in all, I am very pleased with it. Does it take professional quality photos of stuff costing $1000's. Don't think so but it worked for me. There were times when I wanted the better depth ability (my wife was down at 29m one time) but the good stuff was shallow anyway. If we had been able to do any wreck diving (the cancelled trip included a sunken trawler and a WWII P-38 fighter I really wanted to see) the deeper ability would be needed. So I will need to decide between getting a case for it or something different entirely.
Will try to put up some photos when I get time and figure how to do it.
Jack
