The Powershot D10 is not the most stylish of digital cameras. In fact it looks ugly, with a distinctly snout-like lens. But the extra padding ensures it is practical.

Able to withstand both a tumble on the ski slopes and dip in the hot tub afterwards, the 12-megapixel camera is waterproof to an impressive depth of 10m, shockproofed to withstand a drop from 1.22m and freeze proof to -10°C.

There is a premium to pay for such indestructibility – it costs £319.

At the back there are chunky buttons to match the camera’s meaty proportions, the kind you can operate with woollen gloves on. The 2.5in rear screen that can be used for both composing and reviewing shots sits beneath its own 2mm-thick protective shield, but felt small by today’s standards, as did the 3x optical zoom lens, even if it does come with built-in image stabilisation to combat the blur from camera shake. There is no optical viewfinder.

Those who don’t want to fiddle with settings will like the D10’s Smart Auto technology that recognises common scenes from 18 choices and adjusts the settings accordingly, while image stabilisation and motion detection help deliver sharper shots than could be achieved without. The handholding ensures that operation is practically child’s play, and results were quick and consistent.

Video is recorded at a resolution of 640x480 pixels – not even close to the high-definition video that’s possible from other cameras at this price. That said, it does shoot at 30 frames per second which ensured smooth playback. White balance was consistent but when we left it on its default settings the colours were a little washed out. Images started to smudge a little when the camera was used in low-light conditions.

Despite those the D10 is a safe option for those looking to take pictures in unfriendly environments without worry. However, strip away its protective casing and you get a rather modest snapshot camera.

For the fashion-conscious wanting to look good on the piste, a dedicated accessories kit is available for the D10 that includes three coloured interchangeable faceplates and toughened shoulder- and neck-straps.

But since there’s already a premium on the price, most people will be better off with more practical alternative (see our review of the Pentax Optio WS80 by clicking here).