Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 12MP Digital Camera with 4.6x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD
- 12.1-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-size prints
- Waterproof to a depth of 10 feet, shockproof from falls up to 5 feet, and dustproof
- Records AVCHD Lite HD video
- 4.6x MEGA image-stabilized optical zoom; 28mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Product Description
12.1-megapixel effective recording * 4.6X optical zoom (4X digital/18.4X total zoom) * waterproof to 10 feet * shockproof up to 5 feet * 2-11/16″ LCD screen with automatic 7-step brightness adjustment * optical image stabilization * wide-angle lens for shooting landscapes and large groups * 35mm equivalent focal length: 28-128mm * top JPEG resolution: 4000 x 3000 * high-definition movie mode with audio (1280 x 720 at 30 frames per second) * face detection adjusts fo… More >>
After months of searching for a substitue for my Sony DSC-N1, I decided for the Lumix TS-1. I loved the image quality of Sony, but I couldn’t zoom the videos and at low light, the results where grained. Here is my review of Panasonic Lumix:
Pros:
- Very well built, solid structure
- Water and schock proof
- 720p videos with zoom
- Leica Lens wide angle 28mm, 4,6x zoom
Cons:
- Image quality very grained in every possible mode (I like to zoom my photos in a full hd 32″ lcd and hated the results)
- Low light videos terrible
- Too slow to start (like 5 seconds)
- Mono mic too poor
If you’re looking for a portable water proof cam, and don’t care too much about pic and movie quality this is a good choice.
Rating: 3 / 5
Camera is a good one! I’ve taken many pictures in the last few months, and the quality is great. I haven’t dropped the unit or taken into the water yet, so I can’t give any info on those counts…..
The battery issue is my main concern. A recent firmware upgrade by the manufacturer has ensured that ONLY OFFICIAL LUMIX BATTERIES will work on this unit. If you are considering purchasing this unit, please factor in the expense of buying highly priced replacement / additional Panasonic batteries, as you will get a message on your camera that reads “This battery cannot be used” if you try any of the 3rd party batteries (They wil work when you first take them out of the packet & insert tem into the camera – It’s after you’ve charged them that the battery will no longer be accepted by your camera).
I just wanted to put that out there, as I would have avoided buying this camera if I’d have known that Panasonic were going to hold their customers over a barrel with 3rd party purchases…They’d probably say that it was a safety precaution, etc.
I’ve given the camera 1 star to get your attention….The camera itself is great – It’s the issue of battery availability that loses the other 3 stars it deserves.
Rating: 1 / 5
Overall the camera is not bad. I use it primarily for business and needed one that’s water/dust/shock proof and this one meets those needs and appears to take good photos. I do home inspections and carry the camera in a case on my belt. I usually have it set to turn off after 2 minutes so I’m not turning it on and off constantly. However, when I leave it on and I need to take it out of the case, the video button is right where my finger needs to grab it and it starts recording… very annoying. To stop this from happening I had to turn it off after each picture. Considering I take more than 60 pix for each inspection it’s annoying to have to do this. Also, you have to hold down the on/off button for a count of 2 in order to turn it on, another annoying thing. I returned it and ordered the Olympus 8000.
Rating: 3 / 5
Very simply put. I used this camera 5 times in total, twice in the pool (no problem), once in the desert (no problem), and once in the sea, which killed it.
The day after the sea experience, it would simply not turn on. What gets me is that I did everything I was supposed to do with it, as stated by the manual (ie not jump in water with it, not keep in water too long, rinse it afterwards, etc…), it is and remains dead.
Very disappointed with Panasonic on this one, I loved the camera while it worked, now I keep staring at my expensive brick.
IF you want to buy a camera that can die on you for no apparent reason, go ahead and get a TS1. I wont make the same mistake again.
Rating: 1 / 5
I bought this camera for a vacation in Italy for 2 weeks, half expecting it to break at the beach. The first time I placed it in water I cringed, but the waterproofing appeared to work fine.
I took some fun photos at the beach and inside of fountains in Rome. About 3/4 of the way into the trip the screen flickered. I shut it off and when I turned it back on again it made a very bad grinding noise and said the battery can’t be used. It never worked again.
I give it 3 stars though since it was a fun 10 days. Sure it costed about $5 a picture but I got some good shots!
And I’ve been in contact with Panasonic and Amazon about what to do as I didn’t mistreat it or anything.
Rating: 3 / 5