- 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 DescriptionThe camera body is waterproof to 3m. It’s dustproof too, so you don’t have to worry about dust or sand getting inside. And it has passed drop tests at a height of about 1. 5m. This is one tough little camera that you can take wherever action takes you. The TS1 records HD motion images with 1280 x 720-pixel resolution. It uses the AVCHD (MPEG-4/H. 264) format, via AVCHD Lite which stores less data than other formats and thus lets you shoot more minutes of HD motion imag. . . More >>
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 12MP Digital Camera with 4. 6x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2. 7 inch LCD
Tags: 12MP, Angle, Camera, Digital, DMCTS1, Image, inch, Lumix, MEGA, Optical, Panasonic, Stabilized, Wide, Zoom
Categories: Panasonic Lumix
I recently purchased this camera and tested it and ended up sending it back mainly because of picture quality.
Here are the pros and cons. . .
Pros :
* Very light and small.
* Decent video quality.
* Good battery Life.
* Ok pictures with flash on and very sunny days
* 4. 6x zoom
Cons:
* I was very disappointed with “cloudy day” image quality. In other words, day time pictures when you are not using a flash . I took many picture most of which came out fuzzy and had great loss of detail and color aberration. I also felt that most pictures were underexposed dark looking . My Samsung i85 which is 2 years old does a much better job at this.
* I am not impressed by the Macro mode.
* The zoom is fairly slow and the zoom button is not very conveniently placed
* Small delay in turning on the camera .
* The Digital zoom is disappointing. Things start looking grainy very quickly!
My bottom line conclusion:
Unless you are a swimmer in a sunny area that needs a waterproof camera I’d stay away from this thing
I believe that all the water proof sealants and possibly a thicker lens makes it harder for light to get in and therefore image quality suffers. . .
Rating: 2 / 5
I recently bought the new Lumix TS1 for a snorkeling trip to Hawaii. I carefully read the underwater directions to make sure I was using it properly. After 20 minutes in the water the camera shut off. The battery terminal was soaked, camera broke and my brand new memory card was ruined as well.
I have no idea if my camera was defective or if they simply are not as “waterproof” as Panasonic stated.
Other things I did not like about the camera include. . .
-the zoom slide is awkward to move
-the video button is poorly placed on the back side of the camera
-4. 6x zoom is weak
Rating: 1 / 5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 best features: rain/snow/slush resistant and discreet, you can casually aim it towards somebody without them even knowing it’s a camera, sometimes heheha. AVCHD lite and Motion JPEG/HD video, high speed burst modes, flash options and recycle time. Windcut mic and image stabilizer work pretty good, 28mm Leica wide angle folding lens with 4. 6 optical zoom is sharp and i must say the “extra” 9. 1 power extended optical zoom really surprised me! Macro AF good, macro zoom (although digital) is pretty impressive. Leica does make some of the best binocular and range finding optics in the world.
This little grunt packs a pretty big punch but has numerous faults: Requires high quality video editing software, the encoding software Panasonic included with the purchase is taxing on video. In Motion JPEG mode (recommended for emailing and PC playing) it only records up to the capacity of 2GB’s even if your using a 32GB SDHC class 6 card, which is all of about 8 minutes of MotionJPEG/HD footage, lame. AVCHD lite records more video and appears to look better on a newer PC anyway :shrug:
*Though AVCHD Lite movies are recorded in 60p, the output to CCD is in 30p. Thus movies playback lack some smoothness compared to HD digital camcorders*
It does play back choppy on my old PC and smooth on my new one, go figure.
Average still images, not up to snuff with other “non-tough” 12MP point and shoots of similar price or less. Control buttons are a little close together for a working mans hands and while it is sturdy i find myself handling the camera awkwardly to avoid tweaking the wrong button, covering the microphone, keeping my digits out of the image or smudging the lens with fingerprints. I can’t just grab it and shoot i need to constantly think about where my fingers are and. . . . which button is the zoom and which clicks the shutter and what not
The panoramic mode is almost impossible to nail spot on without a miniature carpenters level and a tripod, and then the images needs post processing with the included software, forget it. I have a 10MP $80 dollar GE cheapo that balances and stitches panoramics on the spot with just as good or better image clarity. Battery life is ok but attention to detail when opening and closing the battery/card cover is mandatory for maintaining water resistance yet the battery must be removed for recharging! Well, do this a few hundred times and those dainty rubber seals will collect debris or sustain damage sure enough. Panasonic recommends changing out the seals every year, yeah right buddy!
The naked lens apparently has protection—> quote: Lumix FAQ’s; an optional lens protector is not available. However, the lens is not stripped to the air or water, and the camera comes equipped with a protection lens as its lens cover. The lens cover as its protector is fluorine coated to keep away fingerprints. Thus please use the camera without anxiety.
BS, this “tough” camera needs a non transparent lens cover! The overall unit design needs a re-think. IMNSHO the DMC-TS1 should be readily obtainable for under $300 and not a dollar more.
Rating: 3 / 5
This camera failed the first time I brought it into the water. I prepared the camera according to Panasonic’s directions, went into a shallow pool, went underwater, took 6 images, and the camera stopped working. I sent it in to Panasonic, they denied warranty coverage. I’ve now dealt with 5 different departments at Panasonic, they all tow the company line, claiming I abused the camera and their only offer is to sell me a refurbished camera at half-cost. They’ve been a total nightmare.
That said, watch out. . . . it’s a great camera, until you ask it to do what it’s supposed to do.
Rating: 1 / 5
I’ve had this camera for a couple months now and have used it at three different beaches in and out of water. It has held up admirably! With temperature changes, the camera lens does tend to fog up a bit. Sometimes a simple wipe across the lens cover works, but other times the build-up is inside and there’s not much you can do except dry it off and let it sit with the battery door open for a bit. I think this is most noticeable when there are big differences in water and air temperatures! (duh!)
anyways, it’s been great and the video is fantastic. it’s strange why the video seems to come out so impressive, but the pictures seem to be relatively at par or just a few hairs below normal point-and-shoot cameras. though, for waterproof/shockproof units, it is head and shoulders above the rest.
One problem I had when I first purchased the unit is that the video function would keep stopping. It meant sometimes I could only take 15 sec clips and other times maybe 3-4 minutes. It was hard to tell why that happened, but now I’m always a bit afraid that it’s going to turn off in the middle of a recording and so am not prone to leave the unit recording (i. e. on a tripod) without having to constantly keep checking on it. It seems to be better now, but I’m still a bit nervous about that. Anyone else have this problem?
Other thing is that I bring a big ziploc bag with me when I travel to soak the camera in freshwater after I’ve been in the ocean (this is recommended in the manual). It keeps salt deposits from building up in the nooks and crannies (i. e. around the buttons and openings) when the seawater dries off.
I had a quick question for other owners about recommending SDHC cards.
I want to take as long and continuous HD video footage as possible with this camera.
1) What is the largest card and what speed do you recommend (class 4? class 6? 15mb/s?)?
2) What is the maximum length of time you have been able to record in one clip? (I want to be able to record a 1-4 hour series of presentations without having to constantly check the camera. )
I recommend the camera to anyone who wants to take good portable videos (we’re talking much better than youtube – but you have to find a good converter to go from MTS to other formats) and needs the ruggedness this unit offers! All in all, I’d buy it again without hesitating!
Rating: 5 / 5