From the Manufacturer
Panasonic’s new Lumix DMC-TS1 is the world’s first waterproof, shockproof and dustproof digital camera to also feature AVCHD Lite High Definition (HD) video recording capabilities. The TS1’s tough and rugged design makes it the ideal choice for active users needing the ultimate hybrid for capturing both still and motion images during outdoor activities. The Lumix TS1, with a 12.1-megapixel resolution, features a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens, a 4.6x optical zoom and Panasonic’s proprietary iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, making this an easy-to-use, yet powerful camera that packs advanced imaging features.
The TS1 is waterproof to a depth of 10 feet, shockproof from falls up to 5 feet, and dustproof. With its rubber padding, reinforced glass and carbon resins inside the camera, the TS1 features an airtight body protected against water immersion, dust and sand.
Starting at the 28mm wide angle, and zooming up to a useful 128mm in telephoto, the TS1 gives users the flexibility for a variety of shooting environments–especially underwater, where movement is often restricted and the angle of view becomes important for composing shots. The TS1 also features a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle, enhancing visibility during recording and playback by automatic brightness control according to the environment’s lighting conditions. Plus, the TS1’s LCD panel is deliberately thickened for protection against pressure, allowing the display to operate with clear visibility even underwater.
The TS1 records AVCHD Lite HD video, allowing almost double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. The TS1 also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio to match the high-quality motion images.
The TS1 features iA mode for both still images and in Movie Mode. For iA in Movie Mode, the TS1 features Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.), which helps prevent handshake when using high-powered zoom. Face Detection automatically detects a face in a frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion on the face. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality. A Wind Cut function is also available to block out most of the noise from background wind. Optical zoom can be used in motion image recording. Users can start video recording by simply pressing a dedicated button on the camera’s back panel.
The TS1’s iA for still image adds Face Recognition–a feature that “remembers” faces from previous shots. When a registered face appears in the frame, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure to capture it beautifully. With Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt you to register the face. Once registered, if the face appears into the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and sharply focused.
The imaging power of Lumix has further evolved with the Venus Engine HD, which boasts two CPUs to provide approx. 2.4x processing capability and support for Face Recognition, AVCHD Lite and HDMI output. It integrates the numerous advanced functions with high performance, and low-power consumption. Thanks to the Venus Engine HD, it’s easy to view photos or movies recorded in AVCHD Lite. Simply insert the SD Memory Card from the camera in the Panasonic VIERA HDTV’s Image Viewer SD Memory Card slot to start playback, or connect the camera via an optional HDMI mini cable to a VIERA Link-equipped Panasonic VIERA HDTV and use the TV’s remote control to run slideshows.
This multi-task image-processing engine also enables a fast response time. The TS1 starts up quickly in 1.3 seconds and shutter release time lag is approximately 0.005 seconds, making it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. The Flash Burst mode makes it possible to take consecutive shots with continuous emissions of the flash. The Venus Engine HD also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the TS1 record up to ISO 6400, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash. Despite its outstanding performance, the high-performance engine is also more energy efficient, extending the battery life up to 340 shots (CIPA) per a single charge.
Other features of the Lumix DMC-TS1 include:
- New Scene Modes for Still Images: Beach & Surf mode gives users a single mode with optimized auto white balance for optical shooting on the beach and in shallow water.
- New Panorama Assist scene mode allows users to shoot a number of consistent photos, either vertically or horizontally, by aligning them according to a guide that overlaps the screen. Then using those photos and the bundled PanoramaMaker software, users can create dramatic panoramic images.
- Increased Scene modes for both still and motion image shooting–optimized for a variety of situations. There are 26 scene modes for still image and 17 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, High sensitivity, Beach & Surf, Snow, Aerial, Pin hole, Film grain and Underwater)
- LED Illumination is available in motion image recording.
- High-Speed Burst (Speed Priority) that fires off approximately 10 shots per second.
- Menus are clearer and easier to navigate with the Display Size option.
- Macro Zoom function lets users pull subjects even closer to capture dramatic close-up shots by using the 3x digital zoom in the wide-angle.
- Bundled Software: The latest version of PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition allows users to view, edit and archive captured content with greater ease and fun. Still and motion images can be transferred to the computer via a USB cable for viewing and archiving. Using PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition, users can edit and remove unwanted portions of video clips recorded in AVCHD Lite. Contents recorded in AVCHD Lite can be burned directly onto a DVD disc or converted to MPEG2 format. The software also incorporates the Face Recognition function, which recognizes registered faces in photos stored on the computer, making organizing and archiving photos with a specific person much easier. Additionally, motion pictures can be uploaded directly to YouTube.
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 focus and exposure settings for better portraits *
Tags: 12MP, 4.6x, Angle, Camera, Digital, DMCTS1, Lumix, Panasonic, Wide, with
2.0 out of 5 stars
Horrible audio quality
The video quality of the camera is pretty good. I compared it with a creative vado HD, and the TS1 was much better in almost all respects.
Until this month there were only 2 or three viable options in Waterproof cameras. All were limited, and one, the Ricoh was priced WAY too high.
This Lumix, my father-in-law just bought last month in Japan, same exact camera, different model number. I played with it several days. The images are very nice from what I can see. They are just as good as most other point and shoot digital cameras out. Probably not the best of the best, but definitely good. We shot outdoors and inside in restaurants without flash. We got decent shots. Basically put it up to most digital cameras and it fares fine. But with the water and shock resistance and HD video capabilities, you have a a huge win with this camera.
In my opinion, this Lumix beats out Olympus, Canon, FinePix, Pentax and Ricoh for the all around status. Why? This Lumix is Water and Shockproof. Has a 10 ft water proof (which is enough for most people) Does HD video 1280×720 with Audio. Takes SD cards including the 32GB SDHC High Capacity cards. This and the video is huge for me. The Olympus does not take SD, and is limited. You can put 4 hours of HD video on a 32GB HCSD card on this Lumix. Awesome. Get a couple 32Gig cards and you are more than covered for an entire vacation with a lot of filming. Great pics, great video, all weather with just this slim camera. That’s why I love it.
The design is slim (the new Canon waterproof blue camera is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but it’s kinda big and round (and video isn’t as good).
This Lumix doesn’t have as good a zoom as the Canon, but it’s decent, and sure, it can’t go as deep as the Canon, however it’s small enough for the pocket, durable, takes great shots, goes deep enough in the water for most, takes the best video as all.
This is the reason I think it gets best all around. If you only care about super small size, get the finepix. If you want the best underwater performance photos, get the Canon. I wouldn’t recommend getting the Olympus unless they change to SD cards. Olympus’ MicroSD and XD are both lame limited formats. With this Lumix you are ready for all kinds of things and it’s easy to put in the pocket. Because the video is so good, I think it makes it the great all around rugged vacation camera. And I’d even consider shooting fun movies with it where perfect audio isn’t required, as the quality is much better than some video cameras out now. (I haven’t figured out how good the sound is yet on the HD video, so I can’t speak to that, but they say it’s decent quality.)
Some youtube videos were posted where people with this camera were using it effectively as a helmet cam and they even hooked it to their motorcycle and did driving videos. Stuff like that is why I’m so excited to buy my own. (helicopter / RC airplane / balloon camera shots this would be great being light and video is good)
Lastly, the Macro is very nice too. I’m sure there’s better macro elsewhere if you compare, but this does very well and has an LED light for it too. If you have kids and you’d like for them to learn cameras and play and experiment, I think though this is not a cheap camera, it’s durable, can do all kinds of nature shots and video of bugs, leaves, snow, rain, tadpoles, and is going to perform well under some stress. I feel like with a water and shockproof camera, you’re getting components that are going to last for a while and you’ll hopefully only need to replace the camera when a better one comes out (or you lose it.)
Hope this was helpful!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love the features of it
Amazing features. Waterproof, shock proof, dust proof, me proof (kidding) for this price is great! Some lighting outside doesn’t produce the best pictures but granted I haven’t…
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good for what it is
I’ve never seen a “great” digital pocket-sized cam before, but going on the assumption that all of these tiny cameras with tiny optics and sensors will basically suck compared to…
I wanted to replace my point & shoot (Canon SD7000is) before my summer vacation as the zoom is starting to stick. I did research and got excited about this new Panasonic DMC-TS1 because the reviews said it had decent image quality, great features and was waterproof / shock-proof to boot. Unfortunately after a week of testing I am returning it because the image quality (using the intelligent automatic settings) is just not good enough and very disappointing compared to my 3 three-year-old 6 megapixel camera.
I ran a series of tests using my old Canon and the new Panny to take equivalent pics at the same time in various settings – indoor day, indoor night, outdoor (sunny and overcast), low light, kids in motion, macro close-up, etc. Unfortunately the Panny was substantially worse in almost every category. Specifically the color was consistently less natural and often washed out, it handled simple motion terribly compared to the Canon and it relied on the Flash in two many situations. The most disappointing was daylight pics. Introduce any natural brightness at all and the pics all end up with a slightly washed out look. The old Canon by comparison handled these situations beautifully. They both are almost useless in low light. The only category where the Panny wasn’t substantially inferior to the Canon was macro – it took beautiful macro shots.
I never tested underwater because the store had fine print on the return policy that invalidated it if submerged, even though it was designed for that. However, if you read the user manual on the waterproof features there are several major caveats. First, even though it is also “shockproof” up to five feet, if you ever do drop it the company will no longer warranty its waterproof features. Even if you don’t drop it, the manual says you need to have the Panasonic Service Center replace the seal every year. So I called Panasonic to find out what that costs. Unfortunately, they threat the seal replacement like a repair and they charge a flat rate of $140 plus parts. In other words, to maintain the waterproof feature of your waterproof camera, you have to pay almost 50% of its original cost every year to maintain it. If you pay for an extended warranty, be careful to make sure it isn’t voided by underwater use – some are – and even if you have one that isn’t, they will void it if you don’t do as Panasonic species and replace the seal annually. Either way, that makes the waterproof feature very expensive.
I did not do much testing of the manual controls or changing the default automatic settings. This will be a family camera and I need it to be truly point-and-shoot for the other users. So while it may perform better for those willing to play with the settings, I can’t recommend it as even a decent point-and-shoot.
1.0 out of 5 stars
stupid flash position
The flash always leaves a shade to the left part in the wall if the person is 30 cm of wall or curtain etc , they listen well always it leaves to the left part of the photo a…
First let me say I am not a professional and this Panasonic TS1 review is purely my use of the camera (thus far) in comparison to others I tried and returned while looking for the “right” camera. We have a Fuji s700 for our day to day use and wanted a “pocket” size camera for trips and use around water. Like most people, image quality in all sorts of settings is important.
We originally purchased and tried the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000. The 8000 has a slightly better build quality than the TS1. Both cameras are suspiciously identical in size and layout, right down to the actual battery and compartments. The 8000 is all metal, while the TS1 is mostly metal and some plastic. The layout of the 8000 is excellent, a bit heavy in the hand, but solid (a tank). The layout of the TS1, while not exactly terrible, is not quite as user friendly and feels significantly lighter than the 8000. I give the edge to Olympus for button layout and overall feel. Some differences for reference are that the Olympus started quickly, while you have to hold the on button for the TS1 a few seconds. The placement of the zoom on the top of the TS1 and the stiff feel was also a negative in my opinion.
Some professional reviews complained about the Olympus camera menus. I happened to find the 8000 menu very user friendly for a novice (difference between a general consumer and a pro). It was hard to look at other cameras that did not have such a clear menu that was easy and fast to manually switch different modes, settings and speeds etc. The Panasonic menu is somewhat less intuitive and just not as “clean” looking from a graphic/icon perspective. If you are familiar with smart phones, it’s like going from an iPhone to an old Palm menu. But, the Panasonic has a lot more manual user options, which beyond its lesser appealing graphical look, puts more control in the users hands. Similar to the 8000, there is a quick menu, which is quick to reference, while also having the standard menu of all options. Also, Panasonic’s face detection is much more responsive on the TS1.
The “auto” mode of the 8000 was terrible. The majority of pictures taken in auto mode were not up to our standards. It wasn’t until I used the manual features and bumped down the pixels as well as the ISO that the pictures started to look better. As with many camera’s, dark lighting and indoor use resulted in average to poor image quality. Pictures in good lighting were good. Regardless, the 8000 always produced soft images, which was its only downside in my opinion. Which brings me to the TS1. Much like the 8000, it took some fiddling with the ISO speeds and lighting choices to achieve good to excellent pictures. However, even in “auto” mode the camera takes good pictures even at higher ISO speeds. The details are crisp and clear in good lighting or while using the flash. The color can even be changed between vivid, standard, natural etc. These are subtle differences that consumers like myself appreciate and actually can see in the pictures.
CONS:
Zoom button placement
Slow zoom
Stiff buttons
Battery must be recharged separately
Clumsy access to side compartments
PROS:
Good to excellent image quality (auto or manual)
Good indoor image quality with flash and low lighting
Produces some crisp images
Higher optical zoom than similar cameras
Excellent face detection
Several manual user options