Panasonic’s 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.

Product Features

• Gear up for active outdoor fun with a tough camera that captures both photos and HD videos
• Waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof
  The camera body is waterproof to 3 m (9.84 ft). 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 1.5 m (4.92 ft). This is one tough little camera that you can take wherever action takes you.
• AVCHD format - lets you shoot beautiful HD motion images for a longer time
  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 images before running out of memory.
• iA mode - shooting incredible photos and motion images has never been easier
  Just set the camera to iA mode, aim and shoot. The camera does the rest for you. It automatically sets the optimal mode for the shooting situation, and helps correct blurring, focus, and brightness problems. It also activates the new Face Recognition function, which finds familiar faces in a group of people and captures them in a clear focus and with proper exposure.
• 28mm wide-angle LUMIX® Lens with 4.6x optical zoom
  A retracting lens with folding optics is used in this 4.6x zoom lens system, which lets you take shots from the 28mm wide-angle to 129mm telephoto. This gives you the flexibility for virtually any shooting situation - even underwater shots, where the angle of view is naturally narrowed, or when you just want to fill the frame with your subject.

Product Specs

Panasonic DMC-TS1’s Review

imaging-resource.com

04/07/09

Panasonic, maker of the ToughBook series of notebook computers, has launched its first rugged digital camera: the Lumix TS1.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 is a rugged shockproof, waterproof, and dustproof digital camera with a sensor resolution of 12.1 effective megapixels from a 1/2.33” RGB CCD image sensor, and Panasonic has coupled this to an image stabilized, Leica DC Vario-Elmar branded 4.6x optical zoom lens with a useful 28-128mm-equivalent wide-angle zoom.
Panasonic Lumix TS1 Features

There’s no optical viewfinder, with the Panasonic TS1 instead opting solely for a 2.7-inch LCD display with 230,000 dot resolution. The Panasonic TS1’s lens has a maximum aperture that varies from f/3.3 to f/5.9 across the zoom range. The minimum focusing distance for the Panasonic DMC-TS1 is ordinarily 30 centimeters, but drops to just five centimeters when switched to Macro mode. That rugged body is one of the biggest selling points, though, capable of surviving some pretty harsh usage. The Panasonic DMC-TS1 is capable of surviving repeated drops from 1.5 meters onto five centimeter thick plywood with no more than cosmetic damage, and is rated waterproof and dustproof to the IP58 standard, meaning that it can be used three meters underwater for sixty minutes at a time. Note, though, that to maintain this level of waterproofing, Panasonic recommends annual replacement of the camera’s seals, a service that must be paid for.

The Panasonic DMC-TS1 has an 11-point multi-area autofocus system which also includes a single-point “high speed” focusing mode. As with many digital cameras these days, there’s also a face detection function, with Panasonic’s implementation using the information to adjust both focus and exposure to properly capture your subjects’ faces. Panasonic has gone a step further by enabling the Lumix DMC-TS1 to recognize specific individuals’ faces, and prioritize these over other detected photos when capturing photos, or search for photos containing a specific face in Playback mode. The Panasonic Lumix TS1 also has an implementation of autofocus tracking, which can monitor a subject as it moves around the frame, continuing to update autofocus as required. Panasonic’s AF tracking is linked to the face detection system, allowing the camera to continue tracking a face even if it briefly turns to a side profile (although it should be noted that the face detection system does require the subject be looking toward the camera to achieve its initial detection).

ISO sensitivity ordinarily ranges from 80 to 1,600, with the ability to extend this as far as ISO 6,400 equivalent in High Sensitivity Auto mode. Shutter speeds from 1/1,300 to 60 seconds are possible. The Panasonic DMC-TS1 uses Intelligent Multiple metering, and offers six white balance settings including Auto, Manual, and four fixed presets. A whopping selection of twenty-seven Scene modes let users tailor the look of their images, useful given that the Panasonic TS1 doesn’t offer aperture-, shutter-priority, or fully manual modes. There’s also an Intelligent Scene Selection function, which can automatically select from a subset of the available scene modes. A five-mode flash strobe includes red-eye reduction capability, and has a rated range of up to 5.1 meters at wide angle, or 2.8 meters at telephoto. There’s also digital red-eye correction, and Panasonic’s Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent ISO functions as seen on past models. Also included is Intelligent Auto, which can now also enable the AF Tracking and Intelligent Exposure functions.

As well as JPEG still images, the Panasonic TS1 can capture movies with sound at up to 1,280 x 720 pixel resolution or below, and the compression used is AVCHD Lite which is based upon MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 video, so file sizes should be good. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 stores its images and movies on Secure Digital cards, including the newer SDHC types. MultiMedia cards are also supported, but for stills only. There’s also a generous 50MB of built-in memory. Connectivity options include a USB 2.0 High-Speed connection, plus standard definition NTSC / PAL video output. The Panasonic TS1 can also output high-definition video via an optional HDMI cable, and is compatible with Panasonic’s proprietary “VIERA Link” system that allows the connected TV’s remote control to be used to navigate the camera’s slideshows. Power comes from a proprietary lithium-ion battery, rated as good for 300 shots on a charge to CIPA testing standards. The software bundle includes PHOTOfunSTUDIO Viewer v3.0 HD, ArcSoft MediaImpression, and ArcSoft Panorama Maker.
Panasonic Lumix TS1 Pricing and Availability

Panasonic Lumix TS1
User Report

by Shawn Barnett

Panasonic Lumix TS1 Conclusion
Pro:
* Waterproof to 10 feet
* Shockproof from 5 feet
* Dustproof
* HD movie mode
* HDMI output
* Wide-angle 4.6x zoom lens
* Optical image stabilization works very well
* Mode dial serves as thumbgrip
* Substantial build
* Wrist strap with locking slide
* Switch instantly between still and video recording
* Good battery life
* Camera zooms optically while recording video
* LED illuminator for closeups and Macro movies
* Intelligent Auto mode selects Scene modes for you
* Fast autofocus
* Face detection works well
* Excellent printed results

Con:
* Detail is somewhat soft, even at low ISOs
* No optical viewfinder
* Zoom is too fast for video mode
* Flash is easy to cover accidentally
* Flash fires in Intelligent Auto mode even when subject is way out of range
* LCD doesn’t show movie aspect ratio until you begin recording
* Face Recognition is if limited value (Face detection is quite good, though)

Conclusion. Panasonic has produced a real winner with the Lumix TS1: a digital camera that you can take anywhere, rain or shine, underwater, and you can even mistreat it and it’ll still turn in better photos than many other digital cameras on the market. Although there are other rugged digital cameras -- some more rugged than the TS1 -- none so far comes close to the high image quality of the Panasonic TS1. Its 12-megapixel sensor performs very well, and though the Lumix TS1 still exhibits the luminance noise that we used to warn people about, it’s of no consequence in the printed results, so not worth worrying about. Some of the heavily touted features of the Panasonic TS1 fall short, including the Face Recognition mode and some elements of the Movie mode, but I still like that one can zoom while capturing video, something most pocket digital cameras don’t offer; and the image stabilization is excellent. When it comes to actually giving me most of what I want from a digital camera that I can take anywhere, the Panasonic TS1 really delivers. Its wide-angle lens lets me capture more of the outdoors, and I can use it regardless of the weather without a whole lot of thought -- either for the image quality or the camera’s safety. For that reason, the Panasonic Lumix TS1 earns a 4.5-star Dave’s Pick.