Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2: The Best Ruggedized Camera In Town
Panasonic’s latest Lumix DMC-TS2 comes with excellent image quality, fast performance and simple operation. It goes stunning with 720p30 HD video capture, waterproof to 33 feet, and in short, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 is one of the best ruggedized cameras you can buy now available.
- Key specifications:
- 14.1 Megapixels
- Maximum Resolution 4320 x 3240 pixels
- Secure Digital Extended Capacity Media Format
- 4.6x Optical Zoom
- 2.7 inches LCD size
- 720p30 HD Video Capture
- Waterproof- drop-proof to 6.6 feet and freeze-proof to 14⁰F
- Top-notch image quality
- Fast performance and simple operation
- Price Range $289.00 – $399.95
- Design and Appearance
Compared with other ruggedized cameras, the TS2 is of average size. The Casio Exilim G EX-G1 ($229.99, ) and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 are the thinnest, though neither camera can venture beyond underwater depths of 10 feet, compared with the TS2′s 33 feet. The TS2 is significantly thinner than the Canon D10, however, which resembles a miniature submarine—you’d need to stack the 2.5-by-3.9-by-0.9-inch (HWD) TS2 on top of the Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 ($399.99, ) to match the D10′s thickness.
- Performance and Image Quality
The TS2 can start up and capture its first image in an average of 1.7 seconds, averaging 2 seconds of wait time between shots. Using Shooting Digital’s shutter lag test, we calculated that the TS2 averaged just 0.3 second of shutter lag. The Canon D10 starts up faster, averaging 1.5 seconds, but requires a 2.2-second pause between shots, with 0.5 second of shutter lag. In our photography lab, we use the Imatest suite to objectively evaluate image quality. The TS2 can produce sharp, low-noise images at up to and including ISO 800. The images rival those of the Canon D10. The TS2 captured an average of 2,333 lines per picture height (the TS1 averaged 2,149) and dropped by 54 percent towards the outer edges, while the Canon D10 averaged 2,339 lines and dropped by 46 percent towards the outer edges. Both cameras are incredibly sharp—the Pentax Optio W80 ($299.95, ) averaged just 1,816 lines in the center, and the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 captured a mere 1,385 lines.
Currently, the TS2 is the best ruggedized camera for capturing video—it’s even better than most non-ruggedized cameras. It captures 720p30 video using the Motion JPEG codec, or using the AVCHD codec which can create high quality videos in smaller files. Unlike many typical pocket cameras, you can use the optical zoom while recording without the camera picking up any noise from the lens motor.
