Overview
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FT1 is a waterproof and shockproof digital camera. It is waterproof to 3m and shockproof to 1.5m. It has 12 megapixels and a 4.6x, wide angle, optical zoom lens. The Lumix DMC FT1 is also able to capture High Definition movies.
Why Buy The Panasonic DMC FT1
At the time of writing I see this camera as the best all round camera of its type. It has a good set of features and performs very well.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
4.6x
2.7 inches
98.3 x 63.1 x 23mm
162g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
Yes
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
The Lumix DMC FT1 copes quite well with the combination of sun glare and very light areas found on the boats. Although some detail is lost and one or two blue lines take on a purple tinge this camera coped better than other cameras tested at the same time.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
In terms of focusing this is a good effort. This scene is very distant in paces, but the Lumix DMC FT1 does a good job of bringing as much of the scene into focus as it can. One point I have noticed with this camera is it finds it difficult to show detail in the darker areas of the shot. In this example a large area of the tree on the right of the shot shots no detail at all.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
Zooming in produces no major issues. Again the photo is sharp enough to produce crisp prints above snapshot size. I like the colours in this shot, especially the green trees.
Outdoor 4 (Building):
Wrapping up the outdoor shots taken at distance is another sharp photo. The brickwork stands out when the photo is blown up in size. The colours are well balanced.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
Using the white balance setting of shady provides a pleasant, warm look to this photo. The Lumix DMC FT1 copes well moving in closer. This is another shot where focusing is sharp. You should have little problem with standard outdoor portrait shots.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
Most of the lighting hits the right points. There are one or two darker areas and the entire photo could be a bit brighter. It is still a decent overall effort.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
This is one of the better attempts to produce a portrait shot using only natural lighting. There is less noise and greater definition to the shot than most cameras manage.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro:
If you buy a waterproof point and shoot digital camera then macro photos are unlikely to be high up on your list of priorities. Even so this camera is capable of taking a good close up shot if the need arises.
Colours:
Looking through my test shots I can see the Lumix DMC FT1 is capable of producing some fairly powerful colours. This is especially noticeable in the second outdoor shot.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600:
There is not a great deal to report here. As with just about all compact digital cameras noise becomes an issue fairly quickly when lighting levels fall. All you can do is make sure there is as much light available as possible.
Summary
My overall impression is very positive. Picture quality is some way above average and you should have no problems producing social snapshots.
Style
This camera has a rectangular shape with sloping edges. It has quite a plain look.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.32 seconds
8.28 seconds
0.47 seconds
14.93 seconds
2.38 seconds
Ease of Use
There are a few features worth spending some time getting to know if you are going to get full value for your money. Aside from that you should find this camera easy to use.
Points I Like
Picture quality -waterproof - shockproof - high definition movies
Where it Could Improve
Lack of definition in dark, shaded areas
Verdict
In addition to being shockproof and waterproof the Panasonic Lumix DMC FT1 has a lot going for it. I liked the quality of the photos the camera produced. Throw in High Definition movies, a wide angle lens and some useful ease of use features and you have an excellent camera.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Sony DSC TX10 Rating 84/100
The Sony Cybershot DSC TX10 has a great range of features, but picture sharpness can be slightly disappointing in certain situations. If you are not planning to make large prints then the issues with picture sharpness are unlikely to unduly trouble you. If on the other hand you can envisage producing larger prints of landscape style shots you may find the soft focus detracts from picture quality. Response times are very impressive.
Read Review: Sony DSC TX10 Review
Panasonic DMC FT10 Rating 82/100
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FT10 is waterproof, freezeproof, shockproof and dustproof. It handles most photo opportunities with a minimum of fuss. I like the picture quality on offer and I also found the camera easy to use. It has 14 megapixels and a 4x zoom lens.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC FT10 Review
Canon Powershot D10 Rating 82/100
The Powershot D10 has a distinctive, fun look that means it will not get mistaken for any other digital camera. It has a number of robust features and is waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof to varying degrees. It takes a good snap and is well worth a close look.
Read Review: Canon Powershot D10 Review
Related Pages
Panasonic DMC FT1 Review Panasonic DMC FT1 Specification Panasonic DMC FT1 Sample Images Panasonic DMC FT1 Features Canon Powershot D10 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC FT1
Review Date
September 2009
