Panasonic's DMC-FT1 outdoor camera launches

[nightcleaner]

No matter what the weather throws up, you can be assured that the Panasonic DMC-FT1 can take it all in its stride.

The DMC-FT1 is the tough guy of photography, able to withstand, water and dust, not to mention some hefty bumps and drops. Take it underwater up to 3m, use it on the beach without the worry of sand getting inside and should you drop it on the floor, it's able to survive a fall of up to 1.5m. All of that is thanks to an airtight casing and shock-resistant material used for the body. And should you have doubts about those claims, note that the DMC-FT1has been tested to the same standards as Panasonic's much-respected Toughbook computers.

And none of that is at the expense of a solid specification, with the 12.1 megapixel DMC-FT1 offering a Leica DC Vario Elmar 28mm wide angle lens, 4.6x optical zoom, auto focus, face recognition, burst shooting mode, a variety of scenes and best of all, HD video shooting in AVCHD Lite format.

It's the camera you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley - but it's the camera you really do need in your suitcase this summer. Look out for it in silver or blue in March, price still to be confirmed.

c/w http://www.t3.com/news/panasonic's-dmc-ft1-outdoor-camera-launches?=37947

 

[dan m]

I see the viewfinder, but where's the lens? ;-)

 

[SeanyP]

Alternatively:

Use it on the beach without the worry of sand getting inside - yep.
Able to survive a fall of up to 1.5m - yep (and quite a bit more on a couple of occasions)
Take it underwater up to 3m - maybe not. It has survived immersion in fresh & salt water though.

Doesn't do HD video and isn't available in blue or silver, but will still be taking pictures when the Panasonic is consigned to a bin somewhere.

 

[Cesare]

Mousey, you also don't have to worry about getting a scratch on it or it's finder screen because, a) it doesn't have one and b) it's got a few dings already

Cesare

 

[joel]

Use it on the beach without the worry of sand getting inside - yep.

My old F4s died in Iceland circa 1991 when very fine volcanic sand got into the mechanism. This was a real pain as I was working and needed to take photos (and was trying to deal with food poisoning contracted in Barcelona a couple of weeks earlier). I don't have good memories of that Nikon, and would take the Lumix everytime.

and then it died...

The resulting (crap) TV Commercial
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Q95henUSHc0