Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 14.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue)

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B003966MJU
• Item model number: DMC-TS2A
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,131 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #60 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Underwater Photography > Cameras
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The DMC-TS2 is shockproof, waterproof, dustproof and newly added freezeproof in design with the capability to record high-definition movie in AVCHD Lite. Featuring a 28mm wide-angle lens, 4.6x optical zoom and iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, this versatile camera lets you capture your moments no matter what the intended shooting terrain is. Swim along with tropical fish and capture shots of beautiful coral reefs, or take recordings of your friends around a camp fire. The DMC-TS2 is an extremely versatile camera that you can take with you wherever the action calls.

Lumix DMC-TS2 Highlights

Shockproof
The DMC-TS2 is dropproof from a height up to 6.6ft in accordance with the "MIL-STD 810F Method 516.5-Shock" test standard. It lets you shoot actively while moving around with the camera in one hand.

Waterproof
With waterproof performance to a depth of 33ft equivalent to the "IEC60529 IPX8" standard, the DMC-TZ2 supports active shooting on a beach, underwater or in a pool. If the camera gets dirty, soil and dust can be washed off by using water.

Freezeproof
With freezeproof to -10 degrees C/14 degrees F, the DMC-TS2 supports shooting while skiing, snowboarding or skating.

Dustproof
The DMC-TS2 is dustproof equivalent to the IEC60529 IP6X standard. While hiking or playing sports, fine dust particles can enter through gaps in the camera body and cause malfunction. The DMC-TS2 can be used in these activities without problems.

HD Movie in AVCHD Lite and LED Light
In addition to Motion JPEG images, the DMC-TS2 can record high-definition motions images in AVCHD Lite. It features almost double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format.

Intelligent Resolution Technology
The image quality is greatly enhanced thanks to the new image processing technology Intelligent Resolution*1, incorporated in the Venus Engine HD II for the DMC-TS2. By detecting the signals whether they are at edges of the subject, they compose detailed texture or just a soft gradation first and give appropriate enhancement to the edges and textured areas respectively. Unlike the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative Intelligent Resolution precisely performs optimum signal processing to give a whole image outstandingly natural clearness with fine details. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in movie recording as well as photo recording.

LED Light
The DMC-TS2 features an LED light that records beautiful motion images even in dusky underwater environments or at a nighttime camp. A convenient auto function also automatically turns on the LED when the ambient light becomes dim.

POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) Shake Detection
Just about everyone has had the experience of taking a photo at night and hoping to capture all the memories and beauty, only to be disappointed at the poor result. The POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)* nearly doubles the hand-shake correction power of conventional MEGA O.I.S. You get bright photos without blurring even from handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds.

Panasonic's accumulated optical technologies, the MEGA O.I.S. has been incorporated into Lumix from the early stage of digital camera development. This helped show all digital camera users the absolute need for hand-shake compensation, and led to its prevalence throughout the industry. And now, Panasonic has worked on the low-frequency vibration hand-shake component, which is physically generated when pressing the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed.

_{*The POWER O.I.S. is automatically turned on in the iA Mode and can be turned on or off in the Normal Picture Mode or some Scene Modes.}

Product Description

The DMC-TS2 is shockproof, waterproof, dustproof and newly added freezeproof in design with the capability to record high-definition movie in AVCHD Lite. Featuring a 28mm wide-angle lens, 4.6x optical zoom and iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, this versatile camera lets you capture your moments no matter what the intended shooting terrain is. Swim along with tropical fish and capture shots of beautiful coral reefs, or take recordings of your friends around a camp fire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Execution in a Pocket Camera, April 15, 2010

By 

Tom D (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 14.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue) (Electronics)

At the price point of this camera you really should need the ruggedness and waterproof features to justify the expense. I'll have to update this over time because at this point it hasn't been on the slopes or under water, but it has been in the rain. I'm not going to try the six foot drop test. The camera is compact, lighter than I expected and seems to be made like an precision aircraft. Great looking body. The display is crisp and bright. The few pictures I've taken so far, both inside and out, look great, including macros. I'm informally comparing this to a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 (point and shoot, 10X zoom) I've had for a couple of years (best non-SLR I've ever owned).

It comes with an optional protective silicone sleeve.

This camera has "O" ring sealed (and locked) doors for the battery and memory card, and for the data access ports. These will leak under water if their seals aren't scrupulously clean as described in the factory literature. So while I'm sure this can be used under water if you're careful, a user will want to be very sure they've carefully examined and cleaned the sealing surfaces before submerging.

I've taken photos inside with the flash in a 40' darkened room to compare the flash depth of the older camera with this one, they seem to be the same, so the built in flash is acceptable and typical of this kind of camera; point is no compromise with the flash.

This is the camera you can stick in your back pocket and go. It fits in a SPI belt and fits in a small Amphipod case if you use either of these for running or other exercise.

Downside: So far just two things. First, there's no viewfinder, not a big issue usually but if you try to wear sunglasses on a bright day using the screen can be problematic. Second, and potentially more important, there's no protection over the lens, though it's recessed. It's small and it's one of those things a user will have to watch to be sure it's clean. Viewing screens seem to mask dust, fingerprints and water spots on a lens, but they show up as an artifact or blur on a computer screen or print. If you're used to a self covering lens you can get into the habit of ignoring this. A pop off cover would be nice.

Even though this is rugged and waterproof, I'll keep it in a case. Based on descriptions, it's tough to figure out what fits, especially if you want to use the included silicone sleeve which is not included in product dimensions. The Kroo semi-hard case is a snug fit without the silcone sleeve, too small if you use the sleeve. The VanGoody neoprene case works even with the sleeve as does the small, but unpadded Amphipod case (which I like for it's water resistance, ballistic nylon construction and belt loop).

Update 18 Feb 2012: I should have updated this sooner. The camera is outstanding. Now it has been everywhere from skiing in sub-zero, snorkeling, white water rafting, to documenting sludge. Tough camera, still great pictures. As expected you have to be sure to keep the lens clean. White water rafting was the worst because it was impossible to avoid drops of water; a firm shake solved the problem when I remembered to do so.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great waterproof camera for the price & size, June 8, 2010

By 

Dianne E. Arnold (St Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 14.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue) (Electronics)

We bought this camera for a trip to the Galapagos because we wanted something light & small for underwater pictures. I had considered a Canon G10 or G11 with the underwater housing and then saw a review of this camera. It is a very fair trade-off for something that is less than half the price and very compact. We got some excellent still photos; the video underwater is OK, but not good enough if you're really interested in getting a lot of sharp u/w video.

We used the camera throughout a nearly one-month trip for other stills and videos and are very pleased with the results in daylight or moderate light conditions. The flash is like most small P&S cameras - useful in limited settings only.

We kept the silicone cover on all the time; it protects the edges and access points and provides a non-slip surface making it easier to hold in the hand. When underwater, the silicone cover protects against accidental opening of an access point and is an additional protection against even a drop of water getting in. We tried it out in the kitchen sink before taking it on a trip just to make sure we knew how to use it. We used it to deep-water snorkel many times without any problems. I intend to buy a floating strap for the camera - inexpensive insurance against losing it in the water.

I took off one star for the underwater video quality and the flash; otherwise, it's a great little camera and at 14 megapixels, the images (only jpg) have enough resolution so you can do some color tweaking and cropping and still have something that will make a nice 8x10 or bigger.

85 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Second Rate Pictures, April 27, 2010

By 

James Fundeburgh "JimF" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 14.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue) (Electronics)

I was convinced by several of my outdoorsey friends that I needed a weatherproof camera so I bought this on the basis of reviews for a backpacking trip to the canyons of Utah. I also brought along my old smaller lighter much cheaper Canon 850IS. I left the Pana hanging around my neck and snapped away- 600 pics in 4 days. I was pleased with its very fast response and it kept on ticking even in dirty and wet conditions. When I got home I found the screen had been scratched by the sand and dust. (So it is only sort of weatherproof) When I downloaded the pictures, there were some really good ones but none were the GREAT ones I had planned on. Most had poor color saturation, strange color balance and were not sharp. Almost 35% were completely ruined by camera shake (yes I had the IS on). I had taken a few pictures with the Canon and they were magnificent. So I sat down at home and did a head to head comparison. The Canon blew away the Panasonic - no contest whatever. In less than full light the Panasonic consistently takes noisy, undersaturated, fuzzy images. In bright light it still lags in sharpness and saturation. I think would rather keep my camera in a bag and pull it out for a great picture now and then rather than fill up endless disks with 14MB crummy ones. This baby is going back.