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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 Reviews and Resources

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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 is a 12.1 megapixel point and shoot camera, which features a 4.6x optical zoom and 2.7″ LCD screen. The TS1’s claim to fame is its purported robust build, which Panasonic touts as waterproof, shockproof and deathproof dustproof.  All of these features garner a $399.95 retail price tag and it should be available in April 2009.  Check availability on Amazon.com.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 Reviews

Imaging Resource

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.

More details in the press release below.

MIAMI, FL (January 27, 2009) – Panasonic today introduced the LUMIX DMC-TS1, the world’s first*1 waterproof, shockproof and dustproof digital camera*2 to also feature AVCHD Lite High Definition (HD) video recording capabilities*3. 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.

“Many consumers are hesitant to take their digital cameras on outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, boating or even a day at the beach, for fear it will be damaged. With the introduction of the LUMIX TS1, we offer a digital camera with a rugged design that consumers can feel confident using in these tough environments,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Even more, with the ability to take both beautiful high-quality still images and High Definition video, with AVCHD Lite, the TS1 offers a powerful one-two punch to capture memories that can later be shared with friends and family.”

The TS1 is waterproof to a depth of 10 feet, shockproof from falls up to 5 feet, and dustproof. With its rubber padding, reinforced glass and carbon resins inside the camera, the TS1 features an airtight body protected against water immersion, dust and sand.

Starting at the 28mm wide angle, and zooming up to a useful 128mm in telephoto, the TS1 gives users the flexibility for a variety of shooting environments – especially underwater, where movement is often restricted and the angle of view becomes important for composing shots. The TS1 also features a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle, enhancing visibility during recording and playback by automatic brightness control according to the environment’s lighting conditions. Plus, the TS1’s LCD panel is deliberately thickened for protection against pressure, allowing the display to operate with clear visibility even underwater.

The TS1 records AVCHD Lite HD video, allowing almost double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. The TS1 also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio to match the high-quality motion images.

Also new in 2009, the TS1 features iA mode for both still images and in Movie Mode. For iA in Movie Mode, the TS1 features Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.), which helps prevent handshake when using high-powered zoom. Face Detection automatically detects a face in a frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion on the face. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality. A Wind Cut function is also available to block out most of the noise from background wind. Optical zoom can be used in motion image recording. Users can start video recording by simply pressing a dedicated button on the camera’s back panel.

The TS1’s iA for still image adds Face Recognition*4 – a feature that “remembers” faces from previous shots. When a registered face appears in the frame, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure to capture it beautifully. With Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt you to register the face. Once registered, if the face appears into the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and sharply focused.

The imaging power of LUMIX has further evolved with the Venus Engine HD, which boasts two CPUs to provide approx. 2.4x processing capability and support for Face Recognition, AVCHD Lite and HDMI output. It integrates the numerous advanced functions with high performance, and low-power consumption. Thanks to the Venus Engine HD, it’s easy to view photos or movies recorded in AVCHD Lite. Simply insert the SD Memory Card from the camera in the Panasonic VIERA® HDTV’s Image Viewer SD Memory Card slot to start playback, or connect the camera via an optional HDMI mini cable to a VIERA Link™-equipped Panasonic VIERA HDTV and use the TV’s remote control to run slideshows*5.

This multi-task image-processing engine also enables a fast response time. The TS1 starts up quickly in 1.3 seconds and shutter release time lag is approximately 0.005 seconds, making it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. The Flash Burst mode makes it possible to take consecutive shots with continuous emissions of the flash*6. The Venus Engine HD also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the TS1 record up to ISO 6400*7, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash. Despite its outstanding performance, the high performance engine is also more energy efficient, extending the battery life up to 340 shots (CIPA) per a single charge.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS1 will be available in silver, green or orange models in April 2009 for a suggested retail price of $399.95. For more information, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

 

Canon 1D Mark IIIn Rumor Update

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A screen shot of what purports to be an inventory system displaying the Canon 1D Mark IIIn surfaced on DPR forums today.

We’ve seen these shots before with Canon cameras prior to launch.  Next month, just prior to PMA 2009, will be prime time for Canon to release a 1D Mark IIIn as well.

Anyone else have thoughts, evidence or speculation on the Canon 1D Mark IIIn?

Sony A900 Review at PhotographyBLOG

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PhotographyBLOG has posted a review of the Sony A900.

Its viewfinder is the best you’ll find south of medium format, the build is incredibly robust, the controls are intuitive, with some of them – such as the dedicated Histogram button, the metering mode knob or the well-implemented rear joystick – being close to pure genius.

For more news and reviews, check out Photography Bay’s Sony A900 Reviews and Resources.

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Review at Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews has published a review of the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS.

The PowerShot SX10 IS is an expensive and quite complex camera, and not really suited for the beginner, however in capable hands it is capable of producing excellent results, and has enough creative versatility to do so in a wide range of situations.

For additional info, see Photography Bay’s Canon SX10 IS Reviews and Resources.

5 “Point & Shoot” Camera Features That Should Be Trashed

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1. Digital Zoom

Digital zoom is a feature found on many point and shoot cameras and is essentially a crop of the image, which results in lower resolution and quality. Camera manufacturers continue to confuse consumers by plugging inflated zoom ratios into camera specifications. Digital zoom is about the biggest crock of a feature that has ever been put on digital cameras.

Fortunately, consumers are coming around and several manufacturers have dispensed with this “feature” altogether. Look for “optical zoom” as a camera feature, which does not crop the image or reduce the quality.

2. Too Many Pixels

Unfortunately, this spec still continues to attract a number of consumers. And, if camera makers can market to consumers tiny camera sensors with ridiculous amounts of pixels, you better believe that they are going to keep stuffing them inside point and shoot cameras.

High megapixel point and shoot cameras simply don’t make sense from a practical standpoint. When the pixels get too numerous, the tiny sensors just can’t make a clean image. That’s why most of these 10+ megapixel pocket cameras produce grainy images.

Hey Canon, Nikon, Sony! Can’t we go back to 6 megapixels or so and have some nice, clean images with the great processors you’re putting into these cameras now? It’ll save us all some hard drive space and help us have nice prints up to 8×10 or so. And, if we’re printing something bigger than that on a regular basis, we’re going to buy your DSLRs anyway. Save the 10+ megapixel range for sensors that can handle it.

3. High ISO

This one goes hand in hand with the last. There’s no such thing as high sensitivity on a point and shoot camera when you’ve got 14 megapixels that you’re cranking out. Stop. Seriously. If I see another ISO 10,000 spec on a point and shoot camera, I’m going to throw up.

Give us something clean with lower megapixels up to ISO 800 or 1600 if you can. Above that, you’re wasting our time. Don’t put increased sensitivity in a camera because ISO 3200 sounds cool. Make it work as high as you can and then stop.

4. Smile Shutter

I actually thought it was cute when I first tried it out . . . that was the only time though. Smile shutter purportedly waits until people smile and then captures the image. The fact of the matter is that you have to tinker with the settings for so long that the moment is lost by the time you get it set or by the time everyone finally smiles together.

“Say, Cheese!” still works pretty well for me.

5. “Authentic” Camera Sounds

The “ksh-clik” sound that point and shoot cameras make to sound like a “real” camera is just plain silly. While it’s not intrusive to image quality like some of the other features, I could do without the extra manufacturing cost for a little speaker in the camera. Additionally, the “authentic” camera sound just irritates the heck out of me.

It’s funny that serious DSLR users are concerned about the camera making too much noise. Camera makers even offer quiet shooting modes to make DSLRs more friendly in quiet environments like weddings. Not so with point and shoot cameras though. It’s the first thing I turn off whenever I get a new point and shoot camera.

What Do You Want to Trash?

I’ve said my peace. Do you agree or disagree?

What other features would you like to see die in point and shoot cameras?

Sound off in the comments below.

Camera Raw 5.3 and Lightroom 2.3 Release Candidates

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The Camera Raw 5.3 and Lightroom 2.3 Release Candidates are now available on Adobe Labs.  Please note that these updates are Release Candidates and not final releases of the software.  As Adobe puts it:

The ‘release candidate’ label indicates that this update is well tested but would benefit from additional community testing before it is distributed automatically to all of our customers.

Camera Raw 5.3 Release Notes:

Newly supported camera models include:

  • Nikon D3X
  • Olympus E-30

This release is not currently compatible with After Effects. This will be addressed before the final release
This release addresses possible artifacts that could appear in Canon EOS 5D Mk II sRAW files.

Lightroom 2.3 Release Notes:

The goal of this release is to address several bugs and provide additional camera raw support. A list of issues fixed in this release is included below:

Bugs – Fixed

  • In the Windows 64-bit version of Lightroom an sFTP upload process could cause Lightroom to crash.
  • Slideshows could return to the first image randomly during playback.
  • A memory leak could cause Lightroom to crash while attempting to process files with local adjustments.
  • Canon EOS 5D Mk II sRAW files could process with artifacts in Lightroom 2.2.
  • Lightroom 2.2 could cause disc burning to fail for Windows customers.

Camera Support

Newly supported camera models include:

  • Nikon D3X
  • Olympus E-30

Additional information and download via the links at the top.