Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Waterproof Digital Camera
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.
Like its predecessor, the picture quality is as good as can be expected from a compact camera. The movie quality is better than expected. The image stabilization appears to have been further improved, and while low-light pictures can still end up fuzzy, it helps a lot when recording movies, especially when zooming.
The sliding zoom button (which had taken me a while to get used to) has been replaced with a (more common) toggle button. The buttons and menus in general are simple and straightforward (i.e. no more tedious than on other cameras I’ve used). The only thing I don’t like too much is the mode dial wheel, for which I don’t have much use, and which can be turned inadvertently.
I like the folded lens setup and the quick start-up and shut-down. Unlike with the DMC-TS1, you no longer need to press the power button for several seconds to get the camera to turn on. The high-pitched noise that the DMC-TS1 emitted while turned on is gone as well. Like its predecessor, the DMC-TS2 feels solid and well-built (but a bit on the large side, compared to some other compact cameras).