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Which Rugged Camera Should You Get?
Question: I'm planning a vacation with my wife and kids this summer, and I want one camera to cover it all. Something small enough to take around with us wherever we go, and most importantly, super durable and waterproof so we can take it to the beach without giving daddy a heart attack. Any suggestions?
Hey reader: "Tough" cameras have definitely been the rage lately, with several of the big manufacturers recently unleashing new models into the wild. Over the past few years, Olympus has definitely led the way in this category with its Stylus Tough series of nearly unbreakable cams.
But we aren't in love with the Olympus photo quality. So we were excited when Panasonic brought out the ultradurable DMC-TS1 earlier this year.
The TS1's Venus image processor and Leica lens produce photos with great color and sharp details -- even in dim indoor settings. And the TS1 shoots 720p high-def video, compared to the other toughcams' standard-def footage. The video file format, called AVCHD, is a little tricky to work with -- initial users had issues getting their video into iMovie, for example, but most of these issues have been smoothed out. And for now, the TS1 is your only option for capturing HD with a rugged, pocket-sized point-and-shoot camera.
The TS1 is a tough cookie -- able to withstand 1.5 meter (five-foot) drops and immersion in up to three meters (about 10 feet) of water. That's perfect for snorkeling or surviving the accidental plunge in the pool. It probably won't work for scuba diving, but for that you'd want a camera with a bigger lens to capture more light, anyway. (It gets dark down there!) Being sealed against water, the camera also keeps out dust, not to mention beach sand.
Finally, the TS1 has the best form factor of the "toughcam" lot that we've seen. Unlike Canon's decidedly bulky D10, or the avant-garde Olympus Stylus Tough 6000, the TS1 looks pretty much like a standard, svelte pocket cam. Less than an inch thick, it slips easily into any pants or jacket pocket (or purse).
While it's pricier than the rugged rivals at about $400, the TS1 is worth it for the great pictures that it can take, virtually anywhere.
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Comments
3
Subscribe to commentsMr. TechnosopherOct 20th 2009 10:23AM
Evan,
I really appreciated your writeup, and it helped inform my decision regarding which rugged camera to get a friend earlier this year. I also happened to receive an identical question from one of my own readers this week, and I referred them to your blog (why reinvent the wheel?)
Personally, I prefer the Canon D10 because I find its ergonomics to be superior. For a user who's wearing skiing gloves or scuba gear, the Canon D10 offers a simpler, friendlier platform. The D10 also provides better waterproof rating (up to 32 feet). However, for a more casual user looking for something rugged but also pocketable, I would agree with you on the TS1 pick.
Regards,
Mr. Technosopher
technosophers.com
AndyNov 30th 2009 11:53AM
What I want to know is which small digital camera has the best (fastest) shoot rate?
Mr. TechnosopherDec 2nd 2009 1:25AM
At the highest resolution, the Panasonic DMC-TS1 can shoot a burst of 3 images in about 1 second, or a continuous shooting of approximately 1.3 frames per second until the memory card is full.
The Canon D10 shoots approximately 1.1 frames per second until the memory card is full.
However, in real life, the camera's overall responsiveness and ability to focus quickly may prove to be a vital part of the speed equation. I did notice that the Canon D10 sometimes struggles to focus under low light situations, so it may likely do the same in an underwater environment. I can't comment on the DMC-TS1 performance as I haven't used it extensively.