Just Posted: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 Review

Having read the review and some comments below, I wanted to add my views.
There are two distinct uses for the camera, as a P&S for holiday snaps and for use underwater.
Considering underwater first, because it is a tricky environment. you must be in crystal clear water (terrible murky result), no more than arms length from the fish (keep them sharp and bright), using wide angle (because they move fast and are unpredictable) and never flash (because it makes particles in the water look like large white blobs). My best results were in very shallow water for sea bed scenes or just below the surface swimming through shoals.
It is impractical to consider any setting other than auto.
Movie is remarkably effective because the movement of the fish takes your mind off poor image clarity.
You need a great deal of light for a sharp image down under and is not a fault of the camera. Sound is remarkable.
On land, it copes well as a point & shoot and will produce images of acceptable quality.

Generally, I like panny products. But this one is totally useless if you want to use it in condition that claims to be for. I am a WW kayaker, and this TS line of cameras are just garbage in terms of ergonomics. Try to press that tiny video button with a neoprene gloves. I have lost so many chances with ^*(^%$ piece that I'm seriously considering the GoPro. Coming back from trips everyone has something to show, and I have these fuzzy fuggy things that I can't show....

When you are recording video in this camera, does it allow you to zoom? Also, while zooming does it stop audio recording or does it record full audio even while zooming in during video recording? (My Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 allows zoom and audio during video, that is why the question).

Is there an option to take still photos along while recording video (I have seen some devices with this feature)?

I owned a TS3 and a Canon D10. The pictures of the TS3 were disappointing: skies were white and not blue, UW pictures were not clear, and the color was off. The D10 created much better pictures: colors were more real, and UW was absolutely great. I've used the D10 for 4 years. I'm wondering if the new sensor of the TS5 (cmos instead of ccd on the TS3) improves the quality of images?

I bought this camera last year and used it in the swimming pool for the first time yesterday. But today in the middle of taking pictures the camera turn off on its own, I thought it was low on battery. But after charging the battery I still cannot turn it on. I am sure that I closed and locked the battery door properly. I dried it properly as the manual said so too after using. Other than fogged inner lens, the flash also had droplets of water in it. I bought it from USA but I lived in south east Asia, I have no warranty on this camera. Anyone have the same problem? Any solutions other than taking it to Panasonic?

I had a Canon 10D,a Pentax W90,a Panasonic TS3 and TS5.

I really liked the IQ of the Canon underwater!Outside medium and not so much the video quality. But i lent it to a friend who after the 1st dive,he just opened the battery door and water got inside! Never got the chance to send it to Canon for a service...

Pentax W90 was cheap.Really compact,but IQ was far behind.

Panasonic TS3 was really what i wanted! Long life battery,better wide-angle,better IQ,too many options in the menu and really amazing video quality!

What i liked most of all in TS3,is the option to control the minimum shutter speed! You can't expect to have a descent photo underwater,if your shutter-speed is under 1/125. So i could choose 1/125 and if i wanted i could bring up the ISO.If not,you can post process the brightness.

Even using the flash,this was very useful! With the other cameras the use of flash,came with the automatic slow shutter,(photo of fish under a rock etc)so photos shaken and useless!

I just got a TS5 and so far like the little beast. I haven't had an underwater camera since Nikonos and Fuji film cameras. I used those in whitewater, not in diving. I'd say that I still wouldn't trust any of these in deep, salt, or forceful water without a case. It's just difficult to keep water out. I saw even more complaints about the AW series leaking.

The one feature I really wanted is a good screen for bright light, and the TS5 fills the bill. These are outdoor cameras; a crappy screen should be a fail (like my iPad outdoors...). I love the 60fps video, and the fast burst shooting. Very helpful for outdoors stuff, as is time lapse and remote shooting (nice for stalking wildlife). GPS acquisition seems to be slow, but I seem to have obtained geodata in the images even when the screen isn't reporting a position. Have to test that further. Makes a decent nanny cam if you have a good LAN connection. If you use GPS and/or wifi the battery drains quite quickly.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT5/DMC-TS5 video FOCUS TEST in dimly lit room. The sound of AutoFocus in operation that remained on the track can also be checked.
http://youtu.be/zsgOEeVnXV4

Has anyone got NFC working, especially with a Samsung S3 mini?
I like the wifi remote and file transfer but NFC and S beam would be great.

Well, I can't wait for the Pentax one. It is still coming, right?

In last 8 years I was owner of 14 underwater cameras http://www.flickr.com/photos/primozp/sets/72157633756660405/ I also have the opportunity to test almost all other UW cameras. In 2010 I even spent my holidays in Egypt with 2 cameras: FT2 and 8010 http://public.fotki.com/Primoz/panasonic-ft2-ts2-v. 8010 very disappointed me and so does TG-1 few years later. TG cameras without a doubt has better optics, but in all other respects FT/TS cameras are better.

In last years I dive solely on breath, up to 18 meters deep, so seamless automatic operation is desirable and necessary, because down there I do not have time (and breath) to adjusting the camera.

So, I'm sure that for underwater use Panasonic FT5/TS5 camera is the best on the market (at the moment)!

My (mostly underwater) photos and videos taken with
Panasonic, Olympus and Pentax compact UW cameras:
photos @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/primozp/sets/
videos @ http://www.youtube.com/user/PrimozP/videos?view=1&flow=list&sort=dd

It's time for DPR (and other camera review sites) to develop some standard terms and definitions when describing increasingly popular WiFi features in cameras. Too often phrases like "control the camera via WiFi" are used when you can't control the camera via Wifi-all you can do is access one or two features like the zoom and the shutter release. Perhaps something like:

WiFi File Transfer-you can move images from the camera to a smart phone, tablet or computer wirelessly.

WiFI Remote Triggering-You can trip the shutter and access limited camera features via WiFi (list accessible features).

WiFi Tethering-Full control of the cameras essential features, including AF, ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, Exposure Compensation, Bracketing, Flash Setting, Etc (essentially everything on an Olympus SCP menu as an example).

Notes for the trolls: 1) if WiFi is unimportant to you, there is no need to tell us. 2) The options above are an example and NOT intended to be comphrehensive.

My DMC-FT2 is now badly corroded, I wouldn't buy another waterproof Panasonic for this reason. The rear case, where there is any edge to the alloy, is corroded, especially around the buttons and dials. Still works though, but looks ugly. Out of warranty, so Panasonic not interested in helping out.

for people who's going to buy the ts5, I would suggest you to hold on, and get a canon G series camera +underwater housing instead. I personally own a TS3, the first time, i use it 5 mins underwater with no problem, but on the second time, there was leak into the battery compartment, I pretty sure that I check if I have the button switch to locked position, I ended up back home with not even single underwater picture. The best thing is , Panasonic replace it for free, I then spent another couple hundred $$ for the housing for the ts3.

My TS4, purchased last August is sitting in a mailing box to be shipped to the Panasonic repair facility in Texas. On its second trip under water since it was purchased (and never more than six feet deep) it began to flash its rear panel display. Not a total flooding of the interior, but apparently a short in one of the control circuits. It didn't totally stop working but you couldn't do much with it ... I didn't pay $265 for this. Let's see what Panasonic says. I've used underwater cameras since my Nikon Action Touch 35mm in 1998 and I think I know something about maintaining O-ring seals... (I am skipper of a WW II submarine memorial!) All the Wi-Fi bells and whistles are fine, but if the camera fails at its primary mission, you have an expensive paperweight.