New Panasonic Lumix TS4 And TS20 Rugged Point-And-Shoot Cameras

Panasonic announced two new rugged outdoor point-and-shoot cameras, today. The 12-megapixel Panasonic Lumix TS4 is their new top-of-the-line, GPS-equipped waterproof, shockproof compact camera; and the Lumix TS20 is an affordable outdoor camera with a sub- $200 price tag. Both cameras are waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof and shockproof. But as Panasonic’s top dog rugged camera, the TS4 gets all the best stuff – full HD video, a 4.6x 28-128mm (equiv.) Leica optical zoom lens, new improved GPS with compass, altimeter and barometer as well as landmark, city and country info all saved in the photo EXIF data. The altimeter also functions as a depth indicator when the camera is used underwater. The TS4 has Panasonic’s excellent iA (Intelligent Auto) shooting mode for simple, intuitive shooting. And for the more advanced photographer Panasonic added full manual exposure control – the first time they’ve included shutter and aperture control in a waterproof camera.

Panasonic Lumix TS4 Key Features & Specs:

Waterproof to 40 feet (12 meters)
Shockproof to 6.6 feet (2 meters)
Freezeproof to 14-degrees Farehnheit
12.1-megapixel Hi-Speed CCD sensor
1920 x 1080 full HD video (AVCHD or MP4)
4.6x 28-128mm Leica optical zoom lens
Improved GPS with compass, altimeter, barometer
New – manual exposure control

I’ve been a big advocate for waterproof, shockproof point-and-shoot cameras for a long time. I love them for mountain biking and skiing and recommend them to everyone who does any kind of intense outdoor activity. For outdoor sports, you can’t beat a camera that you don’t have to worry about getting wet or dropping and that fits in your pants pocket. The TS4 is waterproof to 40 feet deep (12 meters), can withstand drops of about 6 feet (2 meters) and it can also handle temperatures well below freezing, although battery power will be affected by extreme cold.

The 16-megapixel TS20 has a 4x optical zoom lens, 720p HD video and is waterproof to 15 feet (3 meters) and shockproof to 5 feet (1.5 meters). In case you’re wondering why the less expensive TS20 has a higher resolution sensor, it’s because the TS4’s 12-megapixel sensor will actually deliver better image quality – especially in low light. It’s not all about more pixels. The sensors in most point-and-shoot cameras are so small that image quality actually gets worse when the resolution gets too high. Last year, Panasonic actually decreased resolution on the TS3 in order to improve image quality. The TS4 appears to have the same 12-megapixel CCD sensor as the TS3. Why mess with something that works? The TS3 was one of the most popular point-and-shoot cameras on PhotographyREVIEW.com in 2011. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Panasonic Lumix TS20 Key Features & Specs:

Waterproof to 15 feet (3 meters)
Shockproof to 5 feet (1.5 meters)
Freezeproof to 14-degrees Farehnheit
16-megapixel sensor
720p HD video
4x 25-100mm optical zoom lens

The Panasonic Lumix TS4 should be in stores by mid-March and the TS20 is scheduled to be available toward the end of February. Both cameras will come in a variety of colors, including orange and blue. The TS4 will sell for $399.99 and the TS20 will sell for $179.99.

Panasonic Lumix TS4 Press Release >>
Panasonic Lumix TS20 Press Release >>