Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT10

Piece of Crap!!!! – Battery life short so it was of limited value on land. In water? Well that bit about it being for underwater use is absolute fiction. The camera is totally useless as is Myers and the company - none of whom stand by a refund for a faulty useless piece of crap. To find out what was wrong with the camera was another $70 (not under warranty). Save your time and money and commit your memories to your memory. It costs nothing and for the most part works well.

Stay away from this camera if you want to use it underwater – Stay right away from this camera. I spent a little extra to buy this camera for underwater use, followed all of the rigorous instructions for preventing water getting inside and...........well you can guess the rest. It is now a useless piece of junk. No point in following up on replacement as there is a disclaimer that if there is a microscopic fibre in the seal (ie not visible to the naked eye) - then 'bad luck'.

It took reasonable enough photos prior to it's first trip underwater. reasonable picture quality and easy to use this camera was not waterproof, even when following the strict instructions.

Good – The fact that you can do almost anything with this camera is fantastic, but what’s commendable is that Panasonic have achieved this in a user friendly and fun way. Although you need a device which can actually run the HD video, the quality you receive is stunning. High megapixels can often mean the difference between an average shot and an amazing shot. Although this camera is great, you can’t ignore the fact that it’s out-dated by the Lumix DMC-FT2. For me, I’ll probably never dive below 3 meters, but the extra shock proofing would be an advantage.

My final opinion is that if you see this model for a considerable amount cheaper than its older brother, than this camera is the one to get. However, the newer version has worth while upgrades that shouldn’t be ignored when pricing the two. The Lumix DMC-FT10 is firstly a very good all round camera. The high quality this camera can produce is incredible, while the menus are easy to navigate and the varying modes can be changed fairly quickly. An obvious pro is that this camera is water, snow and shock proof, but other features also help make this camera one of the best. Although these points might sound small and very specific, they can make a lot of difference for the user.

The seals on the battery covers are easy to clean, as you must ensure there is no debris on the seal for water tightness. You receive a small brush with your camera for this job, which is of surprisingly high quality (superseding the quality of the brush I received from the shop as a bonus). Panasonic have also made these covers not only easy to open/close, but the actual seal is coloured red, which makes it easy to notice if you haven’t shut the cover properly. As mentioned, this is an important aspect as an effective way of sealing your camera is vital.

One thing I particularly like is the bright colours available. Not only do they look great, but if you drop your camera (either underwater or on land) than you can spot your camera much easier than if it was the average black or silver. I’d like to mention here that the newer model only comes in darker colours.

When you purchase your Lumix camera, you also receive a wrist strap. This is a pro because this wrist strap can be tightened or loosened, which limits the chances of loosing your new toy. :)

One point that is really handy is the amount of modes you can take photos on. Panasonic have jammed this camera with a photo mode for almost every circumstance, especially in the ‘Scene’ section. The DMC-FT10 now has a big brother (the DMC-FT2) which has higher megapixels as well as deeper water proofing and stronger shock proofing. Currently, you can pick up a DMC-FT2 for the same, and occasionally cheaper price than this model.

The ability this camera has to take high definition (HD) video sounds at a first a fantastic idea. The main problem with HD video is that you must have a device that can receive and play it. You need either a HD TV or a computer with a high graphics card to do this. If you have neither, like me, than the point of HD video is defeated. For those that are in the same situation as me, you can convert the video to normal JPEG format in the camera itself.

Some photo modes seem pointless

New Purchase – I find this camera as one of the best cameras I have ever owned . Not only is it a great camera but it has alot of different things it can do. I have purchased one for my partner as well which she is yet to receive for her birthday. And what a great price it is.