Unboxed – Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2
The Panasonic Lumix FT2 is the latest rugged camera to be dropped into the photographic ocean and forced to swim.The Lumix FT1 was a solid, if unspect
The Panasonic Lumix FT2 is the latest rugged camera to be dropped into the photographic ocean and forced to swim.
The Lumix FT1 was a solid, if unspectacular, addition to the ruggedised ranks. Our main gripe was that its waterproofing was only good down to 3 metres – a problem that’s been addressed by its successor.
The FT2 can dive down to 10 metres under water, is shockproof to 2m (compared to the FT1’s 1.5m) and is freezeproof to -10 degrees Centigrade (to the FT1’s 0 degrees).
Sensor-wise, it’s been upped to 14MP with Panasonic’s new Power optical image stabilisation and another new feature – Intelligent Resolution Technology. IRT is essentially some clever picture-sharpening wizardry – Panasonic claims it means you can use a 1.3x digital zoom with negligible quality loss.
Pleasingly, the industro-chic FT2 is available in this cool metallic orange, as well as blue and yellow. Less pleasingly, it still doesn’t have a lens cover. There is a silicon jacket included to help protect the paintwork, though.
Something we flagged up in the FT1 review as a downfall was the fiddly (for underwater use) button layout, which sadly remains unchanged.
Alongside the similarly waterproofed Olympus Mju TOUGH-8000, you can see the FT2 is a chunky beast.
Keep an eye out for a full review of the Panasonic DMC-FT2 as soon as we can dip in the pool.
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
