Adding to the always-popular market of rugged cameras, Panasonic has just introduced the Lumix DC-TS7 digital camera. With this release, Panasonic is separating itself from the norm with some unique features among these tough point-and-shoots, most importantly with the inclusion of an electronic viewfinder for easier viewing in bright conditions. Beyond this, the TS7 stays true to its heritage with a waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof design to withstand the elements, along with a versatile slew of imaging capabilities.
Revolving around a new 20.4MP High-Sensitivity MOS sensor, the TS7 can record high-resolution stills and UHD 4K video at both 30p and 24p at 100Mbps. The sensor also affords a flexible sensitivity range from ISO 80-3200, which can be extended to ISO 6400 for working in difficult lighting conditions. Also, a full-resolution 10 fps shooting rate can be used for photographing moving subjects, or, leveraging from the 4K capabilities, 4K PHOTO modes can be used to take 8MP stills from a 30-f-p-s shooting rate.
Complementing the imaging is a Lumix DC Vario 4.6x zoom lens, which translates to a 28-128mm equivalent focal length range to cover wide-angle to short-telephoto views. This lens is backed with a POWER O.I.S. image stabilization system that compensates for the effects of camera shake, resulting in sharper imagery when shooting handheld.
Rounding out the TS7's feature set is, of course, its durable design that is waterproof to depths up to 102', shockproof to falls from as high as 6.6', freeze proof down to temperatures as low as 14°F, and crush proof to withstand up to 220 lbf. The physical design incorporates the decidedly refreshing 0.2" 1.17m-dot Live View Finder, which will benefit shooting in bright conditions from eye level. Alternatively, the rear 3.0" 1.04m-dot LCD screen can be used for composing and reviewing photos and movies. The TS7 also sports built-in Wi-Fi for sharing photos to your smartphone or tablet and has support for geotagging using your mobile device's location information.
The TS7 will be available in Black, Blue, or Orange.
What are your thoughts on the new TS7? Is the addition of an electronic viewfinder a game-changing feature for the tough camera segment? What other innovations would you like to see in this rugged realm? Let us know in the Comments section!
