TOUGH Camera for Active Outdoor Photography – Panasonic’s new DMC-FT1 – The World’s First Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof Camera AVCHD Lite Motion Image Recording
Catering for those looking for a versatile and durable camera that can confidentially take action shots under pressure, Panasonic is pleased to introduce the DMC-FT1. Tested with the same standards used to assess Panasonic’s acclaimed TOUGHBOOK series computers, the FT1 is shockproof, waterproof and dustproof with the capability to record high-definition movie in AVCHD Lite – the FT1 is streets ahead of its competitors. Featuring a 28mm wide angle lens, 4.6 x optical zoom and iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, this versatile camera lets you capture your special moments on the move.
Get Me Wet
Thanks to rubber padding, reinforced glass and carbon resins inside the camera, the FT1 features an airtight body that lets users operate the FT1 underwater to a depth of up to 3 meters . The FT1 can even be used in seawater, so users can take images of friends snorkelling or tropical fish darting in and out of coral reefs. Since additional housing is unnecessary for underwater operation, the FT1 is an extremely versatile camera that you can take with you wherever the action calls. The FT1 can be used at a beach, ski resort, hiking trips, festivals and in a host of other active, outdoor situations where no-one would dare use a conventional camera.
Designed with users in mind, the FT1’s LCD panel is also deliberately thickened for protection against pressure, allowing the display to operate with clear visibility even underwater.
Dust? Not a problem.
A dustproof design1 shuts out airborne dust particles that can lead to malfunction. This enables worry-free shooting in places like the beach, or any place with lots of dust.
Drop Me
It’s true – the FT1 is drop proof from a height up to 1.5m . In addition to reinforcing the exterior of the camera with shock-resistant material, the FT1 uses folded optics to prevent its lens unit from taking damage when dropped during operation. The lens unit is further protected by a supplementary damper to absorb the force from shock impact. Combined with its dustproof and waterproof performance, this makes it the ideal camera for anytime use outdoors, in active situations, and for casual everyday shooting.
Shoot HD Video
Not only is the FT1 waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and ultra portable – Panasonic continues to push the boundaries by offering HD motion picture recording. In addition to Motion JPEG images , HD motion-image recording is available in AVCHD Lite allowing longer video recordings with breathtaking HD visual and audio quality, making it a true hybrid. The FT1 is a single model that performs admirably as both a camera and a camcorder while achieving smooth, easy operation in both modes.
The popular iA (Intelligent Auto) is also available in motion image recording. Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using high-powered zoom. Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion on it so it always turns out beautifully. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality.
Inherently easy to use motion image recording can be started by pressing a dedicated button on the camera’s back panel – an extremely quick, convenient way to start motion image recording. Most of the cameras settings will be carried over when switched to motion picture recording. The 4.6x optical zoom is available in movie recording, too. A Wind Cut function, a feature normally found only in camcorders, is also available to block out most of the noise from background wind. The FT1 also carries over 16 different scene modes from photo scene modes in movie recording. In AVCHD Lite recording, you can select from three levels of motion image quality: SH (17 Mbps), H (13 Mbps) and L (9 Mbps). In dark places such as night camping, the built-in LED light automatically turns on while recording motion images.
Still or motion images recorded in AVCHD Lite on SD Memory Cards are easy to view on a Panasonic VIERA TV . Simply insert the card into the VIERA Image Viewer (SDHC/SD Memory Card slot) on VIERA TV or DIGA Blu-ray Disc Player to playback your contents. Alternatively, you can use an optional Mini HDMI cable to output the still and motion images you took from the FT1 directly to the TV with VIERA Link. You can take maximum advantage of Lumix camera’s playback functions including the slideshow in which both still and motion images integrated in the timeline, category playback according to the scene mode you used or calendar display and so on. All control is possible using only the TV’s remote control.
In addition, with the included software PHOTOfunSTUDIO HD Edition, it is easy to view and edit your recorded contents. You may also choose to upload your videos to YouTube or burn them to a DVD disc for archiving.
Recognise Me
With the FT1, taking great photos is that easy. Panasonic incorporated Intelligent Auto mode in pursuit of the ultimate ease of operation and the reduction of misshots. This mode is also further advanced with the inclusion of AF tracking and Face Recognition feature – a function that ‘remembers faces’.
When a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt you to register the face . Once complete, if the familiar face appears into your frame again, the camera will display the name you specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and in sharp focus. Perfect for group shots for example – this new feature will give auto focus and auto exposure priority to a single person, ensuring their loved ones face will be captured beautifully.
During registration, you can change the icon that indicates when the registered subject is in focus – for example you can attach a love heart to your partner. You can also manually register a persons details and the camera will remember them whenever you take a photo.
To further add to its appeal, you can also specify the age of the registered subject and have both the name and the age of the subject stamped onto your photos. When babies under 3 years-old are registered, the camera will automatically switch to Baby mode if the baby appears into the frame. In playback, you can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using Category Playback – so you can search for all photos of your Aunt Mary, for example – perfect for compiling a surprise birthday collage.
You can also view image slideshows of only a selected person. Face recognition makes sorting archiving incredibly easy. This advanced face detection system also digitally corrects unwanted red-eye during recording.
With AF Tracking, the DMC-FT1 can lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves – making it easy to get beautiful, clear shots when a great photo opportunity suddenly arises. Simply aim, lock, and shoot.
In addition to the advanced functions mentioned above, the iA mode inherits other fundamental functions users need in a good digital still camera. These include Mega O.I.S., which helps prevent blurring from hand-shake, and Intelligent ISO Control, which reduces motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves as the shot is taken. The Mega O.I.S. system now has an AUTO mode to select between the conventional Mode 1 and 2 depending on which mode best suits the zoom ratio being used. Intelligent Exposure optimizes the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced beautifully. It now features an automatic backlight compensation function that activates whenever the subject is in backlight. Intelligent Scene Selector automatically detects the five most common shooting situations – Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery and Macro – and switches to the appropriate Scene mode.
The Quick AF system helps keep focus on the subject while the camera is in recording mode even before pressing the shutter button halfway. This improves the chance of capturing spur of the moment shots as the focus is always near the subject and AF time is minimized. The user can activate all of these useful, convenient shooting-assist functions by simply selecting iA mode.
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