Best Waterproof Compact Camera of 2013 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT5, also known as the DMC-TS5, is the the most well-rounded water proof, shock proof, freezproof and dustproof compact camera available on the market today.

Out of the box, you can take this camera 13m (42.5 feet) under the water or drop it from a height of 2m (6.7 feet), not that you would want to do that purposely, without causing a damage this this amazing camera. Basically, there are no moving parts outside of the airtight case, including the lens which is housed behind a window.

The freeze-proof feature protects ensures that the camera is gurantteed to function normally up to -10 degrees C, it can also take a pressure of 100 kg (220 lbs) without any issue.

That's pretty much as good as you can get with a compact digital camera, especially at this price level.  This brick-like beast houses a 4.6x optical zoom for a 28-128mm equivalent zoom, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (near field communication) for sharing images direct from the camera itself.

The autofocus performance is tested to be pretty good, and the image quality is good for a rugged digital camera, but falls short of other non-rugged counterparts of similar price range.

This camera is perfect choice for water sports, hiking, camping or even for kids; you won't have to worry about the camera being broken when they drop it or step on it.

Full Specification

• 16.1 effective megapixel MOS sensor
• F3.3-F5.9, 28-128mm equivalent zoom lens (4.6X)
• 'Power OIS' optical image stabilization
• Waterproof to 13m, shockproof from 2m, crushproof to 100 kg, freezeproof to -10C
• 3-inch LCD with 460,000 dots
• Manual exposure control
• Built-in GPS with compass, manometer, landmarks, and tracking
• Wi-Fi with NFC allows for image sharing and remote control with smartphones/tablets and Mac/PC
• 1080/60p movie mode with stereo sound
• 'Torch Light' illuminates your subjects while recording movies
• Optional marine case lets you take camera 45m underwater

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