Canon D10 vs Panasonic TS1 / FT1 – In Digital Photography Review's 'Waterproof' Camera Group Test (Q2 2009), Don Wan, the reviewer, sums up nicely the differences, strengths and weaknesses of the
Canon PowerShot D10 12.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera in comparison with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1:
The D10 produced the sharpest, most detailed images of all the cameras in this group test at low ISO settings, both in and out of the water. This, combined with responsive performance and a straightforward user interface that has been proven on other cameras in the PowerShot series, means that if you were shopping for a waterproof camera mainly to use in the water, then you can stop reading right now and go order the D10.
When you get out of the water the Panasonic TS1 starts to make more sense with its more pocketable dimensions, wider zoom range, long battery life and much better video capabilities. Certainly if you need a camera to live with day-to-day then the TS1 seems a more sensible choice. Image quality at lower ISO settings edges in favor of the D10 in sharpness and detail but at ISO 1600 the TS1 produces the sharpest and most detailed images of all cameras in this group test.
Both the D10 and the TS1 have flaws. For the D10 it's the not very compact dimensions, the not very wide zoom lens that extends only from 35mm to 105mm and the VGA-only video recording functionality. For the TS1 it is the soft images at the telephoto end of the zoom range, the sometimes very frustrating-to-use design and ergonomics decisions, the limited underwater ability (3m / 10ft vs 10m / 33ft of the D10), and the rather poor flash performance.
How the Panasonic TS1 / FT1 fared in DPReview's 'Waterproof' Camera Group Test (Q2 2009) – In this Digital Photography Review's test, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 emerged as the overall joint test winner together with the Canon D10.
Don Wan, the reviewer, wrote:
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 was not far behind the D10 in low ISO image quality, and produced the best image quality in the group in low light. It also features the widest zoom range with more telephoto reach, though this also meant that images produced at the telephoto end of the zoom were a lot softer than those on the wider end. The TS1 featured the most comprehensive video mode of all the cameras in this group test, and was the only one with AVCHD lite recording functionality. It also has the highest rated battery life of all cameras in this group (according to CIPA standard tests). Despite all these features there were operational annoyances and poor flash performance that dragged down its overall rating.
The Imaging Resource looks at seven contenders (the Canon Powershot D10, Olympus Tough-8000, Olympus Tough-6000, Olympus 550WP, Fuji Z33WP, Pentax W60, Panasonic TS1 / FT1) and has the conclusion.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 Express Review at The Imaging Resource – The Verdict:
The Panasonic TS1 has phenomenally good print quality. Its ISO 80 setting easily manages a 16×20-inch print size. Though some details are slightly soft at this size, the all sharpen up well at 13×19, or if you perform a quick Unsharp Mask in Photoshop. ISO 100 shots are essentially identical to ISO 80 shots. The Luminance noise that I mentioned earlier really isn't a problem at these sizes unless you get very close. ISO 200 shots start to soften at this enormous size of 16×20, but only if you pixel-peep; at arm's length, prints are just fine.
Don't forget to visit their gallery of full-resolution test photos and real-world image samples.
Waterproof Camera Comparison Review at Digital Camera HQ – Canon Powershot D10 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 vs Olympus Tough 8000 vs Fujifilm Finepix Z33.
Summary:
Canon D10 – "Because of it's strange appearance and bulky body, it's not the kind of camera you'd probably use too often in everyday life. It's a vacation or beach camera, only."
Panasonic TS1 / FT1 – "… by far the best all-around waterproof camera. Its durability makes it great for trips to the beach and underwater photography, while its attractive design means you can use it without looking weird. The TS1 takes excellent photographs, as well, vivid and full of life and color."
Olympus 8000 – "… too much emphasis on durability and not enough on image quality."
Fuji Z33WP – "… a nice little waterproof camera that would be a great option if you want to get your young child a camera."
In InfoSyncWorld's Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 review, Mike Perlman concludes:
When we tested the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 against the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 and Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP, the Lumix DMC-TS1 triumphed with the best sharpness, detail and color.
In Digital Photography Interface's Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 review, Brad Soo writes:
As of now, the Panasonic Lumix TS1 costs about $50 more than the competing Canon D10 and Olympus Stylus Tough 8000, but it’s the most feature-packed among all the rugged cameras and in my opinion, that extra bit of money justifies the many advantages of the Lumix TS1 has over the competition.
In InfoSyncWorld's Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 review, Mike Perlman writes:
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 was the only rugged compact to feature a decent overall interface and gave the best LCD performance with a sharp, crisp display.
However, when it came to the menu system, they "… still prefer Canon's menus over all other manufacturers, and the Canon PowerShot D10 rocks the x-axis/y-axis structure that makes shooting so much easier."
In InfoSyncWorld's Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 review, Mike Perlman found the TS1 / FT1 "… to be the least rugged of them all", and says:
We dropped each camera on the New York sidewalk at each of their respective shock resistance heights and the Lumix DMC-TS1 was the only model that suffered long-term effects.