Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic Lumix FT1 Tough Digital Camera - Blue (12.1MP, 4.6x Optical Zoom) 2.7 inch LCD

I've been into photography for some years now and have quite a bit of semi-pro kit. I've always wanted a good camera that can handle being bashed about a bit but still takes quality images.

I've most recently tried the Pentax W30, a cheap alternative. and as i should have expected it didn't work for long and broke!! So i decided to take the plunge and go for a more expensive alternative (the Panasonic). I have to say i'm more than impressed with it. Good start up time, very quick auto focus and intelligent, there is very little lag between the button being pressed and the photo being taken (this has also been what drives me mad with compact cameras)

All in all very good camera and worth the money.

I bought the Lumix FT1 before going on holiday, and it has proved to be excellent in all the conditions encountered so far (very high humidity). The movie system is really good, with good sound.
Do be careful if you buy a second battery - it will reject all but Panasonic ones, which are expensive!
The quick start up is a real bonus, you can catch the most fleeting glimpse!
There is almost no delay on the shutter, it was really top class for the Singapore motor racing F1 Grand Prix.
So far, I can thoroughly recommend this compact camera, which is loaded with features if you want them!

So, camera arrived within 21 hours of ordering... very impressed with Prime.
I knew I'd love this camera because my brother bought the silver one a week ago.
The quality of the photo's is amazing. Macro is crystal clear, you can see every detail.
I LOVE the blue colour!! Shame there isn't a case that comes with it :-(
Video looks very clear and sharp too, but I haven't seen it on the plasma yet.
Just to warn, you can only record a max of 15 minutes no matter how big your memory card is.
I think it could be a little faster in between shots, but when my 30 m/b card arrives this should sort that out (hence the ish in the title).
It has only been a couple of hours since the camera arrived, but first impressions are 9.7/10 (if it were faster between shots it'd have got a 10/10).
Price on Amazon.co.uk is very very competitive. Infact, my brother paid £5 more than me when he received his last week (not from Amazon).
Can't wait to try it on the beach and test how waterproof it actually is!

I ended up returning the FT1 I bought as I was so disappointed with the image quality. The pictures had a tendency to be noisy, soft, and over-saturated. I compared images with my old compact, a Sony DCS-T7, and overall they just weren't as good. Granted the FT1 is waterproof etc., but I didn't feel it was worth spending this much on a new camera and not have any improvement in photo quality. I also had minor niggles such as I didn't like having to hold the power button down to switch the camera on, and found the zoom slider awkward to manipulate.

The best thing about the camera was the wide angle it provided. It did also feel nice and sturdy. But that's about all the positive points I have.

Camera is better than I had expected
Good features - I couldn't wait for the silver one but I've grown to like the blue
Brilliant camera