Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 14.1 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Yellow)

One of my previous cameras was a Lumix and I was very happy with the photo quality. I bought this camera because it was the best bet in terms of features and size - I wanted an underwater camera and wanted to be able to use it for everything (this one is pocketable, which is nice).My 3 star rating is a combination of several factors:PROS:1) HD Video2) Underwater up to 10M (most others are 3M)3) Great compact size for the feature set4) No need for an underwater case.CONS:1) Picture quality just wasn't that good.2) Focus was difficult in underwater/low light conditions, resulting in failed pictures3) A bit expensive considering the cons mentionedI ended up returning the camera because at this price point it just didn't meet my expectations. Almost none of my underwater photos/video were usable... I think this camera would work fine if you are expecting to swim in crystal clear water. Very disappointing because I wanted to love this camera.

I own both a TS1 and TS2. While hiking, I fell and damaged the TS1 so it is no longer waterproof. Since the TS2 uses the same batteries (I owned 3) I ordered the TS2 as a replacement.The TS2 has more pixels crammed into its small sensor (to boost sales) so it is inherently noisier. To try to restore the damage, it uses strong image processing to make images look good from a distance. They do. But if you PS your images or look at them at the pixel level, they are breathtakingly bad. And this "feature" cannot be turned off.I use these cameras mostly for their great video and prints up to 4x6 so they're great hiking cameras. If you're looking for studio prints, tho, consider the TS1 -- which is cheaper.The TS2 does have a faux HDR mode (actually flattens the contrast curve). If one under exposes 1 -2 e.v. then brightens in an editor, the result is actually HDR-ish. One can also use this mode to make "HDR" movies. Sort of.I'd still give this camera 4 stars for its great video and features. Its weakness is in its "Intelligent Resolution." I've owned four Pannys in the last ten years or so, but this may well be my last.I see that Panasonic is hyping IR in its expensive micro Four Thirds cameras. I'd avoid them like the plague. Panasonic knows how to make a camera that takes clean images (e.g. LX3) by using a larger physical size sensor and less pixel packing, but they've chosen to go this route for their consumer-oriented cameras.

I bought this camera to use for work (as well as for vacation/rafting ect). I appraise real estate, and figured it would be nice to have a rain proof, drop proof camera to get pictures of the homes exteriors, interior, attic & crawl spaces as the weather in Seattle is rarely optimal. I was dead wrong. The images are absolutely horrid. My $125 canon powershot 1100 IS takes crystal clear images of everything I need in any weather, and when I replaced it with this it was abundantly clear this was not a good stills camera in anything but super sunny optimal conditions (because those were the only good pictures I ever saw with it). I gave it a few weeks thinking I just need to learn this cameras differences on how it interacts with lighting conditions based on any given settings. I was wrong.Interior photos were O.K. when taken with good lighting, but even then the color renditions weren't correct, and it was generally fuzzy compared to any point and shoot I have ever used (of which there have been many). I'm sure people get good closeup pictures of people in great lighting, and decent underwater pictures in clear tropical waters, but for a $300 camera with a leica lens, it is an insult point and shoots everywhere. It was never clear on any picture taking outside in overcast conditions, but even in sunny conditions taking pictures of a home gave washed out details (brick/wood lines were smudged, general bad quality of image) and were an embarrassment to me upon delivery to my clients. Add the slow optics and obviously bad sensor to the mix and you have a $50 camera in a $250 body.I was really trying to like this camera as the external part of it was exactly what I wanted, but I need usable images. I have many years experience with shooting pictures on all types of cameras; this was not a case of poor camera settings. I have since gone back to my cheap powershot which puts this camera to shame in image quality in lieu of receiving a different brand/model of similar waterproof/shockproof characteristic.As a test before printing out my return receipt, I actually took a picture of my Joby Gorillapod which I placed on the floor, from both cameras from the same angle and distance using the same camera settings, and the noise and image quality discrepency on the TS2 compared to the Powershot SD1100 was huge; zoomed in 2x and 4x it was almost laughable. Don't waste your money on this, check out the Canon D10 or the Olympus Tough Series of cameras if you need a waterproof travel/fun camera.