It appears as though Panasonic took a "why mess with a good thing" approach when it came time to update its top-of-the-line rugged model, the Lumix DMC-FT3.
Its replacement, the FT4, is just as durable; it's waterproof to approximately 12 metres, shockproof to approximately 2 metres, freeze proof to -10 degrees Celcius and dustproof. To go along with its strong build, there's a built-in GPS system, compass, altimeter and barometer.
The rest of the camera's hardware — the 4.6x f/3.3-5.9 28-128mm Leica lens, 12-megapixel high-speed CCD sensor and 2.7-inch LCD — seem to be the same as the FT3, too, although it looks like it has a new image processor, since it can now capture full-HD movies in AVCHD or MP4 formats.
Among all of the FT4's shooting modes — of which there are many — two stick out as being unusual for a rugged compact camera. Firstly, it has a full-manual mode, giving you control over shutter speed and aperture. Shutter speeds go from 60 seconds to 1/1300 of a second, and apertures are f/3.3-10 at the wide end and f/5.9-18 at the telephoto end.
The other interesting mode is a Time Lapse Shot, where you can set the start time, interval and the number of photos to shoot, and the camera automatically snaps photos based on this information. When it's done capturing, the FT4 will condense the shots for fluid playback, so you can see things like clouds moving across the sky or a flower opening.
Panasonic also included a Miniature Effect mode and a Panorama Shot mode that can shoot up to 360-degree horizontal or vertical panoramic photos by taking consecutive shots and overlaying the photos. Apart from these extra modes and settings, the FT4 is essentially the same camera as the FT3. Local pricing and availability haven't been announced yet.
The rest of the camera seems to be less impressive; a 16-megapixel CCD sensor, a 4x 25-100mm optical zoom and a 2.7-inch LCD. It'll shoot 720p HD-resolution MP4 movie clips, and has a bunch of Panasonic's creative-shooting options, too.
Via CNET
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