Pansonic LUMIX TS-1: I Hardly Knew Thee...

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1286842064.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>The Pansonic LUMIX TS-1 is a tough little camera - <a href="http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/show/97459/panasonic-s-rugged-waterproof-lumix-dmc-ts1.html" target="_blank">I reviewed mine here</a>. It's dust-proof, water-proof to 10 feet, drop-proof from five feet, and an all-around sturdy camera. My wife carries it with her in the diaper bag for our son Logan, so that she always has a camera available when he does those cute toddler things. I figured it was the perfect choice because that diaper bag gets tossed around and this camera can take it. Late last week I discovered the threshold of what type of punishment that TS-1 can take though...witness the horror after the break. <MORE /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1286750926.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>The scenario? We were out of town for a funeral, and stopping for a visit at my grandma's house before starting the drive home. My wife asked me to go get the diaper bag so she could change our son before we hit the road, so I went out to our 2009 GMC Acadia to get the bag. I opened the SUV door, grabbed the bag, and closed the door in one fluid motion....</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1286750939.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>What I didn't notice was that the over-the-shoulder sling-style backpack had started to swing back toward the now-closing door...and just as the door was closing shut the upper portion of the bag - the small pouch that housed the camera - went into the path of the closing door. I heard a crunch and immediately knew what that sound meant. The TS1 no longer powers up and is completely dead. It served it's purpose that day well though - I used it just 30 minutes earlier to capture some fun videos and pictures of our family visiting the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Edmonton-AB/West-Edmonton-Mall-Waterpark/213973776717" target="_blank">West Edmonton Mall Waterpark</a>. TS-1, you did your job well before I killed you.</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1286750954.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Goodbye TS-1, you'll be missed...I've decided to wait until just before I go on a vacation to Mexico in March 2011 to replace this camera. By then, a third-generation LUMIX TS series camera might be out, or perhaps something from another camera maker that rates highly.</p><p>Got any camera-destroying stories of your own? Please share!</p>

[daS]

Partly a camera destroying story: One day last winter I was getting into my car which is in a tight single car garage (my wife gets the "big" garage since she normally takes the kids around). As I squeezed through the car door I heard the apple I was taking for my snack hit the floor. Rather than try to crawl between the car and the stuff stacked against the wall, I had the "brilliant" idea to back the car out and get the apple before driving away...

As I backed up, I felt the car run over the wayward fruit. Then, in the glare of the headlights I saw that it was not my apple that had fallen, but rather my rather new ATT Tilt-2 in it's leather case.

Surprisingly, there was no visible sign of damage, but the unit would not boot - nor would it respond to being connected to the PC. It was dead beyond repair. I ended up buying a second one on eBay. A very costly mistake.:( So I feel for you Jason!

[Jason Dunn]

As I backed up, I felt the car run over the wayward fruit. Then, in the glare of the headlights I saw that it was not my apple that had fallen, but rather my rather new ATT Tilt-2 in it's leather case.

Yeeeouch! That's an even more painful mistake than mine...thanks for sharing your pain. :D

[humayunl]

Oh man, I'm sorry about your loss.... on the brighter side, what are you planning to replace it iwth? :)

By the way, I have a ZS3 and I just ordered the NEX-5 yesterday (they have a good bundle promotion where you get 150$ off if you get both lenses). Looking forward to the Nex.

Was gonna sell my ZS3 (TZ7 actually - I bought it in Malaysia) but now I'm thinking that maybe I should just give it to my wife cause she has started using the camera a lot now and I know I'll be reluctant to give her the nex considering how expensive it is and how 'carefree' she is with these kind of things. Plus she hangs around with the kids all day (boy 5 and boy 2) so 'accidents' are bound to happen.

I do want her to have a camera with her all the time cause she captures all the moments when she's out and about with the kids....

any suggestions? I have a buyer for the TZ7 which is why I'm tempted to sell....

[Jason Dunn]

Oh man, I'm sorry about your loss.... on the brighter side, what are you planning to replace it iwth? :)

I'm hoping that the third-generation Panasonic TS camera will be out - presumably dubbed the TS-3 - but I'll check out whatever is available on the market. I won't be buying until February 2011.

...I'm thinking that maybe I should just give it to my wife cause she has started using the camera a lot now and I know I'll be reluctant to give her the nex considering how expensive it is and how 'carefree' she is with these kind of things. Plus she hangs around with the kids all day (boy 5 and boy 2) so 'accidents' are bound to happen.

Given that you probably wouldn't get too much money for it, I'd personally think that giving it to your wife to capture the cute things your kids do is more important. But that's just me, coming from a guy who has about six digital cameras. :)

[humayunl]

Given that you probably wouldn't get too much money for it, I'd personally think that giving it to your wife to capture the cute things your kids do is more important. But that's just me, coming from a guy who has about six digital cameras. :)


The advice has been taken.... :)