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Panasonic's new Lumix DMC-FT2 is a successor to Lumix’s first camera geared for active outdoor use, the DMC-FT1.

Featuring AVCHD Lite HD movie recording capability, the new 14.1-megapixel FT2 further strengthens its toughness to be water proof to 10m, shock proof to 2.0m, freeze proof to -10° C and dust proof. The camera is also empowered internally by the newly developed Venus Engine HD II integrating “Intelligent Resolution” technology.

The FT2 features a high-quality Leica DC VARIO ELMAR 28mm wide-angle lens with a 4.6x optical zoom. A folded optics shaft guide method is adopted to secure the toughness of the lens unit. Comprising 10 elements and a prism unit in eight groups, including one ED lens and five aspherical lenses with six aspherical surfaces passing the Leica's stringent standards to deliver exceptional optical performance to the edge.

Thanks to the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology, the Intelligent Zoom is available with the FT2 which extends the zoom ratio by approximately 1.3x, maintaining the picture quality even combining the digital zoom. This means the 4.6x optical can virtually extend to 6x equivalent.

Furthermore, the Extra Optical Zoom function that extends zoom power to 9.8x (at 3.0-megapixel resolution) by using the centre part of the 14.1-megapixel high resolution CCD to bring subjects even closer.

Water proof

Thanks to rubber padding, reinforced glass and carbon resins inside the camera, the FT2 features an airtight body that lets users operate the camera underwater to a depth of up to 10m. The FT2 can even be used in seawater, so users can take images of friends snorkelling or tropical fish darting in and out of coral reefs.

Since additional housing is unnecessary for underwater operation, the FT2 is an extremely versatile camera that you can take with you wherever the action calls. The FT2 can be used at a beach, ski resort, hiking trips, festivals and in a host of other active, outdoor situations where no-one would dare use a conventional camera.

Designed with users in mind, the FT2’s cover panel of the LCD is thickened by 1.3x compared to the predecessor FT1 to withstand pressure underwater as deep as 10m.

Drop proof

It’s true – the FT2 is drop proof from a height of up to 2.0m. In addition to reinforcing the exterior of the camera with shock-resistant material, the FT2 uses folded optics to prevent its lens unit from taking damage when dropped during operation.

The lens unit is protected by a supplementary damper to absorb the force from shock impact. Combined with its dustproof, waterproof and freezeproof performance, this makes it the ideal camera for anytime use outdoors, in active situations, and for casual everyday shooting.

Dust and freeze proof

A dust proof design shuts out airborne dust particles that can lead to malfunction – enabling worry free shooting in places like the beach, or any place with lots of dust.

Expanding your photographic opportunities, the new FT model is now freeze proof up to -10° C – perfect for active winter travellers, skiers, and snowboarders for example.

High-definition video

In addition to Motion JPEG images, the DMC-FT2 can record high-definition motion picture in AVCHD Lite. It features almost double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. The picture quality is greatly enhanced thanks to the newly added Intelligent Resolution technology. The FT2 also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio, so you can match the beautiful motion images with outstanding sound.

Now on the FT2, the popular iA (Intelligent Auto) is also available in motion image recording.

Optical Image Stabiliser (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using zoom or shooting in low lit situations. Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion on it so it always turns out beautiful. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimise visual quality.

The 4.6x optical zoom is also available in movie recording. With the newly added Video Divide function, users can divide the video into two sections to shorten or to delete the unwanted half on the spot in the camera. You can cutout a still image from a movie in the camera. Intelligent Resolution makes it possible to produce 1920x1080 still images from 1280x720 HD movies even recorded in AVCHD Lite. A Wind Cut function is also available to block out most of the noise from background wind.