In my lab tests, the TS1 offered speedy performance, but inconsistent image quality. The camera was able to power on and capture its first image in an average of 2.3 seconds, which is faster than many land-only point and shooters, such as the budget point and shoot Editors' Choice Kodak EasyShare M1093 IS ($159.95 direct), which took 4.1 seconds to capture its first image, but on par with the Tough-8000, which also took 2.3 seconds to capture its first image. The TS1 had .4 seconds of shutter lag, while the Tough-8000 had a delay of .5 seconds from shutter press to image capture. Shot-to-shot times were impressive as well, averaging 1.9 seconds; the camera was able to capture 10 images without filling its buffer, which helps maintain a consistent shot-to-shot speed. The M1093, for example, took a considerable 8.9 seconds between shots after the first three consecutive images, while the Pentax Optio W80 took 4.9 seconds.

Using the Imatest benchmarking suite to test, the TS1 was able to capture 2,149 lines per picture height at its widest angle, an average resolution score for a 12.1-megapixel camera. To compare, the 10-MP Kodak M1093 captured 2,482 lines per picture height, while the 12-MP Nikon Coolpix S630 ($279.95 list) captured just 1,902 lines. The 12.1-MP Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 offered very similar results: 2,215 lines. Resolution took a huge dive at the outer edges of the frame, however, dropping to a mere 851 lines, a plunge of over 60-percent—this means that elements towards the edge of the frame will be less than half as sharp as those at the center. Like its land-limited cousin, the DMC-FX48, the TS1's sensor also suffers from blooming, which causes individual pixels to appear overexposed, but it's generally only visible when you view images at full size. Noise is noticeable above ISO 800, but negligible at lower sensitivities. My out-of-lab experience with the TS1 was generally positive—image quality was acceptable and the lens didn't fog up when I used the camera at the beach, but the lack of a lens cover meant that I had to wipe fingerprints from the lens.

One of the TS1's strongest features is its ability to capture high-definition (720p30) video in AVCHD Lite; a desirable format, which offers high compression with minimal quality loss. AVCHD recording can be both a blessing and a curse, however. Files are often incompatible with most operating systems, so you'll need to use a third-party video editing application, such as iMovie on a Mac, to even view content. Windows 7 includes native support for AVCHD, though, so you'll have no problem if you have a PC running Microsoft's latest operating system. You can use optical zoom while recording, and you won't hear any motor noise from the lens. Video captured using the TS1 was smooth and vibrant, both underwater and on land. Also, you get an integrated HDMI port, so you can connect the camera to an HDTV to view photos and video.

If you're looking for a feature-rich camera that's designed for abuse, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 seems like a promising choice, especially given its HD-video prowess. But after extensive use and lab testing, it's difficult to recommend given its middling image quality and the problems we experienced with the leaky battery-compartment door and the finicky Zoom control. If you absolutely need HD-video capture in a rugged shooter, check out the $300 Pentax Optio W80. If not, the Canon PowerShot D10 ($330) is bulkier, but offers superior image quality, and is adequately sealed and protected from water.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS: Check out the test scores for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1

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