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Panasonic TS4

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Previous Model is Panasonic TS3
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Panasonic TS4 overview

Panasonic TS4 is Panasonic's Waterproof camera initially announced on January of 2012. The camera has got a 12MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4000 x 3000. It is also known as "Lumix DMC-FT4" in other markets.

Panasonic brought out this camera as a way to upgrade the previous Panasonic TS3 (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently brought out the newer Panasonic TS5 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to upgrade this model.

The TS4 stands at #53 out of 75 in Waterproof cameras and all around #954 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can test our Advanced camera filter to get camera results based on your personalized criteria.

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Below is a chart of various criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic TS4 family

The Panasonic TS4 is part of a family of products. You can read the full range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS30 front thumbnailPanasonic TS30
TS4 vs TS30
25-100mm
F3.9-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS6 front thumbnailPanasonic TS6
TS4 vs TS6
28-128mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS5 front thumbnailPanasonic TS5
TS4 vs TS5
28-128mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS25 front thumbnailPanasonic TS25
TS4 vs TS25
25-100mm
F3.9-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS20 front thumbnailPanasonic TS20
TS4 vs TS20
25-100mm
F3.9-5.7
16MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS4 front thumbnailPanasonic TS428-128mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS3 front thumbnailPanasonic TS3
TS4 vs TS3
28-128mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS2 front thumbnailPanasonic TS2
TS4 vs TS2
28-128mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS10 front thumbnailPanasonic TS10
TS4 vs TS10
35-140mm
F3.5-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TS1 front thumbnailPanasonic TS1
TS4 vs TS1
28-128mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic TS4 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of advantages and drawbacks of the Panasonic TS4 based on features which are usually seen as necessary in a camera.

above average min ISO (100)
decently wide (28mm)
good zoom range (28-128mm 4.6 x zoom)
great battery power (310 CIPA)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes HDMI socket
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
missing external mic socket
missing headphone socket
no aperture priority
no external flash support
no shutter priority
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
screen has low resolution (230 k dots)
screen is fixed
screen is small (2.7 inch)
slow at full zoom (f5.9)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Panasonic TS4 Sensor specifications

The Panasonic TS4 is powered by the Venus Engine FHD processor. The sensor measurement on the Panasonic TS4 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter may cause cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 12 megapixels and provides a native ISO range of 100 to 6400. Unfortunately, RAW files are not supported which means that the user has less margin for error.

The picture underneath displays the TS4's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The TS4 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is outlined in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 sensor size Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic TS4 dimensions

Panasonic TS4 weighs about 0.43 lbs (197g or 6.95 oz) and the measurement of the camera is 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1"). The weight of general Waterproof camera is 195g and the Panasonic TS4 is very similar compared with various rivals.

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Underneath is a shot of the Panasonic TS4 alongside a soda so you're able to have a sense of its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 dimensions scale

The top view under will illustrate the button design on the TS4.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 topview buttons dials

Panasonic TS4 Lens specifications

The TS4 includes a built in lens featuring a focal range of 28-128mm making it a 4.6 x zoom which won't be great however it is going to be convenient in a few situations.

At the widest 28mm, it will have an aperture of f3.3 which will be really slow and not ideal in low light conditions and you might find it difficult to capture a shallow depth of field. You might also have to boost the ISO setting giving you noisy photographs. For the tele end, 128mm comes to f5.9 which is pretty slow and you will need to use slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic TS4 Connectivity

The TS4 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Cameras that come with NFC and Bluetooth support are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You can copy photos and usually adjust settings with no need to connect physically to the camera.

Some applications even enable a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI out, it can easily be connected to an external monitor. The majority of cameras enable you to recharge the battery using the USB socket.

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Panasonic TS4 Video specifications

The highest video quality on the Panasonic TS4 is 1920 x 1080 and it can shoot in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 1080p quality gives you an excellent balance between quality versus file sizes but FULL HD isn't going to leave you with much room to crop. The camera doesn't include a mic and headphone port which means you have little control over your audio. It is perhaps best to find an alternative model should you want decent audio in your video clips.

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Panasonic TS4 Weather Sealing

Panasonic TS4 comes with weather sealing making it a fantastic pick to use during tricky climates. This can be especially useful in case you are uncertain about the conditions you might encounter during outdoor photography.

Panasonic TS4 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic TS4 has got a 2.7" fixed display supporting a resolution of 230k dots.

Please note that the display screen offers no touch support.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 screen and viewfinder Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

The ViewFinder details regarding Panasonic TS4 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are quite useful during sunny outdoor conditions which might make the camera display washed out and very difficult to view.

Panasonic TS4 Shutter specifications

Panasonic TS4 has the capability to shoot continuously at 4.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/1300s.

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Panasonic TS4 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Panasonic TS4 boasts only built in flash lacking external flash ability.

Panasonic TS4 Autofocusing specifications

Panasonic TS4 boasts just Contrast Detect AF and does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more snappier and exact when compared to Contrast Detect focusing.

The Sensor has got 23 focus points to select from. It also features Tracking AF for objects that move. Panasonic TS4 does not have manual focus. Manual focus ability can be useful during low light scenarios or you need to have more accurate control on focus.

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Panasonic TS4 Battery life

The battery power on the Panasonic TS4 is made to last for 310 clicks as per the CIPA benchmarks making it higher than the usual ın comparison with its class. The typical Waterproof camera battery life is 275. Olympus TG-4 offers the highest (380) battery life within this type of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Waterproof cameras with the highest battery life:

Panasonic TS4 for various kinds of photography

The following graph displays a summation of the Panasonic TS4 for various kinds of photography. To learn more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography information

The Panasonic TS4 has a score of 21 which is bad, and means the camera is not acceptable for portraits. Shooting portraits favors greatly towards sensor dimension, support for RAW files in addition to the option to utilize off-camera flash.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format

Panasonic TS4 as a Street photography camera

Having a nice points tally of 61, the Panasonic TS4 is a very decent choice to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera has a perfect balance of picture quality plus portability.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format

Panasonic TS4 Sports photography highlights

A bad sports photography points total of 38 suggests the Panasonic TS4 is not acceptable for photographing sports. A camera needs great tracking and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery life (310 per charge)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF

Panasonic TS4 as a Travel photography camera

Size is extremely important when selecting a camera for travel. Overall, the Panasonic TS4 gets a nice 66 as a travel camera which is a very decent fit to take on your holidays.

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great battery life (310 shots)
weather proof
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)

Panasonic TS4 Landscape photography details

If you are planning to choose a camera for landscape photos, the most important aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic TS4 with it's bad grade of 41 for a landscape camera is not acceptable within the current market.

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quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
good battery (310 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support

Vlogging with Panasonic TS4

A camera for vlogging ought to posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Panasonic TS4 is not acceptable for vlogging as it delivers a bad score of 32.

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fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic support

Panasonic TS4 Alternatives

If you are shopping for alternatives to the TS4, below is a collection of the top ranked cameras that fall within the family of Waterproof.

The line chart below gives you an overview of the TS4 compared to it's top scored competitors mentioned above.

Following are several cameras you may view as alternate options. To read a thorough comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Alternate name
Lumix DMC-FT4
Class
Waterproof
Revealed
2012-01-31
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Chip
Venus Engine FHD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW data
Max native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
23
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance
5cm
Crop factor
5.9
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display diagonal
2.7 inch
Resolution of display
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology
TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
60 secs
Highest shutter speed
1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate
4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
5.60 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
197g (0.43 lb)
Physical dimensions
103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
Other
Battery life
310 photos
Style of battery
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots
1
Retail price
$399