Introduction

Ease of Use

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7’s tough features make it feel robust and solid in use. It’s light and pocket-friendly, but reassuringly weighty enough to make it feel like a solid piece of kit - you certainly feel reassured that it could withstand a few knocks and scapes.

We’ve used the camera in a range of different conditions, including underwater. It’s in these kinds of conditions that cameras like the FT7 need to be different from normal cameras - as in they need to have easy to use buttons and settings. The buttons which you need to use to make all the changes to settings are set apart from the body fo the camera, making it easy to find them when you’re using them in such tricky situations. There’s no touch-sensitive screen here - not really a shock considering the FT7 is designed for underwater use where touch sensitivity isn’t really an option. It might arguably have been nice to have touch control when using the camera out of the water, but the buttons do a good job none-the-less.

On the top of the camera is a very large shutter release button. This might be unusual on a standard type camera, but when you need to find the shutter release when your hands are very cold, or you’re taking a photo underwater, it makes a lot more sense.

Front of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7

The majority of the buttons on the back of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 are grouped to the right hand side, which again makes it easier to operate the camera in slightly tricky conditions - or if you’re using it one-handed. The buttons are a little on the stiff side, but this might be something which gets a little looser with prolonged usage - but it’s a good indication of how well sealed the camera is.

Buttons here include a mode button for choosing the different exposure modes on offer (there’s not a huge plethora of options here - but there are some scene modes, intelligent auto, program mode, manual mode, creative control and so on). There’s also a button for directly accessing Panasonic’s 4K Photo option, and another for changing the display option, or for playing back your images. The delete button doubles up as a quick menu button, which gives you access to the most commonly used settings you’re likely to want to change on a regular basis.

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7

To zoom the lens, you’ll need to use the rocker switch on the back of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7, which is marked with a W (wide), and a T (tele). The tele button can be a little too easy to press when you’re tightly gripping the camera and placing your thumb on the thumb rest. It’s not much of an issue when using the camera in ordinary settings - but if you’re doing something a little more “out there”, such as kayaking or open-water swimming, accidental zooming can occur on occasion.

Another point about using the camera when in typical “tough” conditions is that there’s no way to turn on an electronic level. Trying to frame your shot while you’re potentially doing something unsteady is tricky, so a feature like this would be very handy - and a shame not to see it when it’s found in other Lumix cameras.

Top of the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7

Charging the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 takes place via the port which is hidden behind a study door. To open the door you need to slide a lock switch first, and then slip open a door latch, which makes sure you don’t accidentally open it while in precarious conditions such as underwater or in the middle of a sandstorm and let foreign objects into the camera. Usefully, you can charge the camera via USB - this is great for camping and such like where you might not have a proper plug socket, but instead you can charge it using a battery pack.

A new feature of the FT7 is the addition of an electronic viewfinder. It’s handy to have if the screen really is reflecting bright light and it’s hard to compose, but it’s not a finder you’ll likely want to use for all your shots - it’s a little on the small side, and you need to press a button to activate it.

Tthe Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 In-hand

One annoying feature is that every time you switch on the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7, it asks you if you want to review the precautions for using the camera underwater. To get rid of this, you can either select no, or press the back button on the back of the camera. It’s a couple of seconds wasted every time you switch on the camera and can lead to missed shots. This is especially annoying when you’re trying to grab a shot while doing something like extreme sports - I’d hoped that the full production sample would include a way to get rid of this feature, but it doesn’t seem to be possible.

During my use with the pre-production FT7 model, I found that on occasion it struggled to focus quickly or accurately. Focusing seems to be better for the full production model, generally locking on to the most appropriate target quickly and easily. There are still moments when the focus isn’t perfect though, so it’s worth keeping an eye on it - and taking more than one photo just to make sure. It’s also worth switching to 1-Area focusing and using the focus and recompose method (it’s not possible to move the focus point) to ensure that the exact target you want is in focus.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 7Mb.

Although it may seem odd to say this, the quality of the images captured by the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 are almost of secondary importance to the situations in which you can capture said photos. While the images here may not be as good as from other sources, the fact that you can dive with it, chuck it around, go to a really cold location and so on, is the real selling point.

That is not to say that photos are terrible. Far from it - colours are generally nice and vibrant, while if you keep images to small size, the overall impression of detail is good. I’d avoid using the camera in very low light situations where possible, but otherwise noise is also kept to a minimum.

However, it’s probably also true that a high-quality smartphone will produce photos of equal quality. If therefore you’re planning on buying a camera to use purely as an everyday holiday camera, you may be a little disappointed. If, on the other hand, you want the opportunity to use a camera in more challenging conditions, you should still be pleased.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 competes closely with the Olympus Tough TG-5, but in terms of image quality the TG-5 probably has the edge here - whether you choose to go for the FT7 therefore may well depend on brand preference, and/or whether you require the extra waterproofing depth.

Noise

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 has eight sensitivity settings available at full resolution, ranging between ISO 80 and ISO 6400.

ISO 80 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

Focal Range

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7’s 4.6x optical zoom lens gives you a focal range of 28-128mm (in 35mm-camera terms).

28mm

128mm

Chromatic Aberrations

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 handled chromatic aberrations pretty well during the review, with limited purple fringing present around the edges of objects in certain high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.

Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop)	Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop)

Macro

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7’s macro mode allows you to focus down to 5cm from your subject. It’s close enough to capture plenty of detail, but can’t match the impressive results you can get from the 1cm macro modes offered by some tough cameras.

Macro

Flash

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7’s built-in flash includes four modes when shooting in Normal Picture mode: Auto, Auto/Red-Eye, Forced Flash On and Forced Flash Off.

Forced Off - Wide Angle (28mm)	Forced On - Wide Angle (28mm)
Forced Off - Telephoto (128mm)	Forced On - Telephoto (128mm)

And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On or the Auto/Red-eye Reduction settings caused any red-eye.

Off

Forced On

Auto/Red-eye Reduction

Night

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 has a maximum shutter speed of 4 seconds, which isn't really long enough for most night photography.

Night

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Panasonic Lumix FT7 camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample Movies & Video

Product Images

Conclusion

On paper, the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 is the probably just about the best underwater/tough model you can buy right now. It has all the specs you’d expect from a camera like this, particularly the best underwater credentials on the market, as well as a good range of other tough features. A number of other specifications, such as 4K Photo, inbuilt Wi-Fi and USB charging make it appealing for other reasons, too.

While on the whole, your smartphone (particularly if you have a high-quality one), will be more than adequate for taking pictures when you want to travel as light as possible, if you’re somebody who likes adventure holidays, then a compact camera like the Panansonic FT7 makes a lot of sense. Even if your adventures are relatively tame, such as summer afternoons on the beach or camping trips, having a waterproof and tough model is worth considering.

That said, Panasonic hasn’t done much to push the boundaries of what is expected from a tough compact with the FT7. We’re still waiting for somebody to release a one-inch sensor tough compact that will produce high image quality and not leave us with such a compromise. It would more-than-likely cost a lot of money to buy, but if you’re somebody who wants to properly document their costly adventures, such as skiing, snowboarding, kayaking and so on, spending a chunk of money on a brilliant camera may not be something you’re too worried about.

With an asking price of around £400, the Panasonic Lumix DC-FT7 hardly represents an impulse purchase, either. Its biggest competitor is the Olympus Tough TG-5, which is currently available for around £380. On paper, the Panasonic TG-5 looks like the better option - and in some respects it is - it offers deeper waterproofing, an electronic viewfinder and more pixels. However, in reality, very few people need such deep waterproofing, the electronic viewfinder is best reserved for when you’re really desperate and the extra pixels can actually be a hindrance when it comes to low-light shooting.

If you like the Panasonic brand, or perhaps if you’re one of the few that needs 31 metre waterproofing, the Lumix FT7 is the obvious choice, otherwise, the Olympus TG-5 is probably the better one.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	4.5
Ease-of-use	3.5
Image quality	3.5
Value for money	3

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Panasonic Lumix FT7.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Panasonic Lumix FT7 from around the web.

Specifications

News

The Panasonic Lumix FT7 is a brand new, tough, compact camera. A 20.4-megapixel high-sensitivity sensor is joined by a 28mm wide angle 4.6x (28-128mm equivalent) optical zoom lens with Power O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilisation). New for the FT7 is a 0.2-inch 1,170k-dot equivalent Live View Finder for composing your images, while  the 3.0-inch rear monitor boasts the highest-in-class 1,040k-dot resolution. Full-resolution high-speed burst shooting at 10fps is available along with high-resolution 4K video.

The Lumix FT7 will be available in 3 colour versions: orange, blue and black, from July with an SRP of £399.

Panasonic UK Press Release

New LUMIX FT7: The Ultimate Rugged Camera for you Outdoor Adventures.

Capture all your memories, no matter the conditions, with 4K Video and 4K Photo

Panasonic is pleased to introduce a brand new, tough, compact camera geared towards lovers of outdoor adventures, giving you the chance to capture those moments your normal device can’t handle.

The Lumix FT7 is waterproof (up to 31m / 102ft), shockproof (to 2m/6.6ft), freeze proof (to -10°C), dustproof and pressure resistant (to 100kg/220lbf) making it the perfect rugged companion for all your extreme experiences.

With a 20.4-megapixel high-sensitivity sensor which is joined by a 28mm wide angle 4.6x (28-128mm equivalent) optical zoom lens, the FT7 also features Power O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilisation) to help keep your shots steady even during rocky activities.

New for the FT7 is a 0.2-inch 1,170k-dot equivalent Live View Finder for composing your images when screen use is impractical. Use the LVF to compose your shots in strong sunlight, with the added bonus of saving and extending battery life in harsh conditions - such as the cold. Meanwhile, the 3.0-inch rear monitor boasts the highest-in-class 1,040k-dot resolution and uses tough, tempered-glass.

Never miss an opportunity with full-resolution high-speed burst shooting at 10fps*, which is coupled with Light Speed AF. What’s more, all your incredible exploits can be captured in stunningly smooth, high-resolution 4K Video. When 10fps isn’t enough, use 4K Photo to grab even fleeting moments by shooting at 30fps in 8-megapixel equivalent resolution, extracting the best frame from a 4K burst to save as a photo.

When you want to share the thrills and spills with those back at home, you can do that easily with Wi-Fi connectivity giving you the option to upload your photos and videos to Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and more. Images can also be GPS geo-tagged to ensure you always remember exactly where your adventures took place. Don’t worry about running out of juice while on the go, as the FT7 supports USB charging for instant power from battery packs when wall charging is out of bounds.

For something extra special, take advantage of special modes such as time-lapse shooting, 22 creative filters and panorama mode, which can capture both horizontal and vertical images. The FT7 can even help with your night-time escapades, such as rock climbing or cave walking, as it can be used as a torch light, without the camera function being activated.

Other super-handy tools on board the FT7 include a compass and altimeter - making it ideal for a huge range of outdoor activities, including fishing, camping, diving, snorkelling, surfing, snowboarding, skiing and mountain climbing. This is a camera that is ready to capture the moments when you’d normally have to leave your other devices behind.

It’s not just thrill-seekers that will appreciate the FT7 - use it on your beach holidays, ensuring all those special memories are captured by a camera which isn’t fazed by sand, water and anything else you and your family want to chuck at it.

FT7 will be available in 3 colour versions: orange, blue and black.

The Lumix FT7 will be available from July with an SRP of £399.

For the latest news and information, follow @LumixUK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

First Impressions

We've spent the last couple of days testing out the new Panasonic Lumix FT7 tough compact camera in the beautiful surroundings of Lulworth Cove, Dorset, in the UK. Here are our detailed first impressions of using Panasonic's first new tough camera in the last 5 years...

Introduction

Panasonic’s latest compact camera, the Lumix FT7, is a new “rugged” camera. That is, it has a number of tough credentials, which make it ideal for shooting in a wide variety of different conditions.

It is waterproof down to 31 metres (making it the class leading product), shockproof from a height of 2 metres, freeze proof down to -10 degrees and crush proof up to 100kg. It also has a 20.4 megapixel Live MOS sensor, plus a 4.6x optical zoom lens, with an equivalent focal length range of 28-128mm.

Panasonic has added an electronic viewfinder to the FT7, in a difference from its predecessor, the FT5. This 0.2-inch, 1170k-dot device is there for such times when shooting in bright sunlight might prevent you from using the 3.0-inch, 1,040k-dot screen.

Other features of the Panasonic FT7 include wi-fi connectivity, 4K Video and 4K Photo modes, digital filters, geo-tagging (via your smart device), plus a raft of useful “adventure” type features such as a compass, altimeter and a torchlight function.

We have been using a pre-production model of the Panasonic Lumix FT7, so some aspects of how the camera works may not be representative of the final finished model.

Ease of Use

The Panasonic FT7’s tough features make it feel robust and solid in use. It is light, but is reassuringly weighty enough to feel like the small camera is a solid piece of kit - and certainly strong enough to withstand a few knocks and scrapes.

We’ve been using it underwater conditions - the buttons which you use to make all the changes to settings are set apart from the body of the camera, which make it reasonably easy to find them when you’re using them in tricky situations. There’s no touch-sensitive screen here - not really a shock considering the FT7 is designed for underwater use where touch sensitivity isn’t really an option. It might arguably have been nice to have touch control when using the camera out of the water, but the buttons do a good job none-the-less.

On the top of the camera is a very large shutter release button. This might be unusual on a standard type camera, but when you need to find the shutter release when your hands are very cold, or you’re taking a photo underwater, it makes a lot more sense.

The majority of the buttons on the back of the Panasonic Lumix FT7 are grouped to the right hand side, which again makes it easier to operate the camera in slightly tricky conditions - or if you’re using it one-handed. The buttons are a little on the stiff side, but this might be something which gets a little looser with prolonged usage - but it’s a good indication of how well sealed the camera is.

Buttons here include a mode button for choosing the different exposure modes on offer (there’s not a huge plethora of options here - but there are some scene modes, intelligent auto, program mode, manual mode, creative control and so on). There’s also a button for directly accessing Panasonic’s 4K Photo option, and another for changing the display option, or for playing back your images. The delete button doubles up as a quick menu button, which gives you access to the most commonly used settings you’re likely to want to change on a regular basis.

To zoom the lens, you’ll need to use the rocker switch on the back of the camera, which is marked with a W (wide), and a T (tele). The tele button can be a little too easy to press when you’re tightly gripping the camera and placing your thumb on the thumb rest. It’s not much of an issue when using the camera in ordinary settings - but if you’re doing something a little more “out there”, such as kayaking or open-water swimming, accidental zooming can occur on occasion.

Another point about using the Panasonic Lumix FT7 when in typical “tough” conditions is that there’s no way to turn on an electronic level. Trying to frame your shot while you’re potentially doing something unsteady is tricky, so a feature like this would be very handy - and a shame not to see it when it’s found in other Lumix cameras.

Charging the camera takes place via the port which is hidden behind a study door. To open the door you need to slide a lock switch first, and then slip open a door latch, which makes sure you don’t accidentally open it while in precarious conditions such as underwater or in the middle of a sandstorm and let foreign objects into the camera. Usefully, you can charge the camera via USB - this is great for camping and such like where you might not have a proper plug socket, but instead you can charge it using a battery pack.

On occasion, the Panasonic FT7 struggled to focus quickly or accurately, even with a well-defined subject. It’s hard to say at this point whether that’s an issue with the camera being a pre-production sample, a result of tricky shooting conditions, or something that will also be present on the final version - we’ll let you know when the full samples become available.

A new feature of the FT7 is the addition of an electronic viewfinder. It’s handy to have if the screen really is reflecting bright light and it’s hard to compose, but it’s not a finder you’ll likely want to use for all your shots - it’s a little on the small side, and you need to press a button to activate it.

Image Quality

The Panasonic Lumix FT7 we’ve been using is a pre-production model, and therefore image quality may not be fully representative of the final version of the camera.

Early impressions of the FT7’s image quality are good - colours are nice and vibrant, while detail on the whole is good. In low light, it’s not quite as impressive, but this is not really a camera designed for low light shooting - it’s more important to be tough for your “rugged” adventures.

We’ll be keen to test the Lumix FT7 in a range of conditions when the full samples become available to see if there are any differences

Early Impressions

For the most part, your smartphone is more than adequate for taking shots in a variety of different conditions. However, there’s still a place for the compact camera when shooting in extreme conditions - such as deep underwater, in very cold conditions, or if you just happen to be a bit clumsy and feel you might drop your device.

That’s where cameras like the Panasonic Lumix FT7 come in. On paper, the FT7 is probably the best model you can buy just about now - it has the best underwater credentials, a good range of other tough features and some other appealing specifications such as 4K Photo, inbuilt Wi-Fi and USB charging.

If you’re someone who likes to regularly escape on adventure-type breaks it could be the ideal purchase - and it may also be useful as the family camera for beach, camping and other trips where your phone might not cut it.

Initial impressions are good, hopefully we’ll discover that the on-paper specs translate into a good performer when we have more time with a full production sample.

We’ll bring you a full review of the Panasonic Lumix FT7 in due course - stay tuned!

Hands On

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic Lumix FT7 tough camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Panasonic Lumix FT7 tough camera.

A gallery of hands-on photos of the new Panasonic Lumix FT7 tough camera.

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Preview Images

​Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images taken with the new Panasonic Lumix FT7 waterproof compact camera. The Panasonic Lumix FT7 is a water, freeze, shock and dust proof compact camera with a 4.6x zoom lens, 20 megapixel sensor, electronic viewfinder, 3-inch 1040K-dot LCD monitor, and 4K video recording.

A gallery of sample images taken with the Panasonic Lumix FT7 waterproof compact camera.

Panasonic Lumix FT7 Sample Images

Sample Movie & Video

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