Panasonic LUMIX TS2 Rugged Camera [LUMIX TS2 Durable Compact Boasts Waterproof, Freezeproof, Shockproof Design & HD Video Capture Capabilities]

Following on from Chris’s post concerning the newly announced Pentax Optio I-10, H90 and E90 compact cameras we can also confirm the unveiling of a new ultra durable compact camera from Panasonic in the form of the Panasonic LUMIX TS2.

The Panasonic LUMIX TS2 is designed to be one tough cookie in being capable of being submerged in water to depths of up to 33 feet (10m), being able to withstand temperatures down to 14° F (-10° C) and being shockproof to the point where it’ll shrug off drops from heights of up to 10 feet (2m). Of course, on account of being waterproof the Panasonic LUMIX TS2 is also dustproof as well. Or, to put it another way, the TS2 complies with both IEC60529 and MIL-STD 810F standards so you can be sure that if you need a compact camera that’ll happily take some considerable abuse, the TS2 will deliver.

Coming with a 14 megapixel sensor, the Venus Engine HD II powered Panasonic LUMIX TS2 sports a 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO ELMAR lens offering 4.6x optical zoom, a 2.7” 230,000 dot LCD display with auto brightness, an integrated LED light (billed as being particularly handy in situations such as underwater shooting) and, of course, a host of auto and scene modes – as befits a compact – including Happy Mode and High Dynamic Mode.

“We have been very pleased to see that consumers found true value in Panasonic’s first rugged digital camera, knowing that they could take it on their outdoor adventures where it could withstand drops, water and dust. But even more, we saw that users enjoyed our LUMIX TS1 for their daily photo needs – they were able to take high-quality video and photo without worrying if they casually tossed it in their bag or used it in the rain,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “The new LUMIX TS2 gets tougher and we expect it to be a key product in 2010, as its rugged features are becoming even more desirable for active users, especially with this year’s new freezeproof capabilities. Families will enjoy this digital camera, both for their own outdoor activities, vacations, but also so they can allow children to take photos without the anxiety they might otherwise feel of damage.”

There’s no word from Panasonic as at the time of writing concerning either the LUMIX TS2’s intended date of release or its pricing.