This Cheap Waterproof Camera Is Way Better Than You Think!

Love the way the photos look in this video? They were all edited with my new preset pack! Proof that it even works great on JPEG's!

What's the cheapest price you've ever paid for a camera? I managed to score this Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT5 from a retail store for an insane price a few years ago and I am surprised at how great this tough little camera is!

I think if you can find one of these online for under $250 AUD they are an awesome value and I had so much fun playing with this tough waterproof digicam!

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[PanasonicAustralia]

Great Review! Not too shabby for a 11 year old camera eh? 🤩

[nightwolf]

I bought one recently and it’s amazing for a £30.00 camera.
Try it in the sepia mode, brilliant old world look pictures.
One trick I like is to set the 10 second timer and lay it on its back under the water looking up and out at the sky, trees etc.

[dwightbird]

I really enjoyed your review. I have to agree about the simplicity. I used one of these, different model number, like TS3 or something, but very similar if not identical. I used it until the seals failed, then I replaced the seals, and used it until they failed again (after several years and hundreds of hours in saltwater and sand). It leaked a little saltwater into the USB port and then it would get glitchy. It would still work after it was cleaned with fresh water and thoroughly dried. Shoving some wax in the USB port would have solved the issue and I never used that port. I bought the TS7 which produces RAW. On the earlier versions I set it to either underwater, or beach/water mode and didn't touch anything else. I usually selected 'natural' color, but sometimes 'vivid'. I video'd while snorkeling. There is a lot of bubbling noise, and you can year the zoom (yes, there is a little motor moving an internal lens). I'd applied an auto white balance in 'post' to the jpegs if I wasn't happy with the irregular color.

As for the TS7, I like it, but miss the simplicity of the earlier model. It will work as a 'manual' camera, but it's weird to use. With some fiddling, you can set it up to be as automatic as the earlier model. I still use the underwater or beach/water scenes. I don't and don't use iA. I felt like it was just enough slower that I would miss the odd little fish popping out from underneath a coral once in a while. I mostly use this for water, but I have used it on a couple of trips and wasn't disappointed with it as a travel camera. I used it in the Philippines in February and will use it in Croatia in August (for my water adventures).

I think I even have an 8x10 hanging in my living room that came from the old TS3.

Sorry for the length

[Sasha-Good]

You are the fortunate guy. This camera usually sells for 50-100 USD. I have this one, and I have had TS/FT3 & 4 before. I also tried some Olympus TG. FT5 is a really nice camera.

[lucdouce]

I just found my silver version in a box under the bed and decided to checkout some YouTube reviews. My one still has the silicone skin that came packaged with it for non slip grippyness. I have been waiting for Ricoh to release a new GR camera model 4, maybe this will do for now as you hinted lol.

[siofna]

Nice camera :-). Have a Lumix FT30 always in my bag.
Greetings from lower Bavaria.

[Yet_Another_Steve]

I have an FT7 in my fleet and the out of camera JPG's are very nice. I use it quite a lot for 4k video as I'm in the UK and those clouds you're not sure about usually result in rain when you're in the middle of a field and your car is half a mile away. A bit of 'dead cat' fur stuck over the microphones is acceptable when it rains and the Zoom mics get put away.

[ewa]

Do you think lumix dc-ft7 would be just as reliable? I found it for the same price as ft5 and im considering buying it

[jub]

bought one of these for my parents mny years ago, same color.. it takes really nice pictures

[aranara_song]

Just got an ft30 for 30 euro. Very excited to get it for this summer :) The one I got is looking a little rough, but that's fine since I really wanted a Lumix, and I couldn't find any other cheaper ones.

[rakov]

Great pics with an old $9 special. Just goes to show it's the photographer, not the camera.

[carolingrimaldi]

I had exactly this in blue color; unfortunately my son lost it in some Garden in London!

[dennisthebrony]

I would rather have this over a GoPro. I mean, the GoPro is great and all, but it's ultra-small size means it's more susceptible to getting lost more easily, so I'm rolling back to compact cameras as an alternative for when I don't want to use a cheap, very low quality, action camera.

[ssao]

Thanks for the video. I have the ft4 and it makes good quality pics considering.
The pics ones made at the beach under the Aussie sun still look great. But, as you said, the pics are a bit "smudgy". Probably because of less available light.
Off to Queensland soon and immediately thought of a decent camera to take along instead of the bulky TTL. Found it in the back of the ancient cd collection and will give the FT a another go.
That is, if the 650mA batteries still work. Lol.
Otherwise..ft7?

[JimHarm]

The camera looks really great. People are sadly charging so much for it on eBay these days. Can’t find a working one for less than $150 without any issues - doesn’t seem like a fair deal.

[TheJ_G]

Dang. $9 is a steal. Did a quick search and they seem to still go for at least $150 and up to $500 used.

[kieranbaxter]

Just picked one up from the local recycling center for £5, no battery. Got a battery arriving tomorrow, fingers crossed

[paulstevenson]

I cannot hear the orchestra in the background very clearly. I'm sure there is an orchestra....

[fnix]

I don't know how you find those cheap cameras, where I live it's 70usd 😢

[claytonh]

How much did u pay the girl to be your girl for the day