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.
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.
I just found my silver version in a box under the bed and decided to checkout some UA-cam 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.
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
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.
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.
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?
I think the smudginess is due to the inbuilt image processing that happens that you can’t turn off because you can’t shoot RAW. If it could do RAW files it would probably be superb but it’s a shame it can’t. You can buy replacement batteries on eBay they’re still fairly available!
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.
Such is the case with a lot of old digital cameras sadly, people charging $550+ for Ricoh GR’s from 2009 too - entire camera market is just so overinflated it’s so sad! Your best bet would be to have alerts on Facebook marketplace, I think that’s the best place to find cheap old cameras as people will find them when cleaning out a room or something and just throw it on marketplace for cheap, on eBay it seems like people are selling stuff they know is worth some money - not to mention due to the crazy fees they’ll list it for higher anyway.
I was in a very rare situation where I; worked at the department store, had first dibs on it plus a staff discount and knowledge of the clearance sale happening - it’s around that price used here as well. Plus I paid $20 for the battery and charger as it didn’t have one when I got it.
Great Review! Not too shabby for a 11 year old camera eh? 🤩
Not at all! She still holds up well 😎
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.
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.
I just found my silver version in a box under the bed and decided to checkout some UA-cam 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.
Nice camera :-). Have a Lumix FT30 always in my bag.
Greetings from lower Bavaria.
Thank you for watching!
bought one of these for my parents mny years ago, same color.. it takes really nice pictures
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
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.
Great pics with an old $9 special. Just goes to show it's the photographer, not the camera.
Thank you!!
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.
Very Helpful review! Thank you
That intro was sick😁
Thank you!! I’m so proud of it haha
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
Can you review the Kodak WPZ2 rugged?
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?
I think the smudginess is due to the inbuilt image processing that happens that you can’t turn off because you can’t shoot RAW.
If it could do RAW files it would probably be superb but it’s a shame it can’t.
You can buy replacement batteries on eBay they’re still fairly available!
did you edit the pictures you took?
Yes they’re all edited with my Lightroom presets :)
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.
Such is the case with a lot of old digital cameras sadly, people charging $550+ for Ricoh GR’s from 2009 too - entire camera market is just so overinflated it’s so sad!
Your best bet would be to have alerts on Facebook marketplace, I think that’s the best place to find cheap old cameras as people will find them when cleaning out a room or something and just throw it on marketplace for cheap, on eBay it seems like people are selling stuff they know is worth some money - not to mention due to the crazy fees they’ll list it for higher anyway.
I had exactly this in blue color; unfortunately my son lost it in some Garden in London!
Just picked one up from the local recycling center for £5, no battery. Got a battery arriving tomorrow, fingers crossed
Should work just fine! Great deal!!
Dang. $9 is a steal. Did a quick search and they seem to still go for at least $150 and up to $500 used.
Yeah! I would most certainly not pay $500 for one though haha
$150-250 tho…
I don't know how you find those cheap cameras, where I live it's 70usd 😢
The ts6
I was in a very rare situation where I; worked at the department store, had first dibs on it plus a staff discount and knowledge of the clearance sale happening - it’s around that price used here as well.
Plus I paid $20 for the battery and charger as it didn’t have one when I got it.
Now it is expensive because of you...
Haha before I posted the video they were selling for around 250-300 aud on eBay - I just got really lucky finding it for what price I did!
I cannot hear the orchestra in the background very clearly. I'm sure there is an orchestra....
Great video! Even cool that you got to hang out with Elon Musk :)
nice video
Thank you!
Painted toes?!?
Yes, I usually get them done with Rebecca - they were baby blue in the video now they’re hot pink, I like it for the summer :)