Farewell to an Old Friend – RIP Panasonic Lumix

My dead Panasonic Lumix FT1

My dead Panasonic Lumix FT1

When I first picked up the paddle early in 2009 I decided to record the journey via photos on some sort of website. I needed a waterproof camera and after doing some research, bought myself the new Panasonic Lumix FT1 the day it came out. The website launched a week later – it was the birth of FatPaddler.com. Since then the camera has seen over 1000 km of Sydney waterways. It’s taken over 20,000 photos and well over 100 hours of video footage. It’s been from Australia to Alaska and back via California and Chicago. It has been underwater with stingrays, seen my first rolling sessions, and travelled with me on two Hawkesbury Canoe Classics.

Last weekend after a rolling session it finally gave up the ghost and died. When it refused to turn on I noticed water sitting behind the lens. Continued weekly immersion in salt water had finally corroded its way into the camera’s core. I was able to extract its final moments of video and photography from the memory card, but the Lumix itself was done for.

To honour my old friend, I’ve put together a brief collage from its library of images. Goodbye my old friend! Cheers – FP

It's first waterborne photo. Dawn on Middle Harbour.

It's first waterborne photo. Dawn on Middle Harbour.

First visit to the Sydney Harbour Bridge

First visit to the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Incredible dawns on the Berowra Gorge

Incredible dawns on the Berowra Gorge

Middle Harbour locals

Middle Harbour locals

Misty mornings on Bantry Bay

Misty mornings on Bantry Bay

A trip to the other side of the world - glacier fields of Alaska

A trip to the other side of the world - glacier fields of Alaska

Hanging out of a moving train for an amazing sunset near Anchorage Alaska

Hanging out of a moving train for an amazing sunset near Anchorage Alaska

Summer paddles on crystal clear Sydney waters

Summer paddles on crystal clear Sydney waters

Early morning Blast paddlers at Balmoral Beach

Early morning Blast paddlers at Balmoral Beach

Team Fat Paddler training for the Lifestart Kayak for Kids

Team Fat Paddler training for the Lifestart Kayak for Kids

Early morning paddles by Sydney's Heads

Early morning paddles by Sydney's Heads

A few post-paddle parties as well - haha!

A few post-paddle parties as well - haha!

Underwater with the stingrays during our many night paddles

Underwater with the stingrays during our many night paddles

Two Hawkesbury Canoe Classics

Two Hawkesbury Canoe Classics

Last Photo Ever - Clear waters on Middle Harbour. Then I rolled in them!

Last Photo Ever - Clear waters on Middle Harbour. Then I rolled in them!

The Fat Paddler by Sean Smith