Last year, we picked the Panasonic DMS-TZ5 as one of our top 25 travel technology products of 2008. That camera featured a 10x optical zoom and took photos in 9 megapixels. Today, I’ll introduce you to the successor of that camera – the Lumix DMC-ZS1.
The DMC-ZS1 builds on the excellent features of the TZ5 by increasing its zoom to 12x, and making photos in 10 megapixels. Sadly, it does lose its HD video ability, but with an online retail price of under $240, it is one of the cheapest compact ultra-zoom cameras on the market. A slightly beefier version of the DMC-ZS1 is available as the DMC-ZS3 which adds a larger screen and HD video capability. It retails for $399 ($320 street price).
Videos are shot in WVGA or VGA, which is a step down from the HD clips shot with the DMC-TZ5. The interface is a pleasure to use, and it keeps its buttons to a minimum. I did find the selector dial on the top to be a bit too easy to control, and often when taking it out of a carrying bag, the dial had changed to a different setting.
The camera is very “pocketable”, and despite a bit of a bulge around the lens (when retracted), it is still small enough to carry around all day. Startup time is almost 3 seconds and the time between shots (flash off) is about 2 seconds, which may be a little on the slow side for people looking to make action photos. The slow startup speed is most likely due to the speed at which the lens extends.
The quality of photos made with the camera are slightly above with what you’d expect from a camera in this price range. The camera has an optical image stabilizer which actually works quite well. Its intelligent mode is perfect for people (like me) who get confused by terms like ISO. The camera also offers a whole host of intelligent shooting modes, which take the guessing work out of changing the settings.
Final thoughts
All in all, I found the DMC-ZS1 to be a worthy successor to the DMC-TZ5. The loss of HD video is more than made up thanks to its impressive zoom lens and boost in megapixels. Operation is a breeze, which means even the most amateur photographers won’t have a problem controlling the camera, and making the most of its various features. The scene selections are: Candle, Beach, Snow, High sensitivity, Starry sky, Soft skin, Baby, Portrait mode, Aerial photo, Hi-speed burst, Clipboard, Film grain, Pin hole, Party/indoor, Night portrait, Self-portrait, Pet, Scenery, Food, Fireworks, Panorama assist, Night scene, Underwater, Sports mode, Sunset.
For amateur photographers who travel, the Panasonic DMC-ZS1 is quite simply perfect – a great wide angle 12x optical zoom, built in flash and surprisingly decent battery life make for a great camera. The camera stores photos in its internal memory (45MB) and SD(HC) memory cards. With memory card prices at an all time low, adding 4GB or even 8GB won’t break the bank.
The camera comes with a Lithium-Ion battery pack, charger, USB and video cable as well as a CD with some basic editing software.
PRO’S: Fantastic wide angle ultra-zoom, good quality photos, amazing price.
CON’S: Slow startup, no HD video.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 is available from most online camera retailers and select camera stores.
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