Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10 Review
The super zoom compacts roll on: now with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 (also known as the TZ10) Panasonic offers a 12x Leica optical zoom that puts into your hands focal range that matches a 35 SLR camera’s 25-300mm lens. Some lens!
Panasonic describes this camera as a Travel Zoom model: compact, pocketable, easy to use but offering a healthy range of exposure options that could handle most photographic challenges, viewed on a 7.6cm LCD screen. To my mind this camera would act as a superb, compact companion to a serious DSLR kit, as it has auto operation, Program AE, shutter and aperture priority and manual exposure as well as a host of scene modes. The iA mode is one that could be useful when shooting video, as it automatically selects the most suitable scene mode and helps correct blurring, focus and brightness challenges.
Capturing 12.1 megapixels, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10 can shoot a maximum image size of 4000×3000 pixels, enough to make a 34×25cm print. Using the AVCHD Lite video format, I felt the resolution to be a little disappointing at 1280×720 pixels at 30fps.
Added to this is a GPS feature as well as an optical image stabiliser that as two modes plus auto; you can also switch it off for tripod work.
The GPS feature is a little startling. Take a picture (outside, dummy!) and on preview the location is displayed beneath it. Now I’m trying to think of a use for it in my day to day activities.
A Panorama Assist mode eases the task by taking a series of images to stitch into a panorama shot, while checking the degree of overlap between adjacent shots. You can shoot a series panning left, right, up or down.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10 ISO Tests
At ISO 80 everything under control: good sharpness, little noise.
At ISO 400 a slight increase in noise was visible.
At ISO 800 noise up and sharpness down.
At ISO 1600 noise very noticeable and sharpness down: An OK setting if you have to use it!
Distortion
One of the best lenses I’ve seen in a compact, the Leica optic showed no signs of barrel or spherical distortion at either end of the zoom. Excellent!
Startup Time
Not so quick off the mark, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10 shots its first shot three seconds after power on; follow on shots came in at about two seconds each.
Comment
Quality: I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but this little camera produced pictures that exceeded any I’ve seen from a compact camera. Very high quality.
The movie mode is also excellent: you begin recording by pressing the dedicated button on the TZ10’s rear; the zoom and auto focus is operable and Panasonic’s excellent optical stabiliser takes care of the bumps. Tops!
Why you would buy it: you want a 12x zoom in a compact.
Why you wouldn’t: cannot think of a no-no!
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10 Spcecifications
Image Sensor: 12.1 million effective pixels.
Metering: Multiple zone, centre-weighted and spot.
Sensor Size: 11mm CCD.
Lens: Leica DC Vario-Elmar f3.3-4.9/4.1-49.2mm (25-300mm as 35 SLR equivalent).
Shutter Speed: 60 to 1/2000 second.
Continuous Shooting: 2.3 fps.
Memory: SD, SDHC, SDXC cards plus 15MB internal memory.
Image Sizes (pixels): 4000×3000, 3264×2448, 2560×1920, 2048×1536, 640×480.
Movies: 1280×720, 848×480, 640×480, 320×240 at 30 fps.
LCD Screen: 7.6cm LCD (460,800 pixels).
File Formats: JPEG, Motion JPEG, AVCHD Lite.
ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 80 to 6400.
Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI, AV.
Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, DC input.
Dimensions: 103.3×59.6×32.6 WHDmm.
Weight: 218 g (inc battery and card).
Price: get a price on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10 at Amazon.
13 Responses to “Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10 Review” - Add Yours
July 21st, 2010 at 12:45 am
Is there an underwater housing available for the Panasonic Lumix z57/tz10?
July 21st, 2010 at 1:32 am
I found a major con with it: Image quality is actually worse at higher ISO (than the ZS3 at 400,800, 1600)
I dont want to put a link, but do your homework.. unless you need the gps tagging and ’slightly’ better OIS than get the discounted zs3 from craigslist..
July 21st, 2010 at 4:26 am
Good to see this review. I’ve had this camera (or slightly earlier version) for months now, and I love it!!! Great shots, good video, pretty long battery life, etc. And how it fits in my purse is great! I also used it in low light and it was good. I’ve already recommeded to a friend, and she got a great price on it (under $275). Highly recommend it, glad DPS does too!
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:37 am
How does the 14x zoom Canon Powershot SX210 IS compare to the Zs7? I am not crazy about the pop-up flash and have heard there is a significant shot to shot delay on that model. I opted for the Lumix but the Canon image quality is superb and it is supposed to be better in low light.
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:10 am
Woe is me, everything I want except RAW.
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:36 am
This sounds like a really great camera. I’ve been looking around for one that does good macro shots, how is that for this one?
July 24th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I have this camera as well and does anyone see the color off with really “red” images? what ever I have tried to adjust must not be working. The red tones are just overwhleming!
July 25th, 2010 at 12:02 am
Why I wouldn’t buy it. No viewfinder.
July 27th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
The Panasonic ZS7 relies on a Mode switch to set the camera into either Record mode or Playback mode. It’s simple, but the disadvantage is getting caught in Playback mode when a photo opportunity strikes,Cameras with a button to switch between modes can return to Record mode with a half-press on the shutter button.
July 30th, 2010 at 9:11 am
We (wife) wanted a smaller camera than my old Canon S5IS for her holiday. I used it sometimes also.
Basically its very impressive and in some ways made my D90 feel ancient and no better!
However as you see from the flag photo above it lets highlights blow out and you can’t pull them back in software. Maybe you can pull them down with ev adjustment but my wife shoots only in iA mode (intelliegent auto) which is otherwise very good. Photos are well balanced for white balance and exposure is ok except for above comment. I used this little camera in lowlight and its sure beats my Canon A590IS for lowlight performance – its much noisier however than my D90 (thank god else you’d not need one!) especially in lowlight.
The GPS is a bit of a w— really, it thinks Central Station Sydney (the Terminal actually) is Christ Church St. Lawrence (lol), George street! Else it may help you remember where you were and can be used to tag yourself on google earth – why would you?
Solid well built only grouse is too small for my hands and I often press button whilst holding it!
Cameras like this one are destined to make dslr’s redundant!
The biggest thing is you can print str8 from it no adjustment necessary in software – the first didgtal camera we have had that could do that although my D40 with 2 of its lenses one a nikon and one a tokina can often do that too – Thats a perfect situation for me, concentrate on the composition and then you ahve it – Nirvana!
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:02 pm
heres a few, sample shots i’ve taken on the earlier version of this camera, same lens ect…
(not edited at all, straight from the memory card)
Its an awesome camera and i recommend it to anyone who can’t afford an SLR, plus those who want a smaller camera to fit in your pocket. In fact i recommend it to everyone. (i have the DMC – ZS1, only about 200$ on Ebay now i think)
**sorry if they turn out to big i’m new to this**
Full zoom..
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:16 am
Panasonic makes great cameras. The colors on the ones that I have owned over the years have always been great. They also have great resolution and image stabilization.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:02 am
It wasn’t that long ago that “superzoom” – or “ultrazoom,” if you prefer – digital compacts hovered in the vicinity of the 10x optical zoom multiplication factor that defined the starting point for the class. Now that lens envelope has been pushed to 30x for the biggest zooms available, and who knows where it might end. Into this market niche comes the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 with a seemingly modest 12x optical zoom.
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