panasonic dmc-zs35w digital camera with 3.0-inch tft lcd review brands

I purchased this camera in the hopes of using it as a decent travel camera on a recent trip to the Philippines. Based on it"s specs and mostly the ability to wireless transfer photos to my mobile devices, I took a chance on it. I was fully aware of the limitations of point and shoot cameras, having owned several in comparison to the DSLR"s I also owned, but I wasn"t looking to get really amazing shots on this trip, but certainly really good ones weren"t out of the question. However, in using the camera in a variety of situations (indoor, outdoor, low light, bright day), I would say that the results fell incredibly flat. Beyond the Programmed Auto mode (which was average at best), all of the other modes were consistently poor and inconsistent. In the lead for this poor performance was the HDR mode, which rendered somewhat average to poor landscape pictures, and absolutely terrible portrait pictures (all portrait pictures would have this "fake" skin tone). But by far the biggest issue I had with this camera was the incredibly slow performance of all menu and shooting functions. From start-up to first shot, it was always a minimum of 5 seconds. This is an infinite amount of time when your perfect moment could be gone that quickly. The same lag extended to switching camera modes as well. This became maddeningly frustrating many times during my trip, as I would have to wait for the camera to play catch-up, and often would miss the shot I had intended. I hope they can fix this with a firmware update in the future, but considering many of the "reviews" I"ve read on this, it"s not looking like there is enough negative feedback to make this happen any time soon.

After years of using Canon products, my first foray into another manufacturer"s camera was sorely disappointing, and probably one mistake I will be careful to avoid in the future.

The Lumix DMC-ZS35 (TZ55 outside of North America) is a compact travel zoom camera with a 20X, 24-480mm equiv. lens and 16 megapixel "high sensitivity" MOS sensor. Its 3-inch (460k dot) LCD can flip upward by 180 degrees for self-portraits. The camera can shoot continuously at 10 fps, and can also record Full HD video at 1080/30p. Built-in Wi-Fi allows for remote control of the camera, as well as photo sharing.

Panasonic ZS35 features a 24-480 mm F3.3-6.4 20× zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to 24mm focal length on the wide end and remarkable super telephoto reach at 480mm.

Panasonic ZS35 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. ZS35 has a native ISO range of 100 - 3200 which can be boosted to 6400 but unfortunately, Panasonic ZS35 doesn"t have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in the same price range.

Panasonic ZS35 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero11 Black with its 27.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Panasonic ZS35 vs GoPro Hero11 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Panasonic ZS35 has a Tilting 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Tilting screens are more photography oriented while Fully articulated screens are highly preferred by videographers. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Unfortunately Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 doesn"t have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

ZS35 doesn"t have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 (Lumix DC-TZ200) (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare).

Panasonic ZS35 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11 b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our ZS35. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

With Panasonic ZS35, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30p fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. Full HD resolution of Panasonic ZS35 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone ConnectionsPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Panasonic ZS35 doesn"t have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.

If you are getting into videography and want to know what are the must-have video accessories for your camera, read our article:Panasonic ZS35 Other Features

Panasonic ZS35 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 21 points to choose from. Panasonic ZS35 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Panasonic ZS35 has a score of 28 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theZS35.

Panasonic ZS35 has a score of 64 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Panasonic ZS35 has a score of 23 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theZS35.

Panasonic ZS35 has a score of 58 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Panasonic ZS35 has a score of 22 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theZS35.

Currently, Panasonic ZS35 has an Overall Score of 42/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 is ranked #134 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #670 out of 1255 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

We tested the camera’s ability to produce accurate colors by using it to photograph an industry standard color chart. The chart, manufactured by color gurus GretagMacbeth, shows 24 colors from around the spectrum. Imatest analyzed the images of the chart and output the following depiction to show the variations in color. The inner vertical rectangle of each tile shows the ideal colors from the original GretagMacbeth chart, the outer frames show what the Panasonic TZ3 produced, and the inner squares show the ideal color corrected for luminance by the software.

Colors are generally close to what they should be, but to get a better idea of how correct or erroneous colors are the following graph is provided. It shows each of the 24 colors around the spectrum. The ideal colors are shown as squares and the TZ3’s colors are shown as circles. The line connecting the shapes shows the degree of error and saturation can be determined by the direction the camera’s color is moving. The outer edges of the frame are oversaturated while the center is undersaturated.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 performed extremely well. Hardly any of its colors are very far from where they should be. Its saturation is nearly perfect too at 101.3 percent. The camera’s 5.17 mean color error score is one of the best we’ve seen from a compact digital camera, and so is the overall 11.61 color score.

The presets didn’t perform as well as they should. Under cloudy outdoor light, the auto setting was more accurate. The same can be said of the other presets. The only preset that performed better than the auto setting was tungsten light, and both tungsten and auto weren’t very accurate anyway. The presets should generally be avoided. Either chance it with the auto setting or be sure with the custom setting.

The Panasonic TZ3’s 7.2-megapixel resolution is an upgrade from previous slim ultra-zoom models. We tested the TZ3’s resolution to see how effective it is at capturing all the details and nuances in our industry standard resolution chart. Using the TZ3, we photographed the chart at various exposure settings and uploaded the pictures to Imatest imaging software.

The software analyzed the images and selected the sharpest one, which was taken using an aperture of f/4.7 and a focal length of 20mm and the lowest ISO setting of 100. More descriptive numerical resolution results are output as units of line widths per picture height (lw/ph), which describes the number of alternating black and white lines of equal thickness that the sensor can detect across the frame without blurring them together.

The 7.2-megapixel TZ3 resolved 1729 lw/ph horizontally with 1.7 percent oversharpening and 1635 lw/ph vertically with 1.65 percent undersharpening. The earlier TZ1 oversharpened images, so this seems to have been addressed and fixed in this model. The TZ3 performs better than average for its pixel count and certainly better than its Lumix sibling, the 7.2-megapixel Panasonic FX50. That camera read 1342 lw/ph horizontally and 1232 lw/ph vertically.

Good news for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3: its 7.2 megapixels capture a good amount of detail, which puts it above average comparable digital cameras.

In the bright lighting of our studio, most cameras should automatically choose the lowest ISO setting possible. The TZ3’s automatic ISO setting instead chose ISO 200 and produced more noise than it should have in such nicely lit conditions. Think your bright outdoor pictures are perfectly clean? Think again – or use the manual ISO settings.

The noise is generally quite low. Even at the highest ISO 1250 only 1.7 percent of the image is speckled with noise, as opposed to 4 or 5 percent in many other compact digital cameras. There is a reason for this though. The TZ3 applies an in-camera noise reduction system between ISO 200 and 400, which accounts for the slight dip in noise on the chart.

The in-camera noise reduction has its drawbacks. When looking at the solid colors of the image up close, it looks like areas have been smoothed over, sacrificing details. Overall though, the noise reduction has a positive impact on high ISO images. Shots of faces taken with the TZ3 would bode well because of the smoothing and lack of color-noise.

*With the studio lights dimmed to 60, 30, 15, and 5 lux, we set out to determine how functional the camera is in imperfect lighting situations. We photographed the color chart in these low light conditions and ran them through Imatest software, which output the following pictures with the same tiles as in the color section above.

The Panasonic TZ3’s images are well-lit and accurate with the mean color error staying under 7.5. This is fantastic! The mean percentage of noise stayed under 2 percent, which is also pretty incredible for such dim conditions.

Long exposures are possible on this camera, but only at ISO 100 in the Night Scenery and Starry Night shooting modes. We test all of our long exposure tests at ISO 400, and this camera’s longest exposure at this setting is only 1 second. Thus, we’re skipping this portion of the low light review.

Nevertheless, whether you’re at a candlelit restaurant, fireworks show, or evening party, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 should provide well-lit, clean, and accurately depicted images.

We test the dynamic range of digital cameras by photographing a backlit Stouffer film step chart at different ISO settings. The Stouffer chart has a row of rectangles ranging from extremely bright to extremely dark. The ISO sensitivity directly correlates to the dynamic range of the image. Generally, the higher the sensitivity is boosted, the less detail and tones captured. Below is a chart showing the manual ISO settings on the horizontal axis and the number of exposure values captured on the vertical axis.

Surprisingly, the dynamic range actually increases from ISO 100 to 200 which is very uncommon. This was tested several times but the results came out the same every time. Both the 100 and 200 settings garnered excellent results at or above 8 exposure values. After 200 though, the dynamic range takes a steep dive and then continues its shallow dip into the lesser end of the range. The lesson to take from this test: if you want interesting photos with lots of dynamic range, limit your ISO selection to 100 or 200.

The Panasonic TZ3 takes its sweet time starting up and extending its lens before snapping its first shot. The official time came to 2.7 seconds, so have your camera on long before the action happens.

There are three burst modes on this digital camera. The high burst mode snaps 5 pictures in 1.5 seconds with each shot coming 0.4 seconds after the previous one. The low burst mode took the same 5-shot burst but at a more leisurely pace with each shot coming a half-second after the other. The infinite burst mode snapped pictures at the same half-second pace but recorded until the memory card was full. It’s unclear why Panasonic even includes the low burst when the infinite moves at the same pace and records for much longer.

This camera’s metering and auto focus system are slow. It took them 0.6 seconds to get their acts together and snap a picture. When the exposure is locked, though, things are snappy and the shutter lag is hardly measurable.

Under the same lighting we performed the color test, we shot footage of a video test chart. The colors weren’t as accurate as they were in still images; the mean color error shot to 13 and saturation to 116.4 percent. The average amount of noise remained fairly low at 0.385 percent of the image. This is actually quite good when compared to other compact digital cameras; most movie modes perform far worse than the still recording modes.

The image became much softer when the lights were dimmed to 30 lux. Colors suffered with a mean color error of 15.4. The inaccuracy of the color is one thing, the awful saturation is even worse. It dropped to only 63.2 percent, making the colors look extremely dull and lifeless. The average amount of noise jumped considerably to 1.26 percent of the image, more than in any of the still images even at the highest 1250 ISO setting.

Footage of the video test chart was loaded into Imatest software and analyzed much the same way still images are analyzed. The results are output in the same line widths per picture height (lw/ph) measurement too. The Panasonic TZ3 resolved 267 lw/ph horizontally with 17.3 percent undersharpening and 545 lw/ph vertically with 5.6 percent undersharpening. These numbers aren’t great and should still keep the camcorder market healthy.

Like most modern point-and-shoots, the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 lacks an optical viewfinder. Instead, the camera is equipped with a well-endowed 3-inch LCD screen. The LCD has a 100 percent field of view that enables users to accurately compose a frame when using the monitor; images shouldn’t cut off at the top or bottom the way other LCD viewfinders often do. The downside to a camera without a viewfinder is that users are forced to frame their photos using the LCD, which is a drain on battery power. To compensate, Panasonic includes Power Save and Auto Review modes that allows users to change the increments for how long the LCD or camera stays on.

Thanks to the large screen size and sufficient resolution, TZ3 will instantly get a nice view of their images following the shot. The images can be magnified by 16x, allowing users to check focus on-the-spot. A group of people huddled around the camera should be pleased with the large screen, though it does solarize slightly when viewed off-axis. The monitor showed significant solarization, however, when viewed at extreme vertical angles. Overall, the LCD is a nice feature with its large size, ample pixel resolution, and 100 percent field of view.

Equipped with flash functions for Auto, Auto and Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync and Red-eye Reduction, Forced On and Forced Off, the Panasonic TZ3 covers basic flash functions. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a soft flash mode that many point-and-shoots offer, which would have greatly benefited the TZ3’s overpowering flash.

Panasonic also adjusted the focal range on this camera. While the TZ3 and the older TZ1 both carry 10x zooms, the TZ3’s lens extends from f/4.6-46mm (equivalent to 28-280mm in traditional 35mm film format), while the TZ1’s optics provide a more-magnified 35-350mm equivalent focal range.

To assist the TZ3’s far-reaching zoom lens, Panasonic included optical image stabilization to reduce blur. Panasonic’s Intelligent Image Stabilization system - tagged MEGA O.I.S. - is an optical stabilization system designed to reduce handshake. The camera also offers Intelligent ISO Control, which boosts sensitivity to freeze moving subjects.

The zoom lens focuses at a range of 1.64 feet in normal mode and 6.56 feet – infinity in telephoto mode. With an aperture range from f/3.3 – 11, the lens provides ample depth of field for portraits or landscapes. The lens is constructed of 11 elements in 9 groups with 3 aspherical lenses, 4 aspherical surfaces, and 1 ED lens.

The Panasonic TZ3 isn’t the thinnest camera around, but then again, who said you have to be thin to be beautiful? The TZ3 has some curves to it and still retains an attractive look. The stainless steel body maintains a clean design that should make any owner of this compact camera proud. All the buttons, despite placement, are engrained well into the body with tight seals, supplying a reassuring click upon depression. The camera has an overall luxurious appeal, more in the vein of a four-door sedan, than a sporty two-seater.

Measuring 4.20 x 1.47 x 2.37 inches, the Panasonic TZ3 isn’t the smallest or largest compact camera around. The camera bridges the gap between a pocket-friendly point-and-shoot and a higher zoom compact camera. The TZ3 isn’t made to go clubbing with and won’t fit comfortably in a pants pocket. It is, however, portable enough to fit comfortably into a jacket pocket. The camera’s tight seals and covered port system will allow it to be securely transported.

At 8.16 ounces (about half a pound), the TZ3 is heavier than many point-and-shoots because of its metal exterior, but it is still light enough for any traveling backpacker. Its size and weight lends itself to active vacationers rather than socialites who like their cameras as tiny as their cell phones.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ3 handles well, especially compared to other point-and-shoots. The slopping right hand grip on the front of the camera and a small bump on the back provide sufficient support, especially for one-handed shooting and self-portraits. Handling would have received higher marks if Panasonic had included extra rubber gripping, but hey, we can’t always have it all. As usual with point-and-shoots, left-handed photographers will be out of luck. The lens is flush to the edge of the camera, making it difficult for users to place their left fingers there without obstructing the field of view.

The Panasonic TZ3’s menu system is easy on the eyes. With an effective color scheme (red for record, green for play) and easy-to-read font, the menu interface makes navigating the camera’s functions simple.

When the mode dial is set to the record mode, the camera displays two tabbed menus: (1) Rec (for Record for exposure and focus controls), and (2) Setup (for camera settings). The menu uses a combination of text and icons. There are one-too-many text abbreviations that might have users scratching their heads. For instance, a user might have to stop for a second to realize that "Col. Mode" really means "Color." The menus also display icons that require the user to flip through the manual to decipher. For example, users are supposed to know that an icon of six squares with an arrow on top represents the Fine Quality setting.

The Panasonic TZ3 is a fairly easy to use camera right out of the box. With a target audience of advanced point-and-shooters, the camera fairs well for its handling and easy-to-read menu system. Improvements to the button placement and menu abbreviations would make a future edition of the camera a superior compact ultra-zoom.

Panasonic’s auto mode is called Simple mode, represented by a heart shape on the mode dial. As the name implies, the basic auto mode limits manual control so that users can shoot spontaneously without having to consider exposure details or the like. Simple mode uses fixed settings: auto white balance, Intelligent ISO , multi-pattern metering, and one-area AF.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ3 offers a good amount of control for recording videos. The camera captures QuickTime Motion movie files with sound in standard 4:3 aspect ratio or at wide 16:9. Users have the option to change file size and record at a standard 640x480, email resolution of 320x240, or a wide 848x480 resolution at either 10fps or 30fps, up to 2GB.

The TZ3’s movie mode provides smooth video recording with the option to change white balance setting and metering modes. Unfortunately, users cannot change the zoom or the focus once recording has started. Users can, however, set zoom and focus before video capture begins. There are no built-in editing movie functions like splicing, but users can record videos in black-and-white or sepia.

For those times when you spontaneously spot Bon Jovi at the library, a fast drive mode is necessary to catch as many pictures as possible. The Panasonic TZ3 offers three types of drive modes to take photos in succession. Users can access High speed, Low speed, and Free shooting (as Panasonic calls it), through the Record menu, Intelligent ISO, Macro, or Scene 1 and 2 menus.

With the exception of zoom, users can change most of the control options (such as image quality, white balance, and metering) in the drive modes. Burst speed is reliant on image size/quality and ISO sensitivity settings. ISO 400 or higher slows down the consecutive shooting - most likely due to the application of additional high ISO noise reduction. The camera’s High and Low speed shooting allows for full resolution shooting at 3fps or 2fps, respectively, at Fine or Standard quality. The Free mode allows for unlimited consecutive shooting at 2fps until the memory is full. A counter is displayed on the monitor, indicating the remaining storage space.

The benefit of the Panasonic TZ3’s updated 3-inch screen is that users can check out their photos on the spot. The playback mode can be accessed in two ways. First, users can view photos using the "Rev" (Review) button on the four-way controller, which accesses a limited playback mode, but offers quick access to view a photo while still in Record mode. Second, when the mode dial is set to Play, a full range of editing tools is available.

Users can view their images as 9 thumbnails, 25-thumbnail, calendar view, or as singles. As single photos, users can magnify images up to 16x, so they can check for focus and blinking eyes. Playback mode also includes built-in editing functions such as trim, rotate, and dual display, which gives a preview of two photos side-by-side.

With a healthy dose of 21 scene modes, the Panasonic TZ3 covers the basics with presets like Portrait and Landscape and then adds some interesting modes, including Aerial Photo and Underwater modes (to be used with an optional underwater housing case).

Panasonic also updated the scene modes with the addition of Sunset and Pet modes. The Pet mode is an interesting feature. Like the Baby1 and Baby2 scene presets, the camera documents the age of the child or animal after setting the subject’s birthday to the camera’s built-in clock/calendar. While EXIF data with time stamp information is already attached to every image, the pictures in Pet and Baby modes spell out the exact month and day of the subject’s age, such as "2 month, 19 days."

Users can access scene modes through Scn1 and Scn2 positions on the mode dial. Each preset mode is represented with an icon. Additional text descriptions of the modes - and even reminders - appear when necessary. The camera defaults to the last selected shooting mode before the user turned off the camera. The extensive list of presets is dispersed between two scene modes (Scn1 and Scn2). It’s not really necessary to have two scene modes, but the duo of settings reduces the number of buttons users need to push before getting the easy preset button mode that has their preferred combination of camera settings.

As with most point-and-shoots, the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 offers manual control of white balance, ISO sensitivity, metering, and AF settings. However, the camera does not offer control over shutter speed or aperture like higher-end compacts or SLRs.

Users have a fair amount of control over the auto focus system. With both single and continuous focus, users can switch between five settings: spot focusing, 1-area focus, 1-area high speed, 3-area, and 9-area. The camera is capable of focusing normally at 1.64 feet and beyond. Zoomed in, the camera can accurately focus at 6.56 feet to infinity or 1.96 feet to infinity when zoomed out.

The camera also offers a Macro focus mode, located on the top mode dial, for close up photos. With a focal range of 3.28 inches to infinity in telephoto macro mode, the camera effectively captures details at close range.

In practice, the TZ3"s auto focus system worked well in wide, normal, and macro shooting. The camera handled low light and low contrast scenes effectively, and was able to track moving subjects well in ample lighting.

Like the majority of point-and-shoots, this 10x optical zoom camera does not provide a manual focus setting. This is unfortunate since the TZ3"s large screen would offer an ideal focusing window.

The Panasonic TZ3 offers basic exposure control. It has a standard exposure compensation range of +/- 2 in 1/3 steps. With live preview, even beginners will be able to identify the exposure modes. As a safety net, there is also a bracketing option that takes 3 frames in succession at +/- 1 in 1/3 steps.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ3 offers a well-rounded metering system. The metering options are multi-pattern, center-weighted, and spot at 1, 3, or 9 points.

The Lumix camera offers a strange mix of white balance options. It has the basics - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, and Shade - but leaves out a fluorescent setting, a key setting that most point-and-shoots offer. Despite its lack of a fluorescent mode, the auto white balance still produced decent results under fluorescent lights.

The camera does offer a few advanced features. Uses can view white balance functions with the live preview without having to set it. The TZ3 also allows users to set white balance manually.

One of the TZ3’s biggest upgrades is its new Intelligent ISO system. Marked by the "I" icon on the mode dial, the Intelligent ISO system detects motion and sets the ISO and shutter speed accordingly, making the function ideal in fast-paced situations such as shooting sports or trying to capture running kids. With Intelligent ISO, the camera can focus at 0.16 feet from the subject in Macro or at 6.56 feet in Telephoto mode. There is a limit of ISO 400, 800, or 1250 when using the Intelligent ISO system.

Other ISO options are Auto (at 200 ISO), 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1250 at full resolution, a higher sensitivity setting that comes with the updated Venus Engine III processor. The TZ1’s ISO topped out at 800 (in auto mode), making the TZ3 more flexible in low-light.

The Panasonic TZ3 has automatic and manual shutter speed controls. Users can manually select from the following preset slow shutter options in the main menu: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 second. For automatic settings, the camera has a range of 8 to 1/2000 of a second or longer exposure settings of 15, 30, or 60 seconds in Starry Sky Mode. Like most self timer settings, the shutter speed is set for either 2 or 10 seconds, enough time for the photographer to jump into a group photo.

The Lumix TZ3 selects the aperture automatically. In wide shooting, the camera captures at f/3.3 – 8.0 (in 2 steps), allowing enough light to pass for accurate exposures at ISO 400 or more. In telephoto, however, the camera captures a limited f/4.9 – 11.0 (in 2 steps) that might have users boosting ISO sensitivity to compensate.

The Panasonic TZ3 has plenty of picture options, which are accessed through the main menu. Picture size depends on one of the three selected aspect ratio options:

Panasonic TZ3 users who want to experiment with shooting will be able to do so with the camera’s picture effects modes, available for still and video recordings. Color modes include Standard, Natural, Vivid, Cool, Warm, Black and White, and Sepia. This allows a user to shoot in black-and-white without having to convert color after capture through a computer editing program. There isn’t a dedicated contrast or hue mode, but the camera does offer the Vivid option to intensify color.

The Panasonic TZ3 comes with a motley crew of programs. The Lumix Simple Viewer 1.2E is an extremely basic organizer with a split-screen design. The left side of the screen displays thumbnail views of the photo collection, and the right side shows an enlarged view of the selected photo and extensive EXIF data. Photos can be divided by Latest Pictures, My Favorites (that can be selected in the camera) or by Date Folder. There is a Rotate function and Enlarge options for full-screen slideshows, but the program lacks other editing functions such as crop or red-eye fix, typically found in other basic software. While the program’s design is nice, it isn’t worth installing because of its limited capabilities.

The Panasonic TZ3 has a plastic hinged door on its right side to keeps its ports safe. Below the door is an AV Out port for television connection and DC In port for USB computer connection. We prefer to see rubber port covers on compact point-and-shoot models, since they"re generally more effective in keeping out dirt and moisture.

For users who want to bypass the computer altogether, the PictBridge-compatible Panasonic TZ3 comes with a convenient Print Mode feature, a dedicated print button on mode dial. Users can easily connect the camera to a PictBridge-compatible printer via a USB connection. The camera gives options for the number of prints, sizes, and layout. *

*The Lumix TZ3 is compatible with SD, SDHC, and MMC media. The camera also carries 12.7 MB of internal memory, which is enough to store 2 still 4:3 images at full resolution. The memory media shares a slot with the batteries.

Clipboard – Because this camera if marketed to the world traveler, the Panasonic TZ3 comes with a new Clipboard feature that captures text and graphics with image stabilization and high zoom, ideal for keeping timetables and maps stored on the camera. The Clipboard shoots at a fixed 4:3 aspect ratio and can record 5 seconds of audio, enough time to record "¿Donde está la cerveza?" attached to a map of the city. The Clipboard feature stores the images on the 12 MB of internal memory so that users can easily access the important information through the mode dial.

*World Clock / Travel Date *– This feature helps the globe trotter remember what day it is. With the world clock and travel date information, users can keep their photos accurately documented with correct time zones. The camera returns to a default Hometown clock once the travel date has expired.

Optional Underwater Housing – The Panasonic Marine Case (DMW-MCTZ3) can be purchased for an additional $259.95 to protect the camera during underwater shooting. The optional marine case weighs more than 7 pounds and allows for 120 feet of submergence.

With a price tag of $349, the Panasonic TZ3 is a good value for a select niche market of consumers looking for a small point-and-shoot with a longer, stabilized zoom lens. There are plenty of image-stabilized, 10x optical zoom cameras out there, but none retain the point-and-shoot simplicity and basic design of the TZ3.  It competes with tiny, itsy-bitsy point-and-shoots that don’t offer the high zoom, and heavier, SLR-styled compacts; however, no other camera currently offers its feature set in a point-and-shoot design.

Panasonic Lumix TZ1 – Bargain shoppers may also be interested in the Panasonic Lumix TZ1, which has similar features but not the high price tag. As the predecessor to the TZ3, the TZ1 carries a 5-megapixel count, less than the TZ3’s 7.2 megapixels. The TZ1, last year’s version of the TZ3, is fitted with the same 10x Leica lens with optical image stabilization. Although the TZ1 was introduced at the same initial price, it can now be found online for less. Users will have to forfeit the TZ3’s higher ISO settings of up to 3200 (at lower resolution) from the TZ1 maximum of 1600 ISO (at lower resolution) and a smaller 2.5-inch LCD screen versus the TZ3’s 3-inch display. The TZ1 is a viable option for consumers who want to 10x optically stabilized zoom lens, but don’t care about the newer Intelligent ISO Control or Clipboard feature.

Nikon Coolpix S10 – The 6-megapixel Nikon S10 had an introductory price of nearly $400, but Nikon has marked it down to the same price of the Panasonic TZ3 at $349. With the Nikon S10, users will gainWi-Fi capabilities, face priority, and a swiveling, but smaller 2.5-inch LCD screen. Both have 10x optical zoom with optical image stabilization, or as Nikon calls it, sensor-shifting "Vibration Reduction." The Nikon S10 also records video but lacks the wide 16:9 shooting of the Panasonic TZ3.

Point and Shooters – The Panasonic TZ3 is made for advanced point-and-shooters who may be looking for a longer zoom upgrade from their first digital camera. Basic users will also enjoy its automatic features, while mature point-and-shooters will also benefit from more control options.

*Budget Consumers *– The Lumix TZ3 falls in the mid-range, $300 category. It definitely isn’t the cheapest camera around since there are basic automatics that sell for about $100, but the TZ3 is a well-priced camera for a 10x optical zoom.

Gadget Freaks – Gadget lovers won’t be too impressed with the Panasonic TZ3, since other cameras offer similar features. The one thing that might grab their attention is the fact that the long lens camera can go underwater with the help of an optional marine housing.

*Manual Control Freaks *– Not so much. While the Lumix TZ3 has some controls for shooting aspect ratio, white balance, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity, the camera lacks Shutter Priority or Aperture Priority or full manual modes. Those who lust for full control should consider other compacts that offer more manual options.

Pros / Serious Amateurs – Serious hobbyists or professionals would have better luck with higher zoom compacts or SLRs, but they might consider the Panasonic TZ3 as a back up camera for vacationing.

As the follow-up camera to the TZ1, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 offers many improvements. Panasonic added an Intelligent ISO Control system, Clipboard function, wider focal length and higher ISO sensitivity. The Panasonic TZ3 fills a niche market of travelers who long for a high zoom that is still compact. This 10x zoom camera with optical image stabilization meets the need of advanced point-and-shooters who are looking for an upgrade to their first digital camera. With the option to purchase an underwater casing, the travel-friendly TZ3 is ideal for capturing photos in a variety of conditions. In terms of image quality, the TZ3 is far superior to its predecessor, displaying impressive color reproduction, wide dynamic range, and solid video performance. For consumers looking for a portable, automatic camera with a long, optically-stabilized lens, the TZ3 is one of the best values on the market.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 (also know as the ZS80) is a new travel-zoom camera. The TZ95/ ZS80 features a 30x optical zoom Leica lens, 20.3 megapixels, 4K video recording, a 3.0-inch tiltable rear monitor, new high-resolution Live viewfinder, RAW format support, manual exposure control, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Panasonic’s perennial travel zoom – or ‘TZ’ – series of compact cameras has received an upgrade in the shape of the Lumix TZ95, which comes with a Leica branded 30x optical zoom lens, 20.3 MP resolution sensor and 4K video shooting capability. Of interest to long time followers of this range is the addition of a tilt-able 3-inch, 1040K-dot rear monitor, as well as brand new high resolution LVF (Live View Finder), that here is a teeny 0.21-inches in size, meaning you have to squint to view it.

With connectivity options including the expected Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the TZ95 is at the time of writing available in the UK at a manufacturer’s suggested £399.99, in either black or black and silver body options; we had the former smart looking option sent to us for review.

While all the above spec is pretty much a must-have for a compact digital camera released in 2019 – whereby said camera needs to sufficiently differentiate itself from smartphones and tablets to be worth buying, while simultaneously staying familiarly close to them in terms of operation to stay approachable and ‘current’ – it’ll come as no surprise that this is pretty much a pimped up point-and-shooter, ‘thanks’ to a small, standard-issue 1/2.3-inch sensor at its core.

That said, when you want something light, portable, easy to use and reliable when sightseeing travelling, there’s no disgrace in simply pointing and shooting. First impressions are then that the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 ploughs a familiar (perhaps over-familiar) furrow, but nevertheless fits a long-standing brief: namely offering quality pictures from the convenience of a pocket-sized, all-in-one package.

With a core lens reach starting out at a wide-angle 24mm equivalent (stretching up to 720mm at the telephoto end), the Lumix TZ95 is certainly suitable for capturing a broad range of photogenic subjects, and in particular proves a decent option for landscapes and cityscapes, as well as street photography and group portraits. We were able to shoehorn the vast majority of subjects into frame without having to step back and bump into a fellow sightseer, or into the road and the path of passing vehicles.

The camera itself looks relatively boxy and chunky when ranged against the average mobile phone it will inevitably be competing with in today’s market – in no small part due to that generous 30x optical zoom, which retracts within the body when not in use; said lens encircled by a lens control ring, to which certain key settings can be pre-assigned (or said lens ring simply provides another means of adjusting the zoom/your focal range when in intelligent iAuto setting).

Handily, to enable steadier shooting and the avoidance of blurred images, a decent sized (for a camera of this ilk) leather-effect rubberized handgrip is provided at the front, alongside an indented thumb rest at the back. This enabled us to hold the camera pretty rock steady with just the one hand (if not always steady enough to avoid image blur in lower light, as we’ll read later). Also compensating for camera shake is Panasonic’s on-board Power OIS optical image stabilizer.

The other features to be found on the Panasonic Lumix TZ95’s faceplate are a narrow window housing the flash that sits just below the Lumix logo. Unfortunately the flash is in a position where your forefinger can very easily obscure it when gripping the camera with the right hand – so that’s something you need to be aware of, especially when handing the camera to someone else to take your picture, as well one might when travelling. Nestled next to the lens meanwhile, where it is out of the way of stray fingertips, is a familiar AF assist /self timer lamp.

From the front of this Lumix then, with a size broadly similar to a jumbo box of matches, the aforementioned zoom lens dominates proceedings, offering up to that generous 720mm equivalent reach at the telephoto end. In operation it takes around 3-4 seconds for the lens to glide from maximum wideangle to extreme telephoto, accompanied by an unobtrusively low mechanical buzz. Although picture detail inevitably softens at maximum zoom, the results are still plenty sharp enough for it to prove a useful asset. It goes without saying that the camera is responsive enough to avoid your attention ever needing to wander from the subject itself, with an AF speed given of 0.1 seconds, allied to a maximum burst capture rate of 10fps in AF-S mode or 5fps in AF-C mode.

The top plate of the Panasonic TZ95 is likewise familiar and straightforward in terms of layout and operation. The shutter release button is raised and encircled by a lever for operating the zoom, so you can’t mistake what it is, next to which are two smaller nail-head sized buttons, flush to the bodywork. These are for turning the camera on or off, or commencing video recording – said function denoted by the familiar red dot.

However, if you’re operating the camera in a darkened environment, like a concert hall or theatre, the proximity of the main power and video buttons means that it is easy to mistake one for the other and turn the camera off when you actually meant to start recording. Again, familiarity with the camera over time helps such mistakes to be avoided. Commendably this Panasonic is swift to power up in any event, being ready for action in around two seconds, its lens extending from its position flush to the body to arrive at its extreme wide-angle 24mm equivalent setting.

The other prominent ‘button’ atop the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 is a shooting mode wheel, which offers just the right amount of resistance and ‘give’ to avoid nudging it accidentally, yet making it easy to turn to a wanted setting in an instant. Here we find the familiar likes of program, auto, shutter priority and aperture priority modes, along with a very easy to use (and get pleasing results from) panoramic setting. There’s also a custom mode, a dedicated manual video mode, intelligent auto mode (iA mode) for pure point-and-shoot operation, the usual digital effects mode (with here eight options selectable) plus scene / subject mode, the latter providing the usual pre-optimised settings to again enable decent results from just pointing the camera and clicking. This mode wheel nestles next to a slightly raised section that houses twin microphones for recording sound.

Moving around to the Panasonic TZ95’s backplate, in terms of composing and reviewing shots there’s the standard 3-inch LCD on the back plate and the teeny electronic viewfinder above, which has its own dioptric adjustment wheel adjacent to aid us occasional spectacle wearers. Although an EVF is a cool feature on a camera you can comfortably drop into a jacket pocket, it’s so small on the TZ95 that subject detail is difficult to ascertain – meaning that we found ourselves not really bothering with it, unless particularly bright sunlight made viewing subjects via the larger screen otherwise tricky.

The stated resolution of the eye-level finder is a whopping 2.33 million dots, though you wouldn’t recognise it as such. The fact that the alternative of the 1,040K-dot resolution 3-inch LCD is of the flip up through 180° variety – so that it can be used for selfies, or when you too want to slide yourself into a group portrait – does however make itself occasionally useful. This is a travel camera after all, and you’ll undoubtedly want to record the fact that you were there too.

The screen is touch sensitive, to a degree, though as there are also plentiful physical controls ranged alongside it that provide much the same functions, we didn’t find ourselves utilising its touch sensitivity that much. We did however enjoy the fact that the EVF (or, as Panasonic prefers, LVF) has an eye sensor alongside it, which deactivates the larger LCD and switches on the EVF as you bring an eye up to it. There is also a dedicated ‘LVF’ (live view finder) button that lets you disable this feature if required, or switch between screens manually.

Photo enthusiasts will also love the fact that – of course - Raw files can be captured on the TZ95 alongside, or in tandem with, JPEGs, and without any noticeable slow down too in terms of operational speed in regular single shot mode. This being a Panasonic camera, we get the inevitable 4K photo mode to further ease the possibility of capturing the exact shot we want by being able to grab an 8 megapixel still from a 30fps sequence. Otherwise the 20 megapixel maximum resolution is probably as high as you want from a bog standard 1/2.3-inch chip – and for the most part, in available light, the images largely shine.

The other buttons on the Panasonic Lumix TZ95"s back plate form the usual mix of function specific controls, plus a central pad with a scroll wheel encircling it provided to provide speedier operation. We liked the fact that the display button to its lower right calls up the compositional aid of a spirit level – ideal for helping to get horizons straight when shooting landscapes, even if bright sunshine sometimes makes it tricky to see with certainty when the thin horizontal provided positively illuminates in green.

Another very useful button is provided bottom left of the four-way control pad; this provides the superb shortcut of a quick menu when we’re in shooting mode (otherwise it doubles as the equally useful delete button when in playback). Here we can quickly scroll through the various essential shooting options and select the particular one required with a finger tap onscreen.

Choices here include picture styles – switch from standard or natural to vivid or monochrome, for example – as well as being able to select the flash mode in use (with red eye reducing options provided alongside forced flash and slow shutter sync), select video quality, or choose image aspect ratio (from the standard 4:3 to medium format apeing 1:1).

Naturally, image quality can also be selected via this quick menu rather than having to scroll through the TZ95’s main menu screens, with the ability to capture Fine (maximum) quality JPEGS alongside uncompressed Raw files, as we did for the duration of our two-week camera evaluation period. Auto Focus can also be swapped from single shot to continuous shooting, and the camera biased towards either an impressive 49-area AF, subject tracking or face and eye detection.

Ranged around the backplate’s four way control pad itself are, from 12 o’clock on the dial and moving clockwise, various settings for adjusting exposure compensation (a generous +/- 5EV), flash settings, self timer or drive mode, plus focus settings, including auto focus, auto focus macro and manual focus, with focus peaking provided so you can check the intended sharp portion of your image is indeed sharp.

While at either side of the TZ95 are located lugs for attaching the provided wrist strap, we also get a built-in speaker on one flank for playing back audio, while the opposite side provides mini HDMI and USB ports, protected by a plastic flap raised via fingernail. There is no dedicated battery charger provided in the box with the camera – rather a USB lead and mains plug – which means that the battery is charged in-camera rather than outside it, as tends to be more and more the convention these days.

Battery life is a claimed 380 images per charge, which is fair and allows you to easily fill up the SD media card in use, which also slots into the base of the TZ95, particularly if shooting Raw and JPEGs in tandem. The camera, like many of its ilk, can be charged via its USB port.

So, while operationally the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 is pretty up to scratch and fulfills most of our expectations, what is the case when it comes to image quality? Is a big zoom on a small camera over-egging the pudding or capably fulfilling demand? Read on to find out...

You can squeeze a lot of subjects into the core 24-20mm equivalent lens reach provided by Panasonic’s TZ95 travel zoom, which, given that the camera otherwise delivers a relatively modest (read ‘small’) sized sensor, remains its biggest boon/draw. The quality of images is however pretty good in most common lighting scenarios and certainly a cut above your compact digital cameras of old.

As expected we get the warm, well-saturated colours Panasonic is known for, as well as plenty of detail captured right into the corners of the frame – at least when there’s plenty of light around. If detail softens at maximum zoom that is only to be expected, especially when shooting handheld, but again results are better than we’ve seen elsewhere from similar products and will certainly satisfy those wanting a record of sunny summer holidays.

If we’ve a grumble, however, it’s that this isn’t perhaps a camera for shooting in very low light, especially if handheld, as we discovered on our travels, whereby the effects of camera shake are obvious. The fact that the ISO range tops out at a modest selectable ISO3200 at least means that the worst effects of image noise are avoided – we’d advise shooting up to ISO1600, however and leaving it at that, if you want to avoid a noticeable softening and degradation of the image entirely. Twenty megapixels is quite a lot to cram onto a 1/2.3-inch sensor – it’s probably the most you’d want to – so inevitably something has to give.

Overall though, we were pretty happy with the shots we got from the Panasonic Lumix TZ95, particularly given the limitations outlined above. But then we were unusually blessed with plenty of spring sunshine...

This is a selection of sample images from the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We"ve provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Just under £400 / $450 is still a fair amount to spend on a travel compact camera, even if it does offer a broad zoom range, 4K photo and video functionality, and a rock solid build quality like this one from Panasonic. Yes, we may have liked a larger one-inch sensor rather than the modest, small 1/2.3-inch chip supplied here, but that would have inevitably meant a hike in price, alongside other technical considerations.

While we’d conclude that the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 / ZS80 is in many respects an impressive little travel photography option for when you want something with a larger lens and broader focal range than your typical smartphone can manage – along with supplying plentiful creative options – if you do want to dig a little deeper however, there are, inevitably, little operational niggles here.

One that continually frustrated us was how easy it is to accidentally obscure the built-in flash’s window with the finger of your right hand when gripping the camera. Perhaps a small pop up flash would have been the answer? If you disable or avoid the flash, especially in low light, the result will typically be blurred images, especially if shooting handheld. That said, we found propping up the camera and utilising the self-timer to avoid jogging it when firing the shutter can sometimes return perfectly usable results as our sample night time images show if you don’t want to lug around a tripod.

However, in most other respects the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 / ZS80 remains a competent and reliable all-in-one pocket zoom option for when you want something unobtrusive yet with a bit more ‘poke’ than your mobile phone. A solid four out of five across the board in each rating category means that this one is well worth further consideration and closer investigation if you’re about to embark on that romantic weekend break – or want a relationship with a camera that is even longer term.

The new Canon PowerShot SX730 HS travel-zoom camera offers a massive 40x zoom lens in a slim and compact body. The Canon SX730 also features a 20 megapixel sensor, tilting 3-inch LCD screen, PASM shooting modes, built-in wi-fi/NFC/Bluetooth connectivity and Full HD 60p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX730 HS review now...

Looking for a family-friendly pocket camera with a long zoom lens? Then the new Leica C-Lux could be right up your street with it"s 15x, 24-360mm lens, 20 megapixel sensor and 4K video recording. Find out what we thought of Leica"s latest camera in our in-depth Leica C-Lux review...

The Nikon Coolpix A1000 is a new pocket-sized super-zoom compact camera with a 35x zoom lens offering a huge focal range of 24-840mm. Retailing for £409, the 16 megapixel Nikon A1000 has an integrated electronic viewfinder, RAW file support, 3-inch tilting touchscreen and 4K UHD movie recording. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix A1000 review complete with full-size sample JPEG and RAW images now...

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 is a new travel-zoom compact camera for 2017. The 20-megapixel TZ90 (also known as the Panasonic ZS70) offers a 30x wide-angle zoom lens, flippable 3" monitor, 4K video recording, lens control ring, RAW file format, touchscreen control and an electronic viewfinder. Read our in-depth Panasonic TZ90 review now...

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is an extremely well-appointed premium compact camera, offering a mouth-watering array of photographer friendly features and a versatile 15x zoom lens, all wrapped up in a body that you can easily slip inside your pocket. Is this the best compact camera on the market? Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix TZ200 review, complete with full-size sample images and movies, to find out...

The new Sony RX100 VI is the most technologically capable compact camera on the market, but is it the right travel-zoom camera for you? Find out by reading our detailed Sony RX100 VI review...

If you’re after a well-rounded compact camera that offers plenty in a small package, the TZ95 is a good option. Zooming capability and 4K Photo are the standout features, but low-light shooting leaves a lot to be desired.

AF / AF Macro / Macro Zoom * Each available with AFS (Single) / AFF (Flexible) / AFC (Continuous)/Quick AF, Continuous AF (during motion picture recording), Touch AF/AE Function, Touch Shutter, Eye Sensor AF, Touch Pad AF, MF Assist, Touch MF Assist, AF+MF, Focus Peaking, One Shot AF (Set the Fn button in custom menu to AF-ON), Low Light AF

[AFS] H: 10 frames/sec, M: 5 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[AFC] H: 5 frames/sec (with Live View), M: 5 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)

4K Burst: 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Burst (S/S): 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Pre-Burst: 30 frames/sec, approx. 2 sec/Exif Information: Yes (Each JPEG image cropped out of the 4K burst file complies with EXIF.)/Auto Marking Function: Auto / Face Priority / Motion Priority (in 4K Burst mode and 4K Burst (S/S) mode)

・ The software to edit and playback images on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, PHOTOfunSTUDIO is available for download at Panasonic website using computer connected to the Internet./http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/soft/download/d_pfs10ae.html (For Windows)/・ The software to process RAW file on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, SILKYPIX Developer Studio is available for download at Ichikawa Soft Laboratory"s website using computer connected to the Internet./http://www.isl.co.jp/SILKYPIX/english/p/ (For Windows / Mac)

Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, USB Cable, Hand Strap/・ Operating Instructions for advanced features is available for downloaded at Panasonic LUMIX Customer Support Site using PC, smartphone or tablet connected to the Internet.

- When using an SDHC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.

You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ95 (also know as the ZS80) is a new travel-zoom compact camera with a 30x optical zoom, 20.3 megapixel resolution, 3.0-inch tiltable rear monitor, new high-resolution viewfinder, RAW format shooting and manual controls, and built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ95 / ZS80 will be available from the end of April 2019 in two colour versions (black and black & silver). The recommended retail price is £399.99 (UK) / €449.99 (Ireland) / $449.99 (US).

Frankfurt, Germany – 18 February 2019 – Capture subjects near, far and in between with the latest addition to Panasonic’s popular TZ - Travel Zoom - series. Boasting a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR 30x optical zoom lens, this versatile pocket-friendly camera is the ideal travel companion. With its 20.3-megapixel high-resolution sensor, 4K Photo & Video, high-speed burst shooting and a range of other fantastic features, the TZ95 helps you to remember all of life’s incredible moments. A tiltable rear monitor, and a brand new high-resolution LVF (Live View Finder) also make it easier than ever to get the shot you want, every time.

* The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lenses are manufactured using measurement instruments and quality assurance systems that have been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company"s quality standards.

A 24mm (equivalent) ultra wide-angle LEICA lens is ideal for landscape photography, but with the 30x optical zoom you’ll be able to reach as far as 720mm (equivalent). Power O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer) keeps your shots sharp by compensating for handshake even when shooting at long focal lengths. The Zoom Compose Assist function helps keep track of your subjects by quickly zooming out – handy when they move out of frame.

Utilizing the 0.21-inch 2,330k-dot equivalent Live View Finder (LVF) or the big 3.0-inch 1040k-dot static touch type control monitor, it is easy to frame every shot, even in bright, sunny conditions. The monitor tilts up to 180 degrees – perfect for selfies. Use the 22 digital filter options, which can also be applied to panoramic images, to complete your creativity.

With 4K Photo, it’s never been easier to capture the moment. Utilising this exciting technology, you can record fleeting moments at 30 frames per second, extracting the best shot later as an 8 megapixel JPEG.

Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity mean sharing your experiences with family and friends is simple. With BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), your images can be automatically transferred to your smartphone or tablet ready to upload to social networking sites. GPS tagging also ensures you never forget those special travel locations. What’s more, once the TZ95 is connected to your smartphone or tablet, you can shoot remotely – ideal for group selfies and holiday shots.

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ95 will be available from the end of April 2019 in two colour versions (black and black & silver). The recommended retail price is £399.99 (UK) / €449.99 (Ireland).

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We"ve provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Panasonic ZS35 is Panasonic"s Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera initially announced on January of 2014. It uses a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 4608 x 3456. It is also known as "Lumix DMC-TZ55" in some markets.

Panasonic introduced this model as a way to upgrade the previous Panasonic ZS30 (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently launched the updated Panasonic ZS40 (Read Full Comparison) to upgrade this model.

The ZS35 comes in at #70 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all around #548 out of 1453 for cameras in our collection. You can try out our

The picture underneath displays the ZS35"s sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The ZS35 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is shown in green.

Panasonic ZS35 has a weight of 0.67 lbs (305 gr / 10.76 ounces) and features outer measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 32mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Panasonic ZS35 is lighter compared to its competitors.

The ZS35 is equipped with a built-in lens giving a focal range of 24-480mm giving it a 20.0 x zoom which is amazing and will allow you to zoom all the way in.

Cameras that contain NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to transfer files and oftentimes adjust camera settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

A few apps also enable a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren"t near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it can be connected to an external display. A lot of cameras enable you to recharge the battery through the USB port.

The highest video resolution on the Panasonic ZS35 is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in MPEG-4 file format. 1080p resolution offers a decent balance in video quality and file size but FULL HD is not going to leave you with much room to downsample. The body doesn"t include a mic or headphone port so you have got zero control over your audio. It is perhaps best to look at a different model should you need decent audio in your videos.

Panasonic ZS35 includes only Contrast Detect AF and is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more faster & accurate compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera bo