LUMIX DMC-TZ100EBS Digital Travel Camera DMC-TZ100EB - Silver

The TZ100 combines a 'large' 1 inch type sensor with a 10x zoom in a truly compact package. The larger sensor means potentially higher quality images, particularly in poor light. The premium price reflects there are no immediate competitors to this camera as at April 2016 - Sony's RX100 series provides limited zoom while other 1 inch type cameras with longer zooms are more bulky / styled on DSLRS. Here I'll focus on the essential areas of stills and video quality and consider the addition this year of the '4k photo' modes. There are many other features built into the TZ100 - Please feel free to ask questions and I'll answer them through July 2016. Still Image Quality If you haven't used a compact camera with a 'large' sensor before, you're in for a treat. In normal conditions detail is a step up from an average compact, and when light is fading the increased quality is even more pronounced. Pictures taken in intelligent automatic mode can be relied on for accurate exposure and you'll be happy with the TZ100 as a do-it-all travel camera. If you like to take more control there are individual options for saturation/sharpness/contrast/noise reduction as well as various colour profiles, including the travel-friendly 'vivid' to give your pictures some pop! Images are natively 20 megapixels in 3:2 ratio though smaller sizes and 4:3/16:9/1:1 ratios are also available. The lens is reasonably bright at wide angle (f2.8) but quickly slows to the small apertures as found on (cheaper) super zooms including Panasonic's own TZ80. There is definitely less detail found in images taken at the long end of the zoom but that is expected. Compared with images taken on my Sony RX100 mark 2 the TZ100 holds up very well, though on close inspection images are not quite as sharp and the corners are a little soft. This is only really an issue for pixel peepers and is likely a natural compromise in providing the 10x zoom range. If you already own an RX100 series camera and are considering a direct swap for the TZ100 you'll likely be happy with it in normal lighting conditions but bear in mind it can't match the f1.8 aperture of the Sonys. Video Quality In full HD mode, 1080p50 videos benefit from 5 axis stabilisation and the light-gathering abilities of the larger sensor. You'll also be pleased with the output in low light and for a travel camera you can't ask for more. I'd be happy taking the TZ100 with me on my travels and enjoying its excellent full HD video quality on my return. The TZ100 also offers 4k video at 24fps and 25fps. This is a headline feature with 4k video offering 4x the resolution of full HD. One compromise in this mode is that the TZ100 takes a crop from the centre of the sensor, so be aware you instantly lose the wide angle (approx 26mm equivalent) offered by the other video modes. In 4k the 'wide angle' is 37mm equivalent. In practice I haven't found this as limiting as I expected but its something to be aware of. A second compromise is that 5 axis stabilisation is not available in 4k recording, though normal optical stabilisation is. It's still a decent system but you're likely to notice some wobble at the long end of the zoom. 4k video requires approximately 12.5 megabytes of storage per second (100mbps) so buy a couple of large SDXC cards if you'll be using it a lot. The TZ100 manual suggests the use of cards with UHS speed class 3 for 4k video and 4k photo functions to work as expected. The maximum clip length in 4k mode is 15 minutes and the camera becomes slightly warm. The TZ100 also offers one high-speed video mode which is full HD at 100 frames per second. No stabilisation is available at all in this mode and no audio is recorded. The zoom is also locked as soon as you start recording. This is a fun option for producing slomo video as long as the camera is reasonably still. 4k Photo modes If you really need to 'get that shot' and often photograph moving people / pets / objects, 4k photo is for you! It's essentially a way of taking a very rapid burst of still images (at 30 frames per second) then choosing individual images to save. Panasonic is using the term 4k because these modes use the 4k video abilities of the camera to allow you to save individual frames as 8 megapixel images. This is a very clever feature and being able to select frames using a touchscreen slider makes the whole process very easy. There are various 4k photo modes available and they all boil down to being able to pick the best shots from a sequence to be your 'keepers'. This is a selling point for this camera if you'll benefit from good quality 8 megapixel stills taken from action sequences! Time Lapse It's nice to have a decent time lapse function built into the TZ100. I tested it by setting the mode to take a picture every 15 seconds for 120 frames. This covered a 30 minute sunset. When complete you are asked if you'd like to create a video from the stills. This includes a 4k option at 25fps. It took around 2 minutes for the camera to generate a 5 second video clip. Many of us will rarely 'need' a time lapse option but it's nice to know it's there! RAW processing The TZ100 allows you to shoot RAW images alongside the usual jpegs if you like. Even better, you can select a raw file and apply filter effects etc after the fact in order to save a new jpeg in-camera. This could save you needing to process your pictures on a PC as long as you don't require any technical changes such as geometry correction. As the camera is so new to market it's difficult to know if its jpegs are making the best use of the RAW data being captured - There will doubtless be firmware updates in the coming months and you might like to shoot raw+jpeg at first and run your own comparisons. Usability The TZ100 is chunky for a compact camera. Compared to my other travel zoom, the Sony HX90v which has a 30x zoom, it's significantly larger. Have a look at online comparisons if you're concerned the size will limit its appeal. The 'grip' on the front of the unit is untextured and is of limited use, but at least it's there. The viewfinder is small but works well and I had no issues despite wearing glasses. The touchscreen works as expected and is very well implemented to assist with features such as selecting images in 4k photo mode. I've got used to tilt screens on my other cameras and I miss this on the TZ100 - Something for the 2017 upgrade perhaps? This year Panasonic is finally using standard micro USB charging so there's no need to take yet another cable on holiday - About time! The onboard WiFi works well with the Panasonic image app on my Android phone and allows both image transfer and remote functionality. I would have liked to see NFC on board as I can just tap my other cameras against my phone to establish a connection - The TZ100 is a step backwards in this regard. Battery life seems perfectly acceptable and using 4k video doesn't appear to drain it unduly. Third party compatible batteries should work fine - I purchased an expro compatible from Amazon for under 10 pounds and have had no issues with it so far. Conclusion There's a lot to like about the TZ100. If video is a priority you'll find the 4k quality from such a compact camera compelling. Still images are a step up from smaller-sensor compacts and this is particularly noticeable as light levels fall-Just don't expect the super-sharpness of Sony's RX100 series. The 4k photo modes are brilliant for capturing stills from fast action sequences and there are lots of additional built in features including time lapse and stop motion. If you'll use this mix of cutting edge features and appreciate the benefits of the 'large' sensor I think you'll be very happy with the TZ100 - Otherwise there are plenty of smaller, cheaper travel zooms out there for Summer 2016, including Panasonic's own TZ80. The TZ100 is currently unique in offering a 10x zoom, 1 inch sensor combination in a compact package and is capable of producing very good stills and excellent video. A five star product!

The camera was purchased to use on walking holidays, often involving steep ascents, where the weight of a DLSR was becoming a consideration.I wanted a quality compact camera with a reasonable zoom lens and a viewfinder. My current TZ40 does not have that facility and can be difficult to use in certain lights. After careful consideration and looking at the TZ90 and LS100 I chose the TZ100. I have used it on walks in London and local countryside, the results have come up to expectation and at the IAAF Para games exceeded them. In this instance the results were mainly sharp and could be cropped and enlarged by 4x before any significant lack of quality. Local walks have enabled me to use the macro setting for close up shots of flowers and butterflies all have come out well as have views etc. The zoom is easy to use and much smoother than my other compacts, the outer ring makes changing setting easy along with the rear wheel control. Being use to the Lumix series I found the menu comprehensive and user friendly. Overall the results in terms of quality are excellent especially using RAW files. A reasonable start up time adds to the convenience as does having the ability to use a proper neck strap. Overall an excellent camera, light in weight yet heavy on quality. I did initially want a moveable rear screen and longer zoom but quickly appreciated the ease of use of the shorter zoom and higher aperture. However I do have some criticisms, the viewfinder is small and the dioptre wheel is easy to move, I wear glasses and have to adjust the setting more than I would like, it is also possible to change the function setting so that the viewfinder does not automatically come into use as the function switch is near to the dioptre wheel.These are minor criticisms and with use will be overcome. My main concern is the lack of a comprehensive manual either on line or disc. This is a very sophisticated camera with a wide range of useful facilities adding to both the enjoyment of use and ability to customise the settings. The lack of a manual caused me to contact Panasonic, very helpful, when I could not fire the flash having put the camera in silent mode. A further problem occurred when trying to use digital zoom when shooting in RAW I have had to purchase an on line book which had helped. However I am delighted with my purchase and look forward to using it later in the year on a walking holiday in the mountains of Italy

I bought this camera after much research mainly because I wanted quality video out of a device that I could fit in my pocket. I have been using Canon Ixus cameras up to now, which though pretty good have all had limitations on their quality, especially in low light. Ok so its a bit bigger than an Ixus, but therein lies the compromise - to get a 1" sensor you have to accept a bigger camera. It will fit into a jeans pocket, but not as comfortably. And the video quality? I am blown away by what is capable of - amazing quality from such a small camera. And not only that, it allows full manual control when needed, perfect for difficult lighting conditions such as stage lighting. It is comparable to DSLR quality and has amazing low light performance. Autofocus is the best I have experienced. The stills are good too - it can do around 6 frames per second if required, no shutter button lag, it does make me wonder if I need a DSLR any more? But I have only given it 4 stars - it looses a point for the audio quality. For a camera that gets everything else so right, the audio is not great - an external mic is required if sound quality is important to you, but you have to synch it up later on when editing. Not unusual for camera like this, but my Canon SX620, a cheaper, smaller camera, has much better sound out of its on-board mic than the Panasonic.

Camera was dirty, scratched, dented to the point that it looked as if it had been dropped (Bent case). Returned immediately.

I've had this for a couple of years now and it's been a disappointment. It takes good clear pictures of reasonably close subjects, and with a bit of messing around with the focus, close-ups. But the zoom focus is poor. I've not, for example, been able to get any decent pictures of the moon, or wildlife over 150 yards away. Also the battery looses charge when the camera is not being used. So even if it's put away fully charged, it can be completely empty a couple of months later.

The most important thing about a camera is image quality. After 4 months & several thousand shots I cannot say that I have one outstanding picture. Plenty of good pictures, but too many disappointments, and despite all the features of the camera, too many shots that have to be 'improved' on the computer. The very first outing on a bright sunny winter's afternoon my shot of Edinburgh Christmas Market was outshone by my son's on his old mobile phone. I almost sent the camera back there and then, but I looked at Which & it does not give any camera in its class 5 Stars for image quality (apart from a Canon £100 dearer). Pictures lack vibrancy - photographing a rhododendron bush with spectacular red blooms with various settings, every one was dull. A village photographed across a valley just did not stand out as it did in real life. I'll tell you what I like shortly, but it is also far too easy to touch the screen or buttons at the back & unknowingly change the settings. Since you don't know what you've done, it can be a challenge resetting it - I've had to find out how to reset to factory default more than once. The manuals are dreadful - TZ80 & TZ100 are mixed together & it is totally confusing & totally unnecessary since they are only on-line. The basic manual does not mention flash at all. If you want to use fill-in flash you have to create a custom setting. It has a backlight filter setting which is quite good, but it increases the exposure &/or the ISO setting giving you handheld shots at say 1/30 which can never be sharp. It has a predilection for F2.8 to F3.8, and even with aperture priority you cannot get more than f8, so depth of field suffers - it does not like bunches of flowers. What do I like? I bought it for its large sensor, good low-light ability and a filter that is very good for photographing faded hand-written documents in archives where you cannot use flash. By the way, the battery is very expensive. Buy a cheap less powerful one as a back-up for those occasional times you use up the main battery This is not a bad camera, but it is not a good one either. Panasonic need to look at phone technology I reckon and they might be able to make a good camera next time

This camera has proven to be a go to camera, for years I have used SLRs, Medium Format, DSLRs and mirrorless cameras but now I want something that I can chuck in my pocket and go anywhere, I still have a great full frame camera but this spends more time with me, the 1” sensor gives high quality prints even up to A3+, the controls can be a bit fiddly but once you’ve worked them out they do work well, even the automatic settings provide me with some stunning results. A big plus for me is that it takes in RAW as well as jpeg or both together the lens equivalent of 24-250mm means I grab anything from landscape to wildlife though for the latter I would have preferred a bit longer say 400mm. The lens is great quality and produces sharp pictures with a good bokeh when required, I have also managed to take some very good infrared shots using I.R filters (I have found a good magnetic filter holder system) and the use of a circular polariser, ND and colour filters means I can do with this what I could do with DSLRs albeit in a smaller frame. The camera is quite solidly built and feels firm in the hand, I would have liked a bit more of a grip for a more secure feel, maybe aftermarket ones will appear. Another feature that is useful is the post capture focus selection which allows you to select your preferred focus point, I use the screen view for most of my captures but the EVF comes into its own on bright contrasty situations, it’s sharp, clear and diopter adjustable the same as any DSLR, the 4K video function allows frame capture providing 8 meg stills so this really is an all round camera. If you travel a lot or like me need something to stick in your pocket when your out and about, then this is the best camera I have found that does that job.

Fantastic little camera with full manual controls and great RAW image quality and awesome video. Impressive low light performance for such a small lens and sensor, pulling up the shadows on RAW files was really impressive and easily comparable to my DSLR. The Leica optics are fantastic and the stabilisation works wonders even zoomed in given great sharpness. The menu system was initially daunting as a Nikon user but I quickly became accustomed with it and now honestly prefer the LUMIX system. The manual and auto focus all works great. The only problem I have experienced with the camera is the touch focus point selection as when using the viewfinder I often found my nose would touch the screen and change the focus point. Other than that it is decently ergonomic and the EVF is really good, it was nice to be able to switch from screen to viewfinder to suit what I needed. Depth of field is very deep given it is a small sensor camera but that wasn't an issue for me as a predominantly landscape photographer. I bought this for travelling in South East Asia and it really delivered. Small enough to fairly comfortable fit in a pocket and very low key, you would have no idea how good this is just looking at it - much less overt than a DSLR but still packing serious punch. Had no issues with heat or humidity, survived a few showers too! Great build quality as it also survived a drop onto stone from a couple of feet with only slight panel damage. All round great!