Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 Panasonic - Review 🏆

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 is a premium compact camera that packs an impressive amount of features into a pocket-sized body. This versatile camera is geared towards photography enthusiasts who want high image quality and advanced controls in a portable form factor.

Some of the main features of the Lumix DMC-TZ100 include:

• 20.1MP 1-inch High Sensitivity MOS sensor for excellent image quality
• 10x (25-250mm) LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR f/2.8-5.9 zoom lens with versatile focal range
• 4K video recording and 4K Photo modes
• Touchscreen LCD for easy operation
• Built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF)
• Full manual controls and RAW shooting capability
• Fast autofocus and shooting speeds
• Built-in WiFi and NFC for wireless image transfer and remote control

With its combination of robust photographic capabilities, travel-friendly size, and intuitive handling, the TZ100 is aimed at photographers who want DSLR-like controls and quality without the bulk. Its versatile zoom lens, high resolution sensor, and array of features make it a great all-around camera for everything from landscapes and portraits to vacations and everyday use.

Design

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 has a sleek and stylish design that makes it easy to carry around. Despite its small size, it still packs a large 1-inch sensor inside.

The camera body is made of metal and is available in two colors - black or silver. It measures 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.7 inches and weighs just over half a pound at 10.6 ounces. The smooth metal finish gives it a premium look and feel.

The simple layout includes a mode dial on top along with a power button, shutter release, zoom toggle, and video record button. There's a thumb grip on back to help keep the camera steady when shooting. Overall, the TZ100 has a slim but ergonomic design perfect for traveling and everyday use.

The compact size means it can fit in a pocket or small bag, making it highly portable. But the solid metal build still makes it feel sturdy and durable. The lightweight body won't add much bulk or weight when carried around. Overall, the design balances portability and functionality for a versatile point-and-shoot camera.

In contrast, the Panasonic Lumix DC-G90 offers a more advanced design suited for enthusiasts. This mirrorless camera features a robust build and a larger Micro Four Thirds sensor that enhances image quality and versatility. The ergonomic grip and customizable controls allow for a personalized shooting experience, perfect for those who value both style and functionality. Its compact form makes it a great option for both casual and professional photographers on the go.

Image Quality

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 features a 1-inch 20.1MP High Sensitivity MOS sensor paired with the Venus Engine image processor. This combination allows the TZ100 to capture crisp, detailed images with excellent dynamic range.

The 1-inch sensor is quite large for a compact camera, providing superior light gathering compared to smaller sensors. This allows for cleaner images with lower noise, especially when shooting in low light conditions. 20.1 megapixels strikes a good balance between resolution and noise performance.

The Venus Engine provides fast processing speeds and intelligent noise reduction. Images have natural looking fine details and pleasing colors straight from the camera. The processor enables the TZ100 to shoot continuously at 10 frames per second, capturing fast action shots.

Overall, the image quality from the TZ100's 1-inch sensor and Venus Engine delivers DSLR-like results in a compact body. The sensor size allows for shallow depth of field effects not typically possible in a point-and-shoot camera. Images have outstanding sharpness and dynamic range even when shooting RAW or JPEG.

Additionally, the Panasonic LUMIX GX9 + 12-32mm Lens offers a versatile imaging experience with its Micro Four Thirds sensor and interchangeable lens system. The GX9 allows photographers to experiment with different lenses, including the compact 12-32mm lens that provides excellent portability without compromising image quality. The camera features in-body image stabilization, making it easier to capture sharp images in various lighting conditions.

Zoom Lens

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 has a versatile 10x optical zoom lens that covers a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 25-250mm. This provides a lot of flexibility when composing shots, allowing you to easily zoom from wide angle landscapes to mid-telephoto distances.

The lens has a fast maximum aperture range of f/2.8-5.9 across the zoom range. This provides the ability to isolate your subject and blur backgrounds when shooting at the wider end. The f/2.8 maximum aperture at 25mm is particularly impressive for a compact camera.

Optical image stabilization is also built into the lens, which helps reduce blur caused by camera shake when shooting at slower shutter speeds or long focal lengths. This allows you to shoot handheld in low light situations without needing to bump up the ISO speed too high. Overall, the 10x zoom lens provides an excellent balance of zoom versatility, speed, and optical stabilization.

Focusing

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 has a fast and accurate autofocus system. It uses contrast detection autofocus with 49 areas and has Depth from Defocus (DFD) technology for faster focusing.

For autofocus modes, it has Face/Eye Detection, Tracking, 49-Area, Custom Multi, 1-Area, and Pinpoint. Face/Eye Detection works very well for photographing people. It can detect and focus on human faces, eyes, and bodies. The tracking mode also does a good job following moving subjects and maintaining focus.

The 49-Area mode is useful for general purpose shooting, automatically selecting focus areas across the frame. The Custom Multi mode allows you to specify a group of focus areas. 1-Area gives precise control over a single focus area. Pinpoint mode allows precise focus on a tiny part of the frame. Overall, the TZ100 gives you a good degree of control over autofocus.

Video Recording

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 excels when it comes to video recording capabilities. It can shoot 4K video at 30fps and Full HD video at up to 60fps. The 4K video is recorded in the high quality MP4 format with H.264 compression. This allows for great looking 4K footage that isn't too large in file size.

The TZ100 also has advanced video features like manual exposure controls, focus peaking, and mic and headphone ports. You can really dial in the video quality with the amount of control this camera offers. Some other highlights of the video features include 5-axis hybrid O.I.S stabilization for smooth handheld footage and 4K photo mode to extract high resolution stills from the 4K video.

Overall, the video capabilities of the TZ100 make it a great choice as an all-in-one camera for stills and video. The 4K resolution and Full HD 60fps frame rates give you a lot of flexibility when it comes to capturing motion.

Connectivity

The Lumix DMC-TZ100 offers excellent connectivity options. It has both Wi-Fi and NFC wireless capabilities, allowing you to transfer images wirelessly to smartphones and tablets. Connecting to your device is quick and easy with NFC - just tap the camera to your NFC-enabled phone or tablet and it will pair automatically.

The camera also has Bluetooth built-in, providing a constant connection to your smartphone. This allows you to embed GPS location data into your images, remotely wake the camera, and transfer photos automatically even when the camera is off.

For wired connections, the TZ100 has both micro HDMI and USB ports. The micro HDMI allows you to connect the camera directly to an HDTV to view photos and videos on the big screen. The USB port can be used for charging and data transfer.

Overall, the connectivity options on the Lumix DMC-TZ100 are versatile. The wireless capabilities make transferring images seamless, while the wired connections provide alternative options for viewing, charging, and data transfer.

Display

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 has a 3.0-inch LCD touchscreen display with 1,040K dots resolution. This provides a sharp, vivid image when composing shots or reviewing photos and videos. The display is also a touchscreen, allowing you to navigate menus and settings by tapping icons or swiping through options.

Touch focus and touch shutter functions allow you to simply tap on the screen where you want to focus or trigger the shutter. The touchscreen makes operation quick and intuitive. Whether you're a beginner or a more advanced photographer, the combination of a high resolution LCD plus touch controls makes the TZ100 easy and enjoyable to use.

Overall, the display is a standout feature on this camera. The resolution delivers a crisp, detailed image and the touch capabilities allow for simple, intuitive control. It's bright enough for outdoor use and angles downwards for easy framing of shots even from high or low positions.

Battery Life

The Lumix DMC-TZ100 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides enough power for around 300 shots per charge, according to CIPA standards. This is decent battery life for a travel zoom camera.

In real world use, the battery should last a full day of normal tourist photography. The camera has various power saving modes to help extend battery life if needed. For example, there is an eco mode that disables the LCD screen after a short period of inactivity.

The battery can be charged in-camera via USB, which is very convenient when traveling. This allows you to top up the battery using a laptop, portable power bank, or car charger. Overall, the battery life is sufficient for a travel camera of this type. Just be sure to pack the USB charger when going on longer trips or if planning to shoot a lot of photos and video in one day.

Conclusion

Overall, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 is an impressive compact camera that packs a 1-inch sensor and 10x zoom lens into a pocketable body.

Some of the key pros of this camera include:

• Large 1-inch sensor delivers excellent image quality for a compact camera
• 10x zoom lens provides a very versatile focal range equivalent to 25-250mm
• Fast autofocus and shooting speeds allow capturing fast action
• 4K video and 4K photo modes provide ultra high-resolution imaging options
• Touchscreen LCD makes operation intuitive
• Built-in electronic viewfinder is useful in bright sunlight

However, there are some downsides to consider:

• The aperture is relatively slow, especially when zoomed in, which can limit low light performance
• Battery life is mediocre at around 300 shots per charge
• No weather sealing so not suitable for harsh conditions
• There is noticeable distortion at the wide end of the lens

Overall though, the TZ100 punches far above its weight class and produces image quality that rivals that of larger sensor cameras. It's a great choice for travel, landscapes, and general everyday photography. The combination of pocketable size, long zoom range, and high quality 1-inch sensor make the TZ100 stand out from other compacts.