Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 Compact Digital Camera (25-250 mm, 10x Optical Zoom, F2.8-5.9 Leica Lens) - 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 QualityIf 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 QualityIn 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 modesIf 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 LapseIt'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 processingThe 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.UsabilityThe 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.ConclusionThere'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