Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 (ZS60) review – Introduction
In 2006, Panasonic created what is now routinely referred to as the travel-zoom compact, with the release of the Lumix DMC-TZ1. At the time, this was the world’s smallest compact with a stabilised 10x optical zoom. Ten years on and the Lumix TZ range remains hugely popular. This year sees the addition of two new models to the range: the flagship TZ100, at £550, comes equipped with a 1in sensor and a 10x optical zoom, while the TZ80 is fitted with a 1/2.3in sensor and a 30x optical zoom. On paper, the TZ100 should give superior images and represent a better long-term investment for more advanced photographers. We’ll address that particular concern in our conclusion, but for now, let’s take a closer look at the TZ80.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 review – Features
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 – Front
The Lumix DMC-TZ80 is built around a 1/2.3in High Sensitivity MOS sensor with 18.1 million pixels of effective resolution. Panasonic claims this new sensor offers better performance at higher sensitivity settings than the 12.1-million-pixel sensor fitted to the TZ70. Panasonic’s latest Venus Engine image processor provides a fairly significant boost to processing speeds, which in turn enables the TZ80 to offer a new 40fps Super High burst mode. This is supported by High (10fps), Medium (5fps) and Low (2fps) options – all of which lock focus on the first frame. Should you want the autofocus to remain active during burst shooting, the TZ80’s maximum speed is 5fps.
The new Venus Engine processor also helps to facilitate the TZ80’s headline-stealing new feature: 4K video capture at 25fps. In addition to 4K, the TZ80 also provides 1080p full HD (50/25fps), 720p HD (25fps) and VGA (25fps) video-recording options.
As with many other recent 4K-capable Lumix cameras, the TZ80 also features Panasonic’s proprietary 4K Photo mode that enables 8-million-pixel still images to be extracted from 4K footage in a variety of useful ways. Panasonic has also included its relatively new Post Focus technology that lets you select the point of focus in an image after it has been captured. This is undoubtedly novel and fun to play with, but it’s a bit gimmicky and certainly no game-changer.
Native sensitivity ranges from ISO 80 to ISO 3,200, with an extended setting of ISO 6,400. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000sec using the mechanical shutter, or 1/16000sec when the new electronic shutter is employed. On the front, the 30x Leica DC Vario-Elmar optical zoom remains unchanged from the TZ70, providing a 24-720mm equivalent range with a maximum aperture of f/3.3-6.3. Panasonic’s excellent 5-axis hybrid OIS image-stabilisation helps you to get sharper images.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 review – Build and handling
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 – Top panel
In terms of overall dimensions and weight, the TZ80 is virtually identical to the TZ70. The only noticeable difference is in the design of the textured finger grip, which is now slightly more pronounced. The majority of the camera is fashioned from polycarbonate, although the top-plate and lens barrels are both made of metal. While this combination doesn’t quite scream premium, it doesn’t feel cheap, either.
On the back of the camera, the 3in 1.04-million-dot LCD display and 0.2in 1.6-million-dot EVF both carry over from the TZ70. One major update is that the LCD now offers a degree of touchscreen control over the camera. On the whole, this benefits handling; it speeds things up when setting the focus point, browsing the menu, changing settings via the quick menu. However, while shooting with the camera at eye level in selective 1-area AF, the active focus point is prone to jumping around the screen as your nose inadvertently touches the screen. The EVF, despite being rather small, remains a useful feature that helps out in bright sunlight and also lets you focus on the composition of your image, free from any peripheral distractions.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 – Back
The majority of the TZ80’s buttons are grouped together on the back of the camera just to the right of the touchscreen. Despite being relatively plentiful, they are also quite well spaced, which minimises the risk of accidental button presses. There are four physical function (Fn) buttons dotted around the camera, with a further three available via the touchscreen. However, those with larger fingers may find the touch-sensitive icons on the right-hand side of the display a bit fiddly to select as they are very small.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 review – Performance
A few days after Storm Imogen and the north Cornwall coast basks in sunlight once again. Set to ISO 80 and captured with the iAuto exposure mode, the TZ80 has produced a pleasing image. 24mm, 1/500sec, at f/3.3, ISO 80
Focusing is taken care of via Panasonic’s Light Speed AF and Depth from Defocus (DFD) technologies, with a claimed focus acquisition time of just 0.1sec. In good light, the focus-lock ‘beep’ sounds the instant the shutter button is pressed halfway, but when light levels drop, the TZ80’s AF performance does become noticeably slower. In this case the built-in AF Assist light becomes essential.
The new Venus Engine image processor makes fairly light work of processing full-resolution JPEGs. With a SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC Class 10 UHS-1 card, shooting full-resolution JPEG or raw images in single-shot drive mode, there was no apparent upper limit on the number of consecutive images the TZ80 could record. Switching to 10fps mode, we were able to record approximately 50 consecutive full-resolution JPEGs before experiencing any slowdown. In raw this dropped to 14 consecutive frames, while in raw+JPEG fine the camera began to slow after 12 consecutive frames.
The TZ80 has done a good job in this image of the sun reflecting off a row of white houses that overlook Bocastle Harbour, Cornwall. 27mm, 1/800sec at f/6.3, ISO 100
Overall, we’d have to say that processing speeds of the TZ80 are pretty impressive, and most users are unlikely to experience any issues in day-to-day use. Meanwhile, the zoom travelled through its full range in a fraction under 3secs. Using the control wheel around the base of the lens to zoom slows things down considerably, but it feels much more precise.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 review – Test results
Resolution
The TZ80 has a clear advantage over the older Lumix TZ70 in terms of resolution. At ISO 100 the TZ80’s JPEGs resolve 2,800l/ph, which improves considerably over the TZ70’s previous 2,200l/ph readout. Shooting in raw sees finer detail resolved in the TZ80’s images, but JPEG detail holds up well at ISO 800. Push past this point and detail gradually starts to deteriorate.
JPEG ISO 80
JPEG ISO 200
JPEG ISO 800
JPEG ISO 1,600
JPEG ISO 3,200
JPEG ISO 6,400
Dynamic range
The TZ80’s dynamic range performs typically for a camera with a 1/2.3in sensor. At ISO 80, our Applied Imaging tests tell us it produces a 12.1EV maximum, which begins to drop as the sensitivity is increased. At ISO 800 the dynamic range drops to 8.3EV and by the time you reach ISO 6,400 it’s down at 5.5EV, which is a slightly lower figure than recorded by the TZ70.
Noise
Users of the Lumix TZ80 will want to set the camera to shoot in raw for the best noise response. Under close inspection, luminance noise starts to make its presence known early at ISO 400 and becomes much more obvious when you push to ISO 800 and ISO 1,600. Fine detail is compromised severely at ISO 3,200 by noise. Users can produce usable images at ISO 1,600 but are advised to stay clear of higher settings.
JPEG ISO 80
JPEG ISO 200
JPEG ISO 400
JPEG ISO 1,600
JPEG ISO 3,200
JPEG ISO 6,400
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 (ZS60) review – Our verdict
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80 – Front left
There’s plenty to like about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80. It’s a generously featured and highly flexible compact that ticks all the relevant ‘travel camera’ boxes. It also benefits from a number of key upgrades over its predecessor, especially in terms of its video-recording abilities and speedier image processing. The addition of Panasonic’s innovative 4K Photo mode provides a range of useful shooting modes that will undoubtedly help photographers get exactly the shot they want, albeit at reduced resolution.
The TZ80 captured a pleasingly vibrant image of this fishing boat along with good levels of contrast. 720mm, 1/800sec at f/6.4, ISO 200
Despite its inherent flexibility and generous feature set, the TZ80 is sadly not immune from the same image-quality issues that affect many other compact cameras with 1/2.3in sensors. While image quality can be very good in plentiful and even light, the limited dynamic range of the TZ80 more often than not produces images with blown highlights when faced with high-contrast scenes.
Automatic white balance metering isn’t quite as consistent as we’d like, either. Even with the new sensor, the TZ80 can struggle when pushed beyond ISO 800. This manifests itself not only as increased noise, but also in the loss of fine detail and colour saturation.
At the outset of this review, we mentioned that the TZ80 is one of two new additions to the TZ range, the other being the premium TZ100. For those seeking pure image quality, the larger 1in sensor of the TZ100 probably represents a better investment in the long run as the limitations of the TZ80’s smaller sensor do become noticeable in certain situations. That said, for those seeking all-round flexibility, the extended zoom, generous feature set and lower price of the TZ80 may well be more attractive.
