Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

19th June 2007

Written by Gordon Laing

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 gallery

The following images were taken with the Panasonic Lumix TZ1. The quality mode was set to 5M Fine, to capture the full 5 Megapixel resolution with the least JPEG compression. White balance was set to Auto, Metering to Multiple and Picture Adjustment to Natural. The individual exposure mode, file sizes, shutter speeds, aperture, ISO and lens focal length are listed for each image.

The crops are taken from the original files, reproduced at 100% and saved in Adobe Photoshop CS2 as JPEGs with the default Very High quality preset, while the resized images were made in Photoshop CS2 and saved with the default High quality preset. The three crops are typically taken from far left, central and far right portions of each image.

Landscape: 2.33MB, Normal, 1/400, f6.3, ISO 80, 5.2-52mm at 17mm (equivalent to 114mm)

Harbour: 2.32MB, Normal, 1/800, f2.8, ISO 80, 5.2-52mm at 5.2mm (equivalent to 35mm)

				This harbour shot was taken with the TZ1 zoomed-out to its widest angle. The TZ1 has just two aperture settings at any focal length, but unusually given the high brightness here, it opted for the wide open aperture. That said, there’s still a good depth of field and reasonable sharpness throughout the image. The middle crop does reveal a little noise though, which is a concern considering the sensitivity was set to its lowest 80 ISO.

Portrait: 2.18MB, Normal, 1/500, f3.9, ISO 80, 5.2-52mm at 14mm (equivalent to 94mm)

				Zoom-in a little and it’s possible to take good-looking portraits with the TZ1. Here it’s selected the widest aperture setting at this particular focal length, which in turn has produced a slightly blurred background. If you want it more blurred though, you’ll need to stand further back and zoom-in. The crops from the subject are sharp, although ultimate detail has become slightly smeared when viewed at 100%.

Macro: 2.06MB, Macro mode, 1/100, f2.8, ISO 80, 5.2-52mm at 5.2mm (equivalent to 35mm)

Switch the TZ1 to Macro mode and you can get as close as 5cm from your subject.

At this distance you can capture great-looking macro shots with a good depth of field, even with the aperture wide open.

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 at 5.2mm f2.8 left crop

The crops are sharp and detailed, although again some noise is visible even at 80 ISO.

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 at 5.2mm f2.8 middle crop

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 at 5.2mm f2.8 upper right crop

Wildlife: 1.84MB, Snow preset, 1/640, f7.1, ISO 80, 5.2-52mm at 52mm (equivalent to 350mm)

This shot of a Kea alpine parrot illustrates the flexibility of having a 10x optical zoom in your pocket.

The bird made a fleeting appearance with passers-by reaching for their compacts.

With typical 5x or 3x zooms, the bird would only be half or one third the size it is here, but the TZ1’s 10x optical zoom allowed us to almost fill the frame with it.

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 at 52mm f7.1 lower left crop

The optical image stabilisation (and fast shutter in auto) also ensured camera shake wasn’t a problem.

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 at 52mm f7.1 middle crop

Panasonic DMC-TZ1 at 52mm f7.1 right crop

Action: 2.28MB, Snow preset, 1/640, f7.1, ISO 80, 5.2-52mm at 52mm (equivalent to 350mm)

This shot taken from a moving chair lift again illustrates the opportunities available when you have a 10x zoom at your disposal.

While passing over snow-boarders practising jumps, we grabbed the TZ1 from a pocket, zoomed-it all the way in and snapped this picture in a matter of seconds.

Again the subject would have been tiny on an average compact, and while no challenge to a superzoom or SLR with a long lens, few would carry either to a ski slope.