ED’s CHOICE Panasonic Lumix TZ220

THE MOST ADVANCED TRAVEL ZOOM YOU CAN BUY RIGHT NOW.

PANASONIC IS NO stranger to using a large 1-inch sensor in small travel compacts, but where the TZ110 sports a 10x zoom, the company has squeezed a 15x zoom into the new similarly sized TZ220. This versatile 24–360mm Leica lens gives you the ability to capture anything from sweeping landscapes to close-up portraits. With a larger zoom, however, comes the risk of camera shake, but Panasonic’s five-axis Hybrid optical image stabilisation is on hand to reduce unnecessary blur from videos and Power OIS is available for your stills.

The TZ220 boasts Panasonic’s Light Speed AF technology, and we found focus speeds to be pretty snappy throughout the zoom range in good light; the AF system will struggle when light levels are really poor, but this isn’t unique to the TZ220. The camera isn’t really suited to fast-paced action, but its focus tracking will do a solid job for general subjects.

If you’re shooting JPEGs, be prepared for images to display signs of detail smoothing as the camera tries to reduce the effects of noise. RAW files are more pleasing at higher sensitivities — while image noise is present, more detail is retained, and you’ll ultimately get a better result if you’re prepared to process your images.

While the older TZ110 and the new TZ220 are similar in size, Panasonic has made some minor tweaks that go a long way in making the latter camera a better one. A textured strip in the front along with a thumb rest at the back offers a stronger grip on an otherwise aluminium body.

The controls on the TZ220 are straightforward and are grouped in such a way that you can use the camera one-handed if you wish. There is no control wheel at the back, but each button is clearly marked. The Fn3 button provides access the camera’s quick menu, enabling you to adjust common settings such as ISO, metering and white balance without the need to dive into the main menu. The speed of adjustment is helped by the touchscreen interface, as you can tap your desired setting on-screen rather than having to physically select it.

The control ring around the lens facilitates quick adjustments to a variety of settings, depending on the mode you’re in. For instance, if you’re in aperture priority mode, its default setting is to control the lens aperture. If you prefer, though, you can set it to control other settings, including zoom, exposure compensation and white balance.

Our only gripe is the electronic viewfinder on the TZ220. Compared to the TZ110’s 1.17m dot EVF, the TZ220 gets a boost to 2.3m and it’s a little larger at 0.21 inches (compared to the older model’s 0.2 inches). It also offers better magnification at 0.53x, but using the EVF is tight. It sits flush against the back of the camera and is still rather small, although the same can be said about any other travel zoom’s EVF. You’ll find yourself using Live View more, which is good as it boosts the camera’s battery life.

The battery in the TZ220 is rated for 350 shots, or 300 if you use the EVF. The camera also features a new eco30fps mode, which reduces the Live View refresh rate and should see the camera good for around 370 shots (if you’re using the rear LCD) per charge.

And while it’s the most expensive travel camera out there right now, there’s no other snapper in the same class that offers a 15x optical zoom and a 1.0-inch sensor in a compact body.

[ PHIL HALL & SHARMISHTA SARKAR ]

THERE’S NO OTHER SNAPPER IN THE SAME CLASS THAT OFFERS A 15X OPTICAL ZOOM AND A 1.0-INCH SENSOR IN A COMPACT BODY.