CAMERA

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 Travel Zoom Camera Review (Part 2)

7/22/2013 11:39:50 AM

Performance

The additional sample photos and images of the product are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own assessments, photos and product review.

Sample photos

Portrait | 1/60 sec | f/5.0 | 13.3 mm | ISO 500

Portrait | 1/60 sec | f/5.0 | 13.3 mm | ISO 500

Landscape | 1/1300 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Landscape | 1/1300 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Wine Bottle | 1/4 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 640

Wine Bottle | 1/4 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 640

Pet Portrait | 1/60 sec | f/5.4 | 21.8 mm | ISO 400

Pet Portrait | 1/60 sec | f/5.4 | 21.8 mm | ISO 400

HDR | 1/1600 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 400

HDR | 1/1600 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 400

Camera Cake | 1/8 sec | f/5.0 | 12.5 mm | ISO 400

Camera Cake | 1/8 sec | f/5.0 | 12.5 mm | ISO 400

Shots from the TZ40 are colorful and the level of details is also very good. Portraits have beautiful and decent skin tones and there is no sign of red-eye effect. The auto HDR mode combines the images together without needing the support of tripods, helping sharpening the details in the shadows and highlights.

Lens performance

Wide Angle | 1/320 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Wide Angle | 1/320 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Some Optical Zoom | 1/250 sec | f/5.7 | 44.4 mm | ISO 100

Some Optical Zoom | 1/250 sec | f/5.7 | 44.4 mm | ISO 100

Full Optical Zoom | 1/80 sec | f/6.4 | 86.0 mm | ISO 100

Full Optical Zoom | 1/80 sec | f/6.4 | 86.0 mm | ISO 100

Macro | 1/15 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Macro | 1/15 sec | f/3.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

We witness a great level of details in both ends of the lens, although the purple fringing and chromatic aberration is visible in contrast area when you view the pictures at their full sizes. The minimum focus length is 3cm, which allows you to take wonderful macro shots.

ISO noise level

Sample photos with different ISO levels

Sample photos with different ISO levels

The noise is lowest at ISO100 and 200. A very small amount of noise shows itself at ISO400, and there is a slight increase at ISO800, making the images a little bit blur. At ISO level of 1600, the noise level increases and slightly decreases the quality of the images. At ISO3200, the loss of many details is showed, making the images softer.

White balance performance

Under incandescent light

Under incandescent light

Under fluorescent light

Under fluorescent light

The Auto White Balance (AWB) performs very well under the incandescent light as well as when the preset incandescent mode is activated. It also helps producing many beautiful shots under the fluorescent light, although there is no preset fluorescent mode in this TZ40, it is OK because you won’t need that support.

Panoramic mode

Panorama | 1/125 sec | f/6.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Panorama | 1/125 sec | f/6.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

The panoramic photos are very detailed and stitched together well.

Digital filters performance

Images with different digital filters

Images with different digital filters

In order to help you taking unique and creative photos, the TZ40 has many different color modes and creative control modes, with some example above.

Value

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 has all the features needed to justify its travel zoom tag. It offers ample optical zoom, great for landscapes and distance objects, as well as built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, all in a pocketable body. It's a little on the expensive side, so some of the cheaper options may be more appealing, but the features and image quality certainly make it worth the money.

The price of this Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 is $465. Other compact cameras which also have the 20x optic zoom lens include the Canon Powershot Sx240/ SX260 HS, available for $225/ $227, the Sony Cybershot HX20V, which costs $328, the Nikon Coolpix S9500, which is $279 expensive, the Fujifilm FinePix F900 with the price of $465 and the Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300, available for $420. There are many cameras which own a built-in W-Fi system, so if this is the most appealing feature for you, just have a look over the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 which costs 120 and the Nikon Coolpix S800c, whose price is $334. There are also Wi-Fi memory cards from Transcend and Eye-Fi.

A memory card and a case or bag would also necessary for you to keep your camera safe and well protected – have a look at our instruction for choosing camera bags.

Conclusion

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 does own every necessary feature to become an attractive travel camera. It offers great optic zoom lens, which is wonderful to take landscape shots and distant objects. Moreover, it also features built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. Everything is packed in a compact body which perfectly fits your pocket. However, it is a little expensive, so some substitutes, which is cheaper, could be more appealing, but of course, with its features and image quality, this camera is worth its price.

Advantages

·         Great image quality

·         Wi-Fi and GPS

·         Up to 10fps continuous shooting

·         Any zoom level in a compact body

·         Long battery life

·         Very good Auto White Balance

Disadvantages

·         Cannot take RAW images

·         Expensive

·         Purple fringing and chromatic aberration are visible

Verdict

·         Features: 5/5

·         Handling: 4/5

·         Performance: 4.5/5

·         Price: 3.5/5

·         Overall: 4.5/5

Specifications

Lens

·         Max aperture: f/3.3 – f/6.4

·         35mm equivalent: 24-480mm

·         Optical zoom: 20x

Image sensor

·         CCD pixels: 18.1MP

·         Pixels (W): 4896

·         Pixels (H): 3672

·         Sensor type: Live MOS sensor

·         Sensor size: 1/2.3

·         Aspect ratio: 4:3 3:2 16:9 1:1

LCD Monitor

·         LCD monitor: 3in

·         Screen resolution: 920k dot

·         Touchscreen: yes

Focusing

·         Min focus: 3cm

·         Focusing modes: Autofocus, Spot, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Multi, Centre, Zoom macro, Touch AF

Exposure Control

·         Shutter speed shortest: 1/2000sec

·         Shutter speeds longest: 30sec

·         Exp modes: Program, Aperture – Priority, Shutter-Priority, Manual, Scene modes

·         Metering: Centre-weighted- Average, Multi Pattern, Spot

·         ISO sensitivity: 100 – 6400

·         White balance: Auto, Manual, Outdoors/Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent, Shade

·         Exposure Comp.: +/-2

Shooting options:

·         Continuous shooting: 10fps

Video

·         Movie mode: yes

·         Video resolution: 1920 x 1080

·         Video FPS: 50p

·         Stereo sound: yes

·         Optical Zoom with video: yes

Other features

·         HDMI: yes

·         USB: USB2

·         WI-Fi: yes

Storage

·         Card type: SD, SDHC, SDXC

·         File Type: JPG

Power source

·         Battery type: Lithium – Ion

·         CIPA rating: 300

Dimensions

·         Weight: 172g

·         Width: 108.3mm

·         Height: 58.9mm

·         Depth: 27.7mm

 

 

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