| | |  | Point-and-shoot Digital Cameras | Home » » » » Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Black) | | | | | | | Description: | | Here's a camera for the serious tourist that is incredibly easy to use. The Panasonic Lumix ZS1 has a 12x magnification zoom lens that offers extreme wide angle for landscapes and long telephoto making objects far away seem close. This camera takes great still pictures but also lets you shoot movies. Blurry images from normal hand movements? Panasonic's Mega Optical Image Stabilizer helps keep images in focus. Multiple auto focus and exposure modes make use of this camera really easy. Leica optics make the images seem as if you're a professional. The Panasonic DMCZS1K Lumix 10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera packs a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 12x optical zoom into a compact body. This versatile photographic tool lets you shoot everything from sweeping vistas at the 25mm wide-angle setting to dynamic 300mm telephoto shots. And the lens system's exquisite rendering ability lets you capture even the subtle nuances of the sights and scenes in your travels. Just set the camera to iA mode, aim and shoot. The camera does all the rest. It automatically determines the most suitable Scene mode and helps correct blurring, focus, and brightness problems. With iA mode, it's easy to get beautiful, clear results. File Format - JPEG (Exif 2.21), Quicktime Motion JPEG 25mm Ultra Wide-angle 12x Optical Zoom LEICA DC (25-300mm in 35mm equiv.) 2.7 High-resolution Intelligent LCD with Wide-viewing Angle ISO Sensitivity - Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 Optical Image Stabilizer - MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) Shooting Mode - Intelligent AUTO, Normal Picture, My Scene Mode,Scene Mode, Motion Picture, Clipboard iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode with AF Tracking Power - Rechargeable Battery Dimensions (H x W x D) - 2.35'' x 4.07'' x 1.29'' Weight - Approx. 7.2 oz | | | Features: | |
• 10.1-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-size prints
• 12x MEGA optical image-stablilized zoom; 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens
• Intelligent Scene Selector; Face Detection
• Intelligent Auto (iA) mode
• Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 2.35 inches | | Product Width:
| 1.29 inches | | Product Height:
| 4.07 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.45 pounds | | Package Length:
| 7.5 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.5 inches | | Package Height:
| 2.5 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.35 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 175 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 175 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
303 of 309 found the following review helpful:
 First digital camera I've really loved.Jul 09, 2009
By Kevin M. Powell
I've had quite a number `point and shoot' digital cameras over the past decade-it seems I replace them about every three years. As a believer in the maxim, the best camera is the one you have with you, they have all been Canon Elphs But this time...I wanted more. One of the new compact designs with a big optical zoom, plus the wide angle lens. So it was natural that I picked out a Canon PowerShot SX200IS for an for a birthday trip to Italy. Glad I checked it out prior to departure - its form factor didn't really work for me ...A friend suggested the Lumix ZS1, which just happened to be on sale for $229 at Costco - a hundred dollars less than the Canon.
And I am so glad I made the exchange! The Lumix ZS1 delivers beyond all expectation. There was a point on the trip where I had a vision - imagine (if you go back to the 70's as I do) having an entire photographers bag - say a Nikon F, with a kit of Nikor lens say a 24mm perspective control, 50mm macro, a couple of zooms, multiple camera backs, the flash, the motor drive- in a package that fits in your shirt pocket. The last camera that blew me away like this was the Olympus XA (old school 35mm) which delivered amazing optics in a shirt pocket size.
Cutting to the chase:
Pros:
Unbelievable Leica lens. You can't imagine what a difference there is between 25 mm and 28 mm at the wide end. Imagine taking pictures of building facades and interiors as your eye sees them - and without distortion - extraordinary, and worth the decision to go with this camera alone. Even better - this lens works at all levels. This is by far the best the macro I've seen on a point and shoot, and the lens is solid all the way to 300mm equivalent - and yes, the image stabilization does really help - in old school terms, think light weight tripod with a very heavy long lens
Unbelievable Panasonic electronics. This has a very simple, yet incredibly rich feature set, all of which is useful, all of which delivers great, real world pictures, with as much real world manual control as you could want. For example - you can set the max ISO -which really gives you control over the F stop (since like most compact cameras there really isn't that much of a range) and shutter speed, there is a very convenient toggle button on the camera body to increase/decrease exposure (+/- 2 f stops), and the IA (Intelligent Auto) is the best auto setting I have ever worked with. You do have to read the manual, however, and play with the multiple settings to fully realize what Panasonic has delivered.
Great sensor. Images are very sharp below 400 ISO as others have noted. But ultra low light performance, is what is truly amazing. Think: extraordinary rendition of Giotto's frescos at the Basilica of St. Francis, tapestries at the Vatican, even the Sistene Chapel ceiling - settings where flash will not help or is not permitted - These demanded ISOs of up to 3200 - and the results look truly amazing - when printed, when projected.
Great build quality and ergonomic design. Part of what caused me to return the Canon - it simply didn't fit in my hand well, and the control layout was awkward. This one fits perfectly in the hand, and every control both on the body and in the menus is well placed, well conceived. And it not only feels solid, it looks solid, and that is comforting.
Cons (yes there are a few, but they are few)
The view finder is bright enough in many situations (be sure to turn on the `auto mode'). But there is no substitute for an optical viewfinder in a bright outdoor setting.
Proprietary download cable. Why not use universal mini-USB to USB like Canon does?
Average battery life. All that zooming of the lens barrel and digital wizardry means that this needs to be charged daily
No HD video. I find the widescreen VGA mode delivers very acceptable performance - and because it works with the optical zoom, actually looks sharper than the Canon HD at any zoom setting (Canon is digital zoom). But I think the ZS3's HD video will be even more awesome, and probably will end up being available for the same price point.
118 of 121 found the following review helpful:
Amazing stuff in a small packageJul 07, 2009
By Alexander Don-Doncow
"Critical Al"
Panasonic finally delivers on the noise end of things.
This is the first Lumix prosumer camera that I have seen where image noise is not a serious issue.
In fact, just prior to purchasing this camera I had to return a Lumix DMC-FX35K, which I found totally unacceptable in terms of image quality (see my other review).
This camera boasts a clean picture with properly controlled noise (very little smudging), it can produce a usable and very printable image up to 800 ISO. Images at 400 ISO are surprisingly good (for this kind of camera).
Awesome optics,from a very wide angle to a medium long telephoto, little distortion, no observed vignetting, very acceptable chromatic aberration, a veritable photographic powerhouse in your shirt pocket!
Exposure, good if only a bit on the overexposed end (to my taste).
All kinds of automation, too much to cover here.
Two types of optical stabilization, which on the whole a care little about, in my opinion the technology is far overrated (applies to all brands). You want tack sharp pictures in very low light, lean the camera against a wall a tree or a railing or mount it on a tripod, bean bag or just set it on a table.
Very good macro capabilities.
Shortcomings, mainly two:
1 - very limited manual controls (that kept me from giving it 5 stars)
This limitation precludes its usability as a serious photographic tool (pity!). Albeit, it can still take some tremendous pictures but at the mercy of its automation.
2- Absolutely terrible Auto White Balance under artificial light, especially the new compact fluorescents. Compensates a bit with an easy to use manual control but that is effective in skilled hands only. Panasonic better come up with a firmware update addressing this issue soon ,else they might start seeing a lot of returns.
In summary, a very flexible, well built and powerful camera squarely aimed at the traveler or occasional photo enthusiast.
The camera does have the potential to take breath taking images, but it is definitely not a photographers tool; although, given its price, size and sturdiness might work well as a "just in case" gadget for those "ouch" moments when your main camera is not available.
A curious observation:
this camera is endowed with a fabulous lens and an almost interminable list of scene modes and other automatic feature, yet it omits simple aperture priority and shutter priority modes which would have probably placed it in a class by itself. As I said before, what a pity!
133 of 138 found the following review helpful:
Great travel cameraJun 25, 2009
By Pamela Van Cleave
"pamsrollz"
I've just returned from my first vacation with this camera. I previously had a Kodak subcompact. Weight and size are good, still easy enough to carry in a purse or pocket. The wide angle takes a huge sweep of area in the photos. Pictures are crystal clear with a touch of roundness at the edges of the landscapes. The zoom is incredible, but it takes a special touch getting used to the sensitivity of the zoom dial. The zoom was my main reason for selecting this little camera, along with the fine Leica lens. I used the manual and IA settings, great shots both ways. Very good photos in low light and with the flash off. Huge screen for viewing your subject, but I do miss my old viewfinder. Easy to playback shots and review, as well as a quick upload. Included software is very good for editing, etc. I still have a lot of experimenting to do, the camera has tons of interesting feaures. Have not seen a downside as of yet, easy to use, battery life is quite good, I shot for most of the day before it wore down, and it fully recharges in a couple of hours. Highly recommend this camera for the travel buff that loves to take pictures.
78 of 79 found the following review helpful:
A $3,500 lens...Costing Around $250Aug 02, 2009
By Alan Houston
"alanhouston-texas"
Leica is famous for the quality of their lens designs. A 24mm super-wide angle lens provides a MUCH greater field of view than the more common 35mm wide angle lens. That makes it possible to take interior photos that show a large portion of a room, or to take architectural photos of entire buildings, even in tightly packed urban areas.
BUT, Leica's famous 24mm super-wide angle lens costs about $3,500. Now Leica has designed a 25mm to 300mm zoom lens for the Panasonic ZS1 and ZS3 which has even LESS visible distortion (bowing of straight lines, such as doors and window frames) and vignetting (darkening of the photo's corners) than does Leica's famous 24mm lens. So, the owner of an LS series Panasonic gets the photo quality of a $3,500 lens for less than $250.
The Panasonic DMC-ZS1 and ZS3 share a superb Leica-designed zoom that provides outstanding performance from the super-wide 25mm range, through to the 50mm "normal" range waaay up to very long telephoto zoom of 300mm...and the lens provides excellent color and contrast in every part of that very long range.
There are NO zoom lenses or digital cameras available at ANY price level that will outperform the Panasonic ZS series for ultra-low distortion, rich colors and excellent contrast throughout the entire ultra-wide 25mm to 300mm long telephoto range of the ZS cameras.
The Panasonic ZS series cameras are designed to be easy to use. Putting them in the "intelligent auto" mode enables the camera to make all of the decisions. You simply zoom in on your subject, press the shutter very slightly to pre-focus, wait a second to see the focus confirmation "dot", then press the shutter to take your photo.
The camera will automatically switch to the "macro" mode if you are taking a photo of something a few inches from your lens, it will recognize a person's face and switch to the "portrait" mode for natural skin tones, and it re-adjusts the ISO level and shutter speed to match the lighting conditions for each photo.
Outdoors, the "intelligent auto" mode delivers consistently fine photos with natural color tones and contrast. The photos are "sharp" due to Panasonic's auto stabilization mode, which makes it possible to get hand-held photos that are tack sharp, even at the full telephoto range of 300mm.
WARNING: Flash photos tend to be mediocre, unless you are VERY careful. Indoors, when using flash, the "intelligent auto" mode works well ONLY with subjects that are very close...about three feet to six feet from the camera. Beyond six feet, many flash photos will be darker than most people would prefer. The solution is to switch to the manual mode, and select a higher ISO of 200 or 400. These cameras have a tiny flash, and good results require getting close, and the results are best in a well lighted room. This camera is a "five star" camera outdoors in bright sun light, but is closer to being a "three star" camera indoors with flash.
In the manual mode, users can select from many "scene" options, including a "night mode" that takes beautiful time exposures in dim lighting. I took some "night mode" shots in a dark coffee shop without flash that perfectly recreate the mood of the dimly lighted room. Also, in the manual mode, users can set the maximum ISO they want to use, and set the minimum shutter speed they prefer. So, for a sports photo, you can chose to use ONLY shutter speeds of 1/250 of a second or faster to "freeze" the action. Or, you can switch to the "sports" mode, and the camera will select a fast shutter speed, and lock the focus to keep subjects beyond about 16 feet away in sharp focus.
The manual options give users dozens of ways to tailor their photos, including ways of fine-tuning the color balance. The instruction book uses 140 pages to detail all of the options for every type of photo. It is worth an owner's time to work page by page through the entire 140 pages to learn everything this camera can do.
But, MOST people will be happy to simply put the camera in "intelligent auto" mode and let the camera make all of the decisions. With just a hour or two of practice, anyone should be able to obtain fine photos consistently.
Digital "noise" is always an issue with pocket sized compact digital cameras. However, with the ZS1, the digital "noise" is well controlled. In an 8 x 10 inch enlargement, it would take a very keen eye to see any "noise" in the ISO 80 to ISO 200 range. At ISO 400, a small amount of noise be visible in an 8 x 10 enlargement, but only if you are looking for it.
For people who are "fanatics" about reducing digital "noise" to a minimum, the ZS1 enables you to select an "auto" mode that has a "locks" the ISO setting to the ISO 80 to ISO 400 range, or you can "lock" the ISO at your choice of ISO 80, ISO 100, or ISO 200. On a bright sunny day, locking exposure to ISO 80 produces photos that can match those made with a $3,000 pro DSLR camera.
The battery will last about 300 photos without using the flash, and about 200 photos if you use the flash for about half your photos. The more time you spend reviewing, editing, and deleting photos, the fewer photos that can be taken. A "battery gauge" tells you the amount of power remaining in the battery so you know when to recharge. The battery recharges in about two hours or less.
WARNING: The size and shape of the ZS1 make it a VERY easy camera to drop. It would be wise to ALWAYS wrap its strap around your wrist BEFORE removing the camera out of its case. The ZS1 will fit into a jacket pocket, but it would be much better protected in a padded case. A camera as nice as the ZS1 deserves being treated as the fine piece of equipment that it is, and keeping it in a padded case is an inexpensive way to protect your investment.
37 of 37 found the following review helpful:
LarsJul 06, 2009
By L. Lund
Had a previous Lumix and loved it for it's ease of use...bought this one because the old one was dropped and stopped working..my fault...anyway love the setting on this one called: Intelligent mode...takes great pictures in all kinds of conditions...movies are great also...colors are true all around...
The one small negative is that when you reach from right to left to use the zoom you can hit the mode dial and then it's not in the right position. The mode dial really should be to the left of the zoom NOT to the right.
Love the playback feature where you just flip the switch to quickly see the most recent picture..Last model there were 2 or 3 steps to accomplish this...Battery on this one seems to last a lot longer than on the previous one...
All in all love this model...other than that small inconvenience with the zoom and mode dial.
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