The Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS70 has a bit of a confusing name as it happens to be known differently depending on where it’s being sold. Outside North America, it is the Lumix TZ90, and it comes with a 3-inch LCD screen that also tilts to allow for self recording. The compact camera also has a long zoom range of about 24-720mm that is great for zooming into game while on safari, or getting great shots of the front from the back of a concert. In terms of storage, the camera doesn’t have any on board capacity, but it has a slot for a memory card that you can use to save your pictures or videos when on the go. Whether or not it is the best point and shoot camera for you really depends on what you intend to do with it. Get on with this review to find out exactly what it is capable of. If you’re looking for more camera recommendations, check out this best digital camera review.
Why We Like It – Panasonic Lumix ZS70
The Panasonic Lumix ZS70 is one of the best travel zoom cameras you can buy today. It has a 20.3 Megapixel sensor, supports 4K video quality, has a Leica 30x zoom lens and features built-in WiFi connectivity to allow for easy sharing of your media. If you still use your smartphone as your camera, take a look at the iStabalizer dolly too.
- Touchscreen Display
- 4K Video Recording
- Built-in WiFi
- Heat generation
- Heavy Body
Performance
The Lumix ZS70’s electronic viewfinder is just one of the many features that sets it apart from a lot of the other entry level point and shoot cameras in its category. In addition to that, it also comes packed with a 20.3 Megapixel MOS sensor (better than the Nikon Coolpix B500’s 16 Megapixel sensor) which benefits it with high shooting speeds, and a decent focal length of about 24mm to 720mm for wide angle shooting. In addition to focus stacking, the camera also features an option that’s unique to Panasonic that’s called post focus mode, which allows you to choose the focus point you prefer after you’ve taken your shots, and guarantees good image quality.
Related: Read our Panasonic Lumix ZS60 review
Design
The Lumix ZS70 bears the typical design and form factor that you’d expect from a point and shoot camera. It only comes in black, and has buttons that you can customize for faster switching between modes. It has 3 Function (Fn) buttons that can be customized to switch to different modes or settings. These options include but are not limited to 4K photo mode, white balance, AF mode and WiFi. The Leica DC zoom lens on this camera is also not interchangeable, but we don’t think any ordinary photographer’s needs wouldn’t be met by its 30x optical zoom capability, which is far much better than the 4.2x that you’ll get with the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II.
Value
The Panasonic Lumix ZS70 also comes packed with great connectivity options that allow you to transfer your media through WiFi, or to print, upload and share through the Panasonic Image App. The camera may not be as tough as the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-6, but it does come with an electronic shutter that allows it to shoot at a very high shutter speed, and a touchscreen display that allows for easy positioning of the autofocus frame even when in low light. Panasonic also decided to include a couple of features that work to improve the 4K video recording experience of the ZS70, and they include a Silent Operation mode that reduce the sound effects of button clicking that’s captured on video, and a Miniature effect that uses selective blur which tricks us into thinking that we’re looking at small models in a picture.
Related: Check out the Samsung NX2000 Smart camera review
Panasonic Lumix ZS70 Wrap Up
The Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS70 is an affordable point and shoot camera that includes some of the features you’d find from a more expensive camera, and offers them to you at an affordable price range. It’s great for both vacationers and hobbyist photographers, and has features that will keep it relevant for a long while.
