Panasonic’s Lumix ZS7 is the latest model in the company’s enormously popular travel zoom series. The new model inherits certain same features to its predecessor Lumix TZ7 comprising 12x optical zoom, compact body and detailed 3in screen, along with its 720p HD movie modes with the choice of AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG encoding formats.
What’s added new?
New to the Lumix ZS7 are manual control over exposures, improved image stabilisation and, the ultimate travel companion, a built-in GPS receiver to pinpoint the locations of your shots and ensure the clock is always telling the right time; the camera even includes a database of over half a million landmarks allowing you to identify many of your photos. There’s also an inevitable boost in resolution, this time to 12.1 MP. The core premise of its predecessors remains the same though, packing a flexible super-zoom lens range into a pocketable compact camera.
Quick Glance at Features?
v 12.1 Megapixel CCD
v Venus Engine HD II processor
v Improved Power OIS image stabilization
v New Intelligent Resolution feature offers improved sharpening and a nearly lossless digital zoom
v Faster autofocus
v Manual exposure controls
v Built-in GPS, with over half a million known landmarks
Design and build quality?
Lumix ZS7 looks very similar to its predecessor and shares the same 103x60x33mm dimensions, although interestingly comes in fractionally lighter at 218g when fitted with a battery and card. The metal body feels confidently solid with no creaks or poor joins. As before, the camera bulges on the right side to provide a grip. Lumix ZS7 is also powered by the same battery as its predecessor: the DMW-BCG10E. The model is now compatible with the SDXC format to support cards bigger than 32GB.
Lens and Stabilisation?
The large optical zoom range remains the key selling point of the camera, packing super-zoom coverage into a pocketable compact. The ZS7 employs the same 12x optical zoom as its predecessor with a range equivalent to 25-300mm and a focal ratio of f3.3-4.9. Then a push of the zoom ring takes you to 300mm where you can grab distant details in close-up. The closest focusing distance remains 3cm. You can see an example of the coverage below, and further examples of how you can use it in our Sample Images Gallery.
Panasonic Lumix ZS7 screen?
The rear surface is dominated by the same 3in / 460k pixel screen as its predecessor – 460k corresponds to a resolution of 480×320 pixels, allowing the screen to display much finer detail than the 320×240 pixel resolution of average 230k screens, including those on the Canon SX210 IS and Sony HX5. Interestingly the screen remains fairly visible in bright conditions, although a Power LCD Mode offers a boost if desired. There’s also an auto option which can switch between Normal and Power modes, although the high-angle option of some older models is missing here.
Built-in GPS receiver?
GPS looks set to be the hot new feature of 2010, with the ZS7 being the second major super-zoom after Sony’s Cyber-shot HX5 to offer the facility built right into the camera. One can record location and local time details for each image and store them in the standard EXIF header. This information can subsequently be read by mapping software on your computer to show exactly where and when your photos were taken – and the clock is also automatically updated by GPS to the local time, regardless of where you travel to.
Panasonic Lumix ZS7 Movie mode?
Panasonic’s resisted the temptation to offer 1080p Full HD or manual exposure control on the new model. As such the best quality video remains 720p HD, although like the TZ7, you get the choice of encoding it in AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG formats, along with a dedicated record button, stereo microphones and the chance to adjust the optical zoom while filming, although you still can’t take a photo without stopping the recording. Note to support AVCHD Lite, you’ll need to use a memory card rated as Class 4 or quicker, while to support Motion JPEG, you’ll need Class 6 or faster.
How is it better than the previous model?
Hence powered by ‘Power O.I.S’ image stabilization system, it claims to be twice as effective as on the old model. Full P/A/S/M control modes increase its photographer appeal, while the brightness and saturation optimizing ‘Happy Mode’ helps boost its point-and-shoot potential. The improved Venus Engine HDII processor offers differential image processing based on image content. AVCHD movie recording, SDXC support, high-res 3″ display and 12x optical zoom (25-300mm equiv.) help fill-out the list of goodies.
Tags: 720p, bulges, compact body, compact camera, core premise, creaks, dmw, exposure controls, image stabilisation, image stabilization, improved power, lumix, motion jpeg, popular travel, ultimate travel