Smart move. The predecessors are climbing up in value in the used market and almost everything with a similar form factor from the competition is out of stock everywhere. Camera snobs might scoff at it, but these things sell, people want them and that is what matters.
Sorry I didn't get the email that point & shoot cameras are dead. I still use my Sony RX100 VII, HX80, HX60V, HX20V, ZV-1 mkI and Canon SX740 HS because they're light, I'm disabled and I have arthritis in my hands that make it difficult to open a pack of crisps. They're just so much fun and it means I can at least continue to take photos or videos without having to give it up. The format is a great leveller. Equally good news for able-bodied people wanting to carry a camera in their pocket. Well done Lumix & thanks Richard for bringing this fabulous news.
Cameras always are devices of compromises. I have the ZS200, which has a one inch sensor, but no tilting screen. That said, Panasonic knows what they're doing and I think this fills a place in the market where so many other camera makers have abandoned compacts. That optical zoom is a big advantage over phones.
I'm the opposite. The lack of view finder is keeping me from reaching for my wallet. Hopefully the market wakes up to demand and we can both get what we want.
Until recently, I never really cared about every day carry cameras, or these really big zoom ranges, but overtime I’ve really began to appreciate the smallest most versatile possible cameras, whether they’re interchangeable or not. I got a ZS 200 with its bigger sensor and have really enjoyed that camera and really appreciate a huge zoom range and this camera despite the smaller sensor has an even bigger zoom to compensate. I definitely be at least somewhat interested in trying one of these out for sure!
hey Rhett! yes it's funny i feel the same as well. The camera being pocketable does make it really handy even though we will have to sacrifice the image quality a bit.
Lumix TZ99 is epiccc! I have a TZ81, was sad to see that travel zoom series was getting less zoom/discontinued over the past years. Glad to see them come back!
I am glad to see this. I have the earlier, no longer made, ZS80 with 24-720 zoom range. That long zoom is very important to me (especially with wildlife) and the small size makes it my carry-around camera (when I am willing to carry something much larger, I use my Nikon P1000).
Adding more thoughts: I really hate to see the EVF disappear, fast moving subjects (animals, children) are almost impossible to follow while holding the camera away from you. That's a real loss. Like you I noticed that the low light performance is a bit noisy, and while some of that can be traced to sensor size, my P1000 (which has a different, but same size sensor) does a lot better in low light, as does my midrange phone.
Thanks Panasonixc.... been waiting for something ike this for ages. With aging limbs I can now go for a hike with something like this in the bag.. weight is importatnt for me these dasy
Can Panasonic spend their meager camera business budget making things people want? A successor to the GX9? Rather than whatever these two tiny updates are. This is why they get so much flak imo. They seem to make endless puzzling decisions, and then once in a while, a truly brilliant move like the GH7. Then we get weird things like a 26mm f8 $200, S5D for $1800, and now these. Please, GX9ii. Something of substance.
you wont get GX9ii, if you want something like that - buy E-P7 or OM-5. Panasonic will support M4/3 for some time, but I doubt will invest anything significant there.
What many people likely don't know: At 720mm, the Zs99 captures as much light per time from a distant object (for example the moon or a distant bird) as a full frame camera with a 35mm f/1.75 lens. The effective lens diameter= focal length/f-number determines how much light is captured from an object per exposure time. If the moon looks less noisy on the full frame camera, then this is not due to capturing more light, but due to the lower resolution and due to less read noise. Fewer pixels per object usually means less read noise per object. A full frame camera with a 35mm lens would give you about the same number of pixels per object, if the sensor had more than 7 gigapixel.
I got a very cheap Canon XS with a aps-c sensor to use with my Canon lenses now that film is too expensive to me. Shooting the moon with my 135mm f2.8 lens (in the aps-c camera it looks like 200 mm I guess but haven't done the calculation) and the moon and dynamic range looks quite better than with a compact camera. In fact I recall cropping from a Fujifilm and its 23 mm lens f/2 (35mm equivalent) and in fact cropping the moon was better than with a compact camera. I think it is not about lower resolution and less read noise, but simply bigger pixels win, they maybe get the same amount of light but the highlights get clipped in the small sensor cameras.
@ReinoldFZ Bigger pixels and a better f-number mean that read noise isn't necessarily the dominant noise source. So, the read noise isn't just lower, it is also possibly not the dominant noise source, if you have fewer pixels per object. The noise of an object is usually comparable when effective diameter= focal length/f-number is the same and when number of pixels per angle ~ focal length/pixel size is the same and when exposure time is the same. Then you will capture about the same amount of light from an object and will also get a comparable amount of read noise. Read noise per object depends on the number of pixels per object, which depends on focal length/pixel size. If sensors had no read noise, the signal to noise ratio would be independent of the resolution, but that's not the case. Clipping at base Iso is usually comparable when exposure time/f-number² is the same (doesn't depend on pixel size or sensor size). So, the noise performance of the Zs99 at 720mm regarding distant objects in low light conditions should be theoretically comparable to a for example 900 megapixel full frame camera + 100mm f/5 lens.
For bridge cameras to succeed, they need to do things phone cameras cannot AND what they can do. If they don't want to fit them with microphone/headphones jacks, then use the Bluetooth to connect to Bluetooth headsets. It's only a small amount of reusable software. As a user, you could record sound to your phone using your phone's headset to record sound, and match it up later in PP.
Just a FYI on Panasonic Lumix cameras. I had a Lumix ZS50, they were clearing it out to make room for a newer model, as a sweeter Panasonic tossed in extra year on the warrant for a total of 2 years. I used this camera very heavily shooting plays and concerts at my local high school, and it stopped zooming at the 23rd month of my ownership. I sent the camera to a company authorized by Panasonic for repair, and they returned it saying that I abused the camera refused to repair under warranty and the charge was like half the cost of the newer updated model. I bought a Sony RX100-7 in 2020, and I used it very heavily and it has never failed me, so caveat emptor on the Panasonics. I am from Los Angeles, California USA
First! 📸 I actually just digged up my old point and shoot to take some shots with a flash, it’s pretty cool to chuck in the pocket but really want a point and shoot with Real Time LUT!! 😜
Good review. I would have liked to see your take on the focus stacking, post-take focusing, and 4K photo options. Perhaps these weren't available on your pre-production model.
Back in the day I had a T27 with a 12x optical zoom. Absolutely loved that camera. Seriously considering getting this new offering from Panasonic. Tempted by the tilt screen and 30x optical zoom in such a small body. Thanks Richard
Excited to see this format making a comeback. One of my favorite cameras is my old Fujifilm X-10, but it's missing a lot of modern connectivity features.
@@TheRealRichardWong Awesome! I had an Eye-Fi card for mine that was still working until the Keenai app disappeared from my phone a year or two ago. Now I almost never shoot with it, but every once in a while I still dig it out and transfer with a cable.
I have the tz60 since it was released and its still a brillant take it everywhere camera. It's perfect for holidays and l never needed to look elsewhere or upgrade except to use systems compacts etc
I am very happy that there are still cameras being developed. Said that I'd wish companies would notice why people are fine with using smartphones that aren't ergonomic instead of more comfortable compact cameras. Of course I don't know the answers but from my particular case, the concept of having three or four luminous primes in a compact body (although I guess the primes should rotate to not have to have four sensors) is quite fantastic in comparison to a slow zoom that in order to be compact has to be slow and heavily digitally corrected. I have so much fun using my little Cybershot, but then when I see the photos in the computer I just feel the zoom is optical but doesn't resolve enough detail as to compete with my cellphone.
Hi Richard, thanks for the review! I think those compact camera's also deserve our attention, because they are also an important step into fotography. I was thinking about their customers, and their needs and I think about 3: quality zoom, fun and fast user experience, nice print quality. For the review I would compare these factors to a moderate phone camera experience: how much better will this dedicated tool fair against a phone camera? Thanks again!
Thanks for watching and feedback. I think if you don't need zoom, the latest phone can take better quality photo, the high end phone at least (which does cost more than this camera), however advantage of this camera is that it gives you way more zoom than any phone can do.
thats some crazy reach zoom. would be fun to try it. was hoping with the small sensor could go to 4k 120p like action cams but guess they need to keep the cost down.
yes i think price is a factor, as it's not just the sensor, you need faster processor, and maybe bigger battery..etc to support 4k120 so it will drive up the price significantly.
Manufacturers abandoned this superzoom ultracompact format because if they continue to evolve and make them better then the majority of customers will never look to expensive aps-c or full frame behemoths
Oh! No EVEF! I was wondering why the back looked a bit odd. I think the lack of the EVF may be a problem, particularly at this price. Cut the price by about 25% and we could be cooking :) Like your friend at the camera shop, I too, can say that the lack of new compact cameras has been a problem, business this year could have been much better if these were widely available. Even our wholesaler has been frustrated at the lack of quality compact cameras. Also explains why second hand Lumix TZ's are so valuable.
As an owner of a GF2, then GF6 for better specs, I thing the GF line failed when Panasonic ditches the click-wheel of the GF1/2 and GX1. So I bought the GX1 too... .
I get that there has been a resurgence in popularity for compact cameras, but I feel like it's a pretty major gamble for Panasonic to bring back a product line that has already dried up once and isn't going to have a lot of common parts with the rest of their products. I think that this needed to be released two months ago though, because this would probably be a great Christmas gift but they missed that window. I think this is going to have a rough launch, similar to the S9.
I really don't want to know what the people at Panasonic are doing. They should produce a compact with LUT, Full frame, and a 12-50mm lens. With USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0.
Seems like it would be common sense for the major camera manufacturers to make a few pocket sized zoom digicams since they're so in demand right now..what am I missing??why won't they make them if people are willing and ready to buy them?
It takes a long time to design, develop, source components for, construct at scale, and market/release a new camera model. I think most manufacturers would love to be able to pivot quickly and tap into cultural movements but their working on a multi-year delay. That's why new compact cameras we're seeing feel like retreads of older models, because manufacturers are scrambling as quickly as possible with available components/tech/designs before the fad ends.
Hi Richard! Great review of an exciting pocket point & shoot camera. What's amazing is that Leica still makes such lenses for Panasonic. I have the vintage Panasonic Lumix with Leica zoom lens. Have used that camera when I've traveled. Carry it with me everyday in my backpack. Even shot an art video in a museum. The quality of the video was actually amazing. 😎😎
@@duckdog7277 They have been discontinued as far as I know. But after this release I wouldn't be surprised that Lumix might give the TZ202 a similar upgrade in the future.
yes i think 1" with 24-200 would be a good compromise for better image quality and less reach. But the price of a 1" camera will be a lot higher than this TZ99.
I just found out that my Zs60 apparently supports 60s exposures in raw format, if one uses a special scene mode (but maximum Iso is only 80) as well as the mechanical shutter. That's very exciting, I didn't know that, could be extremely useful for astrophotography. I thought that the maximum was 4 seconds. Though it seems that one can't turn off long exposure noise reduction (dark frames). The Tz99 only supports 30s instead of 60s.
@@TheRealRichardWong Usually when taking pics I use the EVF. When taking video or waist level photos or selfies: I use the screen. Super convenient camera.
A camera like this is best paired with large sensor camera for low light and portraits. That's where its value is best. Use it for the range in bright daylight situations.
現在很少人需要用EVF，而且TZ95的顯示屏已很明亮，陽光下都很清晰！取消EVF是正確！轉用USB Type C充電，可以在戶外用充電寶(External Power Bank)充電，對於長時間拍攝生態、拍片很重要！另外，Touch AF, Touch Shtter對於拍攝雀鳥、蝴蝶很重要！可以在顯示屏即時改變對焦點及拍攝，方便快捷！其他同級同類的相機，無法媲美！
I will definitely be picking up 2 of them for my little sisters! one is still a teen and the other in her early twenties but this camera looks and sounds perfect for them to put in their purses and take cute pictures whenever we go out on our sister dates (which we do often 🥹❤️). Great video! Thank youu
I hope that there is a chance that there will be a Tz99 successor with a more significant upgrade. This could be really exciting. My wish is: 1. Even better image quality at 720mm and maybe an even higher maximum focal length than 129mm and a larger maximum effective lens diameter than 2.0cm (2.5-3cm would be nice), if good image quality is maintained 2. live photos without disabling raw (smartphones can do that), very useful for birds 3. a sensor with less read noise and better autofocus 4. a longer maximum exposure time or bulb mode (for example for astrophotography), the Zs60 supports 60s in raw format (but only at Iso 80), the Tz99 only 30s in raw format. And let us turn off long exposure dark frame subtraction. 5. It would be nice to have the handheld multi frame (raw format) noise reduction modes (called "high resolution mode") from other Panasonic cameras , although they are maybe not so useful for birds and might produce artifacts. 6. Bring back the Fn4 button, which I use for white balance. In winter, it's hard to use the touchscreen, even with special gloves. I think they could maybe use a non-tilting screen and use the additional space for an improved lens (Tz99 is thicker than a Tz80 or Tz70, which use the same lens). But even with a tiltable screen they should be able to improve the camera.
I looked at some official product images of the Tz99 and I noticed that the microphones look different compared to the Tz95D. I wonder whether there is a difference regarding audio quality.
Yes I would love to see that too, but it works likely require a much more powerful processor and other upgrades so might be when LUMIX brings out a higher end compact camera
But then the price will be a lot more, and also more importantly the size of the camrea will be a lot bigger. Sony RX100 VII is 2.6x the price of this camera, and only offers up to 200mm eq focal length zoo
@@TheRealRichardWong if they could fit a 1 inch sensor in a phone, i think they could easily do as well in a goddamn camera. I have the lumix gm1 that has about the same size as the rx100 series cameras and it fits even a micro four thirds sensor. I have the kit 12 to 42 zoom lens which does not make it that much bigger... They could make the lens collapse more, even if that costs it to make it a bit thicker! Yeah it is not fully flat and also not as pocketable, but it would have a purpose! I don't want to see sensor innovation only on smartphones that have generally crappier lens, or cameras that are ultra expensive. I mean this camera is meant to be cheaper (even though in my eyes nowadays, 399$ is not at all cheap) but for keeping a similar, semi-pocketable form factor, but adding an actually good - large enough sensor + 30x zoom - why nobody makes that? I want something that is better than a phone, that shoots well enough in the pitch dark and to carry it everywhere. That's all i want. Camera makers just don't like to experiment and push boundaries! And if they do - they do it in all the wrong ways... I mean there is nothing bad in making refreshes of older and well loved products, but man i just want to see that innovation!
@@xkonstantin5A 720mm field of view and a 1" type sensor would require a 260mm lens instead of a 129mm lens! (Though the Canon Sx740 HS has a 172mm lens.) And if you want to keep the same f-number (6.4), then the maximum effective lens diameter would need to be 4.1cm instead of 2.0cm! Though, the Canon Sx740 HS has 2.5cm. So I think it would be slightly more realistic to have a maximum effective lens diameter of for example 2.8cm, which would capture twice as much light per exposure time as previously at 720mm and one could use a 20 megapixel sensor with less read noise. The Tz99 is 9mm thicker than the Tz70, which uses the same lens. So there is maybe some unused potential. Even the Canon Sx740 HS is smaller despite the higher focal length and larger effective diameter.
I recently bought a Fujifilm GFX 50R to upgrade from my X-T4. It’s a beautiful camera, but far too big to carry around all the time so I pre-ordered one of these to keep in my pocket when I can’t have the big one with me
@@richardgorski23 Panasonic had a phone with a 1" sensor as far back as 2014, technically. There are a handful of phones from 2021-now that have them, though none of them are Apple/Samsung/Google. Vivo, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei all have 1" sensor phone offerings.
Not sure. I compared an 18 megapixel Zs60 at 720mm with an 8 megapixel 720mm 4:3 crop of a Canon M50+55-250mmSTM (upscaled to 18 megapixel) and the Zs60 had definitely slightly more detail in good light conditions.
@@Quoutub well, I only know that my tz70 at full xoom extension on 720mm doesn't offer the same sharpness that it had on 150mm or 250mm, for example. And noticeably less that in the short end. At the long end it can't handle 12mp of real sharpness definetly, so I supposed that 18mp or 20mp doesn't must to differ because the lens probably is about 6mp of real ressolution on 720mm
thanks for your good presentation! such a pitty that the travel camera market died. nevertheless I can't understand why they left the view finder away. anyways...I have the tz71 and the tz90...and you know what? the tz70 (with a monopod) always comes along when I hike...
To me, that seems to be a high price for this camera. You can buy the previous model,maybe used and be perfectly happy. I have an tz202 which has a 1inch sensor. It only goes to 360. But, it has an evf and you can crop a bit. I would save up more money and go that route, personally.
i really want panasonic to make a pocket prime camera reusing their 14mm or 20mm optic + their 20mp mft sensor like the Ricoh's GRIII and i don't care if it doesn't have EVF as long as it has the hotshoe and compatibility to their old external EVF
I believe point and shoots should come back. I think the technology has become mature enough. I like DSLR / Mirrorless cameras but sometimes I just want to point and shoot and enjoy the place and not try to take the best shot. Too frustrating! I am excited Panasonic is still dedicating to making more new ones. Though Kodak (JK) has been releasing "new" cameras the tech is outdated.
If they were going to improve anything it's keeping dust from getting on the sensor. I've had to do the vacuum trick on my ZS and not sure if it will work next time. I use the evf sometimes so upgrade not for me.
Hi Richard! How doe it compare to FZ80D (which you reviewed earlier) in terms of the image quality? Say if they're both on 30x, which do you think is a better performer?
i haven't really compare them side by side so sorry can't comment. But FZ80D has a 60x optical zoom. However there is a huge difference in terms of size
The reason that market died is… we are unable to get these cameras. I’ve been in the market for a pocketable camera that’s not a mobile phone but they are all out of stock 🏴 Like the Leica D-Lux 8, these models are too compromised for me to buy 🏴
You can still reliably find new Ricoh GRIIIs for sale. Very pricy though and you have to be comfy with 28 or 40 mil. Agree that the D-Lux 8 is quite a compromise (and, of course, out of stock until next year anyway! )
All cameras are niche cameras to a lesser or greater extent. This camera as LUMIX knows will have demographic appeal for a few, and not much interest for many others. I myself have a small number of cameras, and each l use for different reasons. Do not know if I will buy this one or not , but it does fill a small void for one of the types of photography I like. This being sometime not carrying something around my neck, but in my pocket for maybe a longer walk. For pictures to just document wildlife and view on a computer screen, where a small sensor camera image looks absolutely fine. Think about it walking someplace, see a tiny bird way up in a tree, pull out a tiny camera from your pocket, zoom in, take a picture as seen here, click identify and any number of software programs today will ID the bird for you, or send it out over the web to let others ID the bird for you.
They need to update the sensor/sw to do night time pictures as well as the latest Iphones and higher end Android phones do. I have a 2016 era superzoom compact camera I badly want to upgrade but I won't buy one until they can do night pictures as well as phones.
Conparing to Sony HX99, which one shoule offer more better image quality? The sony HX99 was released quite long time ago The software of TZ99 might be better?
I want a TZ99-like look and size, half-frame compact camera lens, 12-28 equivalent to 18-40, large aperture, the aluminum alloy near the rubber is flat
I have the TZ95D. The autofocus is slow, even in the day light. Im disappointed because it affects it's use in some usecases such as wildlife and street photography.
Smart move. The predecessors are climbing up in value in the used market and almost everything with a similar form factor from the competition is out of stock everywhere. Camera snobs might scoff at it, but these things sell, people want them and that is what matters.
This is the best news of the day for me.
Thanks for watching Dymanh!
Sorry I didn't get the email that point & shoot cameras are dead. I still use my Sony RX100 VII, HX80, HX60V, HX20V, ZV-1 mkI and Canon SX740 HS because they're light, I'm disabled and I have arthritis in my hands that make it difficult to open a pack of crisps. They're just so much fun and it means I can at least continue to take photos or videos without having to give it up. The format is a great leveller. Equally good news for able-bodied people wanting to carry a camera in their pocket. Well done Lumix & thanks Richard for bringing this fabulous news.
I would love an update of the Sony RX100VIII with the 24-200 equivalent. Just need the newer processor and 4k60 with USBC charging.
Haters gonna hate but I love these cameras. Small sensor, big zoom, no Blur. Just love it.
Cameras always are devices of compromises. I have the ZS200, which has a one inch sensor, but no tilting screen. That said, Panasonic knows what they're doing and I think this fills a place in the market where so many other camera makers have abandoned compacts. That optical zoom is a big advantage over phones.
ZS100 user here (and S5). I feel that the point and shoot lumix cameras are severely underrated!
Thanks!
Thank you so much Michael!
This little camrea looks like a lot of fun! Another excellent review mate!
So glad it doesn’t have any sort of a view finder to keep the compactness form. I’ll be getting one.
I'm the opposite. The lack of view finder is keeping me from reaching for my wallet. Hopefully the market wakes up to demand and we can both get what we want.
Until recently, I never really cared about every day carry cameras, or these really big zoom ranges, but overtime I’ve really began to appreciate the smallest most versatile possible cameras, whether they’re interchangeable or not. I got a ZS 200 with its bigger sensor and have really enjoyed that camera and really appreciate a huge zoom range and this camera despite the smaller sensor has an even bigger zoom to compensate. I definitely be at least somewhat interested in trying one of these out for sure!
agree, pocketable super zoom is handy
hey Rhett! yes it's funny i feel the same as well. The camera being pocketable does make it really handy even though we will have to sacrifice the image quality a bit.
Lumix TZ99 is epiccc! I have a TZ81, was sad to see that travel zoom series was getting less zoom/discontinued over the past years. Glad to see them come back!
Nice Test Richard.
I hope we have in the future a new GX9II or GM5 II.
I hope so too! Let's wait and see :)
I have the GM-5; second hand prices are more than I paid for the body and 2 kit lenses.
I am glad to see this. I have the earlier, no longer made, ZS80 with 24-720 zoom range. That long zoom is very important to me (especially with wildlife) and the small size makes it my carry-around camera (when I am willing to carry something much larger, I use my Nikon P1000).
Adding more thoughts: I really hate to see the EVF disappear, fast moving subjects (animals, children) are almost impossible to follow while holding the camera away from you. That's a real loss.
Like you I noticed that the low light performance is a bit noisy, and while some of that can be traced to sensor size, my P1000 (which has a different, but same size sensor) does a lot better in low light, as does my midrange phone.
Thanks Panasonixc.... been waiting for something ike this for ages. With aging limbs I can now go for a hike with something like this in the bag.. weight is importatnt for me these dasy
I have the canon sx740 and I like it, I would love to see substantially improved versions of these type of cameras and I believe that it is possible
As someone who can't really afford an RX100-VII, this brings me absolute joy. Can't wait to get my hands on one!
So glad this is back. Thank you for the video.
I’m glad this has happened. But we do need an lx100 iii with dual base iso and 24mpx.
Yes. I agree. And if it had a flippy screen.
@@markgiles3 also good ibis, PDAF and real time luts. The biggest cons about mark I and II was lack of dustproof. They should improve it.
Looks good. I wanted an update of such a camera for a long time
Glad you like it!
Can Panasonic spend their meager camera business budget making things people want? A successor to the GX9? Rather than whatever these two tiny updates are. This is why they get so much flak imo. They seem to make endless puzzling decisions, and then once in a while, a truly brilliant move like the GH7. Then we get weird things like a 26mm f8 $200, S5D for $1800, and now these.
Please, GX9ii. Something of substance.
you wont get GX9ii, if you want something like that - buy E-P7 or OM-5. Panasonic will support M4/3 for some time, but I doubt will invest anything significant there.
Lots of us DO want them.
What many people likely don't know: At 720mm, the Zs99 captures as much light per time from a distant object (for example the moon or a distant bird) as a full frame camera with a 35mm f/1.75 lens. The effective lens diameter= focal length/f-number determines how much light is captured from an object per exposure time.
If the moon looks less noisy on the full frame camera, then this is not due to capturing more light, but due to the lower resolution and due to less read noise. Fewer pixels per object usually means less read noise per object. A full frame camera with a 35mm lens would give you about the same number of pixels per object, if the sensor had more than 7 gigapixel.
I got a very cheap Canon XS with a aps-c sensor to use with my Canon lenses now that film is too expensive to me. Shooting the moon with my 135mm f2.8 lens (in the aps-c camera it looks like 200 mm I guess but haven't done the calculation) and the moon and dynamic range looks quite better than with a compact camera. In fact I recall cropping from a Fujifilm and its 23 mm lens f/2 (35mm equivalent) and in fact cropping the moon was better than with a compact camera. I think it is not about lower resolution and less read noise, but simply bigger pixels win, they maybe get the same amount of light but the highlights get clipped in the small sensor cameras.
@ReinoldFZ Bigger pixels and a better f-number mean that read noise isn't necessarily the dominant noise source. So, the read noise isn't just lower, it is also possibly not the dominant noise source, if you have fewer pixels per object.
The noise of an object is usually comparable when effective diameter= focal length/f-number is the same and when number of pixels per angle ~ focal length/pixel size is the same and when exposure time is the same. Then you will capture about the same amount of light from an object and will also get a comparable amount of read noise. Read noise per object depends on the number of pixels per object, which depends on focal length/pixel size. If sensors had no read noise, the signal to noise ratio would be independent of the resolution, but that's not the case.
Clipping at base Iso is usually comparable when exposure time/f-number² is the same (doesn't depend on pixel size or sensor size).
So, the noise performance of the Zs99 at 720mm regarding distant objects in low light conditions should be theoretically comparable to a for example 900 megapixel full frame camera + 100mm f/5 lens.
For bridge cameras to succeed, they need to do things phone cameras cannot AND what they can do.
If they don't want to fit them with microphone/headphones jacks, then use the Bluetooth to connect to Bluetooth headsets. It's only a small amount of reusable software.
As a user, you could record sound to your phone using your phone's headset to record sound, and match it up later in PP.
It’s the Dlux 8’s cousin I LOVE IT!!!
Just a FYI on Panasonic Lumix cameras. I had a Lumix ZS50, they were clearing it out to make room for a newer model, as a sweeter Panasonic tossed in extra year on the warrant for a total of 2 years. I used this camera very heavily shooting plays and concerts at my local high school, and it stopped zooming at the 23rd month of my ownership. I sent the camera to a company authorized by Panasonic for repair, and they returned it saying that I abused the camera refused to repair under warranty and the charge was like half the cost of the newer updated model. I bought a Sony RX100-7 in 2020, and I used it very heavily and it has never failed me, so caveat emptor on the Panasonics. I am from Los Angeles, California USA
I bought a TZ3 in 2007. The image quality was fantastic. On a winter trip to US, the LCD literally froze and died! Lesson learned the hard way.
Great to see a balanced review of a compact camera. Bring back quality compacts! If you can't put it in your pocket it isn't compact.
Thank you for watching!
First! 📸 I actually just digged up my old point and shoot to take some shots with a flash, it’s pretty cool to chuck in the pocket but really want a point and shoot with Real Time LUT!! 😜
Yeah a complete brand new point and shoot with all the latest Lumix tech would be awesome!
How does this compare to the previous panasonic lumix digi cameras
Good review. I would have liked to see your take on the focus stacking, post-take focusing, and 4K photo options. Perhaps these weren't available on your pre-production model.
i had one of the TZ cameras a few years ago and loved it
Great timing, my TZ100 is getting quite old, especially with 30K photos taken and being dropped many times. Thanks.
Back in the day I had a T27 with a 12x optical zoom. Absolutely loved that camera. Seriously considering getting this new offering from Panasonic. Tempted by the tilt screen and 30x optical zoom in such a small body. Thanks Richard
Excited to see this format making a comeback. One of my favorite cameras is my old Fujifilm X-10, but it's missing a lot of modern connectivity features.
oh i had a X10. Pre-ordered it immediately after announcement and it was such a fun little camera!
@@TheRealRichardWong Awesome! I had an Eye-Fi card for mine that was still working until the Keenai app disappeared from my phone a year or two ago. Now I almost never shoot with it, but every once in a while I still dig it out and transfer with a cable.
I have the tz60 since it was released and its still a brillant take it everywhere camera. It's perfect for holidays and l never needed to look elsewhere or upgrade except to use systems compacts etc
I am very happy that there are still cameras being developed. Said that I'd wish companies would notice why people are fine with using smartphones that aren't ergonomic instead of more comfortable compact cameras. Of course I don't know the answers but from my particular case, the concept of having three or four luminous primes in a compact body (although I guess the primes should rotate to not have to have four sensors) is quite fantastic in comparison to a slow zoom that in order to be compact has to be slow and heavily digitally corrected. I have so much fun using my little Cybershot, but then when I see the photos in the computer I just feel the zoom is optical but doesn't resolve enough detail as to compete with my cellphone.
They could refresh TZ100 line...
Hi Richard, thanks for the review! I think those compact camera's also deserve our attention, because they are also an important step into fotography.
I was thinking about their customers, and their needs and I think about 3: quality zoom, fun and fast user experience, nice print quality. For the review I would compare these factors to a moderate phone camera experience: how much better will this dedicated tool fair against a phone camera?
Thanks again!
Thanks for watching and feedback. I think if you don't need zoom, the latest phone can take better quality photo, the high end phone at least (which does cost more than this camera), however advantage of this camera is that it gives you way more zoom than any phone can do.
thats some crazy reach zoom. would be fun to try it. was hoping with the small sensor could go to 4k 120p like action cams but guess they need to keep the cost down.
yes i think price is a factor, as it's not just the sensor, you need faster processor, and maybe bigger battery..etc to support 4k120 so it will drive up the price significantly.
I have my TZ90 and love it .....
We need that gx9ii and new lx100 with nd
Manufacturers abandoned this superzoom ultracompact format because if they continue to evolve and make them better then the majority of customers will never look to expensive aps-c or full frame behemoths
Thank you!
It's wild they still haven't improved sensor read-out speeds for 1/2.3" sensors. Surely the jello effect should be completely eliminated by now.
Seems like same sensor and processor combo. Minor hardware and firmware changes that's all
It is MOS sensor not CMOS.
Oh! No EVEF! I was wondering why the back looked a bit odd. I think the lack of the EVF may be a problem, particularly at this price. Cut the price by about 25% and we could be cooking :)
Like your friend at the camera shop, I too, can say that the lack of new compact cameras has been a problem, business this year could have been much better if these were widely available. Even our wholesaler has been frustrated at the lack of quality compact cameras. Also explains why second hand Lumix TZ's are so valuable.
that control dial is going to confuse the hell out of folks
As an owner of a GF2, then GF6 for better specs, I thing the GF line failed when Panasonic ditches the click-wheel of the GF1/2 and GX1. So I bought the GX1 too... .
I think compact cameras are actually more popular now than ever, I'm not sure what you mean. Nice video overall though!
need Lumix lx100 new edtion plz best camera in size
I get that there has been a resurgence in popularity for compact cameras, but I feel like it's a pretty major gamble for Panasonic to bring back a product line that has already dried up once and isn't going to have a lot of common parts with the rest of their products.
I think that this needed to be released two months ago though, because this would probably be a great Christmas gift but they missed that window. I think this is going to have a rough launch, similar to the S9.
I really don't want to know what the people at Panasonic are doing.
They should produce a compact with LUT, Full frame, and a 12-50mm lens.
With USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0.
Seems like it would be common sense for the major camera manufacturers to make a few pocket sized zoom digicams since they're so in demand right now..what am I missing??why won't they make them if people are willing and ready to buy them?
It takes a long time to design, develop, source components for, construct at scale, and market/release a new camera model. I think most manufacturers would love to be able to pivot quickly and tap into cultural movements but their working on a multi-year delay. That's why new compact cameras we're seeing feel like retreads of older models, because manufacturers are scrambling as quickly as possible with available components/tech/designs before the fad ends.
Hi Richard! Great review of an exciting pocket point & shoot camera. What's amazing is that Leica still makes such lenses for Panasonic. I have the vintage Panasonic Lumix with Leica zoom lens. Have used that camera when I've traveled. Carry it with me everyday in my backpack. Even shot an art video in a museum. The quality of the video was actually amazing. 😎😎
Excellent news, I'll go and pre-order now as it's not much dearer than a s/h older model!
I would have LOVED a proper RX100VII alternative. aka a 1inch sensor with bright 24-200 zoom lens. Damn it Panasonic
Not gonna happen for $499, try $1,199 and then everyone would cry about the price lol
Not sure if it's still being sold but the lumix tz220 is a 1inch sensor p&s cam with a 24-360mm zoom, and it's amazing
@@duckdog7277 They have been discontinued as far as I know. But after this release I wouldn't be surprised that Lumix might give the TZ202 a similar upgrade in the future.
yes i think 1" with 24-200 would be a good compromise for better image quality and less reach. But the price of a 1" camera will be a lot higher than this TZ99.
Stop complaining.
This is Panasonic G100 deja vu😮! G100 had even more features, especially, related to audio.
It reminds me the old LX 100 which I sold a few years ago. It was a little momster. 😅
I have a Panasonic ZS50 had it a few years love it ...30x zoom 24 - 720
I just found out that my Zs60 apparently supports 60s exposures in raw format, if one uses a special scene mode (but maximum Iso is only 80) as well as the mechanical shutter. That's very exciting, I didn't know that, could be extremely useful for astrophotography. I thought that the maximum was 4 seconds. Though it seems that one can't turn off long exposure noise reduction (dark frames). The Tz99 only supports 30s instead of 60s.
While I'm glad Panasonic is still producing TZ/ZS line cameras I'm glad I still have my TZ95. The EVF is small but incredibly useful.
hey Tom, Do you use the EVF on your TZ95 a lot? Or mostly under some special situations like zoom all the way in?
@@TheRealRichardWong Usually when taking pics I use the EVF. When taking video or waist level photos or selfies: I use the screen. Super convenient camera.
Any real time lut?
A camera like this is best paired with large sensor camera for low light and portraits. That's where its value is best. Use it for the range in bright daylight situations.
Pictures looked good would be nice to see pictures of people to see skin tones
thanks for the suggestion!
I wish it had 4K 60p. I would LOVE a compact camera with an optical zoom and 4k 60p.
Is it possible to connect an external microphone to this camera?
現在很少人需要用EVF，而且TZ95的顯示屏已很明亮，陽光下都很清晰！取消EVF是正確！轉用USB Type C充電，可以在戶外用充電寶(External Power Bank)充電，對於長時間拍攝生態、拍片很重要！另外，Touch AF, Touch Shtter對於拍攝雀鳥、蝴蝶很重要！可以在顯示屏即時改變對焦點及拍攝，方便快捷！其他同級同類的相機，無法媲美！
个人完全不考虑没有evf的相机，很难抓曝光的准确度，除非有曲线图可能还会考虑
@@GP996_LB明白！在陽光下，有EVF比較方便，我是TZ95的用家，有EVF，但EVF太細小，比較難觀看畫面，而且影蝴蝶、雀鳥時，需要快速用Touch AF 改變對焦點(對焦雀鳥的眼睛)，這是EVF辦不到的。
I will definitely be picking up 2 of them for my little sisters! one is still a teen and the other in her early twenties but this camera looks and sounds perfect for them to put in their purses and take cute pictures whenever we go out on our sister dates (which we do often 🥹❤️). Great video! Thank youu
Sounds like a great gift idea! Your sisters will be spoiled Hope you and your sisters have fun taking photos together!
I hope that there is a chance that there will be a Tz99 successor with a more significant upgrade. This could be really exciting. My wish is:
1. Even better image quality at 720mm and maybe an even higher maximum focal length than 129mm and a larger maximum effective lens diameter than 2.0cm (2.5-3cm would be nice), if good image quality is maintained
2. live photos without disabling raw (smartphones can do that), very useful for birds
3. a sensor with less read noise and better autofocus
4. a longer maximum exposure time or bulb mode (for example for astrophotography), the Zs60 supports 60s in raw format (but only at Iso 80), the Tz99 only 30s in raw format. And let us turn off long exposure dark frame subtraction.
5. It would be nice to have the handheld multi frame (raw format) noise reduction modes (called "high resolution mode") from other Panasonic cameras , although they are maybe not so useful for birds and might produce artifacts.
6. Bring back the Fn4 button, which I use for white balance. In winter, it's hard to use the touchscreen, even with special gloves.
I think they could maybe use a non-tilting screen and use the additional space for an improved lens (Tz99 is thicker than a Tz80 or Tz70, which use the same lens). But even with a tiltable screen they should be able to improve the camera.
I looked at some official product images of the Tz99 and I noticed that the microphones look different compared to the Tz95D. I wonder whether there is a difference regarding audio quality.
Do you imagine this compact camera with Lut feature?, that would be amazing
Yes I would love to see that too, but it works likely require a much more powerful processor and other upgrades so might be when LUMIX brings out a higher end compact camera
man if this had a 1 inch STACKED sensor while still keeping this 30x optical zoom, i'd be freaking sold!
But then the price will be a lot more, and also more importantly the size of the camrea will be a lot bigger.
Sony RX100 VII is 2.6x the price of this camera, and only offers up to 200mm eq focal length zoo
@@TheRealRichardWong if they could fit a 1 inch sensor in a phone, i think they could easily do as well in a goddamn camera. I have the lumix gm1 that has about the same size as the rx100 series cameras and it fits even a micro four thirds sensor. I have the kit 12 to 42 zoom lens which does not make it that much bigger... They could make the lens collapse more, even if that costs it to make it a bit thicker! Yeah it is not fully flat and also not as pocketable, but it would have a purpose! I don't want to see sensor innovation only on smartphones that have generally crappier lens, or cameras that are ultra expensive. I mean this camera is meant to be cheaper (even though in my eyes nowadays, 399$ is not at all cheap) but for keeping a similar, semi-pocketable form factor, but adding an actually good - large enough sensor + 30x zoom - why nobody makes that? I want something that is better than a phone, that shoots well enough in the pitch dark and to carry it everywhere. That's all i want. Camera makers just don't like to experiment and push boundaries! And if they do - they do it in all the wrong ways... I mean there is nothing bad in making refreshes of older and well loved products, but man i just want to see that innovation!
@@xkonstantin5A 720mm field of view and a 1" type sensor would require a 260mm lens instead of a 129mm lens! (Though the Canon Sx740 HS has a 172mm lens.)
And if you want to keep the same f-number (6.4), then the maximum effective lens diameter would need to be 4.1cm instead of 2.0cm! Though, the Canon Sx740 HS has 2.5cm.
So I think it would be slightly more realistic to have a maximum effective lens diameter of for example 2.8cm, which would capture twice as much light per exposure time as previously at 720mm and one could use a 20 megapixel sensor with less read noise. The Tz99 is 9mm thicker than the Tz70, which uses the same lens. So there is maybe some unused potential. Even the Canon Sx740 HS is smaller despite the higher focal length and larger effective diameter.
I recently bought a Fujifilm GFX 50R to upgrade from my X-T4. It’s a beautiful camera, but far too big to carry around all the time so I pre-ordered one of these to keep in my pocket when I can’t have the big one with me
My LX10 recently died. I really miss it. I'm looking for something to replace it. Thanks for the video.
Ahh the tz99 sensor is smaller than my 1 inch phone sensor
just without phone insane post processing
I doubt your phone has a 1 inch sensor
@@richardgorski23 Panasonic had a phone with a 1" sensor as far back as 2014, technically. There are a handful of phones from 2021-now that have them, though none of them are Apple/Samsung/Google. Vivo, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei all have 1" sensor phone offerings.
Panasonic, please don’t make us a daytime camera in 2024.
@@richardgorski23 many flagships have 1 inch sensor, tho youre gonna be stuck with super wide 23mm/19mm equivalent lens
I'm still using a TZ 70, it is a jewel for walk around, and I think that his 12mp is more than that little zoom lens ressolution it is able to handle
Not sure. I compared an 18 megapixel Zs60 at 720mm with an 8 megapixel 720mm 4:3 crop of a Canon M50+55-250mmSTM (upscaled to 18 megapixel) and the Zs60 had definitely slightly more detail in good light conditions.
@@Quoutub well, I only know that my tz70 at full xoom extension on 720mm doesn't offer the same sharpness that it had on 150mm or 250mm, for example. And noticeably less that in the short end. At the long end it can't handle 12mp of real sharpness definetly, so I supposed that 18mp or 20mp doesn't must to differ because the lens probably is about 6mp of real ressolution on 720mm
They removed the EVF? No way I will keep my ZS 80
crazy to remove the EVF??
Removing the viewfinder on cameras is such a stupid trend.
This camera is made for people who use smartphones and thus use to à screen as opossed to an evf.
@Lepewhi people who do that aren't going to buy this, they're just going to keep using their phone.
@@nickthaskater but I don't know of a smartphone with that kind of reach. Mine certainly can't.
thanks for your good presentation! such a pitty that the travel camera market died. nevertheless I can't understand why they left the view finder away. anyways...I have the tz71 and the tz90...and you know what? the tz70 (with a monopod) always comes along when I hike...
Bluetooth can it be used as a microphone input?
To me, that seems to be a high price for this camera. You can buy the previous model,maybe used and be perfectly happy. I have an tz202 which has a 1inch sensor. It only goes to 360. But, it has an evf and you can crop a bit. I would save up more money and go that route, personally.
Prices for the previous model are even higher, even second hand and IF you can find one. I've looked.
i really want panasonic to make a pocket prime camera reusing their 14mm or 20mm optic + their 20mp mft sensor like the Ricoh's GRIII
and i don't care if it doesn't have EVF as long as it has the hotshoe and compatibility to their old external EVF
They definitely should add in an EVF, does it really cost that much? Panasonic? I’m sure people are willing to pay extra to get that feature.
I believe point and shoots should come back. I think the technology has become mature enough. I like DSLR / Mirrorless cameras but sometimes I just want to point and shoot and enjoy the place and not try to take the best shot. Too frustrating! I am excited Panasonic is still dedicating to making more new ones. Though Kodak (JK) has been releasing "new" cameras the tech is outdated.
你同時UP兩條片??? G97 and TZ99 ?? 咁得意??
咁Panasonic同時公布兩部機，咁我就要時發兩條片㗎啦😃
30x optical zoom is crazy. But DFD? 💀
i wish they back lumix lx100 mft sensor the best ever cam ihave tryed even than om1 and my fujix100vi
How is that possible that Panasonic put a grip on a cheap point and shot and not in LUMIX S9?. Thanks for sharing
If they were going to improve anything it's keeping dust from getting on the sensor. I've had to do the vacuum trick on my ZS and not sure if it will work next time. I use the evf sometimes so upgrade not for me.
Hi Richard! How doe it compare to FZ80D (which you reviewed earlier) in terms of the image quality? Say if they're both on 30x, which do you think is a better performer?
i haven't really compare them side by side so sorry can't comment. But FZ80D has a 60x optical zoom. However there is a huge difference in terms of size
The reason that market died is… we are unable to get these cameras. I’ve been in the market for a pocketable camera that’s not a mobile phone but they are all out of stock 🏴
Like the Leica D-Lux 8, these models are too compromised for me to buy 🏴
You can still reliably find new Ricoh GRIIIs for sale. Very pricy though and you have to be comfy with 28 or 40 mil. Agree that the D-Lux 8 is quite a compromise (and, of course, out of stock until next year anyway! )
I'm sure the image quality will never compete with the Fuji X100VI. I wish it could.
Please show the comparison of zs99 to zs80 or a bigger sensor camera or sonny popular rx100 m7. Thanks for your works 😂
I don't like that they removed the Fn4 button (one can choose the function of each button).
I'm still trying to figure out when did $500 become an impulse buy? Goodness...
I am guilty of a few "impluse buy" of camera lens and gear between $500-800. Luckily they were all great purchases so no regrets 😁
@@rebw9800cope
As far as RAW goes, I use Raw Therapee with the ZS80 (predecessor) images.
A lack of EVF is a big mistake ....Just like the S9
All cameras are niche cameras to a lesser or greater extent. This camera as LUMIX knows will have demographic appeal for a few, and not much interest for many others. I myself have a small number of cameras, and each l use for different reasons. Do not know if I will buy this one or not , but it does fill a small void for one of the types of photography I like. This being sometime not carrying something around my neck, but in my pocket for maybe a longer walk. For pictures to just document wildlife and view on a computer screen, where a small sensor camera image looks absolutely fine. Think about it walking someplace, see a tiny bird way up in a tree, pull out a tiny camera from your pocket, zoom in, take a picture as seen here, click identify and any number of software programs today will ID the bird for you, or send it out over the web to let others ID the bird for you.
They need to update the sensor/sw to do night time pictures as well as the latest Iphones and higher end Android phones do. I have a 2016 era superzoom compact camera I badly want to upgrade but I won't buy one until they can do night pictures as well as phones.
I hope someting like that will come in the near future. Product development just takes much longer than expected sometime
You think that is surprising? Wait till you hear what is the most popular camera in the UK (per units sold)… the Fujifilm Instax! 😂
Conparing to Sony HX99, which one shoule offer more better image quality? The sony HX99 was released quite long time ago The software of TZ99 might be better?
Leatherette, matte and satin black on the same body? Weird combo that makes it look cheap imho.
Disappointed about the sensor size and the F-related limitations.
I want a TZ99-like look and size, half-frame compact camera lens, 12-28 equivalent to 18-40, large aperture, the aluminum alloy near the rubber is flat
something like the LX100?
@@TheRealRichardWong LENS change to 9-20 1.4 OR apsc -12 28
I have a feeling Leica D-Lux 9 will be something similar to this 🫣
I have the TZ95D. The autofocus is slow, even in the day light. Im disappointed because it affects it's use in some usecases such as wildlife and street photography.
It’s a bit like the Leica D-Lux 8, an old design updated 🏴