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Product Description
Product Description
Photo Quality
14.1MP High Sensitivty MOS Sensor
Conventional Digital Cameras use image sensor technology built around a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). However the demand for faster readout and lower power consumption has led to the development of MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensors as the preferred technology to deliver the advanced features of today's models. Panasonic's advanced 14 megapixel MOS sensor offers a digital readout from the sensor that supports Full HD video recording and high speed burst shooting. Also, due to a newly designed micro lens tube structure, light capture is maximised and picture noise greatly reduced (less than half the level compared to previous model TZ20).
High Resolution Leica Lens
Due to the strenuous image quality control checks that are enforced by Leica during Panasonic's lens manufacturing process, high quality and performance is assured in three main areas: Resolution - sharp and clear all the way to the edge and corners. Distortion - straight lines must appear straight, even at the wide angle. Ghost-free clarity - images should be largely free of ghosting or flare.
Anti-ghost & Flare with Nano Coating Lens
In addition to multi-coating lens technology to reduce flare and reflections, the application of a Nano thin coating outer layer (usually only found on high-end Digital SLR lenses) virtually eliminates ghost and flare entirely.
Power O.I.S. with Active Mode
Our highest and most effective order of image stabilisation. Power O.I.S. is about twice as effective as our conventional system at reducing low-frequency vibration-caused blur. It is especially useful when using slow shutter effects or shooting night scenes. And with the option of Active mode, taking shots from a moving vehicle or while walking is also more precise. It is even effective in video movie mode.
Fastest Auto Focus
Fast focus is a must when you don't want to miss the moment of a lifetime. None come faster in a compact camera than the lightning fast 0.1 seconds of Lumix. Borrowed from the technology used in our Lumix G system camera, the incredibly fast focus speed is due to the double speed readout from the sensor when the shutter button is half pressed.
Powerful 20x Optical Zoom Lens
One of the reasons the Lumix TZ series has proved so popular is the way in which Panasonic manage to cram an amazing high zoom lens in to a relatively small bodied camera. New for the 2012 model TZ30, is an incredible 20x optical zoom. That means that you could be shooting at a wide angle equivalent of 24mm one minute and then zooming in for a close up at 480mm the next. Another way of imagining this amazing zoom range is this, picture yourself on the wild African plains watching a male lion sleeping in the hot afternoon sun. You are 90 feet away on the back of a safari jeep but can just make out his shape amongst the grass. Now take your TZ30 and zoom right in to your subject. The amazing image you take with the camera is as if you were less than 10 feet from him and you can now see that he still has one eye open and firmly fixed on you.
24mm (Equivalent) Wide-Angle Lens
In 35mm camera terms, a 50mm lens is considered close to the natural viewing angle of humans. A 100mm lens makes the subject appear twice as close to the camera but reduces the width of view by half. A 25mm lens has the opposite effect, making the angle of view twice as wide as the 50mm lens but appearing as if we have moved the camera away from the subject. The advantage of a wide angle lens, such as the 24mm equivalent included in this camera, is that you can get more image in the shot. That's great for indoor use where you may want to photograph a group of friends, or for outdoor shots where you want to shoot an amazing landscape or sunset. Either way, you will find the wide angle option adds to your creativity.
50P Full HD Video Mode with AVCHD Progressive
The newly developed Venus Engine FHD supports video recording at 50 frames per second in Full HD resolution (1920x1080). This offers the smoothest and most detailed video mode ever for a compact digital camera and is perfect for fast action sports recording.
ISO 3200 Low Light Shooting
A combination of improved noise reduction and redesigned MOS sensor means that you can now shoot in very low light conditions by selecting a high sensitivity mode of ISO3200.
Functionality & Ease of Use
High Resolution 3.0 Inch Wide Angle Touch Screen LCD
Not only do our TZ models offer a large 3.0 inch, 460,000 pixel high resolution display, but the TZ30 also offers a smart touch screen so that you can enjoy features like Touch Shutter, Touch AF Tracking and Touch Zoom. And when you are reviewing the pictures you have taken you can Photo Scroll and Photo Zoom your images. All in all an intuitive welcome addition to this age of touch screen devices.
iA (Intelligent Auto) Shooting Mode
The art of taking interesting photographs is to have a camera that is ready to shoot when the moment arises. iA mode is a feature of all Lumix models and it lets you take the picture without you having to worry about what settings to use. The camera intelligently works out the type of scene that you are trying to capture. Whether it is a picture of a persons face (using Auto Portrait mode), a dramatic landscape (using Auto Landscape mode), A close up of a beautiful flower (using Auto Macro mode) or a group of friends (using Auto Face Detection & Recognition). All the most commonly used shooting scenarios are programmed in to the camera and the camera makes all the internal settings automatically, leaving you to just press the button.
10 Frames Per Second High Speed Burs Shooting
One of the advantages of a MOS sensor is the incredibly fast read-out speed. High-speed burst shooting, up to 10 frames per second at full resolution, is possible. This enables you to capture high speed action with a sequence of still pictures that are sharp and defined, even when it is difficult to keep the subject in the centre of the frame. You can review the images after you have captured the action and choose the best composed shot.
Creative Control for Recording
Up to 10 creative filter effects can be selected before taking your shot. These effects: Expressive, Retro, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, High Dynamic, Dynamic Monochrome, Miniature, Toy Photo and Soft Focus add an interesting new look to what might otherwise be a boring picture.
Creative Re-Touch for Playback
Some of the creative filter effects that are available before taking your picture, are also available to add to your shot after you have captured it. You can decide whether effects like Soft Focus, High Key or Dynamic Monochrome add an interesting new look to your shot, and apply the effect to the original picture after you have reviewed it.
Stereo Sound Recording
A built-in stereo microphone means high quality Dolby encoded stereo sound can be recorded when using movie mode.
Networking
GPS with Photo Mapping
Ever looked at a photograph and wondered exactly where it was taken? Well with GPS tagging on all your photos you need never wonder again. Latitude and Longitude positioning are stored in the image data for each photograph. Based on a database of almost one million landmarks stored in the camera, it even works out whether the photo was taken at a famous landmark.
Extended Capacity SD Card Recording
Panasonic Lumix cameras are compatible with SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card and the format new extra capacity SDXC Memory Cards. So whether it's 1GB, 4GB or 64GB capacity you require, Lumix can accommodate.
HDMI Control with Viera Link
When using the Mini HDMI connection between the camera and a Panasonic Viera TV, the still pictures and video files contained on the inserted SD memory card or on the camera's internal memory can be accessed and viewed by using the TV remote control. This function called Viera Link makes searching and viewing files easy and straight forward with one remote controller.
Product Description
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Customer Reviews
The TZ30 packs a huge 20x optical zoom together with GPS into a genuinely pocketable package. The 14. 1 Mega pixel sensor has been redesigned to give better low light performance and is supported by a very effective anti-shake system. To me the pictures are noticeably better than the TZ20 which we also own. I can best summarise the pros and cons of this camera as follows;
Pros
- The build and pocketable size combine to produce a stylish package - because of these factors this is the camera you are most likely to have on you for that once in lifetime shot.
- Huge 20x zoom with effective stabilisation plus further usable digital zoom.
- Pictures are pretty good most of the time (but see below) and certainly better than the TZ20.
- GPS works well plus there is a mapping DVD provided with a database of over 1 million landmarks across the world - you load the region you are using the camera in and it saves the data to the SD card.
- Good burst mode and fast autofocus with tracking mode.
- 1080p video is very good with a wide range of formats to choose from.
- Clear touch screen display.
- Lots of scene modes plus, creative controls, panorama and a 3D facility.
- Seems to cope well with backlit subjects.
- Battery life quite good for a small camera unless you use GPS a lot.
Cons
- Pictures are not noise free and follow the inevitable pattern of the higher the ISO the noisier the shot (but show me a truly pocketable camera where this isn't the case).
- GPS runs the battery life down very quickly, especially, as it remains on when the camera is off unless you switch it off.
- You can't input text via the touch screen plus, although ok, it is not as HD as some other brands - the Sony has twice as many pixels.
- No raw mode, and, in IA mode the camera decides on picture quality for you.
- Prone to red eye (like all small cameras where the flash and lens are close together) but there isn't a specific camera tool to edit this (or I can't find it).
Overall, this is an impressive camera, and, the "cons" are, in effect, limitations that all of the competitors suffer from too. In essence, it produces good results, is versatile, and, of course, there's that huge zoom crammed into a tiny package which really does get you close to the action. Although still new, I like this camera and it's growing on me, plus, it's small enough to keep in my pocket. Good things can come in small packages. Recommended.
PS. Although the description of box contents on this page suggests the camera comes with a stylus for the touch screen it does not. Also, if you are looking for a "minimalist" pocket case try the Lowepro Seville 20.
I'll come clean and say that I've always been a Canon buyer because I love the Canon quality of images and ease of use.
My short list was the TZ30, the Canon SX260HS and the Sony Cybershot HX9V and I agonised over many a review.
I ruled out the Sony which got great reviews last year and better reviews than the HX10 and HX20 funnily enough - simply because the images were said to be over-processed but more fundamentally, it seems the camera couldn't find the GPS satellites and having had a sat-nav with that annoying tendency, I ruled it out.
That left the Canon and the Panasonic to slug it out and regrettably, Canon made that choice for me by only offering 24fps on the HD video whereas the TZ30 has 60fps so it was time to defect.
I bought my TZ30 in white and bought
(1) a Lexar Professional card Lexar 8GB 133x Professional SDHC Card which has the quality and speed to maximise the TZ30s capabilities.
(2) a spare battery Panasonic DMW-BCG10E Lithium-ion Battery Pack - for TZ7/TZ6/TZ8/TZ10/TZ20 which worked straight off and charged quickly.
(3) some incredibly cheap but astonishing value Neewer tripods Neewer 2x Small Bendable Flexible Black table top Tripod for Compact Cameras
(4) a Crumpler Lolly Dolly 95 camera pouch which is a perfect fit for the TZ30 as well as great quality and value Crumpler - Lolly Dolly 95 Camera/Media Pouch - Black/Grey.
The camera is great, the jump in quality and ability from my old Canon A710iS being obvious. It has a reasonably intuitive menu and a dedicated video button (which I didn't like on my Canon SX10iS but here it is much more obvious). So far I am very pleased with the quality of the shots and the video it produces and the 20x zoom is quite amazing and produces a good quality photo even on full zoom where my old Canon used to get very grainy on zoom(though in fairness that had half the pixels and only a 6x zoom).
The touch screen also takes photos on contact which came as a surprise and gave me many fine shots of the ground.
The GPS works very well and overall, it's a very handy size given it's capabilities.
"Downsides" for me - the photo download software is not as good or easy to use as the Canon software whose Zoombrowser EX offers better ways of viewing photos. I download using the Panasonic software and view on the Canon browser (though that can't "see" the Panasonic videos so I have to use both anyway). That said, the later Canon 2010 software was not as good as the earlier 2007 software and what you don't know won't hurt you.
The battery/card cover is flimsier than Canon's offerings but OK and the camera connector is unnecessarily smaller than Canon's more robust plug-in.
The battery can only be charged in the camera and has no separate charger (and you'd risk electrical catastrophe if you bought any of the rubbish ones on ebay) but in practice, the charging is no big deal.
Anyway, great buy, no regrets, shame on Canon for losing a sale based on lazy video specifications (though I should say I could have bought the SX260HS for about £40 cheaper but then I could have paid £100 less for a Panasonic TZ20...and so it goes on...)
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