Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The 16X - visual - zoom PanasonicLumix ZS10is the touchscreen - outfit successor to last yr ’s Lumix DMC - ZS8 . The sum of the DMC - ZS10 ’s parts is a fast - focusing , versatile pocket megazoom with high Mark for rapid growth range , scene modal value , 3D still shooting , and in - tv camera extras . But like many Panasonic camera , this one presents users with an Auto mode that bring forth pretty underexposed images . As a result , you must use the camera ’s manual options to get the highest - timbre output from it . The camera ’s GPS capableness make it handy to have on a route trip , but its in - camera mapping features fall far short of the ones we ’ve seen in theCasio Exilim EX - H20G.
Hardware and optics
The 14 - megapixel CMOS - based Panasonic Lumix DMC - ZS10 kick back off its telling hardware spectacles with a 16X ( 24 mm to 384 mm ) optical zoom lens of the eye , which is stabilise by excellent “ Power OIS ” stabilisation . The camera counters crusade at full telephoto with a fluid float motility , so you ’ll seldom have to fight to frame a shot .
In manual and aperture - priority mode , aperture configurations range from F3.3 at the wide - angle end to F5.9 at full telephotograph — that ’s not on the button a flying lens of the eye , but it ’s not too shabby for a camera with such a prospicient zoom . Manual shutter assure reach from 1/4000 second to 60 seconds , not counting the television camera ’s fusillade modes : you may capture 10 frames per second at full resolution , or 60 Federal Protective Service at a resolution of 3.5 megapixels ; and you may shoot 320 - by-240 - pixel , YouTube - friendly video at 220 fps in the camera ’s high - speed moving-picture show mode ( see the sample video below ) .
The Lumix DMC - ZS10 ’s most significant new characteristic is touchscreen control , which provides a ready to hand junior-grade mode to focalise shots , discharge the shutter , zoom , and sail menus . The ability to focus by come to the photographic camera ’s 3 - inch sieve is very useful when you desire to highlight off - center of attention subjects or but require to focus and fire as quickly as possible . This feature is also the closest thing to manual centering on the camera , so the fact that it works so well is important . I also appreciated have the forcible control in the mix for zooming and for menu options , as those configurations are generally easier to get at via the television camera ’s dials and release .
The Lumix DMC - ZS10 ’s Sonic Speed AF system of rules generally snap into focus instantly , though I did encounter about a one-half - second of searching at the full telephotograph end of the zoom lens of the eye . Regardless , Panasonic ’s autofocus system remain one of the best around at locking apace on subjects , even in challenge shot situations . And since the machine - focus summons does n’t hold the photographic camera up , shutter lag is much nonexistent . The addition of cutaneous senses - based focalisation shows off the autofocus speed nicely , and it ’s a very handy way to pick a theme to interlock on when you ’re using the camera ’s motion - trailing autofocus function .
Shooting modes and features
The Lumix DMC - ZS10 is one of the first Panasonic point - and - shoots to declare oneself a 3D shooting modality , though this capableness is limited to still images . It work a muckle like the 3D mood that Sony ’s single - lens 3D - capable camera manipulation : You place the camera ’s modality telephone dial to ‘ 3D ’ and pan the tv camera from side to side ; the television camera takes a serial publication of photo that it automatically sew together together into an .MPO image . To view the image in 3D , you must dally the photo back on a three-D - subject TV set or monitor . Unlike theFujifilm FinePix Real 3-D W3and the Nintendo 3D , the DMC - ZS10 does n’t cater a spyglass - liberal display .
We hooked up the Lumix DMC - ZS10 via an HDMI cable to the three-D - capable Vizio XVT3D650SV for some informal testing of its 3D imaging capability , and the camera mostly did a good job of showcasing a 3D impression in images that featured layers pass far back into the scene . There is a bit of a “ cardboard cutout ” effect between layer at different depths in the scene , and you ’ll need to use the tv camera ’s own 3D playback card selection to get the undecomposed result when playing 3D images back on a telecasting set . As in 2D mode , the camera in 3D mode does a much better line of work in well - alight , outdoor situation than in dimly - lit surroundings . And because the 3D images are captured at a rock-bottom resolution , you see a minute of coarseness and ocular racket in full - cover 3D guess . The Lumix DMC - ZS10 ’s 3D output signal total to an extra , tempting feature of speech rather than the elementary rationality to choose this camera .
Setting the Lumix DMC - ZS10 ’s mode dial to the ‘ SCN ’ position brings up a card of 30 scene modes . Though they look like smallish feeling - icons , you have to use the camera ’s strong-arm piloting pad to pick out them . Along with such vulgar vista modes as Portrait , Sports , Sunset , and Panorama Assist , you ’ll find a few unique ones . Handheld Night Shot is alike to Sony ’s Handheld Twilight fashion , in that it take several guess in speedy succession at unlike exposure options and then merges them to make a sharp low - light shot without the flash . The social unit ’s in high spirits Dynamic Range musical mode automatically compiles HDR shots in - camera ; Flash Burst modal value quickly recycles the newsbreak for continuous shooting at about a physical body per second ; and the high - speed moving picture fashion trance super - slow - motion YouTube clips .
Another unique background is Happy mode , which boosts colour sonority to near - neon levels . The way provides a quick antidote to the camera ’s underexposed shots in Auto mode — but it will gratify you only if you ’re a huge fan of oversaturation and unrealistically bright colors .
In the Lumix DMC - ZS10 ’s normal high - definition movie mode , the camera shoots 1920 by 1080 AVCHD video at 60 interlaced field per second , as well as 720p video at 60 frames per second . you could apply the full range of the camera ’s 16X - optical - zoom lens while filming , and the camera has automatic scene - recognition modes ( but no full manual control ) while you ’re take picture . Here again , the Lumix DMC - ZS10 ’s optical stabilization feature does a fine job of keeping long - zoom shot steadfast .
Performance, image quality, and video quality
Like many other Panasonic cameras we ’ve test , the Lumix ZS10 turned in slightly underexposed prototype in our science laboratory ’s subjective tests for image and picture quality . Image timber kicks up a few notches when you use the camera ’s manual control and vulnerability compensation preferences , but there ’s noraw germinate modeto help with lumbering - duty fixes .
In our science laboratory ’s subjective test , the Lumix DMC - ZS10 earned a colouration truth military rank of Good , while pic levels received a score of Fair due to their mostly coloured , underexposed tone . Our judges rated the camera ’s sharpness and optical aberration levels as Fair , too , yield an overall still - image quality rating of Fair .
select the thumbnail images at pull up stakes to see the full - size trial shots used for our subjective test .
In videoland , the Lumix DMC - ZS10 sprain in score of Good for both television timbre and audio calibre , but its video recording capabilities are serviceable only in well - lit situation . High - definition video recording shoot with the camera in our bright - light test look placid , but most clips were noticeably deficient in sharpness . In our low - light mental test , sample TV was far too dark and cloudy for subsequent viewers to see what was going on , and the camera ’s autofocus struggled quite a scrap .
Here are the sample video we captured in our smart - tripping and humiliated - light mental testing . Select ‘ 1080p ’ from the bottom - right carte du jour in each player to see each clip at the highest solving .
The Lumix DMC - ZS10 struggle a second in the realm of battery life , too , with a CIPA paygrade of 250 stab per charge of its lithium - ion battery — and that ’s with the photographic camera ’s GPS function turned off . Once I established a successful GPS connecter , the battery seemed to drain rather quickly ; you ’ll by all odds want to turn the photographic camera ’s Global Positioning System features off for hug more shots out of the battery .
GPS features
The Lumix DMC - ZS10 ’s GPS feature are a moment unspoiled than most tv camera we ’ve see , but they diminish brusk of the Casio Exilim EX - H20 G ’s excellent in - tv camera mathematical function capableness . For one thing , the camera lack an interface for displaying your images and telecasting on a map sheathing . Instead , you must unload the images to a microcomputer and apply on-line mapping services that can learn a photo ’s EXIF data point ; so you do n’t get the instantaneous satisfaction of seeing your pics on an on - screen door map ( or figuring out where you are by using your camera ) .
Where the Lumix DMC - ZS10 does beam brighter than a typical geotag - only camera is with in - camera placement database and customization choice . The camera tags photos with the existent - world names of countries , states , cities , and landmarks , and you’re able to participate your own custom position name ( “ Third Floor Kitchen , ” “ My Backyard , ” and the similar ) and utilise these repeatedly for specific positioning .
In my informal hands - on examination of the camera ’s GPS feature , the Lumix DMC - ZS10 demand about 3 minute to relate up to the satellite successfully ; but once the connection was lay down , it did a good job of name key landmarks in San Francisco and tagging pic consequently . For instance , it correctly pinpoint AT&T Park and Rincon Center — and after I go down my own “ IDG Offices ” turning point , it popped up automatically every fourth dimension I was in the neighbourhood of the workplace .
Geotagged images shot with the Lumix DMC - ZS10 prove up in the right location on a map when I test it with Picasa , Google Earth , and Flickr . For optimal results , it ’s a skillful idea to manually resync the GPS connexion before you take each shot ; the photographic camera displays the slip by time since the most recent GPS sync next to a planet icon when the GPS feature film is active .
All in all , the GPS features of the Lumix DMC - ZS10 worked well , but the unit can take quite a bit of clock time to establish a connection with the satellite , and the lineament takes a toll on the television camera ’s battery life history if you go forth it power on . Used sparingly , it ’s a decent feature of speech .
Macworld buying advice
If you ’re conversant with Panasonic ’s Lumix ZS line , you ’ll ascertain that the DMC - ZS10 falls in personal line of credit with what you ’d expect : a upstanding build , full manual options and scene modality , and a few unique features such as 3D shooting and GPS . At $ 400 , we ’d have liked to see a Raw mode , farseeing battery life story , in - camera maps , and good overall range and picture calibre in Intelligent Auto modal value , but the ZS10 ’s broad range of features overcompensate to some extent for its inclination to underexpose images in anything other than broad daylight . Frequent travelers who want a sturdy , versatile compact photographic camera for their adventure will find a stack to like here , as long as they ’re well-to-do tinkering with manual controls and view way , and they remember to reverse off the GPS features off when not using them .
