Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 / DMC-TZ30

alaTest has collected and analyzed 74 reviews from magazines and websites. People really like the usability and performance. The zoom and image quality also get good views. There are some mixed reviews about the battery. The features and shutter get critical views.

portability, image quality, zoom, performance, usability

memory, viewfinder, shutter, features

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 / DMC-TZ30 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 91/100 = Excellent quality.

See all Panasonic Digital Compact Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 74 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (48% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (34% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (12% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (1% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (4% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

Portability
  Show positive (49%)Show negative (5%)(Show all)
Performance
  Show positive (69%)Show negative (31%)(Show all)
Zoom
  Show positive (58%)None yet(Show all)
Image quality
  Show positive (52%)Show negative (2%)(Show all)
Usability
  Show positive (72%)None yet(Show all)
Responsiveness
  Show positive (52%)Show negative (13%)(Show all)
Lens
  Show positive (39%)None yet(Show all)
Value for money
  Show positive (38%)Show negative (14%)(Show all)
Battery
  Show positive (15%)Show negative (13%)(Show all)
Low-light
  Show positive (47%)Show negative (5%)(Show all)
More features

Showing 75 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 75 Show Reviews: in English

Expert review by:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Review: 20X Pocket Megazoom Loaded With Options

 

For a pocketable camera, the 14-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 ($350 as of May 15, 2012) is about as loaded as they come. The trait that will jump out at you--literally, if you're facing the camera--is the Lumix ZS20's 20X-optical-zoom lens (24mm...

20X-optical-zoom lens (24mm to 480mm) ; Manual controls and wide range of shooting modes ; Smooth 1080p video ; Very fast autofocus ; In-camera GPS

Control scheme can be confusing sometimes ; Image quality is a bit disappointing

The Lumix ZS20 is a top-tier travel camera, thanks to a far-reaching zoom lens, built-in GPS with mapping, extensive shooting options, and good (but not great) image and video quality.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 (Lumix DMC-TZ30)

 

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 is a compact travel zoom camera with a pretty elaborate GPS setup. Not only does the ZS20 log your location, it also has a database of a million landmarks and maps of ninety countries. The ZS20 also packs a new 20X zoom...

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While improved over the ZS10, photos still have too much noise, even at ISO 100 ; Tends to clip highlights ; Strong redeye; no removal tool in playback mode ; Images have yellow/brownish cast in artificial light ; No RAW, manual focus, or WB bracketing...

The Lumix DMC-ZS20 is arguably the most full-featured travel zoom on the market. Its Intelligent Auto mode and decent set of manual controls combined with an elaborate GPS setup and 1080/60p movie mode make it a traveller's delight. Unfortunately its...

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 (Red)

 

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 is a pretty remarkable point-and-shoot camera. Its Leica lens starts off at an ultrawide-angle 24mm and zooms in to 480mm. That's an incredible range for a lens in a body that's just 1.1 inches thick. That's actually...

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 has an excellent design and feature set, including an ultrawide-angle 20x zoom lens, GPS, and semimanual and manual shooting modes, as well as fast shooting performance and improved low-light photo quality from previous...

Using all of the ZS20's high-performance features, such as its near-pointless touch screen, can really cut into battery life. Also, photos are noisy and soft when viewed at 100 percent.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20's 20x zoom lens might be the main attraction, but the camera is all-around excellent.

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Expert review by:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Digital Camera Review

 

The Panasonic DMC-ZS20 (also known as the TZ30 outside North America) is the latest travel-zoom compact camera from the company that practically invented the category. Panasonic claims it is the slimmest camera with a 20x optical zoom, while also...

The Panasonic DMC-ZS20 (or TZ30, outside of North America) is a travel zoom model that manages to fit just about everything you might ask for into a compact camera that can fit easily into a jacket pocket or purse. It has a 20x optical zoom lens, new...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

 

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 ($349.99 direct) is a marked improvement over its predecessor, the ZS10. Its lens isn't the sharpest we've seen, but the long-zooming camera does do well at higher ISO settings and features a GPS so you can easily geotag...

Long zoom lens. GPS. Good high ISO performance. 1080p60 video capture

Softer images. Slow to start and shoot

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 squeezes a 20x zoom lens into its compact body. It isn't the fastest camera, and the lens lags behind the competition in sharpness, but it does well at higher ISOs and has a built-in GPS.

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Expert review by:

Lumix DMC-ZS20

 

($349) is a compact travel zoom camera with a pretty elaborate GPS setup. Not only does the ZS20 log your location, it also has a database of a million landmarks and maps of ninety countries. The ZS20 also packs a new 20X zoom lens, 14.1 Megapixel MOS...

Good photo quality (though see below) ; Packs a 20X Leica lens in a pretty compact package ; Power OIS" image stabilization, with "active" mode for movies ; 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 460,000 pixels, great outdoor/low light visibility ; Built-in GPS...

While improved over the ZS10, photos still have too much noise, even at ISO 100 ; Tends to clip highlights ; Strong redeye; no removal tool in playback mode ; Images have yellow/brownish cast in artificial light ; No RAW, manual focus, or WB bracketing...

Overall, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 is a very capable travel zoom camera that I enjoy using. Panasonic has improved the image quality to the point where I can now recommend the ZS20 (which was not the case for its predecessor), though it still needs...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

 

Great zoom range in a small, well-built body ; Good image quality in a wide range of situations ; Manual modes for more control ; Fast and accurate GPS

Sluggish or frustrating controls at times ; Obvious noise reduction even at ISO 100, although not deal-breaking

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Expert review by:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 – A Slimmest Digital Camera

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 is the latest range topping travel zoom camera, featuring 16x 24-384mm lens, touchscreen LCD, built in GPS geotagging and 3D Photo mode. It is a successor to TZ10 and has new 14.1-megapixel MOS sensor, which enables full 1080i...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

 

Panasonic's updated ZS20 improves in nearly every area last year's model struggled.

More intelligent noise reduction than last year; Burst mode offers 8-10 fps for 10 shots; Sharper lens and longer optical zoom range

Color accuracy falls a bit behind ZS10

The Panasonic DMC-ZS20 (or TZ30, outside of North America) is a travel zoom model that manages to fit just about everything you might ask for into a compact camera that can fit easily into a jacket pocket or purse. It has a 20x optical zoom lens, new...

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Expert review by:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Review: Travel Light

 

Panasonic's new Lumix ZS20 compact ultrazoom offers a 20x optical zoom lens spanning the 24 to 480mm focal range in 35mm equivalents. Despite that generous focal range, the ZS20 is readily shirt pocket portable (Panasonic describes it as the world's...

Good image quality ; Fast AF performance ; Manual controls

Battery charges in camera ; Monitor somewhat dim ; No memory card formatting in iA mode

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Product Specifications

Configuration

Autofocus: Yes
Built-in Flash: Yes
Changeable Lens: No
Image Stabiliser:Optical Image Stabiliser
Integrated GPS Module: Yes
Touchscreen: Yes

Connectivity

HDMI Interface: Yes
PictBridge: Yes
WiFi Connectivity: No

General Features

3D:3D enabled
Bridge Camera: No
Chip Type:CMOS
Product Type:Compact Camera
Sensor Size:1/2.33''

Memory

Compact Flash Card: No
Memory Stick / Memory Stick Pro: No
Memory Stick Duo / Duo Pro: No
Micro Drive: No
Multimedia Card: No
SDXC Card: Yes
Secure Digital Card: Yes
Secure Digital High Capacity Card: Yes
XD Card: No

Recording

Face Detection Mode:Face Detection
Movie / Voice Recording:Movie + Voice
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