Panasonic Lumix ZS3 Digital Camera Review
Posted on 02/02/2009
An early look at an interesting digital camera set to introduce a new improvement to HD video recording. By Michael Patrick Brady
Photo Gallery
Large images not presented in full resolution
Panasonic's TZ series of compact digital cameras have always been remarkable in that they cram long-range zoom lenses into comfortable, portable camera bodies. Cameras like the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 simply offered specifications that other manufacturers could not match: nine megapixels, a long 12x optical zoom, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and high-definition video mode. Still, there's always room for improvement, and Panasonic has created a new model to push their line of fully-loaded compact cameras even further: The Panasonic Lumix ZS3.
The 'ZS' line will be taking over for the 'TZ' line from here on out (though this camera will be referred to as the TZ7 in Europe). In general, the Lumix ZS3 offers slight, but significant improvements in the major specs, increasing from nine to 10 megapixels, from 10x to 12x optical zoom, and from a wide 28mm to a wider 25mm lens. What really makes the ZS3 stand out, however, is the inclusion of a high-definition movie mode using AVCHD Lite. Typically found only in camcorders, AVCHD is a major advancement in digital camera movie modes, one we'll visit in more detail later.
The Lumix ZS3 will be available in April 2009, but we managed to get a quick hands-on preview of an early model.
Design
While previous compact zoom cameras like the TZ5 were somewhat bulky and heavy, the Lumix ZS3 is an exceptionally light digital ultracompact. Weight was not an issue at all, and it hardly came to mind when using the camera, which was nice. Panasonic is marketing the ZS3 as a 'hybrid' camera, putting greater emphasis on the fact that it can take both digital still photos and high-definition videos. As such, video recording is afforded much greater prominence in the overall design.
The result is a big, red video record button placed on the back of the camera, to the right of the LCD display. Pressing this button will immediately launch video mode and start recording, right away. This is an idea whose time has come. Rather than sequestering video mode away on its own mode dial setting, it's easily accessible at all times. And if you want to return to still photo mode, you simply return to the shutter button. Panasonic understands that modern camera consumers aren't just shopping for a camera with video mode. They're shopping for a video/still camera, and each feature should be given equal weight and access.
Aesthetically, the ZS3 is nothing to write home about. The simple silver model I played with was relatively unremarkable, with a slight grip and smooth surface.
Performance
Though the ZS3 model I was using is an early model or prototype, I had very few complaints about its performance. Picture quality was excellent, and as you'll see from the sample gallery, the ZS3 provided crisp, vivid colors that accurately represented the scenes.
The Lumix ZS3 features Panasonic's 'Intelligent Auto' or 'iA' mode. While I was skeptical at first about its predictive power, Intelligent Auto more often than not accurately deduced the type of environment I was in, and properly adjusted the camera's mode accordingly. For example, when I crept in close to take a macro photo, the camera automatically switched into macro mode, making it possible for me to take an appropriate shot without having to dig into the camera's menu system to make adjustments. When I was by the beach, I could see the camera switching out of its normal mode to landscape mode whenever I aimed toward the horizon. The ZS3 is a smart camera, and if you're a novice photographer who'd rather not worry about such mundane mode settings, Intelligent Auto will be a godsend.
Face Recognition: Interesting, but Spotty
Panasonic has also introduced 'Face Recognition' technology with their new line of cameras, and while it's a novel (if gimmicky) idea, the implementation is still a little spotty. The Face Recognition mode on the ZS3 takes the familiar Face Detection mode one step further. Once the camera detects and focuses on a face, you can input the person's name into the camera. The idea is that in the future, the camera will remember the face of that person and when it sees them and focuses on their face, a little label with their name will pop up. The usefulness comes later: each photo is tagged with the person's name, allowing you to sort through your photo library looking for shots of that person.
The way it works is, it calculates the spacing between a person's eyes and nose. It's decent enough criteria, but results in some difficulty when people aren't looking directly at the camera, or when multiple subjects are moving around in a photo. In the demonstrations I saw, it worked fine if people were perfectly still, but as soon as anyone moved a muscle, the camera freaked out and would randomly assign a name to a face until everyone settled down.
AVCHD Lite: Important and Impressive
Prior to the ZS3, high-definition digital camera movie modes used a video format known as Motion JPEG. This provided HD video in 720p with decent quality. The downside was that Motion JPEG videos were large and would quickly fill up a memory card. Most digital camcorders that shoot in high definition use AVCHD, a video compression format that manages to maintain high-quality while substantially decreasing the size of the video file. Panasonic (along with Sony) has adapted AVCHD for digital cameras, and called it AVCHD Lite.
The new AVCHD Lite format means more video can be stored on a digital camera's memory card in better quality. An 8GB secure digital card can be expected to hold 30 minutes worth of HD video in Motion JPEG format, and 60 minutes of superior AVCHD Lite video. Audio quality is also improved, with two microphones for stereo sound recording.
Conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix ZS3 is a fine camera, and while it may not look very exciting, the introduction of AVCHD Lite HD video is a major step toward making digital cameras a comprehensive personal recording device, and freeing consumers from larger, bulkier, more expensive camcorders. We'll be keeping an eye on any changes or other news about the ZS3 should any surface before its release in April 2009. Currently, the suggested retail price is around $400, but surely better deals will be available this spring, once it is available.
Panasonic Lumix ZS3 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
I’ｍ a Japanese student.
In Japan, the rumor says TZ7 (ZS3)'s CCD can't output 60fps but 30fps.
A small text "AVCHD Lite 60fps *Output from CCD is 30fps" is seen in Panasonic web site.
The way of saving movie files record the movie as 60 fps.
But CCD outputs 30fps. So we see the movies like a 30fps movie.(It may not be smooth.)
Panasonic customer support of says CCD output is also 60fps.
But we can't believe it ,because the information in the official web site isn't modified for a long time.
And big argumentations has happened in 2-channel ,a biggest web message board in Japan.
So I have a question.
In foreign countries (America,EU,etc) , what do you hear about this information?
Which is true? All of record is 60 fps? Or, data from CCD is 30fps and recorded 60fps (like 30fps)?
I'm sorry for my poor English. Thank you for reading.
on panasonic uk site
The Full HD Movie 720p AVCHD Lite function allows you to record high quality movies with the same astonishing HD resolution as you experience with your photos -- of course in stereo sound. HD movies are recorded at 720p at 60 frames per second (fps); you see 60 images with 720 vertical lines each second. Movies shown at cinemas use 24fps, so just imagine how impressive your movies shot at 60fps will look on a large flat screen TV
panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/...
The sensor can only output 30 frames per second, as shown by the specs on the panasonic website - which means it can truely only output a max of 30 frames per second.
You two finally answered the actual question Super XP was asking,
thanks!
Dcb
And I'm so sorry for my very late gratitude.
I checked the movie taken with TZ7 by PS3 and I used frame-by-frame advance.
And I saw that there are same two frames.
(That's not true 60fps.)
I'm satisfied with TZ7 , but I expect that the next TZ series will have a ability that can take true 60fps movies.
I take a walk with my TZ7 and I enjoy taking photos and movies now^^
Thank you so much for your reply and reading my poor English!
And the answer brings up this question:
Since shooting at true 30 fps a valueable choice when shooting in low light.. does this doubled-up 30fps
remove the low light advantage that true 30 fps would offer?
I intend to buy a new camera, and I found tz7 a great one, any one have an idea about her competetors? but same comact design, ? pls advice
tks
Wael
If my english is poor ,sorry for that.
since the zs3/ tz7 is not available until april 09. any comment on it must wait until actual production models appear.
as to your requirement for a camera which can extract clear still frames from video
this is a feature of both the the panasonic tz3 and the tz5
The argument is essentially this: CCD chips on point and shoot cameras a smaller and as such, fitting in more pixels causes them to lose light sensivity. Sure, thereís more data on the chip, but the chip canít absorb the light data and what it ends up with is a picture that has more noise than image quality. In addition, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the lens it needs to provide the clarity it deserves and prevent diffraction due to a loss of detail with smaller apertures. But since weíre talking portable point and shoots here, those large lenses simply arenít being made.
Finally, with larger mega pixels comes longer saving time due to their requires huge storage capacity, or more compression if not storing images in RAW format. The result is a noisier image and a dissatisfied camera user who thirsts for high quality and speed but fell into the trap of "more must mean better."
In the end, relying on a smaller MP that can balance all these needs may indeed be a better answer.
Might be ranked 19th too as most places don't even carry it in stock yet.
It replaces the TZ5 which dominated its class all last year. Based on the improvements it should be as good, but probably better.
1. Excellent quality pictures most important in short distance range and in low light.
2. HD video - preferably 1080p but think that only leaves the Canon SX1 IS and Sony DSC-HX1
3. Superzoom - but I do not want to sacrifice quality of close up images to have superzoom
4. Image stabilization
I've narrowed my search to these cameras, but if you have other suggestions that's fine
Lumix DMC FZ28, Lumix DMC ZS3, Canon SX1 IS, Olympus SP-590UZ, Sony DSC-HX1
Thanks for your help
I really like macro. How is it in terms of macro performance (of cos I know it can't beat DSLR for that) ? I was actually tempted to change my mind for go for Canon SX10 IS for the macro but not sure if there's a wise choice. Could you also compare Tz7 with the Canon SX10 IS briefly though I know they are not supposed to be in the same range for cameras. I am stuck between these two. I have also read that Canon SX10 IS is better than Canon SX1 IS.
How is the battery life? My old Panny gave me lots of problem with battery life until I bought a non-original battery recently. Of cos, the old camera (FX2) typically went flat after 1/3 of the day.
in your opinion, did the macro preform well?
She now has the older model - but lens sticks, and has some memory card difficulty. (according to Daughter jenni who used it in south America for three months this summer.
Steve
So I'd go with the Panasonic.
the zs1 and zs3 weights are 229 g (8.1 oz)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.1 x 2.4 x 1.3 inches
2. In motion JPEG mode I got file with MOV extention which didn't run on my PC:
a) How can I get driver for MOV
b) Can I set the camera to save movie files in MPEG format?
AVCHD is the video codec format that the camera saves your video for Hi Definition. You can download it by simply plugging your memory card into a USB card reader and then it's a simple drag and drop. But to edit and play you need an editor which supports AVCHD.
2. In motion JPEG mode I got file with MOV extention which didn't run on my PC:
a) How can I get driver for MOV - Recommend QUICKTIME. It's a free download from Apple.
b) Can I set the camera to save movie files in MPEG format? You can't. It records in Quicktime for SD and AVCHD lite for HD. To get it into MPEG format, you'll need to convert it. You can use Quicktime Pro ($29 from Apple) or try MPEG Streamclip by squared5.com
The ZS3 is still my choice here.
Thanks
How do you download a video so that you can burn it onto a disc?
A photo store said they didn't have the software to do it.
Can you do it via the photofun studio and download it into MPEG2 format?
Thanks
Mike