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Panasonic ZS1 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Panasonic ZS1

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    Main Features

    • 10MP - 1/2.5" CCD Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 6400
    • 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 Zoom Lens
    • Optical Image Stabilization
    • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
    • 3 fps continuous shooting
    • - 640 x 480 video
    • 229g. 103 x 60 x 33 mm
    • Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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    Panasonic ZS1 Overview

    First introduced in May 2009 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 is a 10.0MP Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 lens. ZS1 is also sold as Lumix DMC-TZ6 in some of the countries.

    Panasonic ZS1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Other Features
    8. Lens
    9. Photography Type Scores
    10. Alternatives
    11. Popular Comparisons
    12. Frequently Asked Questions
    13. Detailed Specifications

    Panasonic ZS1 has an Overall Score of 31/100 and ranked #489 out of 629 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #1055 out of 1220 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Panasonic ZS1 Physical Specs
    Panasonic ZS1 weighs 229 g (0.50 lb / 8.08 oz) and has external dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Panasonic ZS1 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 33mm, it has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Panasonic ZS1
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Panasonic ZS1
    Min
    Average
    Max

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Panasonic ZS1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Panasonic ZS1 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Panasonic ZS1 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Panasonic ZS1 with its main competitors:

    Panasonic ZS1 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs ZS1 Thickness vs ZS1
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS60
    Compare
    282g 53g heavier 38mm 5mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS30
    Compare
    198g 31g lighter 28mm 5mm thinner
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS7
    Compare
    218g 11g lighter 33mm equal thickness
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic LX3
    Compare
    265g 36g heavier 27mm 6mm thinner
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Leica D-Lux 6
    Compare
    298g 69g heavier 46mm 13mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic F5
    Compare
    121g 108g lighter 22mm 11mm thinner
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS100
    Compare
    312g 83g heavier 44mm 11mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Olympus SH-1
    Compare
    271g 42g heavier 42mm 9mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Panasonic ZS1 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Panasonic ZS1 Sensor and Photography Features

    Panasonic ZS1 has a 10.0MP 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3648 x 2736 pixels with aspect ratios of 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2. ZS1 has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 but unfortunately, Panasonic ZS1 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

    Panasonic ZS1 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Panasonic ZS1 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Panasonic ZS1's 1/2.5" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Panasonic ZS1 Lens

    Panasonic ZS1 features a 25-300 mm F3.3-4.9 12× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 25mm and remarkable super telephoto reach at 300mm.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    ZS1
    Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    ZS1
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f3.30 at 25mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end and neither at tele end with its f4.90.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    ZS1
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    ZS1
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    ZS1 is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.



    Panasonic ZS1 LCD

    Panasonic ZS1 has a Fixed Type 2.7" LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.7", the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.



    Panasonic ZS1 back view and LCD

    ZS1 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider (Compare) or (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Panasonic ZS1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Panasonic ZS1 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Panasonic ZS1 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS60
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 320shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS30
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 260shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS7
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic LX3
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Leica D-Lux 6
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic F5
    Compare
    1280 x 720 250shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Panasonic ZS100
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 300shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Camera Olympus SH-1
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 380shots Yes No No

    Panasonic ZS1 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Panasonic ZS1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 3 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately ZS1 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Panasonic ZS1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 11 points to choose from.

    Panasonic ZS1 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Panasonic ZS1 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Panasonic ZS1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Face Detection Focusing
    11 Focus Points
    229g Light Body
    25mm Wide Angle Lens
    300mm Good Tele Lens
    12.0X Optical Zoom
    Report a correction

    Buy Panasonic ZS1 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
    Small LCD Screen ( 2.7")
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
    No Manual Focusing
    No Manual Exposure
    No Environmental Sealing
    Slow Lens at Wide: f3.30
    Slow Lens at Tele: f4.90
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Panasonic ZS1 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Panasonic ZS1 in 5 different photography areas.

    Panasonic ZS1 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 has a score of 22 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theZS1.
    Image Stabilization
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
    Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
    No RAW shooting capability
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic ZS1 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 for Street Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 has a score of 54 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Image Stabilization
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Small Body
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic ZS1 for Street Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 has a score of 17 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theZS1.
    11 Focus Points
    Image Stabilization
    300 mm Tele Lens
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
    Environmental Sealings
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Flash Shoe
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic ZS1 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 has a score of 61 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    229g
    12.0X Optical Zoom
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic ZS1 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 for Landscape Photography

    Panasonic ZS1 has a score of 15 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theZS1.
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
    Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic ZS1 for Landscape Photography
    Panasonic ZS1 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Panasonic ZS1 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Panasonic ZS1 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Panasonic ZS1

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Panasonic ZS1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Panasonic ZS60
    Panasonic ZS60
    Compare
    Panasonic ZS30
    Panasonic ZS30
    Compare
    Panasonic ZS7
    Panasonic ZS7
    Compare
    Panasonic LX3
    Panasonic LX3
    Compare
    Leica D-Lux 6
    Leica D-Lux 6
    Compare
    Panasonic F5
    Panasonic F5
    Compare
    Panasonic ZS100
    Panasonic ZS100
    Compare
    Olympus SH-1
    Olympus SH-1
    Compare

    Panasonic ZS1 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Panasonic ZS1 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Panasonic ZS1's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Panasonic ZS1
    Does the Panasonic ZS1 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Panasonic ZS1 have RAW support?
    Does the Panasonic ZS1 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Panasonic ZS1 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Panasonic ZS1?
    What is the Sensor Size of Panasonic ZS1?
    is the Panasonic ZS1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Panasonic ZS1 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Panasonic ZS1 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Panasonic ZS1?
    What is the Weight of Panasonic ZS1?
    What are the Dimensions of Panasonic ZS1?
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Panasonic
    Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
    Also known as Lumix DMC-TZ6
    Announced 2009-05-14
    Body Type Compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 25-300 mm (12×)
    Max Aperture F3.3-4.9
    Macro Focus Range 3cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 2.7"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 60s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 3.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.5"
    Sensor Dimensions 5.744 x 4.308 mm
    Sensor Area 24.74mm2
    Sensor Resolution 10 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 3648 x 2736
    Max Native ISO 6,400
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 11
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 640 x 480
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 229g
    Physical Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
    Storage Slots 1


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