LCD and Viewfinder
Panasonic ZS45 has a Tilting 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 1,040k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.
ZS45 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 (Lumix DC-TZ90) (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 (Lumix DC-TZ95) (Compare). If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.
Max Shutter speed
Panasonic ZS45 can shoot continuously at max speed of 10.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.
Flash
Unfortunately ZS45 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.
Focusing
Panasonic ZS45 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 21 points to choose from.
Panasonic ZS45 also features
Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.
Video Features
With Panasonic ZS45, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30p fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. Full HD resolution of Panasonic ZS45 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
ZS45 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
Panasonic ZS45 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Olympus XZ-2 iHS or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.
Connectivity and Storage
Panasonic ZS45 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11 b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our ZS45. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.
You can connect ZS45 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.
Battery Panasonic ZS45 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 350 according to CIPA standards.
Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, Panasonic ZS45 has a good battery life for its class.
Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras
Fujifilm HS35EXR with its 600shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic ZS45 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.
Panasonic ZS45 Features Compared to Main Competitors
Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Panasonic ZS45 is $329.99