Sony HX9V vs Panasonic ZS10 / TZ20

2011-7-9

Panasonic ZS10 / TZ20 with a 14MP CMOS,  16 X zoom, touch-screen, 10 fps, 5 fps with continuous AF, 1920x1080i 60 fps, multi image stacking, 3D on Panasonic TV´s.


In the UK and Spain the TZ20 is called the TZ20 but in Germany Panasonic calls her TZ22 and quotes 329 Euro for the TZ18 and 429 Euro for the TZ22


this comparison shows the inferior Panasonic ZS10 MOS sensor compared to the Sony HX9V BSI-CMOS and also the superior focus in low light from the Sony HX9V compared to the very bad Panasonic TZ20 results.

Digital Versus asks: Can the Panasonic TZ20 and Nikon S9100 Match Sony's HX9V?
Imaging Resource has a review with lots of samples
DC Watch has a review with lots of samples you can compare to the HX7V Photography Blog has a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ18 review
DC Resource review compare the Sony HX9V vs Panasonic ZS10 / TZ20
digitalcamerainfo has a full review with lots of samples
digitalcamera review with a first look and 3 images - 2 are awful soft
cnet review - photography blog review - lesnumeriques ISO test - pocket lint review
Camera Labs review - Trusted Reviews review
a user photo comparison between the Panasonic TZ7 and the Sony HX9V

mini preview info auf deutsch

digitalversus has a comparison between the Sony HX9V vs Panasonic ZS10 / TZ20

Sony HX9V vs Panasonic ZS10 / TZ20

Last year the Sony HX5 came up with a totally new concept and did steal the multi year travel zoom winner Panasonic the show. A lot of people did not take the Sony serious and criticized easy to correct things like too soft pictures. This year nearly every camera brand has a Sony HX5 clone with a Sony BSI CMOS sensor and mostly identical features while Sony set a new feature standard what so far no one can match (43MP panorama, 1080p 50/60 fps, very advanced image and video processing etc.)
While Panasonic did not  listen to the users and used the same mediocre MOS sensor from the the FZ100 in the ZS10/TZ20 the results and the user response spell doom on that decision. Panasonic has lost the top spot in the travel zoom class and the newcomer Sony with all its innovations has earned it again.

"Now I have had a chance to use the Sony HX9V some more, there are some very obvious conclusions to be drawn when comparing to my Panasonic TZ7...
High ISO - is exceptionally good, 1600 has no yellow blotches, is sharper and can be used up to 10x8". If you use the Superior iAuto 2000 ISO (a composite of 5 shots) outperforms 200 ISO on the TZ7. Yes, I know, you all want loads of images posted but for now this is just a written assessment.
Smearing/loss of IQ/NR - 16mp produces considerably more than the 10mp Pana, but unless you sit at your screen counting pixels, you won't care because you'll be out enjoying your photography.
Low light - exceptional, and the flash range is particluarly impressive. I took a late dusk movie in 50p and it still managed to focus despite the gloom. And it was sharp and shake-free.
Still Image Stabilisation - not so good, rarely can I get a shake-free image (in P mode) at less than 1/15s whereas the TZ7 consistently gives sharp images at 1/8s or even less. However, in Movie mode it is completely different as it adds digital stabilisation to optical which results in much great stability.
But it is all the i-options that make this camera so versatile; its ability to do multiple overlays to produce more-than-acceptable hi-ISO images is a treat.
OK, I give in, just one low light image, using the Superior Auto mode, hand held, manual white balance and note the ISO!"

... unfortunately, the photos aren’t worth the price of admission. The ZS10 didn’t blow us away in any of our image quality tests, as it featured mediocre sharpness and chromatic aberration scores. The resulting images had little in the way of noise, but heavy smearing is applied at even the lowest ISOs. It does offer full HD video, but with only average results.
... you'll already know the Lumix TZ20 / ZS10 suffers from a similar patchiness seen on the FZ100. Even at the lowest sensitivity, edges aren't sharply defined and shadow areas are filled with textures. There's no escaping it: viewed at 100% on-screen, the TZ20 / ZS10's images don't look great.
... you have to flick the switch from playback to capture, wait a brief moment for the camera to register the fact that you've changed settings, and then half press the shutter release button. Precious seconds wasted that can mean you've missed the shot you just saw.
...It's unfortunate that, with all of these great features, that the DMC-ZS10's photo quality is so disappointing. Even at the base ISO of 100, there's heavy noise reduction at work, which smudges fine details. It gets worse quickly, too, so don't except to be using anything above ISO 200, unless you're really desperate. The camera also had somewhat dull colors, and redeye was a problem, with no tool available to remove it.
...But my experience with the Lumix ZS10 wasn't a happy one. Most of my images were flat and fuzzy. And I quickly grew annoyed with it..



HX9V contender


since the Panasonic TZ20 is not available yet, here the TZ18 with the same sensor size and lens as the TZ20 in comparison with the Sony HX9V

Sony HX9V (left) vs Panasonic TZ18 (right)
see for yourself

Sony HX9V (left) vs Panasonic TZ10 (right)
see for yourself

If I see that correct, the Sony with G lens outperforms the Panasonic TZ10 and TZ18 with their fancy LEIKA branded lens in sharpness and resolution.





same lens?

Is it just me, or does the Panasonic ZS10 looks a bit like the Sony HX5?

nearly identical in size

Let´s see how smart Panasonic this time is. Last time the put the price $50 higher than the HX5 with the result that within 2 months they had to drop the price to HX5 level. When I finally got my HX5 here, the Panasonic was even slightly cheaper than the Sony.
This time with nearly identical specs, to throw a touch-screen with some exiting features, makes the Panasonic ZS10 / TZ20 a very interesting camera.

Italics = auto translated info from Japanese website

really, Panasonic - a switch between shoot and view?

----------------------------------------

Panasonic today introduced the LUMIX DMC-ZS10 as the newest member of its acclaimed LUMIX ZS-Series of digital cameras that has won worldwide popularity for its versatile lens from ultra wide-angle to long zoom.  The LUMIX ZS10 continues its versatility with a 24mm ultra-wide-angle and powerful 16x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens – and it features full-High Definition 1920x1080 video recording capability, a newly-adopted large 3.0-inch, 460,000-dot Smart Touch Intelligent LCD – which allows for Touch Zoom, Touch Auto Focus (AF), Touch Shutter, and Touch Playback. 

Using the touch-screen, once locked on the subject, the LUMIX ZS10 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function even if it moves. With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the LUMIX ZS10 automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. For example, a touch on a human face switches to the portrait mode and a touch on the background or a landscape changes to the Scenery mode, while a touch on the subject close in the foreground changes to Macro mode. All menu settings are now available with touch control. The touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting, but also in playback, allowing the user to drag the images across the screen with a finger and browse the collection of photos as though flipping the pages of a book.

This seems  a very intuitive way to change things by touching
Brightness is also focusing in touch
Simply touch the camera at the subject, you can quickly and automatically adjust focus and brightness.
The shutter also touch
Shutter "touch" function ON Once you have, and automatically take a picture just after one touch to share the same focus.

"Focus chasing" is also in touch

Take photos of beautiful children (what about ugly brats then?) and pets adjust the focus is moving, something quite difficult. However, "chasing Focus" featured TZ20, then simply touch the moving subject. The camera then continued to follow the subject, 1 ※ focus and brightness to the optimal settings. Very simple even for beginners, I take beautiful photos in focus.

Touch Screen Zoom
TZ20 can be done I simply can zoom in touch. Simply touch the icon, at once to 16 times zoom optics. The camera on the contrary even when wide-wide angle 24mm single touch can be 2 Also, the zoom lever on the screen can be fine-tuned. You can not zoom your eyes off the screen.

Happy Hour with happy colors

When subjects met a nice, happy feeling just leave a photo. It is fulfilling, TZ20 is a happy color.
iA mode, you can set the happy colors, and up the brightness and saturation, more glossy finish. In addition, when the person is caught with positive skin effect, represents a beautiful skin color.

The undocumented maxro zoom I discovered in the Sony HX5 is a feature the Panasonic TZ20 / ZS10 has implemented also
Macro Zoom
Including accessories and nail, close to you closer to small, attractive macro capture large. If the TZ20, you can zoom up to three times further from 近寄Reru limit, can be taken with great power.

The TZ20 incorporates the new Random burst mode. Just turn the camera to automatically recognize the movement of the subject, just set the continuous shooting speed.
For example, walks his cat, when the subject is moving relatively slowly about 2 frames / second. His play and playful, if not quickly move about 10 frames / sec, it automatically switches to match the movement of the subject without taking too much unnecessarily, can capture the decisive moment.
TZ20 if, when we can determine the speed of the speed camera letting it all!
Smile and the best moments of fast moving sports scenes, and children, high-speed continuous shooting capability to help you surely miss the decisive moment shot. However, the shot would pass a lot of similar photos to the shooting. Therefore, the previous high-speed continuous shooting, pre-determine the speed of the subject, there was a need to set the perfect speed manual shooting.

The LUMIX ZS10 also features a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) function allowing geotagged images to be pinpointed via online maps and easily shared with friends and families.

“With the introduction of the LUMIX ZS10, Panasonic expects to continue to lead the market in long zoom digital cameras, as this very advanced digital camera not only offers a 16x optical zoom, but with an even wider 24mm Leica lens, this is a truly robust digital camera for both still photos and full HD 1080 videos,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With new features such as touch-screen operation and even a 3D photo mode, Panasonic continues to pack the ZS10 with innovative features for capturing high-quality photos and videos, which can be easily shared with family and friends using the new LUMIX Image Uploader feature.”

The Panasonic LUMIX ZS10 also features the new Panasonic 3D Photo mode, which produces a realistic 3D photo by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best images which provide a 3D image that can then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. The format of the 3D image is compatible with MPO, and can also be played back on other MPO-compatible equipment such as a televisions, digital photo frame and printers.  Panasonic also adds the LUMIX Image Uploader for seamless and instant sharing via Facebook (for digital photos) or YouTube (for videos). Users can checkmark the photo or video files they want to share, connect it to a PC with the included USB cable or by inserting the SD Memory Card directly into the PC’s SD Card slot, and then the uploading automatically launches with an easy-to-follow menu option.

Newly adopted 14.1-megapixel MOS sensor and the advanced image processor Venus Engine FHD feature high speed, high sensitivity image recording to realize 1920x1080 full-HD movie recording and high speed burst shooting in high picture quality. It also compiles the Intelligent Resolution technology to perform optimum signal processing to give the entire image outstandingly natural clearness with fine details. The powerful 16x optical zoom – available while shooting videos – increases its power to 21x equivalent with the Intelligent Zoom function, taking advantage of Intelligent Resolution technology. The Sonic Speed AF also boasts approximately 49% higher speed compared to its LUMIX ZS7 predecessor.

The LUMIX ZS10 shoots 10 fps in 14-megapixel full resolution with mechanical shutter and 5 fps with continuous AF. Even higher speed burst shooting is available with LUMIX ZS10 if the electronic shutter is used - 60 fps in 3.5-megapixel*1. The LUMIX ZS10 is an advanced photographic tool for recording not only great photos but also beautiful full-HD movies. In addition to Motion JPEG images, the LUMIX ZS10 can record high-resolution full-HD 1920x1080 60i videos in AVCHD (MPEG-4 / H.264) format. The high frame rate of 60i excels in recording moving subjects with outstanding smoothness. .
Wrong! 60p does, 60i does not.
The videos also come with the high-quality stereo sound of Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator, to offer highly realistic sound.

Looks like Panasonic got inspired by Sony´s active mode video IS.
Movie recording while walking, so the camera is not stable, but prone big hand shake. TZ20, the evolution of image stabilization during movie shooting! "Active mode" to ON if to expand the operating range of the lens image stabilization. Without degrading image quality, shake it until it corrects occur when taking a big walk, you can watch a smooth and easy to film.

Just touch! Can focus on intuitive
Easy too quick to focus on your own. Touch the picture and you can choose the subject, will continue after the camera automatically adjust the focus.
Also, to change the subject to focus while shooting a movie, just to touch the subject. Move the focus position and smooth operation.

Just touch the screen to snap a 2MP photo while recording
The TZ20 can still picture during movie shooting. Easy operation. Simply touch the screen in time to preserve your photos. Auto Focus can be taken to clean the decisive moment.
1920 2 ※ × 1080 [2M] in a record of.

Panasonic’s iA Mode, a suite of technologies that engage automatically, has evolved for more powerful image stabilization while video recording and taking still photos with Active Mode which boosts POWER OIS to excel in suppressing blur when recording videos at wide angle while walking. New iA features include the Intelligent Handheld Nightshot, which creates a beautiful night scenery with illumination by layering the images shot consecutively. Furthermore, the Intelligent Burst Shooting automatically sets the frame rate of burst shooting according to the subject’s movement – whether it moves fast or slow – utilizing the mechanism of Intelligent ISO Control.  Other features of iA include: Motion Deblur, POWER OIS, Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure. With iA, taking beautiful photos is possible for users at any skill level. In addition, the Intelligent Resolution technology is always activated in the iA mode, which helps produce even clearer photos by precisely performing signal processing, pixel by pixel, to help ensure clear and sharp images.

The LUMIX ZS10 digital camera features a built-in GPS system which tags the location data where the photo was taken with its latitude and longitude automatically in the Exif data. Plus, the LUMIX ZS10 also shows the name of the Country/Region, State/Prov./County, County/Township, City/Town/Village and Landmark by using internal data to give users details on where the photos or videos were taken.  The area information covers 203 countries or regions for global users. Plus, more than 1,000,000 landmarks over 78 countries or regions are in the database. Using the included software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.1 HD Lite Edition, photos and videos can be searched by location and names. The LUMIX ZS10 also features an internal clock that automatically adjusts to the local time when GPS is enabled – a handy feature for travelers.

The LUMIX DMC-ZS8 was also added to the ZS-Series of cameras and maintains the versatile 24mm ultra-wide angle and powerful 16x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens. Other features include:
iA mode including POWER OIS, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Recognition, Intelligent Exposure
Venus Engine VI featuring Intelligent Resolution
720p HD video recording in Motion JPEG
Large 3.0-inch large 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD
Manual exposure
LUMIX Image Uploader

The LUMIX ZS10 and ZS8 will be available in March 2011 and pricing will be announced approximately 30 days prior to shipping date. The LUMIX ZS10 will be available in black, red, blue, silver, and brown; while the LUMIX ZS8 will be available in black and silver.

*1 In the high speed burst shooting at 60 fps, the picture size is 2.5-megapixel(4:3), 3-megapixel(3:2), 3.5-megapixel(16:9), 2-megapixel(1:1).

Sensor   
• 1/2.33" Type MOS sensor
• 15.1 million total pixels
• 14.1 million effective pixels
• Primary colour filter (RGB)    • 1/2.33" Type CCD

Image sizes   
4:3 Aspect Ratio:
• 4320 x 3240 (14M)
• 3648 x 2736 (10M)
• 3072 x 2304 (7M)
• 2560 x 1920 (5M)
• 2048 x 1536 (3M )
• 640 x 480 (0.3M)

3:2 Aspect Ratio
• 4320 x 2880 (12.5M)
• 3648 x 2432 (9M)
• 3072 x 2048 (6M)
• 2560 x 1712 (4.5M)
• 2048 x 1360 (2.5M)
• 640 x 424 (0.3M)

16:9 Aspect Ratio:
• 4320 x 2432 (10.5M)
• 3648 x 2056 (7.5M)
• 3072 x 1728 (5.5M)
• 2560 x 1440 (3.5M)
• 1920 x 1080 (2M)
• 640 x 360 (0.2M)

1:1 Aspect Ratio:
• 3232 x 3232(10.5M)
• 2736 x 2736(7.5M)
• 2304 x 2304 (5.5)
• 1920 x 1920 (3.5M)
• 1536 x 1536 (2.5M)
• 480 x 480 (0.2M)

Movie clips   
• Full HD: 1920 x 1080 pixels
60i (GFS: 17Mbps, FSH: 17Mbps / AVCHD) (Sensor output is 60p)
• HD Movie: 1280 x 720 pixels, 30fps
60p(GS: 17Mbps, SH: 17Mbps / AVCHD)
• HD Movie: 1280 x 720 pixels, 30fps Motion Jpeg
• VGA: 640 x 480 pixels, 30fps (Motion JPEG)
• QVGA: 320 x 240 pixels, 30 fps (Motion JPEG)   

File formats
• JPEG( Exif 2.3)
• 3D Image: MPO
• AVCHD, QuickTime Motion JPEG    

Lens    • 16x Optical zoom
• 24 - 384mm (35mm equiv.)
• f = 4.3-68.8mm
• F3.3- 5.9
• LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR
• 12 elements in 10 groups (3 Aspherical surfaces)
Image stabilization    Power O.I.S. Lens-shift stabilization
Digital zoom     Yes, up to 4x

Focus   
• Normal
• Macro
• Zoom Macro
• Quick AF
• AF Tracking
• Touch AF/AE
• Continuous AF (only for motion picture)  

AF assist lamp     Yes

Focus distance   
• Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / Tele 200 cm - infinity
• Macro / Intelligent AUTO/ movie recording: Wide 3 cm - infinity / Tele 100cm - infinity

Metering   
• Intelligent Multiple
• Center Weighted
• Spot

ISO sensitivity    • Auto
• i.ISO
• 100
• 200
• 400
• 800
• 1600
• High Sensitivity Mode : Auto (1600 - 6400)

Exposure compensation    ± 2EV, 1/3EV steps

Shutter speed   
• Still: 60 - 1/4000 sec
• Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec

Aperture   
• F3.3 - 6.3 (W) / F5.9 - 6.3 (T)
• Multistage Iris Diagram

Modes   
• Intelligent AUTO
• Program
• Aperture Priority
• Shutter Priority
• Manual
• Custom
• 3D Photo
• SCN
• My SCN 2
• My SCN 1   

Scene modes    
Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Handheld Night Shot, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High sensitivity, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pinhole, Film Grain, High Dynamic (standard/ art/ B&W), Photoframe, Under Water, High Speed Movie   

Color Mode   
• Standard
• Natural
• Vivid
• Black & White
• Sepia
• Cool
• Warm
• Happy

White balance   
• Auto
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Shade
• Incandescent
• White Set

Self timer    2, 10 sec

Continuous Shooting Mode   
10 fps, Full resolution 

Flash   
• Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
• 0.6 - 5.0m (Wide/ISO Auto), 1.0 - 2.8m (Tele/ISO Auto)

LCD monitor   
• 3.0" TFT Touch Screen LCD Display, AR coat
• 460K pixels
• AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode   

GPS   
Yes

Connectivity   
• USB 2.0 Full speed
• AV Output (NTSC/PAL)
• Mini HDMI   

Storage   
• Approximately 18MB built-in memory
• SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card   

Power   
• ID-Security Li-ion Battery Pack
Will not work with non Panasonic Battery!
• Charger included

Weight (no batt)    
197g   
Weight (with batt and card)   
219g   

Dimensions   
105 x 58 x 33 mm
(4.13 x 2.27 x 1.31 in)