Gone are the days when clicking a family picture would mean a special occasion with a photographer booked weeks before the event. The handy and compact technological bits enclosed in digital cameras have unlocked the photography space for all, enabling utterances of phrases like ‘picture this’ and ‘say cheese’ at the drop of a hat. One of the poignant faces in this landscape namely Panasonic has been delivering a variety of such devices under its Lumix umbrella. Some time back, the company expanded its portfolio with another creation dubbed the Lumix DMC-TZ10. Next on the conveyor belt which unleashes doors to our review lab, the DMC-TZ10 seems like most of the other gadgets in the space. We’ve now packed it off into a tread with our experts for a detailed review. Read on to know whether it stands apart from others or is just another piece crowding the arena.
Flashing its way into our workplace, the Panasonic offering came bundled with numerous accompaniments in a rectangular navy blue box which highlighted some of its features. Two of its significant attributes that caught our attention were the Intelligent Auto and Power O.I.S. It got us talking about the increasing trend of product personification as devices are being outfitted with smart features in stylish drapes. Sprucing up the model along these lines, the company has powered it with a Leica DC wide-angle 25mm Lens, 12x optical zoom, Face Recognition, GPS and several other advanced aspects. As we unlocked this tech chest, a plethora of items spread a snappy haze all over our desk. The coveted camera was neatly coated in a plastic covering and so were the numerous cables, USB connector, instruction manual, software CD and booklet, GPS quick guide, battery, Certificate of Warranty and battery charging system.
Our first step entailed a thorough assessment of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 and so we flung it into our review lab before the solution could appear for a final test. The front panel of the camera is quite similar to the assortment of digital cameras embroidering the segment. The major portion of the novelty is flat until an inch on the left where it elevates to curl up for its rectangular figure. The lens occupies the frontal feature from the extreme right to somewhere in the midst of the plane. On the top right corner of the lens lies a self-timer indicator/AF assist lamp. The space between the curvature and the lens further underscores the product’s attributes such as 16x intelligent zoom, AVCHD Lite format and HD capability.
Entrenched with a three-inch LCD screen, the rear houses numerous tabs on the left side starting with the playback and photo options on the top. As you move your attention to the other keys in a descending order, a five-way navigable button emerges with its centerpiece offering menu, set and finish options. The design of this portion looks like an island separated by narrow strips of water bodies. These islands, if we may call them so, can be brought into play to monitor flash, brightness, the macro mode, self-timer, auto focus and exposure compensations. Moving further below, two circular buttons have been integrated, allowing you to check the display and Q.Menu or delete images. Blinking a tell-tale glint, an LED status indicator has been plugged into a tiny slot just next to these buttons.
The top profile has been outfitted with speaker and Microphone outlets, GPS antenna, mode dial, shutter button, zoom lever and on/off switch. Those who prefer to self-time their images can table the camera on a tripod as the incorporated receptacle at the bed ensures stability. This side also accommodates card/battery door, release lever and DC couple cover. The left visage encompasses a hand strap eyelet, facilitating users to fasten the strap for cinching the offering closer to safety measures. A clandestinely designed bit of the construction wraps the HDMI and AV Out/Digital ports under an agile flap. The run-of-the-mill architecture of this gadget strikes a familiar chord, reminding us of all those innovations which have captured our glimpses through numerous occasions ever since digital cameras jumped into the ‘accessible’ territory.
After making sure that all its rivets were outfitted just right, we decided to bequeath the creation with the opportunity of capturing some memorable times. Getting started with the camera was quite smooth as one only needs to toggle the off/on switch on the upper surface. As you turn on the camera, the gray flap unmasks the lens’ face while the latter juts out of its dedicated chamber. The basic framework of the device’s performance has been chalked out by the integrated options on the mode dial which is situated on the top. Capturing visuals while the Intelligent Mode is on ensures a simple ride as the ‘smart’ mind of this innovation gauges the lighting and other details to deliver just the required amount of flash, aperture opening and shutter timing. An apt choice for amateurs, this mode accurately freezes the picture in low light conditions. However, we’d recommend the Shutter-Priority and Aperture-Priority modes for the same.
Those who prefer to freeze a setting with utter authenticity often tend to manually adjust the settings. The Manual Exposure Mode on the dial will certainly be a resort to such enthusiasts as well as for those who like experimenting with their pictures. Whether you wish to check the effect of excessive sunshine on a flowing river or capture sunrays bouncing against a glass panel, this mode could quip a fast-one on your senses. The Program AE section chips in some more options, enabling easy customization for rendering proficient technicalities. As in large-sized families, every person has different tastes and in this scenario, we like to cut out our preferences for the bid. The Custom mode of the camera makes it possible for users to save up to three sets. When dressed up for the neighborhood party, the My Scene (MS) 1 mode can come handy to click some quick bites of the oomph look. The MS2 mode extends an appropriate border, offering a frame to the captured moment. Keep the settings stored and toggle them as the camera is passed around amongst friends and family members.
The Panasonic DMC-TZ10 camera also offers pre-determined settings including flash burst, beach, photo frame, night portrait, sports, panorama assist and more through the Scene Mode. Be it a picture of the dish served down from the new barbeque or the lazy cat downstairs, the food, pet and other settings can be of great effect. For those who prefer videos over still images, the device renders awesome clarity for films. It taps videos in bright and vibrant colors though the in-built speakers are a little disappointing. The GPS receiver is commendable, allowing you to tag memories within vivid peripheries though again it lacks superior efficacy. On the whole, the image quality and color reproduction for both videos and pictures is well up to the mark. We liked the battery life available at hand and the overall performance did quite impress us. Lastly, transferring content from the camera into a computing system is an effortless process. Staining this near perfect picture is the price point which whips up a pang for more features and attributes.
Following the rigorous tests, the report card for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 camera has earned with itself an A grade on numerous counts. We were pleased with the quality of images and videos while the several modes assisted us to pick the right piece of the pie. Nevertheless, the sound quality and the mechanism to record acoustics embedded into the product can be termed as well below the par. However, the point which could eclipse the superior performance has been wrapped along its price tag of Rs. 24,990. Finally, we’ve decided to present it with a generous 8 on 10 rating for its task execution.
