Panasonic Lumix TZ95 Review

April 16, 2019 | Gavin Stoker | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star

Introduction

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 (also know as the ZS80) is a new travel-zoom camera. The TZ95/ ZS80 features a 30x optical zoom Leica lens, 20.3 megapixels, 4K video recording, a 3.0-inch tiltable rear monitor, new high-resolution Live viewfinder, RAW format support, manual exposure control, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 / ZS80 is available now in black or black / silver for a recommended retail price of £399.99 / $449.99.

Ease of Use

Panasonic’s perennial travel zoom – or ‘TZ’ – series of compact cameras has received an upgrade in the shape of the Lumix TZ95, which comes with a Leica branded 30x optical zoom lens, 20.3 MP resolution sensor and 4K video shooting capability. Of interest to long time followers of this range is the addition of a tilt-able 3-inch, 1040K-dot rear monitor, as well as brand new high resolution LVF (Live View Finder), that here is a teeny 0.21-inches in size, meaning you have to squint to view it.

With connectivity options including the expected Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the TZ95 is at the time of writing available in the UK at a manufacturer’s suggested £399.99, in either black or black and silver body options; we had the former smart looking option sent to us for review.

While all the above spec is pretty much a must-have for a compact digital camera released in 2019 – whereby said camera needs to sufficiently differentiate itself from smartphones and tablets to be worth buying, while simultaneously staying familiarly close to them in terms of operation to stay approachable and ‘current’ – it’ll come as no surprise that this is pretty much a pimped up point-and-shooter, ‘thanks’ to a small, standard-issue 1/2.3-inch sensor at its core.

That said, when you want something light, portable, easy to use and reliable when sightseeing travelling, there’s no disgrace in simply pointing and shooting. First impressions are then that the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 ploughs a familiar (perhaps over-familiar) furrow, but nevertheless fits a long-standing brief: namely offering quality pictures from the convenience of a pocket-sized, all-in-one package.

Panasonic Lumix TZ95
Front of the Panasonic Lumix TZ95

With a core lens reach starting out at a wide-angle 24mm equivalent (stretching up to 720mm at the telephoto end), the Lumix TZ95 is certainly suitable for capturing a broad range of photogenic subjects, and in particular proves a decent option for landscapes and cityscapes, as well as street photography and group portraits. We were able to shoehorn the vast majority of subjects into frame without having to step back and bump into a fellow sightseer, or into the road and the path of passing vehicles.

The camera itself looks relatively boxy and chunky when ranged against the average mobile phone it will inevitably be competing with in today’s market – in no small part due to that generous 30x optical zoom, which retracts within the body when not in use; said lens encircled by a lens control ring, to which certain key settings can be pre-assigned (or said lens ring simply provides another means of adjusting the zoom/your focal range when in intelligent iAuto setting).

Handily, to enable steadier shooting and the avoidance of blurred images, a decent sized (for a camera of this ilk) leather-effect rubberized handgrip is provided at the front, alongside an indented thumb rest at the back. This enabled us to hold the camera pretty rock steady with just the one hand (if not always steady enough to avoid image blur in lower light, as we’ll read later). Also compensating for camera shake is Panasonic’s on-board Power OIS optical image stabilizer.

The other features to be found on the Panasonic Lumix TZ95’s faceplate are a narrow window housing the flash that sits just below the Lumix logo. Unfortunately the flash is in a position where your forefinger can very easily obscure it when gripping the camera with the right hand – so that’s something you need to be aware of, especially when handing the camera to someone else to take your picture, as well one might when travelling. Nestled next to the lens meanwhile, where it is out of the way of stray fingertips, is a familiar AF assist /self timer lamp.

From the front of this Lumix then, with a size broadly similar to a jumbo box of matches, the aforementioned zoom lens dominates proceedings, offering up to that generous 720mm equivalent reach at the telephoto end. In operation it takes around 3-4 seconds for the lens to glide from maximum wideangle to extreme telephoto, accompanied by an unobtrusively low mechanical buzz. Although picture detail inevitably softens at maximum zoom, the results are still plenty sharp enough for it to prove a useful asset. It goes without saying that the camera is responsive enough to avoid your attention ever needing to wander from the subject itself, with an AF speed given of 0.1 seconds, allied to a maximum burst capture rate of 10fps in AF-S mode or 5fps in AF-C mode.

Panasonic Lumix TZ95
Tilting LCD Screen

The top plate of the Panasonic TZ95 is likewise familiar and straightforward in terms of layout and operation. The shutter release button is raised and encircled by a lever for operating the zoom, so you can’t mistake what it is, next to which are two smaller nail-head sized buttons, flush to the bodywork. These are for turning the camera on or off, or commencing video recording – said function denoted by the familiar red dot.

However, if you’re operating the camera in a darkened environment, like a concert hall or theatre, the proximity of the main power and video buttons means that it is easy to mistake one for the other and turn the camera off when you actually meant to start recording. Again, familiarity with the camera over time helps such mistakes to be avoided. Commendably this Panasonic is swift to power up in any event, being ready for action in around two seconds, its lens extending from its position flush to the body to arrive at its extreme wide-angle 24mm equivalent setting.

The other prominent ‘button’ atop the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 is a shooting mode wheel, which offers just the right amount of resistance and ‘give’ to avoid nudging it accidentally, yet making it easy to turn to a wanted setting in an instant. Here we find the familiar likes of program, auto, shutter priority and aperture priority modes, along with a very easy to use (and get pleasing results from) panoramic setting. There’s also a custom mode, a dedicated manual video mode, intelligent auto mode (iA mode) for pure point-and-shoot operation, the usual digital effects mode (with here eight options selectable) plus scene / subject mode, the latter providing the usual pre-optimised settings to again enable decent results from just pointing the camera and clicking. This mode wheel nestles next to a slightly raised section that houses twin microphones for recording sound.

Moving around to the Panasonic TZ95’s backplate, in terms of composing and reviewing shots there’s the standard 3-inch LCD on the back plate and the teeny electronic viewfinder above, which has its own dioptric adjustment wheel adjacent to aid us occasional spectacle wearers. Although an EVF is a cool feature on a camera you can comfortably drop into a jacket pocket, it’s so small on the TZ95 that subject detail is difficult to ascertain – meaning that we found ourselves not really bothering with it, unless particularly bright sunlight made viewing subjects via the larger screen otherwise tricky.

Panasonic Lumix TZ95
Rear of the Panasonic Lumix TZ95

The stated resolution of the eye-level finder is a whopping 2.33 million dots, though you wouldn’t recognise it as such. The fact that the alternative of the 1,040K-dot resolution 3-inch LCD is of the flip up through 180° variety – so that it can be used for selfies, or when you too want to slide yourself into a group portrait – does however make itself occasionally useful. This is a travel camera after all, and you’ll undoubtedly want to record the fact that you were there too.

The screen is touch sensitive, to a degree, though as there are also plentiful physical controls ranged alongside it that provide much the same functions, we didn’t find ourselves utilising its touch sensitivity that much. We did however enjoy the fact that the EVF (or, as Panasonic prefers, LVF) has an eye sensor alongside it, which deactivates the larger LCD and switches on the EVF as you bring an eye up to it. There is also a dedicated ‘LVF’ (live view finder) button that lets you disable this feature if required, or switch between screens manually.

Photo enthusiasts will also love the fact that – of course - Raw files can be captured on the TZ95 alongside, or in tandem with, JPEGs, and without any noticeable slow down too in terms of operational speed in regular single shot mode. This being a Panasonic camera, we get the inevitable 4K photo mode to further ease the possibility of capturing the exact shot we want by being able to grab an 8 megapixel still from a 30fps sequence. Otherwise the 20 megapixel maximum resolution is probably as high as you want from a bog standard 1/2.3-inch chip – and for the most part, in available light, the images largely shine.

The other buttons on the Panasonic Lumix TZ95's back plate form the usual mix of function specific controls, plus a central pad with a scroll wheel encircling it provided to provide speedier operation. We liked the fact that the display button to its lower right calls up the compositional aid of a spirit level – ideal for helping to get horizons straight when shooting landscapes, even if bright sunshine sometimes makes it tricky to see with certainty when the thin horizontal provided positively illuminates in green.

Panasonic Lumix TZ95
Top of the Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Another very useful button is provided bottom left of the four-way control pad; this provides the superb shortcut of a quick menu when we’re in shooting mode (otherwise it doubles as the equally useful delete button when in playback). Here we can quickly scroll through the various essential shooting options and select the particular one required with a finger tap onscreen.

Choices here include picture styles – switch from standard or natural to vivid or monochrome, for example – as well as being able to select the flash mode in use (with red eye reducing options provided alongside forced flash and slow shutter sync), select video quality, or choose image aspect ratio (from the standard 4:3 to medium format apeing 1:1).

Naturally, image quality can also be selected via this quick menu rather than having to scroll through the TZ95’s main menu screens, with the ability to capture Fine (maximum) quality JPEGS alongside uncompressed Raw files, as we did for the duration of our two-week camera evaluation period. Auto Focus can also be swapped from single shot to continuous shooting, and the camera biased towards either an impressive 49-area AF, subject tracking or face and eye detection.

Ranged around the backplate’s four way control pad itself are, from 12 o’clock on the dial and moving clockwise, various settings for adjusting exposure compensation (a generous +/- 5EV), flash settings, self timer or drive mode, plus focus settings, including auto focus, auto focus macro and manual focus, with focus peaking provided so you can check the intended sharp portion of your image is indeed sharp.

Panasonic Lumix TZ95
The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 In-hand

While at either side of the TZ95 are located lugs for attaching the provided wrist strap, we also get a built-in speaker on one flank for playing back audio, while the opposite side provides mini HDMI and USB ports, protected by a plastic flap raised via fingernail. There is no dedicated battery charger provided in the box with the camera – rather a USB lead and mains plug – which means that the battery is charged in-camera rather than outside it, as tends to be more and more the convention these days.

Battery life is a claimed 380 images per charge, which is fair and allows you to easily fill up the SD media card in use, which also slots into the base of the TZ95, particularly if shooting Raw and JPEGs in tandem. The camera, like many of its ilk, can be charged via its USB port.

So, while operationally the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 is pretty up to scratch and fulfills most of our expectations, what is the case when it comes to image quality? Is a big zoom on a small camera over-egging the pudding or capably fulfilling demand? Read on to find out...

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 7Mb.

You can squeeze a lot of subjects into the core 24-20mm equivalent lens reach provided by Panasonic’s TZ95 travel zoom, which, given that the camera otherwise delivers a relatively modest (read ‘small’) sized sensor, remains its biggest boon/draw. The quality of images is however pretty good in most common lighting scenarios and certainly a cut above your compact digital cameras of old.

As expected we get the warm, well-saturated colours Panasonic is known for, as well as plenty of detail captured right into the corners of the frame – at least when there’s plenty of light around. If detail softens at maximum zoom that is only to be expected, especially when shooting handheld, but again results are better than we’ve seen elsewhere from similar products and will certainly satisfy those wanting a record of sunny summer holidays.

If we’ve a grumble, however, it’s that this isn’t perhaps a camera for shooting in very low light, especially if handheld, as we discovered on our travels, whereby the effects of camera shake are obvious. The fact that the ISO range tops out at a modest selectable ISO3200 at least means that the worst effects of image noise are avoided – we’d advise shooting up to ISO1600, however and leaving it at that, if you want to avoid a noticeable softening and degradation of the image entirely. Twenty megapixels is quite a lot to cram onto a 1/2.3-inch sensor – it’s probably the most you’d want to – so inevitably something has to give.

Overall though, we were pretty happy with the shots we got from the Panasonic Lumix TZ95, particularly given the limitations outlined above. But then we were unusually blessed with plenty of spring sunshine...

Noise

There are 8 ISO settings available on the Panasonic Lumix TZ95. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting.

JPEG RAW

ISO 80 (100% Crop)

ISO 80 (100% Crop)

iso80.jpg iso80raw.jpg

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

iso100.jpg iso100raw.jpg

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

iso200.jpg iso200raw.jpg

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

iso400.jpg iso400raw.jpg

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

iso800.jpg iso800raw.jpg

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

iso1600.jpg iso1600raw.jpg

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

iso3200.jpg iso3200raw.jpg

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

iso6400.jpg iso6400raw.jpg

Focal Range

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95's 30x zoom lens provides a very versatile focal length of 24-720mm in 35mm terms, as demonstrated below.

24mm

focal_range1.jpg

720mm

focal_range2.jpg

Chromatic Aberrations

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 handled chromatic aberrations well during the review, with just a little purple fringing present around the edges of objects in certain high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.

Chromatic Aberrations (100% Crop)

chromatic1.jpg

Macro

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 offers a Macro setting that allows you to focus on a subject that is 3cms away from the camera when the lens is set to wide-angle.

Macro

macro.jpg

Flash

The flash settings on the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 are Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.

Forced Off - Wide Angle (24mm)

ISO 64

Forced On - Wide Angle (24mm)

ISO 64

Forced Off - Telephoto (720mm)

ISO 64

Forced On - Telephoto (720mm)

ISO 64

And here are some portrait shots.

Flash On

flash_on.jpg

Redeye Reduction

flash_red_eye.jpg

Night

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds, which is great news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 4 seconds at ISO 80. The camera takes the same amount of time again to apply noise reduction, so for example at the 15 second setting the actual exposure takes 30 seconds.

Night

night.jpg

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 11 second movie is 125Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 20 second movie is 67.1Mb in size.

Product Images

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Panasonic Lumix TZ95

Conclusion

Just under £400 / $450 is still a fair amount to spend on a travel compact camera, even if it does offer a broad zoom range, 4K photo and video functionality, and a rock solid build quality like this one from Panasonic. Yes, we may have liked a larger one-inch sensor rather than the modest, small 1/2.3-inch chip supplied here, but that would have inevitably meant a hike in price, alongside other technical considerations.

While we’d conclude that the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 / ZS80 is in many respects an impressive little travel photography option for when you want something with a larger lens and broader focal range than your typical smartphone can manage – along with supplying plentiful creative options – if you do want to dig a little deeper however, there are, inevitably, little operational niggles here.

One that continually frustrated us was how easy it is to accidentally obscure the built-in flash’s window with the finger of your right hand when gripping the camera. Perhaps a small pop up flash would have been the answer? If you disable or avoid the flash, especially in low light, the result will typically be blurred images, especially if shooting handheld. That said, we found propping up the camera and utilising the self-timer to avoid jogging it when firing the shutter can sometimes return perfectly usable results as our sample night time images show if you don’t want to lug around a tripod.

However, in most other respects the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 / ZS80 remains a competent and reliable all-in-one pocket zoom option for when you want something unobtrusive yet with a bit more ‘poke’ than your mobile phone. A solid four out of five across the board in each rating category means that this one is well worth further consideration and closer investigation if you’re about to embark on that romantic weekend break – or want a relationship with a camera that is even longer term.

4 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4
Features 4
Ease-of-use 4
Image quality 4
Value for money 4

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Panasonic Lumix TZ95.

Canon PowerShot SX730 HS

The new Canon PowerShot SX730 HS travel-zoom camera offers a massive 40x zoom lens in a slim and compact body. The Canon SX730 also features a 20 megapixel sensor, tilting 3-inch LCD screen, PASM shooting modes, built-in wi-fi/NFC/Bluetooth connectivity and Full HD 60p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX730 HS review now...

Leica C-Lux

Looking for a family-friendly pocket camera with a long zoom lens? Then the new Leica C-Lux could be right up your street with it's 15x, 24-360mm lens, 20 megapixel sensor and 4K video recording. Find out what we thought of Leica's latest camera in our in-depth Leica C-Lux review...

Nikon Coolpix A1000

The Nikon Coolpix A1000 is a new pocket-sized super-zoom compact camera with a 35x zoom lens offering a huge focal range of 24-840mm. Retailing for £409, the 16 megapixel Nikon A1000 has an integrated electronic viewfinder, RAW file support, 3-inch tilting touchscreen and 4K UHD movie recording. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix A1000 review complete with full-size sample JPEG and RAW images now...

Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 is a new travel-zoom compact camera for 2017. The 20-megapixel TZ90 (also known as the Panasonic ZS70) offers a 30x wide-angle zoom lens, flippable 3" monitor, 4K video recording, lens control ring, RAW file format, touchscreen control and an electronic viewfinder. Read our in-depth Panasonic TZ90 review now...

Panasonic Lumix TZ200

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 is an extremely well-appointed premium compact camera, offering a mouth-watering array of photographer friendly features and a versatile 15x zoom lens, all wrapped up in a body that you can easily slip inside your pocket. Is this the best compact camera on the market? Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix TZ200 review, complete with full-size sample images and movies, to find out...

Sony RX100 VI

The new Sony RX100 VI is the most technologically capable compact camera on the market, but is it the right travel-zoom camera for you? Find out by reading our detailed Sony RX100 VI review...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Panasonic Lumix TZ95 from around the web.

trustedreviews.com »

If you’re after a well-rounded compact camera that offers plenty in a small package, the TZ95 is a good option. Zooming capability and 4K Photo are the standout features, but low-light shooting leaves a lot to be desired.
Read the full review »

Specifications

Metrics Dimensions (W x H x D) 112.0 x 68.8 x 41.6 mm (4.41 x 2.71 x 1.64 inch)
Weight Approx. 328 g with Battery and SD Memory Card (0.72 lb)/Approx. 286 g without Battery and SD Memory Card (0.63 lb)
Pixels Camera Effective Pixels 20.3 Megapixels
Sensor Sensor Size / Total Pixels / Filter 1/2.3-type High Sensitivity MOS Sensor / 21.1 Total Megapixels / Primary Color Filter
Lens Aperture F3.3 - 6.4 / Multistage Iris Diaphragm (F3.3 - 8.0 (W), F6.4 - 8.0 (T))
Optical Zoom 30x
Focal Length f = 4.3 - 129mm/(24 - 720mm in 35mm equiv. in 4:3)/(25 - 750mm in 35mm equiv. in 3:2)/(26 - 780mm in 35mm equiv. in 16:9)/(28 - 840mm in 35mm equiv. in 1:1)/(35 - 1050mm in 35mm equiv. in 4K PHOTO recording)/(35 - 1050mm in 35mm equiv. in 4K video recording)/(26 - 780mm in 35mm equiv. in 16:9 video recording / O.I.S. Off / Level Shot function Off)/(28 - 840mm in 35mm equiv. in 16:9 video recording / O.I.S. On / Level Shot function Off)/(30 - 900mm in 35mm equiv. in 16:9 video recording / O.I.S. On / Level Shot function On)
Extra Optical Zoom (EZ) 41.8x (4:3 / 10M (M)), 59.2x (4:3 / 5M (S))
Intelligent Zoom 60x
Lens LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR/12 elements in 9 groups/(5 aspherical lenses / 10 aspherical surfaces)
Optical Image Stabilizer 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S. +*/*5-Axis compensation works in video recording except for 4K video or high-speed video recording.
Digital Zoom TZ95: Max. 4x (When Digital Zoom is used simultaneously with Intelligent Zoom, you can only increase the zoom ratio up to 2x.)/TZ96/TZ97: Max. 2x
Focus Focusing Area Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / Tele 200 cm - infinity/AF Macro / MF / Intelligent Auto / Motion Picture: Wide 3 cm - infinity / Tele 200 cm - infinity
AF Assist Lamp Yes (On / Off)
Focus AF / AF Macro / Macro Zoom * Each available with AFS (Single) / AFF (Flexible) / AFC (Continuous)/Quick AF, Continuous AF (during motion picture recording), Touch AF/AE Function, Touch Shutter, Eye Sensor AF, Touch Pad AF, MF Assist, Touch MF Assist, AF+MF, Focus Peaking, One Shot AF (Set the Fn button in custom menu to AF-ON), Low Light AF
Post Focus Yes
Focus Stacking Yes
Shutter Shutter Speed [Still Image] Approx. 4 - 1/2,000 sec (Mechanical Shutter)/Approx. 1 - 1/16,000 sec (Electronic Shutter)/Artistic Nightscape (Approx. 30 sec)
Shutter Speed [Motion Picture] Motion Picture:/Approx. 1/25 - 1/16,000 sec/Approx. 1/2 - 1/16,000 sec (Creative Video M Mode / MF Mode)
File File Format Still Image: JPEG (DCF/Exif2.31), RAW/4K PHOTO: MP4/Motion Picture: AVCHD Progressive, AVCHD (Audio format: Dolby Audio 2ch), MP4 (Audio format: AAC 2ch)
Recording Modes Recording Mode Intelligent Auto, P, A, S, M, Creative Video, C (Custom), Panorama Shot, Scene Guide, Creative Control
Filter Expressive / Retro / Old Days / High Key / Low Key / Sepia / Monochrome / Dynamic Monochrome / Rough Monochrome* / Silky Monochrome* / Impressive Art / High Dynamic / Cross Process / Toy Effect / Toy Pop / Bleach Bypass / Miniature Effect / Soft Focus* / Fantasy / Star Filter* / One Point Color / Sunshine* (22 filters) *For photos only.
Scene Guide Clear Portrait, Silky Skin, Backlit Softness, Clear in Backlight, Relaxing Tone, Sweet Child's Face, Distinct Scenery, Bright Blue Sky, Romantic Sunset Glow, Vivid Sunset Glow, Glistening Water*, Clear Nightscape, Cool Night Sky, Warm Glowing Nightscape, Artistic Nightscape, Glittering Illuminations*, Handheld Night Shot, Clear Night Portrait, Soft Image of a Flower*, Appetizing Food, Cute Dessert, Freeze Animal Motion, Clear Sports Shot, Monochrome *For photos only.
Burst Shooting Mode (Approx.) [AFS] H: 10 frames/sec, M: 5 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[AFC] H: 5 frames/sec (with Live View), M: 5 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)
4K Photo Mode (*2) 4K Burst: 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Burst (S/S): 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Pre-Burst: 30 frames/sec, approx. 2 sec/Exif Information: Yes (Each JPEG image cropped out of the 4K burst file complies with EXIF.)/Auto Marking Function: Auto / Face Priority / Motion Priority (in 4K Burst mode and 4K Burst (S/S) mode)
Motion Picture Recording (*2) MP4 [4K] 3840x2160 4K/30p: 100Mbps/[4K] 3840x2160 4K/25p: 100Mbps/[FHD]1920x1080 FHD/60p: 28Mbps/[FHD]1920x1080 FHD/50p: 28Mbps/[FHD]1920x1080 FHD/30p: 20Mbps/[FHD]1920x1080 FHD/25p: 20Mbps/[HD]1280x720 HD/30p: 10Mbps/[HD]1280x720 HD/25p: 10Mbps
AVCHD [FHD]1920x1080 FHD/50p: 28Mbps, 50p recording/[FHD]1920x1080 FHD/50i: 17Mbps, 50i recording/[FHD]1920x1080 FHD/25p: 24Mbps, 50i recording (sensor output is 25fps)
High Speed Video(*2) MP4 [HD]1280x720 HD/30p (Sensor Output is 120fps)/[HD]1280x720 HD/25p (Sensor Output is 100fps)/[VGA]640x480 VGA/30p (Sensor Output is 240fps)/[VGA]640x480 VGA/25p (Sensor Output is 200fps)
Continuous Recordable Time (Motion Pictures) (*2) MP4 4K/30p, 4K/25p: Approx. 90 min (rear monitor), 80 min (LVF)/FHD/60p, FHD/50p: Approx. 100 min (rear monitor), 90 min (LVF)
AVCHD FHD/50p: Approx. 100 min (rear monitor), 90 min (LVF)/FHD/50i: Approx. 100 min (rear monitor), 100 min (LVF)
Actual recordable Time (Motion Pictures) (*2) MP4 4K/30p, 4K/25p: Approx. 45 min (rear monitor), 40 min (LVF)/FHD/60p, FHD/50p: Approx. 50 min (rear monitor), 45 min (LVF)
AVCHD FHD/50p: Approx. 50 min (rear monitor), 45 min (LVF)/FHD/50i: Approx. 50 min (rear monitor), 50 min (LVF)
Exposure Parameters Exposure Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV step, +/-5 EV (+/-3 EV for motion picture / 4K PHOTO)
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple / Center Weighted / Spot
ISO Sensitivity Still Image: Auto / i.ISO / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 (Extended ISO)/Motion Picture: Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200/(Changeable to 1/3 EV step)
Picture Quality Still Picture Recording 4:3 5184x3888 (20M) (L) / 3712x2784 (10M) (M) / 2624x1968 (5M) (S)/3:2 5184x3456 (17M) (L) / 3712x2480 (9M) (M) / 2624x1752 (4.5M) (S)/16:9 5184x2920 (14.5M) (L) / 3840x2160 (8M) (M) / 1920x1080 (2M) (S)/1:1 3888x3888 (14.5M) (L) / 2784x2784 (7.5M) (M) / 1968x1968 (3.5M) (S)
Image Quality RAW / RAW+Fine / RAW+Standard / Fine / Standard
White Balance AWB / AWBc / AWBw / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Incandescent / Flash / White Set 1, 2, 3, 4 / Color Temperature Setting/(2-axis adjustable)
Photo Style Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery, Portrait, Custom
Picture Adjustment Contrast, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, Saturation*, Color Tone**, Filter Effect**/*Except for Monochrome mode. **For Monochrome mode only.
Bracket AE Bracket 3, 5, 7 images in 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV step, Max. +/-3 EV
White Balance Bracket 3 images in blue/amber axis or in magenta/green axis
Other Digital Red Eye Correction (Red-Eye Removal) Yes (On / Off)
Wi-FI IEEE 802.11b/g/n/2412 MHz - 2462 MHz (1-11 ch)/WPA / WPA2/Infrastructure Mode / WPS
Bluetooth Bluetooth® v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE))
Self Timer 2 sec / 10 sec / 10 sec (3 images)
Self Shot Self Shot Mode Yes (Single, Self timer: 1, 2, 3 or 4 images, 4K PHOTO, Panorama)
Shutter Shutter Button, Touch, Face Shutter, Buddy Shutter
Effect Soft Skin: 10 levels, Filter Select: Expressive / Retro / High Key / Monochrome / Toy Effect, Background Control: Defocus / Clear, Slimming Mode: 10 levels
Display Playback Mode All, Picture Only, Video Only, Slideshow (All / Picture Only / Video Only, duration & effect is selectable), Calendar
Thumbnails / Zoomed Playback 12,30-thumbnails / Yes
Rating / Rotate Image / Protect Yes / Yes / Yes
Show Histogram/ Show Highlights Yes / Yes
Edit Retouch Clear Retouch, Beauty Retouch
Image Composition Light Composition, Sequence Composition
Creating a Motion Picture from Still Pictures Time Lapse Video, Stop Motion Video
RAW Processing Yes
Resize/ Cropping Yes / Yes
Title Edit / Text Stamp Yes / Yes
Video Divide Yes
Setup OSD language Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Finder Viewfinder 0.21" LVF (Live View Finder) (2,330k dots equiv.), Field of View: Approx. 100%/Magnification: Approx.0.53x (35 mm camera equivalent)
Monitor LCD Monitor 7.5cm (3.0") TFT Screen LCD Display (1040k dots), Tiltable monitor/Static Touch Control/Field of View: Approx. 100%, AF Coating
Flash Built- in- Flash Auto*, Auto/Red-eye Reduction*, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off *For iA, iA+ mode only./0.6 - 5.6m (Wide / ISO Auto), 2.0 - 2.9m (Tele / ISO Auto)
Media Recording Media SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card/(Compatible with UHS-I UHS Speed Class 3 standard SDHC / SDXC Memory Cards)
Audio Microphone / Speaker Stereo / Mono
Interface Interface microHDMI typeD (*3), USB2.0 Micro-B
Power Power Li-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 1025mAh, 7.4 Wh) (Included)/USB power charging
Battery life (Approx.) Approx. 380 images (rear monitor), 250 images (LVF), 340 images (LVF eco30fps setting) (*1)
Standard Package Included Software ・ The software to edit and playback images on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, PHOTOfunSTUDIO is available for download at Panasonic website using computer connected to the Internet./http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/soft/download/d_pfs10ae.html (For Windows)/・ The software to process RAW file on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, SILKYPIX Developer Studio is available for download at Ichikawa Soft Laboratory's website using computer connected to the Internet./http://www.isl.co.jp/SILKYPIX/english/p/ (For Windows / Mac)
Standard Accessories Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, USB Cable, Hand Strap/・ Operating Instructions for advanced features is available for downloaded at Panasonic LUMIX Customer Support Site using PC, smartphone or tablet connected to the Internet.
NOTE *1 Recording conditions by CIPA standard
NOTE - Temperature: 23 oC (73.4 oF) / Humidity: 50%RH when monitor is on.
NOTE - Using a Panasonic SDHC Memory Card
NOTE - Using the supplied battery.
NOTE - Starting recording 30 seconds after the camera is turned on. (When the optical image stabilizer function is set to [ON].)
NOTE - Recording once every 30 seconds with full flash every second recording.
NOTE - Rotating the zoom lever from Tele to Wide or vice versa in every recording.
NOTE - The number of recordable pictures varies depending on the recording interval time.
NOTE - If the recording interval time becomes longer, the number of recordable pictures decreases.
NOTE - CIPA is an abbreviation of [Camera & Imaging Products Association].
NOTE *2
NOTE - Use a card with SD Speed Class with ""Class 4"" or higher when recording motion pictures.
NOTE - Use a card with SD Speed Class with ""UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3)"" when recording motion pictures with [MP4] in [4K] or [4K PHOTO].
NOTE (SD speed class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing.)
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds with [AVCHD].
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 15 minutes with [MP4] in [4K].
NOTE - When using an SDHC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
NOTE - When using an SDXC memory card: You can record a motion picture in a single file.
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds with [MP4] in [FHD] [HD] and [High Speed Video].
NOTE You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
NOTE - These are standard times taken at a temperature of 23 oC (73.4 oF) and a humidity of 50%RH.
NOTE - The time available for recording varies depending on the environment, the interval between recordings, and the manner of use.
NOTE - Actual recordable time is the time available for recording when repeating actions such as switching the power supply [ON] / [OFF], starting/stopping recording, zoom operation etc.
NOTE *3 For [4K] video output, use an HDMI cable that has the HDMI logo on it, and that is described as"4K compatible".

News

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ95 (also know as the ZS80) is a new travel-zoom compact camera with a 30x optical zoom, 20.3 megapixel resolution, 3.0-inch tiltable rear monitor, new high-resolution viewfinder, RAW format shooting and manual controls, and built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ95 / ZS80 will be available from the end of April 2019 in two colour versions (black and black & silver). The recommended retail price is £399.99 (UK) / €449.99 (Ireland) / $449.99 (US).

Panasonic UK Press Release

Power in your pocket

Get close to the action with the new LUMIX TZ95

• 30x optical zoom LEICA* lens

• 20.3 Megapixel resolution

• Tiltable rear monitor and high-resolution viewfinder

Frankfurt, Germany – 18 February 2019 – Capture subjects near, far and in between with the latest addition to Panasonic’s popular TZ - Travel Zoom - series. Boasting a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR 30x optical zoom lens, this versatile pocket-friendly camera is the ideal travel companion. With its 20.3-megapixel high-resolution sensor, 4K Photo & Video, high-speed burst shooting and a range of other fantastic features, the TZ95 helps you to remember all of life’s incredible moments. A tiltable rear monitor, and a brand new high-resolution LVF (Live View Finder) also make it easier than ever to get the shot you want, every time. 

* The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lenses are manufactured using measurement instruments and quality assurance systems that have been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company's quality standards.

Key Features

The LUMIX TZ95 is equipped with several advanced features, all intended to help you get the best shot. 

A 24mm (equivalent) ultra wide-angle LEICA lens is ideal for landscape photography, but with the 30x optical zoom you’ll be able to reach as far as 720mm (equivalent). Power O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer) keeps your shots sharp by compensating for handshake even when shooting at long focal lengths. The Zoom Compose Assist function helps keep track of your subjects by quickly zooming out – handy when they move out of frame. 

To keep up with the fastest subjects, the TZ95 sports burst rates of 10 frames per second (AFS) and tracks the subject at a rate of 5 fps (AFC). 

Additional specifications include the following: 

• 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with 20.3 megapixel resolution

• Ultra high-speed AF of approximately 0.1 sec second

• RAW format shooting and manual controls for advanced users, plus full automatic modes for beginners.

Create your own story

• 3.0-inch tiltable touchscreen

• High resolution Live View Finder

• 4K Photo to capture every moment with ease

Utilizing the 0.21-inch 2,330k-dot equivalent Live View Finder (LVF) or the big 3.0-inch 1040k-dot static touch type control monitor, it is easy to frame every shot, even in bright, sunny conditions. The monitor tilts up to 180 degrees – perfect for selfies. Use the 22 digital filter options, which can also be applied to panoramic images, to complete your creativity.

With 4K Photo, it’s never been easier to capture the moment. Utilising this exciting technology, you can record fleeting moments at 30 frames per second, extracting the best shot later as an 8 megapixel JPEG. 

A newly added Auto Marking function makes choosing the best frame a quick and easy decision, while fun features such as Sequence Composition let you combine multiple images into the same shot for a quirky “stromotion” effect. 

Even selfies can be improved with 4K Photo – making sure everyone in a group shot is smiling, or choosing the best shot with a moving background.

Ready when you are 

Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity mean sharing your experiences with family and friends is simple. With BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), your images can be automatically transferred to your smartphone or tablet ready to upload to social networking sites. GPS tagging also ensures you never forget those special travel locations. What’s more, once the TZ95 is connected to your smartphone or tablet, you can shoot remotely – ideal for group selfies and holiday shots. 

A long battery life of approximately 380-shots per charge ensures you the power you need when on the go. Should you run out of juice, USB charging is available to give you a power boost no matter where you are. 

The Panasonic LUMIX TZ95 will be available from the end of April 2019 in two colour versions (black and black & silver). The recommended retail price is £399.99 (UK) / €449.99 (Ireland). 

For more information visit www.panasonic.co.uk. 

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images taken with the new Panasonic TZ95 travel-zoom camera. The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 is a travel zoom compact camera with a 30x optical zoom and 20.3 megapixel sensor.

A gallery of sample images taken with the new Panasonic Lumix TZ95 camera.

Panasonic Lumix TZ95 Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Panasonic Lumix TZ95 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 11 second movie is 125Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 20 second movie is 67.1Mb in size.

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