Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification


The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 is a pocketable zoom camera, it has a 20x optical zoom lens and 16.1 megapixel MOS sensor, creative panorama, full HD video recording, HDR shooting, power optical image stabilisation, as well as a new Venus image processing engine for improved image quality. It is available for just under £300.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 Features

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 has a 16.1 megapixel High Sensitivity MOS Sensor and a 20x optical zoom lens, which is a 35mm equivalent of 24-480mm. With Intelligent Resolution technology, the zoom can be extended to 40x. To help take sharp pictures, there is Power OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation).

When shooting there is iA (Intelligent Auto) mode which sets all of the camera settings automatically. For more control there are also full manual controls and a range of scene modes. The camera also has a Creative Panorama function as well as Creative Control and Creative Retouch featuring a total of 14 effects. The TZ35 is capable of shooting at 5 fps with continuous AF, 10 fps is capable in high-speed burst mode.

Videos are recordable in full 1080p HD with optical zoom also available during recording, as is the Power OIS.

Key Features

• 16.1 megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor
• 20x optical zoom Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens (35mm equivalent: 24-480mm)
• Power OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser)
• 3.0 inch 460k dot TFT LCD display
• Intelligent Auto mode
• Full 1080p HD videos in AVCHD format
• ISO 100-3200 (High Sensitivity mode ISO 1600-6400)
• 3cm minimum focusing distance
• Creative panorama
• HDR mode
• 5 fps full resolution continuous shooting

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 Handling

The TZ35 has a very compact body, especially when considering it packs in a 20x optical zoom lens, it's also fairly light. There is a rubberised hand grip in the front, with a dotted patch for your right hand thumb.

There is a mode dial on the top of the camera which also includes 2 custom options as well as access to the scene modes and Creative Control. The top also hosts the video record button, on / off switch, zoom rocker and shutter release. On the rear is a d-pad as well as display, q. menu playback and exposure buttons. The latter allows you to change the aperture and shutter, depending which mode you're in. The d-pad gives access to exposure compensation, timer, flash and focus mode.

The 3 inch screen is bright, colourful and has a decent enough resolution at 460k dots. The menu system is clearly labelled out, with explanation of what the options mean.

Battery life is rated at 260 shots according to CIPA test results, after 400 test shots the battery was still going. We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.

Shutter Response		0.15 secs
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response		0.2 secs
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response		0.4 secs
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo		2.0 secs
Shot to Shot without Flash		0.85 secs
Shot to Shot with Flash		1.95 secs
Continuous Shooting AF		4.3 fps
High-speed burst		9.1 fps
Flash burst		3.0 fps

Continuous shooting has 2 modes which utilise autofocus for moving objects which shoot up to 2 or 5 fps. We managed 4.3 fps when using the 5 fps option. High-speed burst and flash burst (slows after five shots) are limited to 3 megapixels.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 Performance

Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

Panasonic Lumix TZ35 Sample Photos

Sample Photos - The TZ35 produces colourful, well exposed images. Portraits have good skin tones and are free of red-eye when using the flash. Blues and greens are excellent when shooting landscapes and you can use a fast shutter speed to freeze moving objects, such as the water in the fountain above.

Panasonic Lumix TZ35 Lens test images

Lens Performance - Images have a decent amount of detail at both ends of the lens with a very slight softening in the corners. Purple fringing is kept under control, although there is a touch in contrasting areas. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 3cm which allows you to get close for an impressive, well detailed macro shot.

Panasonic Lumix TZ35 ISO test images

ISO Noise Performance - Noise is kept low at ISO 100, 200 and 400, with just very small increases as you increase the speed. At ISO 800 images become a little soft with some contrasting areas looking a little smudged. This worsens at ISO 1600 and even more so at ISO 3200. It's not so much the loss of detail that is a problem at higher ISOs, it's the smudging in contrasting areas which gets worse.

Panasonic Lumix TZ35 White-balance test images

White Balance Performance - The AWB setting handles the light in our studio extremely well, whether it's the incandescent or fluorescent ones in use. The incandescent preset produces an image with a slight orange cast. There is no fluorescent preset available.


Panorama | 1/160 sec | f/6.3 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Panorama mode - Panorama's don't have loads of detail, so they're not going to make great large prints, but they are stitched together really well and look great when sharing on the web.

Panasonic Lumix TZ35 Digital filters

Digital Filters - The TZ35 has a number of colour modes and creative control modes available to make your pictures unique. There are many examples above.

Video - Below is a video recorded in full 1080p HD. You can view a video recorded using the optical zoom on the ePHOTOzine Youtube Page.

Value For Money

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 is available for £294.40. Other pocket-zoom cameras to consider are the Pentax Optio VS20 at £100, Olympus SZ-14 at £130, Nikon Coolpix S9300 at £150, Fujifilm FinePix F800 at £180, Olympus SZ-31MR at £180, Canon PowerShot SX240 / SX260 at £180 / £200, Sony Cybershot HX20V at £270 and Samsung Galaxy Camera at £385. For more choice, take a look at our top 10 best pocket zoom cameras article.

You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 Verdict

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 is an excellent choice for those looking for a very versatile travel camera. It has a very respectable 20x optical zoom lens packed into a very compact body, yet is capable of focusing at just 3cm for superb macro shots.

It could be improved if it had RAW shooting and a higher resolution screen. There is no GPS, but with the range of features already mentioned, HDR, panoramas, full 1080p HD video recording and excellent image quality, the TZ35 is a camera we are happy to recommend.

	The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 packs a range of useful features for travel photography in a compact body.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 Pros

Excellent image quality
20x zoom in a compact body
3cm close focusing allows for excellent macros
Full 1080p HD video recording
Fast continuous shooting
HDR & panorama modes

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ35 Cons

No RAW shooting
No dial for adjusting shutter / aperture
No built-in GPS
Smudging in images at ISO 800 and above
Screen resolution could be better

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Panasonic Lumix TZ35 Specifications

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