Looks like a great price, down from $450ish according to camels. Previous OzBargain deals were $447 and $454 last year.
Travel zoom camera with 20.3MP MOS sensor and Leica 30x optical zoom (24-720mm) F3.3-6.4 lens.
30x Zoom Travel Camera with 4K Selfie
Edit: Part of the same sale for the now sold out DMC-G7 and DC-FZ80
CamelCamelCamel.
I think this one is 1 inch sensor and others are 2/3 inch sensor (sony rx100s are 1 inch)
Is this the same model?
https://www.digicamdb.com/specs/panasonic_lumix-dc-tz90/
Its says Sensor: 1/2.3" (~ 6.16 x 4.62 mm)
Yeah - I've had the older HX60V for ages, and it's a brilliant little camera. I also have other Sony cameras so it makes life easier with respect to remote control apps etc. For a camera I use mainly when travelling (so it hasn't been used for a while!), the built in gps to save location data to photos is nice to have as well. So personally I'd also go the Sony but having said all that, this is a really good price for a good quality camera. A review here: https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dc_t…
i've still got my HX20V, it's great camera when you don't need a dslr and your after compact.
Yep love my HX90V. Viewfinder, GPS and size make it a winnner.
I used to like the TZ series, but mainly because they used to include a built in GPS unit. These newer models need to get GPS data from a phone.
Does this camera do HDR photos?
Yes. You use the bracket option to take multiple photos and then combine them via an HDR application.
You could also always shoot a photo in raw, and use that to do something similar, but it won't be as good as using separate photos.
A quick google search found the manual that says "The camera can combine 3 still pictures taken at different exposures into a single properly exposed picture with rich gradation. The individual pictures used to create the HDR picture are not saved. You can minimise the loss of gradations in bright areas and dark areas when, for example, the contrast between the background and the subject is large. A combined HDR picture is saved in JPEG format." This is technically HDR, kinda, but of course you will lose information as it's saved in jpg, plus you can't go back and tweak it as the original source photos aren't saved.
This or s20 ultra?
What's your use case?
The S20 has the advantage of convenience, portability and computational effects. This has the advantage of having a viewfinder and mostly being optical (the physical zoom in S20 ultra caps at 4x whereas this is 30x) allowing you to do post processing to your own taste after instead of relying on the S20's algorithms but is bulkier. The TZ90 should give you more manual control if that is what you want, with actual variable aperture, for example. Both are capable of great images for social media/web use/family sharing.
If you have the S20 ultra already, you probably don't need this. If you are particular about your photography, I would look at a 1 inch sensor compact instead (e.g. an older model RX100 m3 or m4, or a TZ110/TZ220 if you need the zoom range rather than the fast lens)
If you need optical zoom this can zoom way farer (720mm vs 103mm on Telephoto len in S20 Ultra)
Otherwise, S20 Ultra Primary has better sensor (1/1.33" f/1.8) vs (1/2.3" f/3.3-6.4)
Can you use this as a webcam/stream camera?
Great travel camera, very solid for the price.
After using my iPhone 11 Pro I find these cameras with 1/2.3” sensor struggling to compete in quality. The optical zoom blows phones ability out of the water but for me at least 1” sensor is a must.
I do agree that my iPhone 11 Pro is the mostly used camera now
Apart from that,
I use my Sony A6300 with 35mm f1.8 for special occasions (eg. Weddings, parties, overseas travel etc.)
and use DJI osmo mobile for selfie videos, active tracking or motion timelapse
Unfortunately the HX90v has been sitting in my drawer for a year now
Fully agree that the quality of images from the latest mobiles are amazing, and the sensor in the iPhone 11 is I believe equivalent to a 1/2.5" so is fairly decent. Having said that, the glass in front of the sensor is also pretty important - as you say the optical zoom on a portable camera is so much better than a digital zoom, and usually there are compromises in image quality (distortion, resolution, etc) that are easier to correct with a larger lens on one of these higher end compacts that also provide raw image capture (yes you can do that on some mobiles as well, albeit usually with some limitations). Other features such as the ability to easily swap memory cards when travelling, and change settings appeal a lot.
So for me it's my 'phone for general photos, my compact camera for travel, and my aps-c camera or full frame for when I know I will want the best images I can get. But I am a camera nerd, so for the vast majority of people out there, the camera in their mobile will be perfectly fine.
I sold my older full frame as I just wasn’t getting the use from it that I wanted vs the cost of the camera and the glass to go with it.
I’m after a nice 1” sensor point n shoot that gives great quality like the iPhone and also good low light low noise performance which are phones weakness.
In which case the Sony RX100 (variants) are hard to ignore, although you do lose the 'super zoom' which can make them a little less useful as a travel camera. Well, the "RX100 VI/VII broad zoom" goes to 200mm equivalent, but is not cheap. If you already have the iPhone 11 I'd keep that as the point & shoot, then rather than the 1" sensor (116 mm²) I'd consider mirrorless APS-C (Sony/Nikon 370 mm², Canon 329 mm²). The cameras are a little bigger of course, but not by much and you can also swap lenses. I have the A5000 and normally normally leave a Sigma fast wide angle on, with the Sony f1.8 50mm in my pocket for portraits.
Sony RX100 then. I have one that I take with me when travelling and hasn't missed a beat. I have a RX1003 which I believe you can still get your hands on, not a lot of difference between the III and the IV and V i believe. Just note that the VI and VII variants use a telephoto lens that is different to shorter lens on the III, IV and V.
@Nos 4r2: I have a P30 Pro, Rx100 mk1 and mk5a.
Honestly when on a holiday and in a rush the P30 is more handy as you can take a photo and not worry about settings and it takes a good photo most of the time.
Having the rx100 on auto or on the wrong settings can be a mistake as you are most likely going to come out with a bad photo.
Having said that I'm not that pro with cameras.
@Circly: Phones are getting pretty good and I too use my phone when I cbf with the camera when out and about. For just general happy snaps that I want to share I use my phone.
I use the RX100 for shots I want to edit, or know I can improve with post processing later on. I only shoot RAW using aperture priority mode on the RX100 and having all the settings toggles on hand just makes it a lot easier. I used to a carry a big chunky Nikon which was great but huge. The RX100 provides a good balance between size and quality, particularly when it comes to being a travel camera.
If you can't be bothered shooting raw and editing images then there really is no point in getting a dedicated camera, most phones take a good shot these days and if you yourself are happy with the photos then why make things more complicated?
For me sometimes there is a scene or a subject I can shoot and no in-camera settings will do it justice, or sometimes the photo just looks dull or flat due to the weather or lighting conditions. That's where the RX100 comes into play, by having a larger sensor and shooting RAW it gives me the ability to process it and make what would be a shit standard photo look a lot more 'lively' and closer to what I saw in real life.
@Nos 4r2: I agree with what you're saying.
For the average person I think they will be fine with a good phone camera.
Especially with night shots I find the P30 pro reliably takes better photos with less blur. The rx100 really needs a tripod to get the most out of it. Shooting hand held at night can get mixed results.
With 30x optical zoom is it good enough to take a photo of the Moon/Supermoon?
Yes. I can send you a photo I took on my HX90V.
Though this is a different camera but still interested to see it. Cheers.
But I think the HX90V has 120x zoom.
30x optical…and then all digital after that.
nikon p1000 would be your option
Yeah nah the image quality on that vs the price isn’t spectacular.
Great for moon shots not much else.
If you only take photos outside in good light this camera is fine. It has a point and shoot size sensor. Inside or low light a good mobile phone camera will beat it due to faster apeture and computational smarts.
It had 5 axis in body image stabilisation and 4k so a good outdoor vlog camera.
This camera is really crap under low light.
I bought this for work and returned it a week later.
This camera is really crap under low light.
I bought this for work and returned it a week later.
You just bought the camera for the wrong purpose. All "High/Mega Zoom" compacts are not meant for low light.
I did that's why I exchanged it for a G7X MKII.
Under the same condition, my G7X MKII performs a lot better with higher clarity.
I took photos of the same object under the same condition with both and the Panasonic was really crap.
Then again, the G7X MKII is 2x the price of the Panasonic so it's worth considering given the 30x zoom.
Point and shoot cameras are dead, I would not buy one at any price.
Not true.
A camera is good for point and shoot under good light.
But performs poorly under low light and optical zoom is far better for clarity than digital zoom.
I prefer to use my G7 MKII for work over my iphone 8 or S20 Ultra due reasons above.
I'd only get a point and shoot for its optical zoom, nothing else.
I was meant to say a PHONE camera is good under good light but performs poorly under low light.
The great thing about these type of cameras is they still can't be 'hacked into' or used to spy on people yet, unlike smartphone's cameras.
For someone who doesn’t care about photography, would I better off investing in a phone with a good camera (for dog photos, family eg). Last time I bought a camera was 10 years ago.
Definitely!
Phone cameras for daylight stuff are great, and the top end phones are also good with the various night modes. The phones also seem to do much better 4K video than many point n shoot cameras these days.
iPhone 11 / iPhone 11 Pro / Samsung s20 would be the pick of the bunch.
Thanks good to know a good phone can be a camera replacement for those precious moments.
Try any android phone with Snapdragon processor and install Google Camera app manually (search in google: celsoazevedo to get the apk file). There are a lot of gcam mod that you could try such as gcam mod from Parrot043, PittbulL, etc.
Google camera app is great with HDR+ Enhanced and also Night sight/mode.
Thanks will keep google camera app in mind!
Might want to wait a bit. Check out the avalanche of one star reviews after their June update. It regularly surprises me how a company that invests so much in quantum computing and AI can overlook simple regression testing or legacy support.
Had the older mdodel TZ70 a few years back - incredible camera.
Everyone forgets about what you can do when you have a variable aperture. Most phone cameras don't have the flexibility that even the point and shoots have.
Add in a true viewfinder and they are incredible useful especially when travelling.
I use my HX90V and my Note 10 all the time. My DSLR much less.
Just get a good phone camera instead of a point and shoot. Computational photography is blowing away these P&S cameras and they won't exist in a few years.
I tend to agree.
The point and shoots need to have the same chips and software as phones to keep ahead.
Unfortunately P&S is more about the photographer skills than the camera and someone who doesn't know how to use it properly will take a crap photo.
On the other hand anyone can take a photo with a phone and it generally turns out well (aside from composition) as the software is so good and quick in adjusting the settings automatically.
Perfect timing for my upcoming overseas holiday
Its coming up at $399 for me.
Tempting price, but seems the Sony HX90v or HX99 is slightly better