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Panasonic ZS1

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Panasonic ZS1 summary

Panasonic ZS1 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera initially revealed on May of 2009. The camera houses a 10MP, CCD 1/2.5" size sensor with a max resolution of 3648 x 2736. It is referred to as "Lumix DMC-TZ6" in other markets.

The ZS1 places at #241 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and over all #1153 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should test our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your personal criteria.

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Below is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic ZS1 Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of pros and cons of the Panasonic ZS1 based on things that are normally considered essential in a digital camera.

has built in flash
has image stabilization (Optical)
in built lens has zoom (25-300mm 12.0 x zoom)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
long reach (300mm)
pretty wide (25mm)
provides face detection autofocus
very good minimum ISO (100)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
doesn't have RAW files
does not contain selfie friendly screen
external flash not possible
lack of manual mode
low resolution screen (230 k dot)
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
manual focus not available
max zoom aperture not good (f4.9)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
missing external mic port
missing HDMI port
missing headphone port
missing Time Lapse recording
no aperture priority
no articulating screen
no shutter priority mode
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Panasonic ZS1 Sensor features

The sensor dimension on the Panasonic ZS1 is 5.744mm x 4.308mm (1/2.5"). The 25 mm² sensor can capture 3648 x 2736 pixels using aspect ratios of 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 10 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 100 to 6400. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not supported so you have less margin for error.

The graphic below displays the ZS1's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The ZS1 sensor comes with a crop factor of 6.3 and is outlined in green.

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To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic ZS1 dimensions

Panasonic ZS1 weighs in at 0.50 lbs (229g or 8.08 ounces) and the dimensions of the camera is 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g and the Panasonic ZS1 is less heavy as compared to various rivals.

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Below is a pic of the Panasonic ZS1 with a soft drink to help you to have a feel for its size.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 dimensions scale

The top view below will illustrate the button design on the ZS1.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 topview buttons dials

Panasonic ZS1 Lens features

The ZS1 is equipped with an inbuilt lens offering a focal range of 25-300mm giving it a 12.0 x zoom which isn't really outstanding however it will probably be valuable in a few scenarios.

At it's widest 25mm, it will have an aperture of f3.3 which is quite sluggish and not ideal in low light events and you will likely find it difficult to capture a shallow depth of field. You will also need to up your ISO which causes noisy photos. With the long end, 300mm is outstanding zoom and comes at f4.9 making it pretty sluggish and you may have to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Panasonic ZS1 Connectivity

The ZS1 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that consist of NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You can send images and in some cases alter camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.

Several apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can be connected to an external monitor. Virtually all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Panasonic ZS1 Video features

The max video quality on the Panasonic ZS1 is 640 x 480 and it can record in Motion JPEG file format. 480p is low by today's requirements. You should really shoot for a minimum FUll HD quality for good video. The body does not have a mic and headphone port so you get absolutely no control over your sound. It is probably best to look into an alternative camera if you want better sound in your videos.

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Panasonic ZS1 Weather Sealing

Panasonic ZS1 does not have environment proofing so damp conditions could damage the camera.

Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder

The Panasonic ZS1 is equipped with a 2.7" fixed display screen having a resolution of 230k dots.

Please note that the display offers no touch support.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Panasonic ZS1 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite beneficial during bright outdoor conditions which can easily make the camera screen washed out and difficult to view.

Panasonic ZS1 Shutter features

Panasonic ZS1 can shoot continuously at 3.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Panasonic ZS1 Flash and Hot shoe features

Panasonic ZS1 boasts just inbuilt flash without external flash support.

Panasonic ZS1 Autofocusing features

Panasonic ZS1 boasts only Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster and accurate as compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera supports Face detection which can be handy for taking portraits of people.

It supports 11 focus points to choose from. Panasonic ZS1 doesn't have manual focusing. Manual focusing option can be good during low light conditions or you require more precise control on depth of field.

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Panasonic ZS1 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the maximum (600) battery life within this kind of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras which have the strongest battery life:

Panasonic ZS1 for varying types of photography

The following illustration provides a rundown of the Panasonic ZS1 for varying types of photography. To understand more, go to the specific paragraph below.

Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography details

The Panasonic ZS1 gets a points total of 25 which is awful, meaning that it is not really suitable for portrait photography. Photographing portraits favors heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW files plus the option to work with off-camera lighting.

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provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format

Panasonic ZS1 Street photography highlights

Getting a decent score of 60, the Panasonic ZS1 is relatively adequate for street photography. A decent street photography camera gives a perfect balance of image quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography details

A awful sports photography rating of 24 indicates the Panasonic ZS1 is not really suitable for photographing sports. A camera needs to have good autofocus and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus

Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography information

Portability is really crucial when selecting a travel camera. All round, the Panasonic ZS1 gets a above average 63 as a travelling camera which is a fine fit to take with you on your holidays.

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lighter than others in class (229 grams)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)

Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography information

If you find yourself looking to pick a camera for landscape photography, the most vital aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic ZS1 with it's awful grade of 31 as a landscape camera is not really suitable within the current market.

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quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging information

A camera for vlogging should offer a articulating display, mic input and preferably image stabilization. Considering every thing, the Panasonic ZS1 is not really suitable for vlogging as it gets a awful score of 31.

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fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than average (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone socket

Panasonic ZS1 Alternatives

If you are searching for alternatives to the ZS1, below is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall in to the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The diagram followed below gives you a summary of the ZS1 versus it's highest ranking competitors mentioned above.

These are various other cameras you may look at as alternatives. To look at a comprehensive comparison, click the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also called
Lumix DMC-TZ6
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Released
2009-05-14
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions
5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area
24.7mm²
Sensor resolution
10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution
3648 x 2736
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points
11
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range
3cm
Crop factor
6.3
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
2.7 inches
Resolution of screen
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
60s
Max shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed
3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
640x480
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
229g (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions
103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots
One
Launch pricing
$0