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Panasonic ZS15

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Panasonic ZS15 overview

Panasonic ZS15 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom camera initially revealed on June of 2012. The camera comes with a 12MP, CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000. The camera is referred to as "Lumix DMC-TZ25" in certain regions.

Panasonic released the fresher Panasonic ZS20 (Read Full Comparison) in order to improve this camera.

The ZS15 ranks at #199 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all-around #883 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to try out our Smart camera finder to see camera rankings based on your personalized requirements.

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Here is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic ZS15 family

The Panasonic ZS15 comes with a history of related cameras. Below, you can discover all older and latest models along with main specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-ZS80 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS80
ZS15 vs ZS80
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS70 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS70
ZS15 vs ZS70
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2017
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS60 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS60
ZS15 vs ZS60
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS45 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS45
ZS15 vs ZS45
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS50 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS50
ZS15 vs ZS50
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
12MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS35 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS35
ZS15 vs ZS35
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2014
Photography Glossary
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS40 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS40
ZS15 vs ZS40
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS30 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS30
ZS15 vs ZS30
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS25 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS25
ZS15 vs ZS25
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS15 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS1524-384mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS20 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS20
ZS15 vs ZS20
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS7 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS7
ZS15 vs ZS7
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS8 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS8
ZS15 vs ZS8
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS10 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS10
ZS15 vs ZS10
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS5 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS5
ZS15 vs ZS5
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR3
ZS15 vs ZR3
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR1 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR1
ZS15 vs ZR1
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS3
ZS15 vs ZS3
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
10MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic ZS15 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of upsides and downsides of the Panasonic ZS15 based on aspects that are typically viewed as necessary in a camera.

above average min ISO (100)
built-in flash
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
great reach (384mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes HDMI socket
includes tracking focus
lighter than average in class (208g)
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
bad battery (260 CIPA)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
display is not selfie friendly
external flash not possible
fixed screen
focusing manually not possible
low resolution screen (460 thousand dots)
missing headphone socket
missing mic socket
missing Time Lapse function
no phase detect auto focus
no RAW files
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
slow at tele end (f5.9)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Panasonic ZS15 Sensor specifications

The spec of the sensor in the Panasonic ZS15 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter may produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 12 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 100 - 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The graphic below illustrates the ZS15's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The ZS15 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is presented in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 sensor size Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic ZS15 dimensions

Panasonic ZS15 is 0.46 lb (208 grams / 7.34 oz) and features exterior proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams so the Panasonic ZS15 is lighter in comparison with other rivals.

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Listed below is a pic of the Panasonic ZS15 alongside a soda to help you to have a feel for its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 dimensions scale

The top view here will highlight the button design on the ZS15.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 topview buttons dials

Panasonic ZS15 Lens specifications

The ZS15 houses an inbuilt lens and it has a focal range of 24-384mm making it a 16.0 x zoom which is great and is going to enable you to zoom right in.

At the widest 24mm, the lens offers an aperture of f3.3 and that's rather slow and not good in low light conditions and you may struggle to capture a shallow depth of field. You will also have to increase the ISO setting which causes noisy pictures. On the tele end, 384mm is superb zoom and comes with f5.9 making it fairly sluggish and you will need to apply slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic ZS15 Connectivity

The ZS15 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras with NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to send pictures and sometimes change camera settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Many applications even allow a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't close to the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external monitor. Most cameras will allow you to charge the battery with the USB socket.

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Panasonic ZS15 Video specifications

The maximum video quality in the Panasonic ZS15 is 1920 x 1080 and it can shoot in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 1080p quality provides a good balance between quality versus file sizes but FULL HD will not give you much room to crop. The camera doesn't feature a mic and / or headphone socket so you get little control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to consider another camera in case you require good sound in your video clips.

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Panasonic ZS15 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing on the Panasonic ZS15 so you need to be cautious in rainy or dusty conditions.

Panasonic ZS15 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic ZS15 comes with a 3 inch fixed screen supporting a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

Please note that the screen offers no touch support.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 screen and viewfinder Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Panasonic ZS15 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are rather handy during bright outdoor conditions which may make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Panasonic ZS15 Shutter specifications

Panasonic ZS15 continuous shooting speed is 2.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Panasonic ZS15 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Panasonic ZS15 includes only in-built flash without external flash ability.

Panasonic ZS15 Autofocus specifications

Panasonic ZS15 includes just Contrast Based AF and lacks Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more snappier & exact in comparison with Contrast Based autofocusing.

The AF system comes with 23 focus points to select from. It also includes Tracking AF for subjects on the move. Panasonic ZS15 has not got manual focusing. Manual focusing mode is useful during low light scenarios or you need more precise focusing control.

Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS15 Battery life

The battery on the Panasonic ZS15 is designed to last for 260 shots as per the CIPA requirements which is lower compared with its rivals. The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the highest possible (600) battery life within this kind of cameras.

Below is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the strongest battery life:

Panasonic ZS15 for different kinds of photography

The following diagram indicates a summation of the Panasonic ZS15 for different kinds of photography. To look at more, have a look at the specific section below.

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS15

The Panasonic ZS15 gets a score of 21 which is subpar, meaning that it is not acceptable for portrait photography. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor size, support for RAW photos in addition to the capability to use external flash.

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manual focus not available
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format

Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info

Having a nice rating of 61, the Panasonic ZS15 is a respectable pick for street photography. A very good street photography camera features a fine balance of picture quality and portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (208g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support

Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details

A subpar sports photography rating of 36 suggests the Panasonic ZS15 is not acceptable for taking pictures of sports. A camera really should have excellent focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus

Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography highlights

Size is super crucial in picking a camera for travel. All things considered, the Panasonic ZS15 gets a very good 61 for a travelling camera which makes it a respectable choice to take on your journeys.

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lighter than competition (208 grams)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)

Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography features

For anybody who is looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most essential factor is going to be image quality. The Panasonic ZS15 at it's subpar score of 37 as a landscape camera is not acceptable in the current marketplace.

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pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function

Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera should come with a articulating display, microphone port and ideally IBIS. Considering all things, the Panasonic ZS15 is not acceptable for vlogging as it comes to a subpar score of 33.

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quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have external mic jack

Panasonic ZS15 Alternatives

If you need alternatives to the ZS15, here is a collection of the top placed cameras that fall under the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart down below offers you an overview of the ZS15 vs it's top ranked rivals suggested earlier.

Here are a handful of other cameras you may take into account as alternatives. To check out a full comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called as
Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2012-06-29
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW files
Highest native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points
23
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture
f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range
3cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display size
3"
Resolution of display
460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
6.40 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
208 gr (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions
105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
Other
Battery life
260 shots
Battery type
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots
One
Retail pricing
$279