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Panasonic ZS70

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 322g - 112 x 67 x 41mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ90
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS60
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS80
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
87
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Panasonic ZS70 overview

Panasonic ZS70 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Superzoom camera initially introduced on April of 2017. The camera houses a 20MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a peak resolution of 5184 x 3888. It is also known as "Lumix DMC-TZ90" in certain regions.

Panasonic released this camera as a way to upgrade the older Panasonic ZS60 (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently released the updated Panasonic ZS80 (Read Full Comparison) as a way to upgrade this model.

The ZS70 comes in at #2 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all round #357 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can test our Smart camera search to find camera rankings based on your customized requirements.

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

Panasonic ZS70 family

The Panasonic ZS70 is part of a family of cameras. You can view the detailed list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-ZS80 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS80
ZS70 vs ZS80
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS70 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS7024-720mm
F3.3-6.4
20MP1/2.3"2017
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS60 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS60
ZS70 vs ZS60
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS45 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS45
ZS70 vs ZS45
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS50 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS50
ZS70 vs ZS50
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
12MP1/2.3"2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS40 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS40
ZS70 vs ZS40
24-720mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2014
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS35 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS35
ZS70 vs ZS35
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS30 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS30
ZS70 vs ZS30
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS25 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS25
ZS70 vs ZS25
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
16MP1/2.3"2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS15 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS15
ZS70 vs ZS15
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS20 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS20
ZS70 vs ZS20
24-480mm
F3.3-6.4
14MP1/2.3"2012
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS8 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS8
ZS70 vs ZS8
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS7 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS7
ZS70 vs ZS7
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS10 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS10
ZS70 vs ZS10
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS5 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS5
ZS70 vs ZS5
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
12MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR3
ZS70 vs ZR3
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZR1 front thumbnailPanasonic ZR1
ZS70 vs ZR1
25-200mm
F3.3-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS3 front thumbnailPanasonic ZS3
ZS70 vs ZS3
25-300mm
F3.3-4.9
10MP1/2.3"2009

Panasonic ZS70 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of good and bad points of the Panasonic ZS70 based on factors which are often seen as useful in a camera.

built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with HDMI port
exports RAW files
features touch focus
flash built-in
good battery power (380 CIPA)
has a tilting screen
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
MP count good (20MP)
provides face detection focusing
provides tracking autofocus
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
quite wide (24mm)
screen has good resolution (1,040 k dot)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
very good min ISO (80)
very long zoom (720mm)
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
you can focus manually
cannot use external flash
has no phase detect AF
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
no external mic port
no headphone port
sluggish at full zoom (f6.4)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Panasonic ZS70 Sensor features

The Panasonic ZS70 features the Venus Engine chip. The measurement of the sensor on the Panasonic ZS70 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 5184 x 3888 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter can easily cause cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 20MP and delivers a native ISO range of 80 to 3200. The ISO can also be widened electronically to a maximum of 6400. RAW files are supported so you have more margin for error.

The graphic underneath illustrates the ZS70's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The ZS70 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 sensor size C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic ZS70 dimensions

Panasonic ZS70 weighs about 0.71 pounds (322 gr or 11.36 oz) and features exterior dimensions of 112mm x 67mm x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Panasonic ZS70 is lighter as compared with its competitors.

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Here is a picture of the Panasonic ZS70 next to a softdrink so you're able to have a feel for its size.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 dimensions scale

The top view just below will illustrate the button design on the ZS70.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 topview buttons dials

Panasonic ZS70 Lens features

The ZS70 comes with a built in lens having a focal range of 24-720mm making it a 30.0 x zoom which is exceptional and can allow you to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 24mm, it offers an aperture of f3.3 which is very sluggish and not very good in low light situations and you will probably find it difficult to capture a shallow depth of field. You might also have to increase your ISO setting giving you noisy photographs. For the long end, 720mm is terrific zoom and comes with f6.4 making it fairly sluggish and you may have to use slow shutter speeds.

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Panasonic ZS70 Connectivity

The ZS70 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras which have NFC and Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily copy pictures and usually adjust settings without the hassle of connecting straight with the camera.

Some apps also allow a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it could be connected to an external display. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery with the USB socket.

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Panasonic ZS70 Video features

The highest video quality on the Panasonic ZS70 is 3840 x 2160 and it can record in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 2160p provides an excellent quality for video recording. You can easily downsample to Full HD to get clearer results. Beware of the massive file sizes and make sure you have high quality SD cards with good write speed. The body doesn't include a mic and headphone socket so you get absolutely no control over your audio. It is probably best to look into a different model in case you want decent audio in your video clips.

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Panasonic ZS70 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing on the Panasonic ZS70 so you have to be cautious in wet and dusty conditions.

Panasonic ZS70 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic ZS70 is equipped with a 3" tilting display having a resolution of 1,040k dots.

It features a selfie friendly display to shoot self portraits and even group photos if needed. Additionally the display is touch friendly so you can easily switch focus points as well as adjust settings with your fingers.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 screen and viewfinder Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

The ViewFinder specs regarding Panasonic ZS70 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 1,166k dots
  • Coverage 100 percent
  • Magnification 0.46x

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

Panasonic ZS70 Shutter features

Panasonic ZS70 has the capability to shoot continuously at 10.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000s. The camera also includes silent electronic shutter of 1/16000s. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter may result in "rolling shutter" in some situations.

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Panasonic ZS70 Flash and Hot shoe features

Panasonic ZS70 includes just in-built flash with missing external flash ability.

Panasonic ZS70 Autofocusing features

Panasonic ZS70 includes only Contrast Detect AF and is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot quicker and accurate as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera supports Face detect which makes it helpful for taking photos of people.

The Sensor supports 49 focus points to choose from. Panasonic ZS70 has touch to focus. You are able to use your fingers to adjust where you focus. It also boasts Tracking AF for objects that move. Panasonic ZS70 comes with manual focus when required in low light situations or you want to have more accurate focus control.

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Panasonic ZS70 Battery life

The battery power on the Panasonic ZS70 is designed to last for 380 photographs with respect to the CIPA measurements making it higher than the usual for its class. The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the highest (600) battery life in this group of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras which have the highest battery life:

Panasonic ZS70 for varying kinds of photography

The following graph gives a summation of the Panasonic ZS70 for varying kinds of photography. To view more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Panasonic ZS70 Portrait photography advice

The Panasonic ZS70 receives a rating of 54 which is decent, and means the camera is reasonably suitable for portrait images. Photographing portrait images favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support & potential to utilize external flash.

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focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")

Street photography with Panasonic ZS70

Coming in at a awesome score of 76, the Panasonic ZS70 is a excellent fit to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of image quality and portability.

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screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")

Panasonic ZS70 as a Sports photography camera

A very good sports photography points tally of 61 indicates the Panasonic ZS70 is a very decent option for taking photos of sports. A camera really should have fantastic tracking and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 per charge)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus

Panasonic ZS70 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is extremely crucial in picking a travel camera. All things considered, the Panasonic ZS70 gets a awesome 79 for a travelling camera which makes it a excellent pick to purchase for your trips.

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great battery (380 CIPA)
supports focus via touch
decent MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)

Panasonic ZS70 Landscape photography highlights

For anyone who is looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most vital factor will be image quality. The Panasonic ZS70 at it's above average rating of 62 for a landscape camera is a very decent choice in the current marketplace.

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manual focus
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")

Panasonic ZS70 Vlogging factors

A camera for vlogging really should come with a articulating screen, mic port and ideally IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Panasonic ZS70 is a very decent option for vlogging as it comes to a nice score of 74.

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quite wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
missing mic jack

Panasonic ZS70 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the ZS70, here is a selection of the highest placed cameras that fall under the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart just below offers you a bird's eye view of the ZS70 vs it's highest rated rivals listed earlier.

Here are a handful of other cameras you may regard as alternative options. To check out a detailed comparison, click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
Otherwise known as
Lumix DMC-TZ90
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2017-04-19
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Powered by
Venus Engine
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
5184 x 3888
RAW data
Max native ISO
3200
Max boosted ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
49
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range
3cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of display
Tilting
Display diagonal
3 inches
Display resolution
1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.46x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
4 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed
1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
5.60 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution
3840x2160
Video file format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
322 grams (0.71 lb)
Dimensions
112 x 67 x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
Other
Battery life
380 pictures
Battery form
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, 3 shots / 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
One
Retail cost
$450