Right here, we thought that the smartphone would kill the point-and-shoot digital digicam. There’s, as a substitute, a gentle resurgence with increasingly more (principally younger) individuals buying used point-and-shoot cameras. The Panasonic ZS99 goals to capitalize on the pattern, providing a modernized tackle an older P&S mannequin.
I feel there are solely two causes to purchase a point-and-shoot digital digicam and count on a distinct outcome from a smartphone. Smartphones take stunningly good photos so far as picture high quality goes relative to their tiny sensor sizes, so that you both get a digicam with a considerably bigger sensor than a telephone or get one with a a lot greater telephoto zoom vary. The Panasonic ZS99 is a brand-new design that seeks to do the latter. With the ZS99 obtainable for $499, is its bigger zoom vary well worth the worth of admission?
Panasonic DC-ZS99 Assessment: The way it Feels
The ZS99 is basically a rehash of the older ZS80. It borrows its look and plenty of parts, together with the lens and sensor meeting, from the ZS80. The sensor is a comparatively small Kind 1/2.3 20-megapixel chip, in all probability the identical sensor we’ve seen in a number of Panasonic point-and-shoots for years. We get the wonderful 30x zoom lens from the ZS80, which offers a full-frame equal vary of 24-720mm. In comparison with a smartphone, this offers a substantial attain benefit over even a 10x telephoto digicam, and most telephones solely function a 3x or 5x telephoto.
The grip is enough, and the digicam could be very pocketable, with no vital modifications in general look from its predecessor. The digicam nonetheless has the identical 3-inch 1.84-million dot LCD panel, which flips up above the digicam into selfie mode. The battery remains to be a traditional Panasonic BLG-10PP kind, and the digicam has a single UHS-I SD slot. Little or no has modified over time.
No less than the USB connection is now a contemporary type-C, which complies with worldwide rules, and the Bluetooth is now 5.0 compliant. Nonetheless, this comes with a significant loss because the EVF that graced the ZS80 has been eliminated. I think about this an enormous oversight because the again LCD panel is just not supreme in vibrant situations and we lose the power to carry the digicam up in opposition to the face when taking pictures the utmost telephoto ranges to stabilize the entire platform.
I always hear that youthful generations of photographers who’re used to taking pictures telephones at arm’s size don’t care about EVFs. However this doesn’t give new shooters sufficient credit score. Anybody who tries one will certainly come to make use of it extra typically and can miss it sorely if it ceases to exist on future fashions. They might not know what they’re lacking, however that doesn’t imply they may finally fail to understand the omission.
Panasonic DC-ZS99 Assessment: The way it Shoots
I at all times get a tinge of nostalgia after I evaluation a compact digicam. I grew up promoting these merchandise, and I treasure the chance to check them once more all these years later. Nonetheless, an enormous a part of the nostalgic feeling is as a result of cameras being basically the identical as the unique fashions, making the general expertise a genuinely classic one.
To its credit score, although, the ZS99 makes use of Panasonic’s DFD contrast-based autofocusing, which is snappy and exact. The digicam is swift, too, and the shutter launch feels good. The zoom operates with a fundamental rocker swap across the shutter and zooms the lens with satisfactory haste.
The lens is sharp sufficient for the 20-megapixel sensor however tends to flare barely from vibrant mild sources. I typically discovered myself shielding the entrance component with my left hand with a purpose to stop heavy ghosting within the picture. The sensor is susceptible to some reflections as nicely when pointed on the Solar. The ZS99 affords a RAW file format, however the small sensor on this digicam doesn’t ship a lot dynamic vary.
Equally, the ZS99 additionally has full handbook management, however the aperture vary is proscribed to f/8, and diffraction softens the picture considerably. The depth of area doesn’t change that a lot both, and though shutter speeds could be set slower, there isn’t any choice for filters to assist accommodate longer exposures.
That is all to say that though the ZS99 does supply some inventive management, there isn’t a lot incentive to make use of it, and it’ll in all probability be prevented by most customers.
Video is unchanged from earlier than, which implies it’s data 4K video, however solely at 30 frames per second. In case you are okay with lower-resolution gradual movement, you caokay 60fps at 1080p and 120fps at 720p.
Picture high quality is just not why individuals purchase these cameras, though there’s a sure traditional appeal to the classic look of those older sensors. Colours are good general, however pores and skin tones are inclined to tackle a waxy look, and the pictures are over-sharpened throughout the board. A contemporary smartphone’s important digicam will take a greater photograph in most conditions, particularly in terms of dynamic vary. Though a smartphone controls the look of the depth of area in a largely synthetic means, particularly when taking pictures portraits, the outcomes are much more usable these days, and the ZS99 can’t come shut. Nonetheless, The ZS99 does a greater job when competing with the 5x lens on most telephones and simply dominates when the zoom is pushed anyplace past that mark. The ZS99 is a wonderful image taker due to its telephoto attain, and its important power is the flexibility it affords whereas nonetheless becoming in a pocket.
Panasonic DC-ZS99 Assessment: A Lazy Expertise
Panasonic is just not the one one which has been responsible of rereleasing an previous product with just a few modifications and a brand new identify. The demand for compact digital cameras is rising, and it is smart to modernize the merchandise to satisfy the demand. Main enhancements require cash and intensive R&D, so it’s comprehensible that almost all producers are merely rehashing the again catalog.
Nonetheless, I might be much more excited to see new digicam designs that supply substantial enhancements to picture high quality and performance. Connectivity is extra essential than ever, however the ZS99 interfaces with a telephone in a lot the identical means the older cameras did earlier than, so no elementary modifications there.
We’re left with a digicam that complies with the newest USB requirements however loses a major piece of {hardware}, all at a $499 worth, equal to what the older merchandise offered for. It might be that my perspective is outdated, although, and that new customers received’t care and even need the issues I want the ZS99 had. I might purchase the older ZS80 used and get the identical picture high quality and flexibility with out having to surrender the EVF.
Are There Options?
The one actual path to get the identical sort of zoom vary in a small package deal is the used market. The older Panasonic ZS80 and even ZS70 will present the identical lens and sensor meeting plus the addition of an EVF to compose with. The Nikon Coolpix A1000 is much less detailed and barely bulkier, but it surely does give an extended 35x zoom lens.
Ought to You Purchase It?
No. I don’t suppose the ZS99 is fascinating, however I’m in all probability out of contact. If you’d like a brand new digicam that beats a smartphone’s zoom vary handily, the ZS99 is your greatest wager.
