Panasonic LUMIX ZS100 4K Digital Camera, 20.1 Megapixel 1-Inch Sensor 30p Video Camera, 10X LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT Lens, F2.8-5.9 Aperture, HYBRID O.I.S. Stabilization, 3-Inch LCD, DMC-ZS100K (Black)

I'm an experienced "enthusiast" amateur who has owned 10+ DSLRs and advanced "point and shoots". The Lumix ZS100, on balance, is the most advanced and most competent high quality camera I have ever held in my hand. It packs all of the capabilities of most mid-priced DSLRs and has a 250mm Leica optical lens (that zooms further up to 1000mm equivalent with its seamlessly integrated digital zoom). The ZS100 also includes a phenomenal 4K photo burst video/photo option and also has post shot focus (by allowing you to shoot simultaneously along multiple focal points). In short it includes an unbelievable amount of technology in a very small package. Also I believe it is the only compact "point and shoot" camera on the market with both a large 1 inch sensor (approaching DSLR size) and a 10x optical zoom. And, with almost all of the capabilities of a DSLR it is about 1/4 the size and weight. I expect to leave my DSLR at home from now on. The fully interactive touch screen and separate digital view finder (useful on sunny days) are both quite decent and somewhat unusual in this price range. And not sure why some are complaining on this site, the picture quality is top notch, comparable to the best of them at this sensor level and below. And I think the picture equals or beats many DSLRs with larger sensors. And its a pretty good bargain, especially with the $100 price drop that happened at the end of August (I suspect a new model is around the corner, but so what). And if you are looking for a bargain, what clinched it for me is that Panasonic is running a free three year warranty extension through March of 2018. So be sure NOT TO PAY FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON YOUR OWN. Just search on "Lumix camera extended 3 year warranty" and you should find the registration forms (you need to buy it new from Amazon directly or one of Panasonic's other authorized USA dealers to get this deal.) You can set the camera to "auto" mode and forget about all the settings, but I would not recommend this camera if that's what you are going to do. Yes, as other reviews have said, to take advantage of all of the features (even for an experienced hobbyist) will take a bit of homework as using all these options can be (if you choose) a complicated. The mini-manual in the box is not very good, so be sure to download the full 400 page instruction book from the Panasonic support site. It is a bit dense but quite comprehensive. Also I would recommend the third-party guide book written by Alexander White available on Amazon. It is great book (hard copy or Kindle). So if you are pretty experienced and looking for a very advanced, high quality, easy to travel with camera this is the right one for you! And the free extra 2 years on your warranty (3 years total), will give you peace of mind if you are worried about all the technology that Panasonic has squeezed into the ZS100.

5 stars, even though, or even because, its auto-closing lens cover jammed within a week of starting to use it. But by that time I was enormously impressed by the quality of the photos from this pocket camera (but you better have pretty big pockets). So I called Amazon, and was stunned by the speed and quality of Amazon customer service. Within minutes the issue was resolved: another ZS100 was send that day, and I received UPS mailing labels for the return of the flawed camera. Two days later, I was back in the woods with a ZS100 again. I've been using Panasonics for a few years, now; the pocket models like this one and larger bridge cameras like the FZ200 and 300. While their operating system requires study, once you've got it down it's reasonably intuitive. I'm primarily a nature photographer, shooting while hiking and kayaking. If I'm expecting to do some serious photography, I take the bridge cameras. But if I don't want the weight/hassle, I take the smaller cameras. The ZS100 will fit into a pocket, but it does have to be a big pocket, and in a loose fitting pair of pants, or you'll struggle getting it in and out. A small fanny pack works as well or better. Photos are clear and crisp. You can choose your level of control, from shooting full Auto to complete manual. A huge range of pre-sets are possible, including 3 Custom settings: mine are set to general landscape photography, quick response animal shots, and the 4K Burst mode. 4K Burst wasn't something I had expected to make much use of, but I've discovered that being set up to use it lets me take some great pictures of birds taking off and landing from lakes and rivers. All in all, and excellent camera backed up by excellent Amazon customer service.

My first ZS100 camera arrived DOA. It seemed to work until the first time I tried to zoom out. Then, part way out the lens ground (literally) to a halt and I got the dreaded "System Error: Zoom" message on the screen. I tried turning it off but the lens was jammed. I applied a little pressure and tried turning it on and off a few times and finally got the lens to retract normally. I powered it on and it seemed normal until I tried to zoom and then the same thing happened again. I went online and tried the few things recommend by Panasonic. No help. I did a chat with a Panasonic rep online and he said the camera needs to be returned. I was NOT a happy camper. I had been very excited to get this new camera and it was defective! Worse, I found I was not alone in this, there were a significant number of others that had the same issue, though some did not have it occur right out of the box. I called Amazon support and they were GREAT. I had a replacement camera in my hands the next day!!!! The replacement has worked fine for the past couple of months, but I still have the thought in the back of my head each time I turn it one, "is it going to fail this time". That is NOT what you want to have in you head when using a fairly expensive camera. Note that I did not deduct any points for this issue since it was rectified immediately and the replacement camera works fine. But it is disappointing to read online about all the others that have this issue and yet Panasonic has not seemed to address the problem other than offering to repair it (which requires paying to send it to them and waiting several months for it to be fixed - and possibly being denied a warranty fix because they claim you must have damaged the camera). This did not happen to me, but others reported this added abuse after their camera broke. Anyway, back to the replacement camera. I have been very pleased with almost all of the features and operation of the camera. Yes, there are way too many items in the menu making for a high learning curve. But I don't have to use all those features and settings. If I just ignore those I do not understand or that do not interest me, I am able to have a lot of control over the features of the camera that I care about. The negatives I found are 1) the camera does not focus well in low light. I have had a number of blurry pictures that should have been clear. I am talking about light like normal indoor room light not darkness. 2) The facial recognition (the camera can memorize up to 6 people's faces and will identify them on screen when it sees them) is inaccurate. It usually knows it is seeing one of the people in the list but id's the person as someone else in that list. 3) There are some "gotchyas" - for example, the touted 5-axis stabilization does not work during 4K video recording. Why not? 4) If you want to let the camera process the pictures into a JPG format (rather than using the much larger RAW format files that need post processing by you) the results are not always good. Some JPG format photos look great, others have too much contrast or details have been lost in bright or dark areas (low dynamic range). The RAW (unprocessed) photos do not usually have these shortcomings. I have started to save BOTH the JPG and RAW format files for each picture (which the camera will do) and use the JPG picture where it looks good, or use the RAW picture if the JPG has issues that can be fixed by using the RAW format file. Many reviewers have said the camera is slippery. I do not find it slippery as much as "not tacky" to the touch. But given the choice of using only the words "solid, firm feel" or "slippery" I would have to choose the latter. You can use some rubberized tape or buy one of the add on grips by Flipbac ($9.95 on Amazon) to address the issue. While the camera DOES fit in my shirt pocket (but would not be a good fit in a normal pants pocket) it is slightly too heavy and pulls down that side of the shirt. So, yes I do keep it in a shirt pocket most of the time, but if you care about how your shirt looks, which I don't, you may decide to use a neck strap (which I think would actually look worse - but would be more convenient). I have read and watched a LOT of reviews of this camera both before and after I purchased it. The reviews are about 95% positive. It feels good to read reviews by experts (or at least authorities) on cameras and hear them say nice things about the product I just spent a lot of money to purchase (though I did catch the camera on sale for under $500). Thinking about all the pros and cons of the camera that reviewers have mentioned AND that I have experienced, I am happy with my decision and would definitely recommend this camera to someone who wanted a compact, easy to carry and use camera with great features. My biggest issue is that zoom failure problem which might reappear at the worst possible time. But I am thinking positive and hoping that this camera is not going to have that issue.

Having back problems, I decided to leave my heavier DSLR that I love so much to try a smaller, lighter camera on a trip. The Sony RX-100-6 was back-ordered everywhere when I left, so I got this just before they raised the price, probably because they figured they could get away with it with Sony charging $1200 for the RX-100-6. Right after I got it, they extended the warranty to 3 years, which is nice. The Panasonic is larger, but only slightly so. I have taken ~1500 photos so far, and the results are excellent. In Europe, just point and shoot inside a dimly lit cathedral, and the results are spectacular. Outdoors, the viewfinder is excellent, and I can see everything in the field of view, even with glasses on. Focussing at 10X zoom is instantaneous, much faster than one I tried in a store, so maybe they are not all the same. There are 2 annoying glitches in the design: one, the ring around the lens that controls brightness over-ride is difficult to not touch, and the camera locks up until the shutter release is pressed halfway. Also, the diopter compensation wheel sticks out enough that when I am walking with a strap around my neck and the camera bounces around against my chest, the diopter compensation wheel gets turned and nearly every time I bring the viewfinder to my eye to compose a shot, I need to re-focus the diopter compensation. The user manual I downloaded from the Panasonic web site. 400 pages of gibberish. Fortunately, the menus are self-explanatory. To connect the camera to my phone, I could not figure it out from the user manual, but found help on-line that there is a Panasonic APP that made it straightforward. For anyone considering getting a ZS-200 for the extra zoom, beware that it is difficult to hold the camera still, even at 10X zoom. I find it necessary to lean against a wall or put my elbows on a table or bench. This is supposed to be a lightweight photo solution, so I don't want to be carrying around a tripod. Overall, nothing has malfunctioned. I really like this camera.

I've had my ZS-100 for about a month now and have had the opportunity to use it in a bunch of different circumstances. It is an AMAZING camera - fast, sharp, versatile. I love its 4K photo burst capability, which makes it possible to grab perfect action photos (in my case, portraits of squirmy babies whose expressions can change in a nanosecond). And I was frankly stunned by how quickly the pop-up flash recycles. The camera feels nice and solid in my hand, the controls are easy to access, and I appreciate the ability to switch from LED to electronic viewfinder (although some reviewers complain about the quality of the EVF, I have no complaints about it). The only thing I wish it had is built-in GPS ... I know GPS is a battery-drainer, but I travel a lot and appreciate having built-in geotagging. I'll adapt. I've probably owned a couple dozen cameras before, from film SLRs to DSLRs and mid- and high-end point-and-shoots, and I think this one might be my favorite. It took me a few weeks to find a case that fits the ZS-100 well. I ultimately bought TWO cases. The Case Logic QPB-202 molded case fits the ZS-100 perfectly, but the ZS-100's lens thickness doesn't leave room in the case's inside pocket for a spare battery or SD card unless you're careful to insert the camera with the lens towards the top, not the bottom, of the case. Its snug fit and hard-shell cover make it a good case for tossing the camera in a backpack or larger camera bag. I also bought an Ape Case small digital bag (#AC165), which offers a slightly roomier fit for the camera itself, plus a small exterior zippered pocket that's large enough for a couple of spare batteries and SD cards. It also has two exterior mesh pockets (can't think of a use for them, unless I decide to make a custom-fit rain cover for the case) and two interior mesh pockets that could, I suppose, hold batteries or SD cards - but I'd rather be able to get the camera in and out without snagging on anything. I use the Ape Case to carry the ZS-100 when I want quick access to it and am not carrying it in a backpack. AN ADDENDA FROM 2019: Several months ago the zoom ring (under the shutter button) began to freeze. I looked around online for solutions, and it looked dire - e.g., shipping the camera to a Panasonic repair facility in Texas and spending more for the repair than a new camera costs now. I also found that lots of other people have run into this problem, with a variety of Panasonic LUMIX cameras. I was really bummed because I LOVE this camera. But then I saw a suggestion from someone somewhere online about putting some PTFE-based lubricant on a cotton thread and running it under the frozen ring. I got a bottle of 3-In-One multi-purpose PTFE lubricant and gave it a try, using just a tiny, tiny amount. It worked! The ring moves smoothly again. Whew.

UPDATE 12/26/2021 I replaced the ZS100 with the ZS200 The ZS200 feel better on the hand and the thumb grip makes it easier to hold securely. In addition, it increases the zoom range from 25-250 to 24-360 and offers a better viewfinder. The only issue I have is that it will show the focus square on a person’s face but still focuses on the background. My workaround is to use track focus and touch the face to force it to focus on it. This camera an not and will not replace more capable aps-c cameras but it allows me to have a camera handy everywhere I go. And no, there is no phone in the world yet that can replace it. Original review of ZS100: I just got this camera. I had a TZ5 years ago but have been using mirrorless since 2016 and have for some time been considering a pocketable premium PS camera but had not found one at the right price until now. First thing to note is that the mode dial and Fn1 button placement on this camera is probably the worst I have seen. The mode dial is hard to turn and the Fn1 button is where the thumb goes when you are holding the camera and I keep pressing it inadvertently. I am going to see if I am able to disable the Fn1 button. Stabilization on this camera is really good. Panasonic is known for having unmatched stabilization and this camera, once again proves it. The quick menu on the TZ was very easy to navigate. This one is more complicated. I still don’t know if there is any menu customization. The view finder is just OK. It helps when needed but it is not great. I have to do more testing and then I will report back.

Purchased just before a trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Saipan. Wanted a small camera to take 4K videos and secondarily stills. Little time to read included manual, so relied upon iA setting for all movies and stills. Camera worked great. I was using SanDisk Extreme Pro 128 GB UHS-1/U3 SDXC cards and did not have any delays, even when recording up to 15 mins straight. Able to take clear 4K videos on Shinkansen (high speed rail) from Tokyo to Kyoto. Zoom worked great too, as able to get clear pictures of Navy pre-position ships in Saipan harbor from Mt. Tapochau (middle of island). Small enough to easily take everywhere. I did get additional batteries and with a mix of 4K video and stills would regularly need just one additional battery for a full day of shooting. Back home used iMovie to quickly see how 4K video turned out. Problem is that current iMovie "optimizes" video without a button to remove optimization, so videos looked choppy. However, if import in iPhoto, no such problem so 4K video looked very good. Only issue with camera was that needed to be careful that I did not touch the screen on the back as could cause changes to settings of the camera. Overall, worked for what I wanted, great 4K videos and stills, small, easy to use, well priced.

This camera is enough to make a seasoned DSLR user happy: excellent features, options, flexibility, and compact size that makes it easier to travel with. The primary reason I bought this camera was for travel. Previously, I brought my Canon 60D with me, but after awhile, it gets heavy, so I wanted something that would produce comparable photos. I spent several months researching and even spoke to several professional photographer friends and settled on the DMC-ZS100. The photos were sharp, it was compact and fit in my purse, it was easy to use - it worked great! When it worked. On a road trip from California to Florida, I started noticing a lens error whenever I zoomed. Turning it on and off was enough to get it to work again I was concerned it was humidity around the gulf, as it didn't have that issue in drier climates. Still, it worked and I brought it with me to Greece - where the promotional video for it was done. First day there and there is fatal "System Error". The lens zoomed out, got stuck, and wouldn't retract. I tried removing the battery, restarting it - nothing. The camera would not work the rest of the trip. The weather was mild and not humid. I was also very careful with the camera and kept it in a case when not in use. In the end, I ended up using my Galaxy S7 Edge to photograph my trip and upon return, send the DMC-ZS100 to be fixed as it was still under the 1 year limited warranty. To be fair, Panasonic was very good contacting me upon receipt of the item and even left a phone number and other information if I wanted to call and check up on the camera. Please keep in mind that they require that you send it in with all its parts: battery, usb cord, strap, etc. I made sure it was registered, contacted the website via the chat feature to get more information on what was needed to have it repaired, and buried it in shipping peanuts to protect it. I mailed it in for repair last month and received it back yesterday. It works again, but came with instructions not to use in places with humidity, dust, sand, water (including rain); not to drop it or bump it against anything - basically it was sensitive and easily damaged. If you want to use this as a travel camera, I don't recommend it. I feel guilty about having suggested it to a friend who ended up buying it and had lens errors while in Europe. It's a good camera, but it's not a durable one and depending on your travel style and location, the DMC-ZS100 won't cut it. It's far too fragile to be a good travel camera and if you plan to go to the tropics, deserts, beaches, or places where there is a strong possibility of rain, you risk severely damaging the camera. I highly suggest sticking to a mirrorless compact with interchangeable lenses or a water proof camera. Panasonic's waterproof cameras are great, actually! Dropped one on rocks in the Galapagos and it's fine. Overall, when it works, it's a solid 5 Stars. As far as durability, it's a fragile 1 Star. The fact that it did not work out for its intended purpose - as a compact alternative to taking DSLR quality photos - is what resulted in such a low rating. Had I known it was this delicate, I wouldn't have purchased it.

Esta cámara tiene una excelente calidad de imagen en un tamaño sumamente conveniente, cabe, literalmente, en tu bolsillo, obviamente si usas un pantalón ajustado no funcionará igual, pero tranquilamente puedes colocarla en el bolsillo de una chamarra o de una camisa. Su lente 25 - 250 mm tiene un gran rango a tu disposición, es bastante luminoso f2.8 en su distancia más corta, sin embargo tan pronto y haces zoom, rápidamente se vuelve algo oscuro hasta un 5.6, lo cual no es ideal en condiciones de poca luz como un cumpleaños cuando soplas las velas del pastel, aquí viene el flash al rescate, el cual puedes ajustar de intensidad y tener una excelente exposición en tus fotos. Su sensor de una pulgada es de buen tamaño y en general se desempeña muy bien, pero no esperes que sea el menos ruidoso, su ISO al máximo lo colocaría en un 800 antes de que se vuelva notorio el ruido en fotos RAW o el suavizado del filtrado en jpeg. Yo aprendí a tomar fotografías completamente manual con esta cámara, es mi primera cámara que consideraría un poco más seria, así que realmente me dediqué a aprender a utilizarla en su máxima extensión, sin embargo, si eres un usuario más bien de disparar y que la cámara haga el trabajo por ti, también tiene un desempeño excepcional, su autofocus es rápido y preciso, en condiciones de poca luz puede tardar un poco más, pero hace bien su trabajo. Haciendo un lado la fotografía, y entrando a la sección de video, lo que sin lugar a dudas vuelve extraordinaria esta cámara es su capacidad 4K y la estabilización de imagen, puedes tomar videos sumamente suaves y nítidos en todo momento, no tengo queja alguna de sus capacidades de video. Tiene muchas opciones desde VGA, pasando por FULL HD a 60P o 30P y 4K a 24P únicamente. Sin embargo, notas de inmediato la calidad de imagen y sobre todo, no se me calentó demasiado el tiempo que estuve grabando (tampoco es que grabe mucho video, pero lo hace muy bien). En cuanto a su batería, es sencillamente excelente, puedes pasarte todo el día tomando fotos y dándole un uso rudo y te alcanzará perfectamente, realmente me sorprendió su versatilidad en este sentido. Puedes controlarla remotamente utilizando la app de panasonic para celular (en mi caso android), y enviar fotografías desde la cámara, obviamente, en detrimento de la duración de la batería, pero es bueno cuando quieres tomar fotos grupales donde estás incluido. En cuanto a ergonomía, ví algunas reseñas (en inglés) antes de comprar la cámara, donde muchos se quejaron de que no tenía un agarre firme, lo cual, descarté de inmediato cuando la tuve en mis manos. La cámara es tan ligera, que no es necesario tener un mango de hule rugoso o algo parecido, con tus propias manos es más que suficiente. Su pantalla touch no fue para nada un problema como algunos indicaban también, todo el tiempo que la utilicé jamás toqué por error algún botón en pantalla (aun así, si lo deseas la puedes desactivar) y por el contrario, resultó sumamente útil poder incluso tener la función de tocar en algún punto y que la cámara lo enfocara y que automáticamente tomara la fotografía (algo así como en los celulares). Si te tomas el tiempo de aprender a utilizarla (que tiene un manual bastante extenso y detallado), estoy seguro de que le podrás sacar muy buen jugo a una cámara de excelentes prestaciones como esta. Finalmente, como todo, los puntos que creo no son un defecto, sino un aspecto inevitable de intentar tener todo en un empaque tan pequeño: la cámara NO es la mejor para tomar retratos, si lo que te interesa son fotos con un bokeh bestial, sencillamente no lo conseguirás, por el otro lado, si lo que te interesa es tomar fotografías en entornos oscuros, tampoco cumplirá tu cometido, hará lo que pueda y con el apoyo del flash puede salir muy bien, pero no es su ambiente más cómodo. Yo diría que su potencial es en un plan de vacaciones, donde necesitas algo versátil, cómodo y pequeño, listo para salir de tu bolsillo y capturar todo lo que necesites, desde aquellos motivos distantes metiendo todo el zoom y fotos más abiertas en entornos más oscuros con su máxima apertura y sensibilidad. En resumen, si lo que quieres es una cámara discreta, nada ostentoso y que sencillamente haga su trabajo, a un buen precio al fin que no planeas ser fotógrafo profesional, que te ahorre el problema de tener que comprar lentes, tripie, flash y una infinidad de aditamentos que tienen las cámaras gama un poco más alta que apenas y caben en una mochila, esta es tu cámara. PD Adjunto algunas fotografías, como comentaba, si sabes utilizar la cámara, puedes hacer un lado sus defectos y por el contrario saber cómo enfrentarlos para tener excelentes fotos, en este caso, realicé astrofotografía, lo cual, salió excepcionalmente bien, algo que me decían sería muy complicado y no saldría bien.

This is a honey of a camera, which lets you save high quality images in a variety of situations without lugging around a big sack full of accessories. Its relatively large one-inch sensor is a big plus. The camera is very compact yet has a pleasing heft to it, with a metal body shell and a nice retro control layout. The upper control wheels have distinct detents, with a meaty feel to them. But the lens ring is very low effort, so it's possible to inadvertently change its setting if you're not careful. Some reviewers seem to have issues with the Leica-designed zoom lens. I have none, because it makes no sense to compare this thing with a full-bore DSLR. The lens is of good quality, with a useful zoom range. However, be aware that the available f-stop drops off as the zoom increases. You only get f2.8 at the wide angle setting. The eye-level electronic viewfinder is a rare find in a camera this size. It's easy to focus it with the little diopter wheel, and it has enough eye relief to use with glasses. The tiny pop-up flash is quite capable, and there is a slow-synch flash setting, which helps when you need to lighten the background. Beware: If you leave the ISO setting on automatic, the zs100 can select insanely high values that will give you grain that compromises detail -- otherwise known as electonic noise. But you can set an ISO upper limit, or nail your ISO at a specific value. And unlike most cameras this size, you can shoot in full manual mode, and save RAW files for advanced post-processing. You will need an accessory grip for this camera, because the finish is slippery. Amazon has the Flipbac G3 grip, which is inexpensive, made of grippy silicone, and ensures a solid hold. This camera is not splash proof, dust proof or knock-proof, so you need a case. The Megagear case, also sold on Amazon, fits perfectly and accomodates the extra grip if you add one. The camera uses battery power at a greater rate than the manufacturer claims, so I suggest buying the BM Premium combo pack of two extra batteries and a charger. The 400-page advanced manual available online is one of the the most poorly written pieces of documentation I have seen, and anyone who is not familiar with digital cameras will be completely at sea. But if you are familiar with them, you'll be fine with the documentation. I have no comment about the zs100 video features, which I understand are major, but which I do not use or care about. I bought this for still photography. FYI, I'm a former journalist, trained in photography, and recently retired from a communications job in which I regularly used pro-level DSLRs in the line of duty. I hope this review is useful.

I take tons of photos, mostly moving targets in bright sunlight, tree canopy covered areas or in snow, rain and low light. I’m an off-roader and a downhill skier and don’t want to kill my phone battery so I bought this camera. I miss a big DSLR but truthfully they are too big to lug around. This camera is a rockstar performer. I chose these pics attached to the review because it was either too bright, or too bright under a shaded tree area with dust flying around, or in bad forest fire air quality and the pictures are great. I even did a photoshoot for a friends website and social media posts and people rave about his posts. It takes some getting used to for sure, changing the photo modes and how quickly/slow the shutter speeds are in different modes. But honestly, it’s a gem of a camera. Even the video in bright sunlight under trees with dust flying, the quality is good.

Genial para volver a vivir la esencia de la fotografía, sin ser experto, el modo automático te da los parámetros perfectos. Sensor de gran tamaño, obtén fotos puras como lo ve tus ojos. Genial para olvidarte del procesado de imagen de los teléfonos.

tiene una funcion automatica para tomar fotos, pero si quieres modificar cosas como el iso o el tiempo de apertura te tomara un poco mas de tiempo entederle a la camara