dsiner Loc: Kent, WA

Does anyone have any experience with this point and shoot camera? Going on a trip and it is not a photo shoot trip, it is a vacation so I am not going to pack all my Nikon gear. Cruise from Seattle to Astoria, OR then to San Francisco for two days wandering the streets and then to Victoria, BC. Just want some good pictures of what we see.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I struggle with the same problem you have. I have a Canon G16 I use when waning something smaller but, and there is a but here, I am never very happy. I think on my next trip I will take my Nikon DSLR using one lens, my 50mm. Overall size isn't that much bigger and the pictures will be better. My only compromise is the zoom but if I take in raw I should be able to crop good enough for 95% of the shots. If you were thinking point and shoot then this is the time to set you Nikon on Automatic.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Something like the Sony RX100M4 or Lumix DC-ZS70 would be ideal. If have taken some pretty amazing images with the Sony RX100.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

The ZS70 looks like quite a capable camera. The manual zoom ring is something you'll certainly appreciate on a lens with this much zoom range. And the ability to shoot RAW images gives you many post-processing options that you simply don't have with a JPEG file. (RAW files are big - figure 20-25Mb each, and each image will take more if you shoot RAW+JPEG - but memory cards are cheap in the context of a special trip, so get several BIG and FAST cards and let the camera do its work to capture and save every dot of data it can. You can decide later how much of it you need/want in any individual image, but if you don't capture it you don't get the choice.)

I just bought a Lumix GX-85 for when I don't want to haul my full frame Nikon 600 kit around - found it used with the 24-64 (equivalent) kit lens for about $100 more than the ZS70. Not nearly the zoom range of the ZS70 with any one lens, but there are lots of other lens options available and most of 'em are TINY compared to the Nikon gear. So if you think you may really need a fast wide angle for inside cathedrals, for example, it's available. (The GX85 would be a more expensive option for you, but potentially more versatile.)

In any event, I note that the ZS70 uses the same battery as the GX85. In my camera, they don't last long. Don't know what battery consumption is like for a ZS70, but I'd be sure to take a couple of spares along on any trip, as well as the one that comes in the camera. Note that Panasonic brand batteries are expensive - a single BLG10 battery with a charger (spare chargers are always a good idea) is close to $100. Third party batteries are much cheaper, and the charger that came with the one I bought charges the Panasonic batteries equally well. But at least on the GX85, the third party battery does not report its charge state correctly, so the battery indicator in the camera will show pretty much full until the camera just shuts down from a low battery. (That's what people report for all third party batteries in the GX85, and has been my experience with the one third party battery I have.) However, I found that the Panasonic brand BLE9 battery is the correct size and voltage for both of these cameras, just with slightly lower capacity - 940mAh compared to 1025mAh - and is a LOT cheaper than the BLG10 that comes as standard equipment.

Also, it looks like the instruction manuals for the ZS70 follow the pattern of the GX85. There's a "basic" manual that's about 70 pages long, and an "advanced" one that runs close to 300 pages. Both are available as PDF downloads, and I'd STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you be sure that you have BOTH available for reference on some computer or other device throughout your travels. These cameras are incredibly versatile but also complex (note that the list of symbols/icons that appear on the ZS70 display screen takes 6 pages in the advanced manual), and at least on my camera there are some settings which will modify or disable other features. I went nuts trying to figure out why the flash wouldn't go off at one point, until I looked in the manual and found that the flash is disabled if the electronic shutter is selected - which I had done earlier to see what difference it made. That specific issue may not arise on the ZS70, but it's a safe bet that you WILL encounter what seems like strange behavior if you just play around with various settings, and the odds are you will NOT be able to figure out why until you can read the manual(s) on the subject. (Note that touch screens make it very easy to make selections, but also very easy to change things unintentionally - I'm constantly finding my preferred single-focus-point off in some corner of the frame, where I apparently sent it when I was just handling the camera.)

Of course, the corollary to complexity is the need for familiarization. Get whatever camera you're going to take on the trip as far in advance of the trip as you can. And spend the time to learn as much as you can about what the various buttons do (and can be reprogrammed to do, if you want), and what's in each of the menus. You may come across a setting that you absolutely have to have - one of those for me in the GX85 was the ability to set the viewing screen to show a square image, which is how I print most of my photos, so now I can adjust the zoom to be SURE that the face on the left and the mountain peak on the right will fit in the final print. Digital film is free, so shoot lots of it to learn what you can set and how to set it. Then when you're on that boat you won't have to spend time trying to remember how to change something that it suddenly seems like a good idea to change.

dsiner Loc: Kent, WA

My likes of the ZS70 are the view finder, the zoom range, size, weight and raw file option. I normally shoot a D7200 and a D3200 but just don't want to pack the gear. Plus we will be walking/bussing a lot in San Francisco and having a camera around you can at times bring a little too much attention (ahh look, a tourist with an expensive camera). The 70 will fit neatly into a pocket. Also discreet for the street shots where people tend to get a little nervous with a full camera and lens staring at them.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Do not have the ZS70, but have its predecessor, the ZS50. Love it!! Heard all good reports on the ZS070. Here is a comparison of the two. http://cameradecision.com/compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS50-vs-Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS70

Have fun with whatever you end up purchasing. Nothing like getting a new camera!

dsiner Loc: Kent, WA

Well I kind of salivated over the D850 but the banker(wife) had other ideas.😉

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's a good camera, but try some comparisons with others.

(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I actually own one of these to use as a back up camera, but on a recent trip I only used the ZS70. I was very pleased with the results and the zoom at all lengths is excellent. I did use RAW sometimes but shots taken at 25 were very distorted so to use RAW it's best to go no lower than 29 or even better 36. When shooting in Jpeg there is no problem at any zoom level.
One other point is when adjusting the diopter wheel it can be very difficult to turn when your eye is looking through the EVF.

danlsmith Loc: Columbus Ohio

I have one, plus a few other Panasonic point and shoots. My favorite is the LX7 though the 70 produces sharper images. Vacationed with it couple months ago in Glacier and Yellowstone. Made a very sharp 30 x 40 inch canvas print from one shot. You can't go wrong with any of the small Panasonic's... IMHO.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

I have the older model Panasonic ZS50 (comparable to the zs70) and it's ok for when you need a longer zoom in good light, but I also own the Panasonic ZS100 which has a less zoom and a bit higher price, but it gets much better results, especially low light and night shots. With the bigger (1") sensor and more controls it's a true bridge camera. It's a great camera for a vacation like you're going on.

Had2 Loc: Long Island, NY

Why limit yourself to the small sensor of the DC-ZS70S. Go for the Lumix DMC ZS100 with a 1" sensor, and a considerable zoom. It's not a DSLR, but you can put it in your pants pocket and never be without it.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

I have the ZMC-ZS60, only 2 MP less than the 70. Use it as my purse camera. I have tended to use it more than my Pentax K-50 because it takes almost as good an image and is much lighter.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

I use the Lumix that you refer to, or a one-earlier version. It is great for that purpose. It has a viewfinder which is useful when in bright sun and glare. And the photo quality is excellent. The camera is so small you can carry it in your pocket, but of course you know this. I suggest an extra battery and charger, since I have needed to change the battery when on a long day of touring. Good luck with your decision. JimR

smk124 Loc: Cheltenham, PA

All of these positive comments made me salivate and I went on Adorama and ordered the ZS70 this afternoon. Just got an email that it will be delivered tomorrow. Adorama is amazing. I hope the camera is too. Just the size I need for trip to Morocco in November.