Lumix TZ80
Jun 22, 2017 10:34:32 #
When I joined UHH, I enjoyed the 'give and take', where members received help, and also where members offered help. I've enjoyed participating in both worlds. Now it's my turn to ask for your help.
In about a week, we will take our long awaited vacation. While I normally would be taking my Canon 5DII, I'm trying something new. A pocket camera, sorta. I've purchased a Lumix TZ80. Its ability to capture RAW images, paired with the Leica lens system, gives me peace of mind that I'll be able to bring home image files worthy of large wall canvas wrap. Probably not the 60 x 48 inch one of Neptune's fountain in Florence, but maybe large just the same.
I would feel privileged if I could hear from fellow UHH members who have experience with the TZ80 "pocket camera". I am trying to use the A mode exclusive, thinking that with the aperture set at max, and ISO set at 200, or 400 max, I should be able to capture some amazingly sharp images. But even though the camera pairs a 'high shutter speed' with the aperture, my captures are mostly over-exposed. When I follow with a second shot, aperture closed down (with accompanying slower shutter speed), the image on my iMac screen is not over-exposed. But why over-exposed at all?
BTW, I don't plan to use the -video- mode. And I don't want to use the 'Burst' feature either, since the image size will be reduced to 8meg.
Your "experience hints" will so welcomed.
Any and all experiences and secrets shared with me will be graciously appreciated.
In about a week, we will take our long awaited vacation. While I normally would be taking my Canon 5DII, I'm trying something new. A pocket camera, sorta. I've purchased a Lumix TZ80. Its ability to capture RAW images, paired with the Leica lens system, gives me peace of mind that I'll be able to bring home image files worthy of large wall canvas wrap. Probably not the 60 x 48 inch one of Neptune's fountain in Florence, but maybe large just the same.
I would feel privileged if I could hear from fellow UHH members who have experience with the TZ80 "pocket camera". I am trying to use the A mode exclusive, thinking that with the aperture set at max, and ISO set at 200, or 400 max, I should be able to capture some amazingly sharp images. But even though the camera pairs a 'high shutter speed' with the aperture, my captures are mostly over-exposed. When I follow with a second shot, aperture closed down (with accompanying slower shutter speed), the image on my iMac screen is not over-exposed. But why over-exposed at all?
BTW, I don't plan to use the -video- mode. And I don't want to use the 'Burst' feature either, since the image size will be reduced to 8meg.
Your "experience hints" will so welcomed.
Any and all experiences and secrets shared with me will be graciously appreciated.
Jun 22, 2017 11:01:06 #
In the USA that camera I believe is a TZ70. Did you buy a Gray market camera with no USA warranty?
When using the zoom at maximum support the camera somehow. It is very sensitive to movement. Use a higher shutter sped if possible.
When using the zoom at maximum support the camera somehow. It is very sensitive to movement. Use a higher shutter sped if possible.
Jun 22, 2017 11:05:15 #
Actually bought it from Amazon, and it is an all black body, with DMC-TZ80 on the bottom.
You are right, support is needed for using the zoom. Since I plan to do a great deal of PP via PS after our vacation, I'm going to favor wide angle setting as much as possible.
You are right, support is needed for using the zoom. Since I plan to do a great deal of PP via PS after our vacation, I'm going to favor wide angle setting as much as possible.
Jun 22, 2017 11:09:05 #
Jun 22, 2017 11:37:56 #
Jun 22, 2017 12:35:13 #
I got one a few months back to update my pocket camera, to be honest I find the pictures somewhat noisey compared to my old fuji compact, so more pp is defo needed for me.
Jun 23, 2017 04:30:35 #
elliott937 wrote:
When I joined UHH, I enjoyed the 'give and take', ... (show quote)
Hi Elliott,
I cant speak from experience with the TZ80, however I have owned a couple of Lumix cameras and currently use a Lumix LX100. I have found with both cameras Ive owned from Panasonic, for whatever reason, Panasonics default settings seem to need quite a bit of tweaking to get the results I like.
The Leica lens in both the cameras I have had, seemed to have a sweet spot at around f5.6, particularly with the LX100, so I usually try to shoot at about that aperture.
The settings I have ended up with, admittedly with a bit of advice from some googled 'more experienced' users, are, for instance:
Contrast -2, Sharpness +3, Noise Reduction -5, and Saturation -1. I always shoot RAW, although the jpeg files I sometimes add seem very good straight out of the camera.
I know none of these suggestions are likely to help with over exposure but they might help later on with image quality once you solve the exposure problem.
The only other suggestion, as Im sure you know, always check that the EC setting is set at 0.
Cheers
Jun 23, 2017 07:03:50 #
Hi Elliot, I have the slightly older TZ70 which I took on holiday to France last month, it was a refurbished camera direct from Panasonic. I had not used this camera before so I tested it in many ways alongside my Olympus EM10 which is my regular camera. I decided to use the TZ70 as often as possible on this trip so I have some tips which could help you.
1. Get hold of a spare battery if you can, although the battery life is quite good as spare one may come in useful.
2. I used +iA, Aperture and SCN (Landscape) all of these modes produced excellent images but +iA seems the to be the best choice.
3. At first I shot in RAW/Jepg but the RAW images even after PP were disappointing so I started using Jpeg only when I realised it.
4. I you do use RAW only check for heavy vignetting at the widest angle (25mm), there is no sign of this when you go up to the next angle (29mm)
5. I tested the Zoom lens from 25mm right up to the max of 200mm and even when I slipped even higher the images were excellent.
6. Initially I had not set the resolution the max so at first although the the photo appeared OK on the LCD but when viewed on a PC I immediately realised what I had done. So set you resolution the max.
7. You made need to use the diopter on the EVF, on the TZ70 this is very difficult as the adjuster is on the right of the viewer.
On your TZ80 the above may not apply but it's worth checking before your trip.
I will post some photographs taken when testing the zoom from 25mm upto 200mm, they were taken in a small French town on a very dull day, but they do show how good the IQ is.
Let me know if you need ant more avice,
John.
1. Get hold of a spare battery if you can, although the battery life is quite good as spare one may come in useful.
2. I used +iA, Aperture and SCN (Landscape) all of these modes produced excellent images but +iA seems the to be the best choice.
3. At first I shot in RAW/Jepg but the RAW images even after PP were disappointing so I started using Jpeg only when I realised it.
4. I you do use RAW only check for heavy vignetting at the widest angle (25mm), there is no sign of this when you go up to the next angle (29mm)
5. I tested the Zoom lens from 25mm right up to the max of 200mm and even when I slipped even higher the images were excellent.
6. Initially I had not set the resolution the max so at first although the the photo appeared OK on the LCD but when viewed on a PC I immediately realised what I had done. So set you resolution the max.
7. You made need to use the diopter on the EVF, on the TZ70 this is very difficult as the adjuster is on the right of the viewer.
On your TZ80 the above may not apply but it's worth checking before your trip.
I will post some photographs taken when testing the zoom from 25mm upto 200mm, they were taken in a small French town on a very dull day, but they do show how good the IQ is.
Let me know if you need ant more avice,
John.
Auray (FR) town bridge at 25mm
(Download)
Auray (FR) town bridge at 75mm
(Download)
Auray (FR) town bridge at 666mm.
(Download)
Jun 23, 2017 08:31:20 #
Most cameras are sharpest closed down a little. If you want to use "A" try f4 or f5.6. I have found Ia a good choice when carrying the camera because it will automatically select a scene mode that will produce decent results. In poor light, for example, the camera will automatically stack exposures, and hand held night shots are very good. I have problems getting the camera to focus on an exact spot in Ia, (eyes, for example), so I often use "P" with center spot focus. I seem to get little exposure benefit from RAW, but I can turn noise reduction way down to preserve detail, then apply spot reduction to the JPEG result later. With my DSLR I can crop quite a bit and still get good photos, but not so much with this camera, so I make a point to crop in camera (by zoom or by foot) to reduce PP cropping.
Jun 23, 2017 08:55:26 #
genocolo
Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island
My guess is that you will be disappointed and sorry if you don't take your Canon. The lumix is a fine backup camera but . . . .
Jun 23, 2017 08:59:35 #
Jun 23, 2017 17:05:01 #
Thank you all for your insightful suggestions, including 'have a steady hand'. John, I really appreciated the images you posted here. I do plan to shoot RAW and .jpg. When I return home, I plan to use Affinity to read the RAW files, and then import into Photoshop to do my major post production. You all have given me valuable information. Should anyone think of more thoughts, don't hesitate to send them my way.
Bill
Bill
Jun 23, 2017 20:15:10 #
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