le boecere

And here's an antithetical opinion of the same camera (that Tom likes):

BOTTOM LINE
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 has a longer zoom than any other pocketable 1-inch sensor camera, but the lens doesn't live up to its potential.

https://www.pcmag.com/review/353079/panasonic-lumix-dmc-zs100

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Here is a thought for your friend. How many megapixels do they need? The Lumiz zs50 is 12mp and is half the price of the zs70 with 20mp. Aside from that the cameras are very similar.

http://cameradecision.com/compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS50-vs-Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS70

Ringer

I agree! I have the ZS50 and was about to recommend it when I saw this post.

D.T.

Your "Friend", if his girth is decently solid (as he will have decent sized pockets and it fits in the pocket of an Army field Jacket) should strongly consider the Lumix DMC-ZS100.Leica travel lens (25mm-250mm)-but I do not go over about 120mm because of the noise. It has very wide aperture to half of the maximum telephoto distance. Very large Sensor cell for a compact, so its resolution and 4K is quite clear. Solid construction with flash that you use at YOUR OPTION, EVF is decent. Excellent resolution, video is more than acceptable. About $650. DPR rates it one of the top travel compacts of 2017. Do yourself a favor and by their recharger which comes with an extra battery. Worth its weight in gold because it is small and efficient. Battery life is very good!
Go to a store and try it on for size. And, if you go to Lumix site, you can download the COMPLETE owner's manual at NO COST! Just pick the items which interest you and print them.

jimpitt

$650.00 for a Panasonic brand is crazy. Yes, they cover up their poor body quality and 90's technology with Leitz glass on some models, but still not worth that price. With with wide array of quality choices from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Olympus, comparing to cars, why buy a Neon when you can have an Impala for the same price.
After exhaustive research, I'm buying a Sony HX80 30X zoom 20 mpxl to replace my 9 yr old Leica 5X zoom 7 mpxl. (I'll still keep the Leica and give it to my wife because it is better than her iPhone.)
My 3 cents.

dornie

I don't know if your comparisons are made on actual comparisons or articles , but I used actual comparisons on hundreds of photo against qualifying Sony. Olympus, and Leica in still and 4K, inside/outside and different light conditions. I agree that some Panasonic most times compares poorly in the whole camera against the Leica which is built solid; however, thats fine for the camera. I am interested in the end product, the photograph. In my trials the DMC ZS100, although not perfect, came out on top and DPreview gives it a GOLD 82. The price is no longer $650 and has dropped considerably, which is normal and there is always the option of used, refurbished, etc. Personally, I was disappointed in the photo quality of the Leica although the rest of the camera was fine. There could be many reasons for that. One, just one of my tests is to put them all on the same setting and conditions to shoot comparative pictures and then increase their size steps up to my full 27" screen. So what it amounts to, you must make your evaluation on what you have, and if happy with it, keep it. It should be a standard presumoption that no two same camera models will be almost perfectly alike, but should be within reasonable performance and results.

ricardo16

Those were my criteria and I ended up purchasing a Sony HX-90V on e-bay for under $250. It is small (very pocketable), has an optical zoom of 720mm, and a pop up electronic view finder that works well. Does it take the greatest photographs in the world? No, but they are very good for a camera of diminished size and price. Check it out. The LUMIX DC-ZS70 was my second choice.