Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8 camera

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8 is a step-down from the company’s TZ10 model, which most notably has a GPS and several tweaks to distinguish it from the smaller brother. Because of this 12-x zoom, the TZ8 features slightly puffed up dimensions, measuring 103.3 x 59.6 x 32.6mm, creating it larger than your ordinary compact, but still pocketable. It weighs 219g. The TZ8 features rather elegant looks, something that has become usual on the Lumix line recently. The right side of the camera has a slightly full grip, which is nearly big enough to hold your fingers around. It comes into Panasonic’s line of “super zoom” compacts, providing a 12x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel sensor, rising from the TZ7’s 10 megapixels.

Because of this 12-x zoom, the TZ8 features slightly puffed up dimensions, measuring 103.3 x 59.6 x 32.6mm, creating it larger than your ordinary compact, but still pocketable. It weighs 219g. The TZ8 features rather elegant looks, something that has become usual on the Lumix line recently. The right side of the camera has a slightly full grip, which is nearly big enough to hold your fingers around. The top plate offers a physical toggle, which many will like since it won’t be switching on by mistake in your pocket. A mode dial and the shutter button, surrounded by the zoom toggle, join this. On the right side of the camera, an AV connection hides under a flap, but there is no HDMI.

On the back of the camera, you’ll find a 2.7-inch LCD display, offering a 100% field of view. To the right you’ll find other physical switch to change between shooting and playback. The common system of a four-way controller with a central Menu/Set button is sided by four more controls, offering access to the Quick Menu, modify the displayed information, a toggle for the instant zoom and eventually an “exposure” button, which allows you change values while the shooting mode lets it.

Power the camera on and the lens extends, giving you the widest 25mm angle. Moving to the full end of the zoom is a bit slow as the optics move around, but the E.Zoom button will turn the lens out using “Intelligent Zoom” to 16x, then further using “Extra Zoom”, which crops the sensor to bring you a closer image.