Image Quality

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 review – Image Quality

Images at the top end of the TZ20’s 16x zoom were more often than not sharp, even when handheld thanks to the Power OIS – the TZ20’s focus speed is also quick enough to avoid prolonged periods of holding the camera at full magnification which can help in snapping that sharp shot. At the wide 24mm end of the magnification results were more impressive, returning some pin-sharp images at relatively close distances and close-to-middle-distance zoom results were the best of the bunch. At the edge of the images a touch of softness can be present, but only relatively marginally.

Impressively the Lumix TZ20 manages to keep the amount of visible processing results down to a minimum, even in environments of vastly opposing light levels. On a grey day clouds still kept an admirable amount of detail, despite the camera favouring the darker tones, and only at extremely close quarters could any issues with edging be detected. With colour quality generally more toward the darker tones the likes of reds have plenty of depth, but perhaps lacked quite the vibrancy of some other models as a result.

The TZ20’s ISO performance is impressive up to the 400 mark, where beyond processing does start to become more noticeable. It’s also worth mentioning that the 3200 – 6400 ISO settings aren’t selectable through the menu system, being left purely to specific low light scene modes – but this is probably for the best as the truly high ISO settings aren’t particularly spectacular. That’s not to write the TZ20 off by any means however – for day to day shots we’re more than happy and for a compact camera with a sensor of its size it certainly holds its weight.

File-wise and the TZ20 is capable of capturing JPEG files, or MPO files in its 3D mode. However there’s no Raw capture to be found here.