By squeezing a large 1-inch 20.1MP sensor and a 24-360mm zoom lens into a pocket-sized body, I can see that Panasonic has no competition in this range!
The TZ220 is also known as Lumix TZ200 / ZS200 in other country.
In 2010 I concluded that...
A good travel camera should have the following quality:
1) It must be relatively light weight.
2) Take interchangeable lens.
3) Digital, with video.
4) Larger sensor than a point and shoot.
5) Able to shoot RAW.
Six years later, look like the TZ110 fit all the bill, except 2), on interchangeable lens!
But six years later, the TZ110 come with a Leica branded 25-250 10X zoom! So may be I do not need my ideal travel-cam to be able to change lens anymore?
If you read my review on the TZ110, you will realised I was VERY IMPRESSED with the camera!
Two years after the successful TZ110, Panasonic up the ante and released the TZ220.
At NZ$1,400 is it that much better than the TZ110 which is selling at $987 now?
Lets take a look at the new features on the TZ220...
Externally, the TZ220 is virtually a copy of its older brother, except for that red lined RUBBER STRIP on the front which actually improved the grip of the camera. The TZ110 is notoriously slippery and you risk dropping the small camera!
The next main difference is the lens.
Instead of a Leica branded 25-250 10X zoom on the 110, the TZ220 come with a WHOOPING 24-360 15X zoom!
Here are the rest of the new features on the TZ220...
* 1240k dots instead of the 1040k dots touch screen.
* 2330K dot live viewfinder, 1164 more dots than the TZ110.
* Come with Bluetooth so you can connect the camera to smart devices and share photos faster.
* New L Monochrome digital filter which claim to gives images a black & white film feel to them.
* TZ220 can auto marks images from 4K photo sequences to create a "time lapse" like photo.
* Battery life is now slightly longer than the TZ110.
The BIG QUESTION, is the TZ220 an IDEAL TRAVEL CAMERA?
The TZ220 is a very compact camera, you are able to put it into your cardigan's pocket, it is 30gm heavier than the 110 and you definitely can feel the heft, I would prefer a belt pouch when I am on the road.
I feel that a neck strap will help when travelling and when you have to do a lot of walking. The camera sadly only come with a thin hand strap!
Next I look at the "new" lens, the one with 5 times more zoom pull than it's older sibling.
One disappointment I have on the new lens is the maximum "brightness" of the optics, the older TZ110 lens is f/2.8 (W) - 5.9 (T) to f/8, which means at 25mm setting I am able to shoot at f/2.8, think of better low light capability!
The new TZ220 super-zoom however, is f/3.3 (W) - 6.4 (T) to f/8, at a low light situation I only have an effective f/3.3 at 24mm, a full f stop darker than the 110 lens!
However, the TZ220 lens is ONE mm WIDER (24mm against 25mm) than the TZ110!
Why is a mere mm that big deal?
When I first tested the TZ110 two years ago, I lamented why Panasonic did not install a 24-250 lens instead of the 25-250.
I even show what a mere 1 mm less wide can miss out in coverage!
That was how MUCH LESS coverage between a 24 and 25mm!
I am actually glad that finally Panasonic go for 24mm on the TZ220!
So what can this SUPER ZOOM deliver?
Lets take a look!
First, the RANGE of "pull" or coverage this versatile zoom lens is able to deliver...
The 24mm to 360mm zoom shown more clearly with a simple video...
Samples taken with the TZ220 on various zoom settings...
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| @ 360mm eqv |
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| @ 360mm eqv |
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| @ 24mm eqv |
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| @ 24mm eqv |
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| Panorama Mode |
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| @ 360mm eqv |
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| 100% of the picture above |
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| Group photo taken on 30mm setting, 1/15 sec, f/3.5 hand held. |
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| Group photo taken at 24mm, 1/40 sec, f/4.5 |
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| Grab shot at 80mm, 1/1,600 sec, f/8. |
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| Shot at 80mm f/4.9 1/2,000 sec. |
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| @ 360mm f/8, 1/400 sec. |
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| @ 24mm, f/6.4, 1/1,600 sec. |
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| @ 24mm f/6.3 1/2,000 sec |
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| @ 260mm f/6.4 1/1,300 sec. |
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| Crop from photo above. |
Again, Panasonic offer a very versatile compact camera for travellers!
The TZ220, as far as I can see, have no competition from other manufacturer.
However, the rather high NZ$1,400 price bug me a bit...
At the moment, for $1,195 I am able to get myself a GX85 with 12-32 (24-64) kit lens plus a free 25mm (50) f/1.7 lens!
Ok,ok... so I don't have a "SUPER ZOOM" built-in and my set up is much heavier but in exchange I get a much more capable camera with changeable lens and an image sensor that is FOUR TIMES larger than the one in TZ220.
But that is me...
On the other hand, if you prefer a NO FUSS travel photo taking, with a all rounded lens that can cover super-wide to super-tele, then the TZ220 is for you!
* TZ220 courtesy of Panasonic New Zealand.
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