The 10-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 is a compact point-and-shoot for those who need an uncomplicated camera that can take very good quality image captures. While it looks identical to the ZS3, it does without the HD video recording capabilities of its stablemate, translating to a more affordable device ($100 less) that can do snapshots very, very well.
Sporting a very compact body and a decent 7.7-ounce weight, the ZS1 offers a very good single-handed grip. Despite the wide, long lens, it’s an easily pocketable gadget, making it easy to carry with you on the road. It’s a perfect camera for otherwise skill-devoid lensmeisters like myself, offering straightforward controls, large buttons and logical menus.
Key ZS1 specs include 12x zoom, f3.3-4.9 aperture, 25-300mm focal length, full-resolution ISO sensitivity up to 1600 and a five-shot burst mode. It sports a 2.7 inch LCD that might feel a little too small of you’ve been used to the ZS3′s larger display panel. Apart from 3,648 x 2,736 pixel stills, it can manage VGA-quality videos at 30fps.
Performance is a bit mixed. It posts pretty fast off-to-first-shot average times of around 2.3 seconds, with shot-to-shot delay at about 2.8 seconds with flash. There is some amount of shutter lag and you’ll need to keep your finger on the trigger for at least a second to be sure.
Image quality is among the best in its market range. In fact, there’s little to no trace of typical problems that seem to trouble other megazoom cameras, such as softness and barrel distortion. There’s some amount of noise, although they’re barely noticeable unless you’re specifically on the hunt for flaws.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 is a very good point-and-shoot, provided you’re fine with a unit that doesn’t offer much manual controls. For $299, it should make for plenty of gorgeous stills and somewhat decent videos too.
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