The TZ series is Panasonic’s popular range of travel compacts and this is the TZ40, the latest version, featuring a 20x optical zoom Leica lens.

The TZ40 has built-in Wi-Fi, which means that you can control the camera remotely via a smartphone app, where you can also save images for sharing online.

On the side of the Lumix TZ40 is an NFC chip, which means that if you have any compatible devices, all you need to do is tap the two devices together for an instant connection.

GPS is also built in, which is useful for a travel camera as it saves you having to remember the exact location of all your photos.

Amy Davies of our testing team puts this new Panasonic camera and all of its key features to the test in her Panasonic TZ40 review video.

Panasonic TZ40 Review Video Transcript

The TZ series is Panasonic’s popular range of travel compacts and this is the TZ40, the latest version, featuring a 20x optical zoom Leica lens.

Unusually for a compact, the TZ40 features a mode dial on top of the camera, where you can access fully manual and semi-automatic modes, such as aperture and shutter priority. Also on this mode dial you’ll find scene modes and fully automatic modes and space for upto two groups of customised settings.

This camera has built-in Wi-Fi, which means that you can control the camera remotely via a smartphone app, where you can also save images for sharing online. Here on the side of the camera is an NFC chip, which means that if you have any compatible devices, all you need to do is tap the two devices together for an instant connection. If you don’t, then you can still connect via entering a unique password in your device’s Wi-Fi settings.

GPS is also built in, which is useful for a travel camera as it saves you having to remember the exact location of all your photos – though it is worth remembering having GPS activated can be a drain on a battery life.

On the back of the camera is a 920,000 dot touchscreen. This is extremely useful for changing the autofocus point, which you can do simply by tapping the area on the screen you want to use. You can also use it to fire the shutter release – the camera will focus first, then capture the image. This is fairly fast and responsive, and is useful when shooting on a tripod for example, or for capturing quick action.

Aside from the mode dial, there are no settings dials on the TZ40. Instead, if you want to change aperture, you press this Exposure button and then press left or right. To change shutter speed, you use the same button, but  press up or down. Perhaps a little confusingly, you don’t alter exposure compensation with the Exposure button – this has it’s own dedicated button on the four way control pad here.

A Quick Menu button gives access to all the most commonly used settings, saving you from delving into the more extensive menu. Here you’ll find everyday settings such as ISO and white balance. The number of options changes depending on the shooting mode being used, for instance, you’ll find more when shooting in semi-automatic and fully manual modes.

The optical zoom lens is extended and retracted via a small switch around the shutter release. The zooming mechanism is pretty smooth and fluid, which is good news considering the 20x optical length. As the zoom reaches its maximum optical capability, it stops, requiring a second push to enter the digital zoom – this is great for preventing an accidental stray into the digital zoom if you don’t want to use it.

There’s no need to worry about capturing an image at the far end of the optical zoom as Panasonic’s image stabilisation does a fantastic job of preventing blur, even when shooting handheld. Here’s a comparison of the lens extended to full with image stabilisation off, and here, with image stabilisation switched on.

Previous TZ cameras have really impressed us, so we had high hopes for the TZ40. Happily, we have not been disappointed, with bright and punchy images with plenty of detail.

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Panasonic has unveiled the latest compact system camera to sit in its beginner range, in the shape of the GF5.

The update to the GF3 features what Panasonic claims to be the world’s fastest autofocus (0.09 seconds), and a completely new 12 million pixel sensor. A fast Venus engine combines with the new sensor to produce image quality which Panasonic says is comparable to the G3.

Other new features include higher ISO capability, 4fps shooting and a newly designed user interface which includes on-screen help to guide new users.

A number of digital filters, including Cross Process, Toy Camera, Selective Colour and Impressive Art are also included on the camera, all of which can be adjusted and altered to suit a user’s needs.

The GF5 features a touchscreen LCD screen at the back of the camera, which is used to access the different modes, such as aperture priority and scene modes.

The Panasonic Lumix GF5 price will be £449 with the standard 14-42mm kit lens. A version with the new power zoom “X” lens will be around £550.

Read a hands-on Panasonic GF5 review at our sister site TechRadar.

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Panasonic Lumix G: tips for using your digital camera

So you think you know how to use your digital camera? Like many of us, you may have a DSLR or compact system camera but tend to use only a handful of its features.

In our ongoing review of some of the more popular current and ‘out of date’ digital cameras, we want to help you better harness the creative potential of your Panasonic Lumix G camera.

Call them camera tips, or call it a user’s guide to your favourite digital camera. The 5 tips below come from experts at Panasonic who have developed and use Panasonic Lumix G cameras and know this range inside and out, but the rest we’d like to come from you.

If you have your own Panasonic camera tips you’d like to share, post them in the comments below – or send them jeff.meyer@futurenet.com. What we want to build is an ever-growing user’s guide of Pansonic camera tips that come not from a press release or a lab test, but from the photographers who shoot with these cameras.

We want to inspire you to twist the mode dial and move beyond your favourite settings and functions and get more out of your Lumix G camera starting today! So without further ado…

Panasonic Lumix G: tips for using your digital camera

Panasonic Lumix G Tip 1: Focus anywhere
Many system cameras allow you to choose a focus point within the frame from a number of pre-set positions. Panasonic Lumix G cameras allow you to select any point in the frame to be your focus point. Simply enter the AF Mode menu (right button) and select single area. Then just touch the screen where you would like to focus. If that is not precise enough, try Pinpoint mode from the AF Mode menu. The focus area will be magnified to allow you to select the precise point.

Panasonic Lumix G Tip 2: Improve your 3D photos
The 3D lens available for Lumix G cameras offers some unique photo opportunities: here are a few tips to get the best results. Imagine the frame is a TV screen – a subject 1m away will appear to be at screen level. Anything closer will seem to be leaping out of the screen. If your subject is 2m or further away it will give a feeling of depth.

Compose your photo with objects both close and far away, to enhance the feeling of depth. The most effective “leaping out” effects are objects in the centre of the frame – objects that leap out from the edge can look strange in 3D.

Panasonic Lumix G Tip 3: Pull focus in Movie Mode
By using the touch screen in conjunction with the movie mode on Panasonic Lumix G cameras, you can give your videos a professional feel. You can change focus from foreground to background – or between two people in a frame – simply by touching the screen. This produces a much slicker and smoother result than attempting to manually pull focus by turning the ring on the lens. For the smoothest results, use a tripod to minimise the chance of the camera moving when you touch the screen. Practise before shooting your video clip.

Panasonic Lumix G Tip 4: Use the GX1′s hidden function buttons
The Panasonic Lumix GX1 is popular with camera enthusiasts because of its classic camera style and control. Put simply, it has more dials and buttons than most Compact System Cameras and for many photographers, that’s a good thing. There are 2 function (Fn.) buttons on the body of the camera, but did you know there are 2 more hidden on the touch screen?

Simply press the arrow tab on the right side of the touch screen and Fn. 3 and Fn. 4 appear. They are pre-set to “Level Gauge” and “Histogram” respectively, but – just like any function button – you can set them to whatever function you need.

Panasonic Lumix G Tip 5: Maximise your AF speed
Lumix G cameras are known for their ultra-fast Auto Focus speed and accuracy, making it easier to capture those fleeting moments. But it is not just the camera body that determines the speed of the auto focus – the lens plays an important part too.

If you want to speed up your AF even further, look for Lumix G lenses with the “HD” logo. This means they are ideal for HD movies, but it also means they are ultra fast at focusing – for both stills and movies. For the fastest possible result, pair up the GX1 camera with a power zoom “X Series” Lumix G lens – and focus in 0.09 seconds!

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With the G1, Panasonic introduced a whole new genre of cameras. The G2, introduced back in March is basically a straight update of that camera. Updates to the body design include touch screen technology, an improved button layout and better lens mount. Internally, ISO has been bumped up and HD video has been included. So does the performance of the G2 measure up? Click on the link on the right to read a full in-depth review of the G2 and its sister camera, the G10.

You can drown it, you can drop it, you can freeze it; Panasonic’s Lumix FT1 takes all manner of abuse in its stride and still manages to shoot creditable HD video. But can it take on the mighty Olympus Mju 8000?

At first sight, Panasonic’s FT1 looks the nearest rival to Olympus’ mighty Mju 8000. It’s a similar size, weight and shape and is also waterproof, shockproof and operable down to -10 degrees.

The buttons are small and close together and the markings don’t stand out well. The Shutter and Zoom buttons are right next to each other on the top of the camera. It’s far too easy to take a picture when you simply meant to zoom in or out.

The FT1 worked fine after freezing, though the battery level indicator dropped considerably. It had no problems shooting underwater and survived a drop test onto a hard floor unscathed.

The Panasonic’s 1,280×720 HD Movie mode is a bonus, but for ultimate toughness it has to play second fiddle to the Olympus.