Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 Digital Camera Review

Manual Control Options
If only there were anything more to say about manual control for the TZ1. It is a fully automatic camera, with no manual mode. The manual options available modify automatic settings, for the most part. Logic suggests that Panasonic, which makes a large variety of similar cameras, uses a common set of parts for a range of cameras – why design a separate white balance system for every camera? It's not too much of a jump to  suggest that the TZ1 has a white-balance fine-tuning system because it's simpler to leave it in that to take it out.  

We didn't notice a speed improvement with the high-speed modes, which is too bad. The TZ1 focuses slowly. On the plus side, it focused well in dim light with the assistance of its auto focus assist lamp, which may be more attractive than speed to many users. The Leica lens and auto focus system can focus as close as 1.31 ft at the widest focal length and 6.56 ft when the lens is zoomed in on a subject. In the macro mode, the focus closes in to 0.16 inches-3.28 ft. In the shooting menu, there is also a continuous auto focus mode that can be turned on or off; this didn't improve the shutter lag though.

In general, evaluative systems are tuned to overcome common challenges such as backlighting or large dark areas in the frame. These problems can fool center-weighted metering. In practice, though, we found that the TZ1's evaluative system didn't do better than its center-weighted pattern – they performed very similarly in our use and neither handled backlighting well.

White Balance (7.5)
The Panasonic TZ1 will probably be set to Auto white balance most of the time, and it performs well enough for most users. It has an interesting set of manual options, however. First, there are only three presets – Daylight, Cloudy and Halogen. Photographers who rely on manual controls might cheer at this point, because the other common presets such as shade, tungsten and fluorescent often don't work well. There is simply too much variation in the color of light from those sources. Fluorescent tubes are an easy example – they vary by brand, and every tube changes color as it ages.  

So, if photographers want to be careful with the TZ1, they'll have to take a custom color balance, which involves taking a shot of something white. If that doesn't get the color right, the user can then fine-tune the balance, just the same way many high-end cameras allow. It's a feature worth playing with. The fine-tuning mode includes a scale that ranges +/- 10 toward blue on one end or red on the other.

ISO (7.5)
Again, most modes determine this setting automatically, but there is the option of setting the TZ1's ISO to 80, 100, 200, 400 or 800. The TZ1's 1600 setting can't be set manually – the camera sets it automatically in the High Sensitivity scene mode. Unfortunately, in that same mode the image size is limited to 3 megapixels.

It is good to see Panasonic including more sensitivity options on this camera and its newer releases, as past models had a scant ISO range up to 400 only.

Shutter Speed (0.0)
The TZ1's fastest shutter speed is 1/2000. In modes that don't require a tripod, there is a Slow Shutter option in the recording menu that lets users set the shutter speed to 1/8, 1/4, ½ or 1 second. In some scene modes, it can go higher. Night Scenery can automatically set times up to 8 seconds. Starry Sky allows manual settings from 15 seconds to 1 minute.  

Aperture (0.0)
The maximum aperture for the TZ1 ranges from f/2.8 to f/4.2, depending on the focal length. The minimum aperture runs from f/5.0 to f/7.1, again depending on the focal length. There is no option for setting aperture manually.  The aperture in the Leica lens is a two-step system, so there isn't much variation.