Panasonic Lumix TZ1 First Impressions Review

Other Features
Flip Animation Mode – This feature is buried within the recording menu, which is too bad. It should have its own position on the mode dial or at least be placed somewhere a little less inconspicuous. With this mode, users can snap up to 100 shots and play the pictures back at speeds of 5 or 10 frames per second. This unique mode isn’t made for top-quality films or great image quality, but it would definitely keep the kids busy on a Saturday afternoon.

Connectivity
Software
Panasonic includes a fat portfolio of software with the TZ1. The CD-ROM has ArcSoft PhotoImpression, PanoramaMaker and PhotoBase programs as well as Lumix Simple Viewer and Photo Fun Studio software.

Jacks, Ports, Plugs
A port door sits on the left side of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1. Beneath this plastic hinged door are two jacks – one for a power adaptor and the other for USB / A/V cables. The A/V function can be optimized for European or American standards with the NTSC and PAL options in the setup menu.

Direct Print Options
The Panasonic TZ1 does not have a designated button for printing, but does have PictBridge compatibility and a DPOF setting that lets users choose which pictures to print and how many copies to make of each. The actual command to print can be found in the playback menu.

Battery
The TZ1 has a lithium-ion battery that comes with its own charger. The battery can take about 250 shots per charge, which is average. Many new digital cameras offer 400-500 shots per charge, but there are just as many that go cheap on the power supply and only offer 100-200 shots.

Memory
The memory card is loaded into a slot under the same door as the battery. The Panasonic TZ1 accepts SD and MMC cards, although the MMC media does not support the movie mode. The TZ1 comes with 13.4 MB of internal memory. This isn’t much as it only saves four full-resolution images.