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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Blue) |  | Brand: Panasonic
Category: CE
This item is no longer available
Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 2852
Color: Blue
Media: Electronics
Optical Zoom: 12
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 1 x 1 x 1
MPN: DMC-ZS7A
Model: DMC-ZS7A
UPC: 885170004122
EAN: 0885170004122
ASIN: B003FGX5MQ
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| Features:
| • | 12.1-megapixel effective recording | | • | 12X optical zoom (4X digital/48X total zoom) | | • | Built-in GPS function lets you keep track of your photos by location | | • | Optical image stabilization |
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| Customer Reviews:
Camera is Fantastic August 4, 2010
staeit
The camera works well. It is snappy and intuitive, and very feature-rich. For the price-point, I am very impressed with what you can do with it. Has many picture taking functions, including a very easy "intelligent auto" mode that does a decent enough job, and also a fully programmable mode which allows you to take impressive close-ups as well as a 12x zoom. It amazes me how far the lens comes out of the body!
I also like the 720p AVCHD video recording which has optional GPS tracking. The video quality is great, and there are stereo mics on this camera as well, and as such the audio quality is better than other similar cameras that don't have this feature. The facial recognition feature leaves something to be desired. It recognizes faces, but isn't able to differentiate very well between two different faces (it thought several different faces were the same person). The GPS feature will be nice for when I do some traveling but it supposedly uses more battery life and both pictures and videos are significantly larger because of the GPS tag.
It's a very light camera, very compact as well; the battery life is also very good, and the portability/convenience is much appreciated. Amazon (as usual) was fantastic with their orders - quick, easy and love the free shipping.
WHAT A NEAT LITTLE COMBO (video & stills) !! July 11, 2010
Enthusiast
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I got this neat little camera (let me abbreviate it to ZS7, the model)on July 9th 2010. Just before that I sent back two other cameras, a $150 one (dark spot issues) and a $260 one (disliked its characteristics). I was looking for a camera which could shoot both: VERY NICE VIDEO, but also VERY NICE PICS (I'll call this a combo) & doing the basics right - and I decided to fork out $400 odd to try and achieve this goal......and after doing more and more research it boiled down for me to a choice between the Canon Powershot SX210is and the ZS7....... and I decided to go for the ZS7. It of course needed to do the BASICS right, fancy stuff to count later.
The last mentioned two combos are from what I can determine from experts & users the most prominent in the combo market at this price range,at this point in time.....which both still have the characteristics of an instant camera.
What I personally like about the ZS7:
- it takes EXTREMELY good quality HD video (for a PC playback/upload/email MPEG 4 HD is definitely the best format for this on the ZS&,see down below my comments on the AVCHD format available on this camera)!
- the still pictures taken are AMAZING !
- it is a well built, sturdy, good looking (and good feeling)camera. Note that it is a little thicker than these small pocket cams going around and a bit heavier...so I wouldn't count this as a "real small" pocket camera, unless you wear your jeans quite loose ! :) You will feel it in your pocket.
- it "feels" like an expensive little thing, really smart !
- it has an iA mode: intelligent auto mode , so you can aim and shoot without problems (you can take video in this mode as well)
- notwithstanding the iA - it has got lots and lots and lots of (easy, scene and more complicated) manual settings, so you are much more in control of your photography and options....unlike many (most ?) of its rivals !
- the Stereo sound feature and GPS...... wow !
- it follows in the footsteps of its well acclaimed predecessor, the ZS3
- the zoom is superb (you can zoom whilst taking videos - though with all cameras you can hear the zoom on the playback....not overly accentuated though)
- shutterspeed is quick
- amazing pics in low light
- the combination of turn knobs, buttons and things on top is quite interesting and nice...I feel like a pro !
- the LCD is unmatched ...fine detail...
- wide angle,good quality lens
- the battery lasts very well on a single charge (esp seen all the features)
- built in, ready to go flash (the Canon Powershot mentioned above has a pop up which pops up on top, at the spot where you'd hold the camera with your left hand, a feature which I disliked)
- I've read previous reviews about Canadian market issues (previous models ?) - however, I found that the camera has French, English plus a few other languages available on the camera itself. Most documents that came with the camera in the box mention Panasonic Canada as well - so I certainly wouldn't let that stop me from getting this !
- Amazon.ca got me a good deal on the Silver model, and it shipped quickly....
I would have liked to give the camera itself * * * * * but gave the package received * * * * : the reason being (and this is my ONLY dislike) the AVCHD format option seems to be quite cutting edge technology (the recording compress/format mode of files) and the software that comes with this camera (on a CD), and AVCHD video playback doesn't necessarily work on older/smaller computers with "not-too-much power/RAM"....so check the PC requirements for the software if this is a issue for you. I got a brand new Toshiba NB305 Netbook (1.6Ghz & 1gig Ram) 4 months ago (which I like!), but it seems that the software (and AVCHD playback) needs a quicker, bigger environment to perform in......... a feature which is a bit dissapointing. No way I'm going to buy another PC for the camera :)
This shortcoming can however be overcome (on a smaller/older) PC by:
- taking video in Mpeg 4 HD mode on the ZS7 (the donwside is the more sizeable file the recording creates,and I think there is a 2GB recording limit on each such file), so your SD/SDHC card will fill up quicker (what AVCHD technology is made to counter). I'm not sure whether a class 6/10 SD/SDHC card will result in a smaller compressed file,but the manufacturer recommends class 6 for MPEG 4HD or higher (I used a class 4) recording and class 4 (or higher) for AVCHD recording....so better get a class 6 (or higher) I think. The class 4 card of mine works fine though,for now,
- downloading FREE software (search the internet) which converts AVCHD to other HD file formats (should you choose this recording option on the camera) - which can be read on your smaller PC (visit Koyote Software which works nicely). I converted to either Mpeg 2 HD or WMV (?) HD from AVCHD format,but prefer the MPEG 4 HD function (no conversion necessary,good quality). However, if you'd like to edit AVCHD files, it seems after some investigation, that such products would cost you some & even such software may not work great (or at all) on your smaller PC. NOTE: if your software doesn't work on your PC, you can still open the SD card's memory the "old way" & transfer the files to your PC.
The dislike apart...... (which I hope Panasonic can address shortly - that will save me the one more conversion step), I like this ZS7 really VERY VERY much ! (and I can be particular ;) What a beauty !!
Hope you get what you like !
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