The point-and-shoot is back: Panasonic launches new Lumix out of the blue, with iPhone-trouncing 30x optical zoom

Date:
Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:08:18 +0000

Description:
The new Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 point-and-shoot updates the ZS80 / TZ80 with USB-C charging and will go on sale in February 2025.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 updates the ZS80 / TZ80 with USB-C charging It features a mega
30x optical zoom, 20MP photos and 4K video Lumix G97 mirrorless camera also announced, designed to replace the cheap Lumix G95

One thing I didn't have on my 2024 bingo card was a new Lumix point-and-shoot camera coming in 2024, even though it's a trending market . But Panasonic
just surprised us by announcing the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 (it's called the former in the US and the latter elsewhere), which will be available from February 2025.

The Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 packs a Leica lens with a whopping 30x optical zoom a 24-720mm range that's way more versatile than your smartphone, and which can be doubled digitally to 60x using Panasonic's iZoom feature.

It's a pocketable snapper that weighs just 11.35oz / 322g and features a 1.84m-dot tilt touchscreen, plus a new quick-send image button for smartphone uploads via Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth v5.0.

You can shoot 20.3MP photos, 4K video up to 30fps, and HD video 120fps, plus there's a new vertical video mode, all supported by Panasonic's 5-axis Hybrid Optical image stabilization, which should ensure crisp detail even when
you're zoomed right in.

However, we've seen virtually all of this tech before in the Panasonic Lumix ZS80 / TZ80 , the 2016 model that the new ZS99 / TZ99 essentially replaces.
So why are we getting a new Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 all these years later? Well, crucially the new camera supports USB-C charging, thus adhering to the EU's Common Charger Directive that comes into force in 2025. We saw a similar move by Panasonic earlier in the year when it revived one of its bridge cameras . Panasonic also launched the Lumix G97, a new mirrorless camera with 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds sensor. It updates the cheap Lumix G95 with USB-C charging (to keep it on the shelves in 2025 and beyond) plus a couple of new buttons, but it's otherwise the same camera. Sales start mid-February 2025 and it will cost $849.99 / 799 with the 12-60mm lens (Image credit: Panasonic) Panasonic keeps point-and-shoot alive, just

The USB-C charging port is the only significant update in the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 that I can see over the Lumix ZS80 / TZ80 model it replaces. That predecessor is now almost 10 years old, although, as is the case with other Lumix point-and-shoots, you'll struggle to find one new to buy, especially since they will all eventually be pulled from the shelves.

Panasonic has even downgraded the newer model by removing the predecessor's electronic viewfinder, presumably in order to squeeze in the new USB-C port and buttons. That's a real shame, and it hardly fills me with excitement for the new model.

While I would have preferred meaningful updates and certainly no downgrade, it's good to see Panasonic keeping the Lumix point-and-shoot line alive. The Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 on-sale date is set for mid-February 2025, and it'll cost $499 / 469 (Australia pricing TBC).

Might we see a properly upgraded point-and-shoot in the future? I hope so.
For now, though, I can recommend the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 for those looking for
a decent cheap compact camera. You might also like I used my vintage point-and-shoot for the first time in years heres how it compares to my
Pixel phone Best point-and-shoot camera 2024: top picks for simple shooting Compact cameras are making a comeback as demand for Nikon Coolpix soars by over 8,000% and it's little to do with cameras



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/compact-cameras/the-point-and-shoot-is-back- panasonic-launches-new-lumix-out-of-the-blue-with-iphone-trouncing-30x-optical -zoom


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