Panasonic Launches Extreme Travel-Zoom

2019.02.18

Today Panasonic is launching a new Travel Zoom, pushing the boundaries of category of cameras they invented over a decade ago. Pursuing the ideal of bringing complete photographer controls with a high-powered zoom in a compact body, the new arrival takes this to the extreme.

The newly announced Panasonic Lumix ZS80 is a Travel-Zoom with a 20 megapixels CMOS sensor paired with an extreme 30X stabilized optical zoom lens. Its lens covers a 24-720mm focal-range with F/3.3-6.4 maximum aperture, a necessarily dim lens to fit within such a compact form-factor. Given how long the zoom reaches, Panasonic equipped the ZS80 with a 5-axis image-stabilization system.

This travel-zoom provides efficient operation, including dual control-dials, a traditional mode dial and a built EVF. To fit within this compact camera, Panasonic used a rather small 0.21" EVF unit yet managed to boost magnification to 0.53X thanks to improved optics. The new EVF is incredibly sharp for its size with 2.3 megapixels. The ZS80 even features a tiltable 3" LCD that can be used for selfies. This is one of the compact cameras to support RAW capture and it can even do so continuously (at an unspecified speed) for up to 26 RAW files.

A fast sensor and processor allow the Panasonic ZS80 to record 4K Ultra-HD video and use the 4K pipeline for a variety of original features, including 4K and Panorama selfies. The sensor can continuously and quickly perform autofocus using Panasonic DFD technology even while recording 4K video. The new sensor and processor are less power-hungry than on previous generations and allow up to 340 shots-per-charged based on the CIPA standard while using the EVF.

The Panasonic Lumix ZS80 is scheduled to ship in April for a suggested price of $700 CAD.

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