Probably the best review that I have ever seen for a camera, what I like best about it, is that everything was explained properly and an honest opinion given at the end so that I could assess if this camera would fit my purposes. Thank you Bob.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

You are welcome... and thank you for the kind comments.

wow, you have such a fantastic speaking and review style, I could listen to you talk about anything. Thank you for a very informative and honest review. Looking forward to more videos.

I bought a TZ 70 recently. Your tutorial is superb, clear & to the point. I've normally had big D.SLR's. As you say, this is a superb camera for slipping into your pocket. Best wishes Bob from Wales, UK. 😃

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words... enjoy your camera!

What a great review. I really enjoyed how this video was put together with the examples and voice overs. thanks Bob

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, Rick... thank you for the kind words.

Thanks for the review that you gave us, i have already decided to buy this camera and your review makes me more to have it sooner, again, many thanks to you.

Thank you Bob, for a very comprehensive review of this camera. I have been considering a Panasonic compact camera equipped with a Leica lens, hoping I will find one with the sharp features I value. Your comments on the overall quality of the lack of sharpness on this model have made me feel that this one is not for me. However, I feel now, that If I am to view more of your great reviews, I will be pointed in the right direction. Thanks again. Ed

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, Ed... I appreciate your kind comments. I was never really happy with the ZS50, although I used the heck out of it for a year or so. I replaced it a few months ago with the much more expensive Panasonic ZS100, and I have a pretty thorough review of it here on KZread. I also have a comparison video that pits the Panasonic ZS100 against the Panasonic LX100, two quite different cameras that each cost around $700. I can recommend the ZS100... here's my review of it: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aXlqj9SogqaTY7w.html

Thanks a lot Mr. Kovacs. Very educative review. It will certainly help me now I am looking for a compact travelling camera. Best regards from Costa Rica. Vinicio Soto

Great summary. Excellent points on the size and zoom of this camera vs. larger sensor cameras. Perfect explanation.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Fantastic review. My DMC 20 has broken while in Peru so Im heading out to purchase this camera tomorrow from an extremely helpful chat at Hiraoka went over the camera with me but hearing this has convinced me. Thanks

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Suanne Clitheroe Thanks! I just sold my ZS20 on eBay a couple weeks ago... it went for about $75. Good luck with the ZS50!

Bob. thank you so much for the review. perfect. I will buy one to go alongside my DSLR and as an upgrade to my older lumix, as you did. cheers from Yorkshire!

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the nice comments, Dean!

One of the best reviews out there, loved it.I own a Sony HX90V, what would be its twin or sister to that camera.I am not happy with its quality. your photos put it to shame! that is my personal opinion.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+fishycomics Thanks! The photos I took for this review generally turned out decent, but I've had plenty of experience with crappy photos from the ZS50. In particular, using the flash in the manual modes (such as the "Program" mode) is hit or miss. I will go several shots where the shutter and flash seem not to be synchronized, then it will work fine again. This has happened with two different ZS50 cameras, so it's not just one defective unit. I've never actually touched the Sony HX90V, but it doesn't surprise me that a small-sensor camera has serious compromises. Thanks for the report!

that's what I call a review!

An excellent, very helpful review. Thank you.

@wayneshum

4 жыл бұрын

The best review person ever, so clearly well details presented, no one do it better

Greetings from Argentina, your review was very instructive to me.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for letting me know... and I'm glad it helped you.

I have this camera, now broken. Carried it around a lot in my pocket and it would turn on sometimes when I grabbed it to pull it out. A few times it turned on from other pressure. This and moisture (I believe) eventually resulted in problems with the lens, then a complete malfunction. I regret not being more careful with it as it was a fine camera (and a gift). Also found the issue with the flash annoying.

Great thorough job on this review,thanks.

@BobKovacs

4 ай бұрын

You're welcome.

Very informative review thank you so much Bob.

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

Very good review, thank you very much for help!

Thanks Bob, great review

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

Great review Bob! Thanks

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

Bob do more reviews. I miss your reviews.

Excellent review! I just bought one and am going through "New Camera Trepidation"---getting overwhelmed by all the bells and whistles on this. I replaced my Fuji FinePix with this camera because I was never happy with it: i ended up "blind-shooting" much of the time because I just couldn't see the screen, and the quality of the photos wasn't the greatest (whites all blended together). While you give the photo quality a fair to good score, I think overall that it will be better than the Fuji. Now I have to learn more about using the various features...

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Tipsam Thank you for the kind words. I'm not familiar with the Fuji FinePix, so I can't help you there. I did just get a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 and a friend loaned me a Panasonic LX100, both of which take much better photos and videos than the ZS50. However, both are MUCH more expensive than the ZS50 (which is selling for $250 in places), and neither comes close to having a 30x lens.

@tipsam288

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs, yes, the LX100 was recommended, but the price was a factor... I got the 50 for $250 at Costco. Like they say: you get what you pay for!

Bob, this was an outstanding review! I'm glad I found this. I also have a ZS20 and it seems lately that the pictures are not as sharp and I have not really been happy with them. I was seriously considering moving up to the ZS50. I think you had the same issue. I am sorry to hear that picture quality has improved only slightly so I may reconsider my plan. Since your your review is a year old and since tech companies are always improving their product do you think that the 2017 models may have improved what may have been the shortcomings during your review? Any other concerns with the camera since your review?

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words. Both my wife and I do some professional photography, and I also do professional videography. The small sensor in the ZS50 is okay for some non-demanding professional applications (such as a news photo of someone speaking at a podium, but it just doesn't cut it if you need to pull out detail. My wife simply refused to use the ZS50 for photos. Video was okay, but it did only 1080p and I wanted to move up to 4K. Therefore, 10 months ago I got a Panasonic ZS100, which has a 1-inch sensor. On the other hand, it does only 10x optical zoom. Still, it takes much better photos and videos than the ZS50. The price is painful, though: $700. Panasonic now has a ZS60 with a big zoom and 4K video -- the logical step up from the ZS50. But I will not get another small-sensor camera. Just too many compromises. I haven't used it, however. As for the ZS50, I sold mine on eBay about three months ago. I don't miss it.

Thanks for the review good video i purchased on but never really fell in love with it im still in love with the G7X so i will purchase that instead

@BobKovacs

9 жыл бұрын

***** Thanks. Yes, there's much to be said for a camera with a larger sensor, like the Canon G7X. I often wish this Panasonic had a bigger sensor.

Thanks for this old review of this old gem! I was looking for a very cheap camera that I can use for all-around photos for travel. I'm using an RX10 III and an a6500 camera for the video, so video for this cam isn't a necessity. This camera only costs 250USD on amazon, I might buy it after a few more review videos

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

You are welcome! However, I wouldn't get the ZS50 for photos... it's photo quality is only fair. I suggest the Canon SX620 if you want good photos and a long zoom. The SX620 has a little shorter zoom than the ZS50 (25x vs. 30x) and the SX620 does not have an eyepiece viewfinder, but it takes much better photos. Just my suggestion, however.

Your assessment on its photo is spot on. I just bought a used one and noticed its imagine is a bit soft near the edges. I was hoping its still picture quality would be higher, given its lens is from Leica. Nevertheless, I didn't want to spend hundred of dollars for a travel friendly camera with 30x optical zoom capability. This used one will serve me well.

@BobKovacs

Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing.

Hey Bob! Great review! Thanks so much! Buying this camera at Costco today - on sale for $250! Great deal. One question, does it have an external mic input? And can you do time lapse video?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks... but that's *two* questions! I think the ZS50 has a time-lapse feature, but I'm not sure. The couple of times I wanted that effect, I did it in my editing software. And no, the ZS50 does not have an external mic input.

Hi Bob - Informative review - good you rate the still image quality as not great. Very few reviews say this. I've had many of this range (in Europe this is the tz70) tz1, 20, 30 and was happy with all of them. I tried the tz60 and sent it back and am really not happy with this one either. For a long zoom setting the video is clearer than still shots and that just doesn't make sense. Comparing with my older 30 which I still have, I think it's a noise reduction issue that's smearing detail. I also find it very slow to react when starting video resulting in missed shots or thinking you are recording when not. There is also an alarming viewfinder tilt noticable during wide video (was present on the 60 too) which I assume is meant to level your shot - it results in you fighting it to keep it level. But as you say - its a compromise - it has a 30x zoom after all.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the details. My first Panasonic was the ZS7, which was quite good. However, the small-sensor Panasonic cameras I've had since have all taken just fair photos, including the ZS50. I now have a ZS100, which has a 1-inch sensor. It takes MUCH better photos and video than the ZS50, but the ZS100 is only 10x zoom and it is much more expensive. There's always a compromise somewhere. BTW, I have a l-o-n-g video review of the ZS100 and a shorter comparison of the Panasonic LX100 and ZS100. You might be interested in those.

I'm about to buy a camera was confused between this and Olympus Stylus TOUGH TG-4. after your great review I think I'll go to the Panasonic . great help bob :)

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+hummam007 Thanks!

Bob, great review. I'm mostly looking for a point and shoot travel camera with good zoom. I would also like to experiment with the video feature, having never done so before.I've been shooting travel photos since traeling in the far east in the late 60s, starting with a Minolta 101 and a Nikon 2000 then and FM2 before moving on to full size Nikon digital cameras. For those of us who are old enough to remember flying home with lead bags full of film, digital was a miracle.Some years ago, I bought a Lumix DMC-FX25 to bring along with my Nikon SLR. I realized that I was using that camera more than my Nikon. So now I've finally reached the point where I no longer feel like dragging large bulky camera bags, and am looking for a good point and shoot for my upcoming one month trip to southern Europe. As mentioned, I need good zoom, and picture quality, and will experiment with Video. I was about to purchase the ZS50 when I found your review. Now I'm concerned considering what you said about still picture quality.Your response and any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated.Rolf

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Rolf! I really can't recommend the ZS50 if your requirement is mostly photos. You're coming from a dSLR background and you will find the photographic performance of the ZS50 disappointing. It's good for video, though. It's a lot more money and it has only a 10x zoom, but the Panasonic ZS100 is a MUCH better camera, both for photos and video. Otherwise, I'm not personally familiar with the Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc. cameras that compete with the ZS50. I've had good luck with Canon point-and-shoot cameras in the past, so I'd try one of those. Look for one that has a 1/1.7-inch sensor instead of the typical 1/2.3-inch sensor. The bigger the sensor, the better the pictures (and videos). Unfortunately, the bigger the sensor, the bigger the camera and the smaller the zoom range. That's why the Panasonic ZS100 is almost a miracle to have a 1-inch sensor, yet be only a little bigger than the ZS50 -- and still pack a 10x lens. (For a lot more money, of course.) Hope that helps!

@sabyegrp

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks for getting back to me. I'll continue my research.

Köszönöm szépen a megosztást! Remek informatív kamera bemutató videó! További sikeres szép napot kívánok neked, illetve mindenki számára szintén erőben, egészségben, békében! Sok sikert kívánok! 👍🍀🇭🇺🌞☝️

@BobKovacs

2 жыл бұрын

Szívesen. Bár van magyar nevem, nem igazán beszélem a nyelvet. Egy online fordítót használok a fordításhoz.

@wenepzoli

2 жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacs Értem! Én nem beszélek egyik idegen nyelven sem, csak magyarul tudok beszélni, írni! Én szintén online fordítóval értem az idegen nyelveket! Örülök hogy valamiképp kapcsolódik a magyarokhoz! Legyen szép a napod és sikeres! 👍🍀🇭🇺🌞☝️ I can only speak Hungarian! I also understand online with a foreign language! I'm glad you're connected to the Hungarians on some level! Thank you for the answer! I wish you good luck!

Hi, Bob, it was a nice review of the camera , so in your opinion around this size of cameras what is the one that have much better quality pictures, Thank you

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Tripa Guzman By size, do you mean overall physical size? If that's what you're asking, the Panasonic LX100 takes much better photos, and does better video, too. However, it has only a 3x zoom lens and it costs twice as much as the Panasonic ZS50. I have not tried the Canon SX700, but have had good photographic experience with Canon cameras in the past. The SX700 has the same size sensor as the Panasonic ZS50 (1/2.3-inch), a 30x lens and costs about the same. I tend to think that both cameras take photos of about the same quality, but I haven't actually used the SX700.

Great review!!

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great review. Thank you!

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

You're welcome.

Thanks for this review! I also have a zs7 and just purchased this camera as an upgrade. I primarily use my cameras to shoot videos at concerts and my zs7 did a wonderful job on that (I actually just shot a concert last week and have been getting compliments on the quality! My dated camera still does well!) How would you rate the video on this camera to the zs7 in that type of environment?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+kme06d The ZS7 was a pretty good camera in its day, and I still think it took better photos than the ZS50. However, the ZS50 takes better video. The ZS50 does 1080p and can also to 4x slow motion at 720p resolution -- both are pretty good. Of course, the ZS50 has a 30x lens, while the ZS7 has a 10x lens... the longer zoom on the ZS50 will come in handy at concerts.

@kme06d

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs thanks so much! It sounds like I made a good choice.

I liked this review so much I just bought this camera for videos and I'm surprised that the ring around the lens is so big it hits the tripod release plate, getting stuck, and possibly getting damaged from being jammed. That makes no sense to me. Are there different size release plates for "point and shoot" cameras? I have a Zomei ball head tripod. Thank You.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

I got a new cheap tripod from a company called Magnum, and glued a piece of foamy plastic to the rear 2/3s of the tripod release plate. It was enough so that the foamy plastic was under the camera, but not under the focus ring. This gave the ring enough clearance that it could turn without interference. Yes, this is a poor design feature of the ZS50 -- and it was carried over to the ZS100, which has the same issue. I've never seen it happen with any other camera, but I don't use all that many different cameras.

Re: The out of focus area on the right side of the house shot. Graham Houghton in his review of the FZ1000 noticed a similar effect on the FZ1000 and said he thinks it might be related to the five axis image stabilization causing the IS to be caught "off guard" during camera shake. If you go to 14:55 sec. portion of his review here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/g6OnpdWMlpWyYM4.html you will see his thoughts on this phenomenon.

Hello! I love this review! I was looking for a compact camera with super zoom + good in lowlight because I'm going to use it for concerts (I use the burst function usually) and this is one of the cameras I am choosing from (the other is Sony DSC-HX90V). I have Panasonic DMC-FZ100 and it's excellent in that aspect but it's bulky and usually gets checked in when I go to concerts. Do you think this camera will be a good alternative? Thank you in advance. :)

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Alex L I've never tried the Sony HX90V, or the Nikon S9500 or any of the other competition. What I can say is that I find the ZS50's video ability better than its photo ability in low light. So if you use this camera at concerts, I suggest shooting video clips and using those to extract the still images you want. A still extracted from an HD video has more than enough resolution to work beautifully on the web, or even on a computer screen.

@alexl317

8 жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking time to reply! :)

This is the right review. Thanks!!!

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Charming' Can You're welcome!

Very good review , I just bought it.

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Pentax made an elegant camera, about mid 90's. It utilized "deep" menu structure similar to the Panny. Had what I perceived as a steep learning curve. I still have that beautiful brushed aluminum face cam. Enjoyed your competent, cheerful presentation.🐶🐩

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

Interesting... but are you sure it was from the mid-1990s? The first digital camera I owned was a 1.5 megapixel Toshiba in 2000, and I'm not aware of anything with a bigger sensor prior to that in any digital camera. If it was from the mid-1990s, it had to have been a film camera. 10 years later (circa 2005) there definitely was a lot of choices for digital cameras. So perhaps that's the time frame you're thinking of.

@MrMotivations

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacs 2003, according to my research, as memory has failed after all these years of continuously abusive photography addiction. It is the Pentax Optio 550. I just went looking for it as I took it for a walk about last year or so ago, and now, it seems I've put it in a "safe place". It should be an embarrassment, the number of cameras I have amassed from film photography to digital. Only thing in the group I don't have is movie cameras, 16, 8 mm, etc . Guess I need to open a store front on Ebay? Decided to buy a "like new" used Canon G5X from MPB, as I've not bought a Canon in a number of years, and I'm fond of the photo quality of the G9, which I still carry and shoot on a rotational basis. HEY, I'll catch more of your vids! Ole Dave, "Deep Woods", Tn

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I know how memory can be...

I have a 2 Questions, because I can't seem to find them on the Internet, but can you record in 240fps as long as you want? or is it limited to like 4 seconds or so? and is it possible to switch between PAL and NTSC, because the Pal version has only 200fps.

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

I no longer have this camera, so I can't say for sure. However, I'm pretty sure that you can record for extended times at 240 fps. Keep in mind that the resolution of 240 fps recordings is 640 x 480 -- it's 4:3 aspect ratio, not the now-normal 16:9 aspect ratio. And I don't know the answer to your question about switching between PAL and NTSC frame rates. Perhaps someone who has the camera can check.

@herrreinsch

5 жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacsoh, thanks a lot for the quick answer, that's all I needed to know.:) and the 4:3 ratio doesn't matter, because I upload it to Instagram in the 1:1 ratio, and since Insta has a Max resolution of 640x640 pixels, it doesn't really need to be HD.

Very nice review!! I actually decided to buy this camera but now I am a bit uncertain. The fact is I don't really need that zoom range. I would rather trade it for better image quality. I am wondering if you can recommend a camera that has a similar price tag, with built in wifi (not essential though), better image quality and a decent zoom range (maybe around 15-20X). Thanks!

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+J. Pedro Lau Thanks for the kind comment. I don't have any great advice for you on a camera that trades some zoom range for better image quality. I have had a couple Canon point-and-shoot cameras that I thought took pretty good photos, but that was years ago and they had 5x and 10x zooms. Canon is coming out with the SX620 this summer, and that would be good to take a look at. In the meantime, the Canon SX280 is worth a look, as is the Nikon S9900. I know that Sony's cameras are decent, but I have no familiarity with them at all. I do have an older Nikon S8100 that actually takes photos with less noise than the Panasonic ZS50, but it doesn't have the 30x lens, convenient manual focus, excellent eyepiece viewfinder and a couple other nice features of the ZS50. There's only so much quality you can squeeze out of a 1/2.3-inch sensor.

I also have the old zs7 and the lens is very sharp to the edges .How does the still picture quality compare between the zs50 vs zs7 or similar zs5? Thanks

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Joe Cap Yes, I really liked my ZS7, but I somehow got a chip in the lens. :-( I'm not familiar with the ZS5, but the ZS50 is as good as (if not a bit better) than the ZS7 in strong light. The ZS50 is better for macros, and it has a MUCH longer zoom for better telephoto shots. In weak light, I think the ZS7 was better, and maybe its flash was better, too. Still, the ZS50's manual focus and long zoom are big benefits. And the video from the ZS50 is better than the ZS7, which I thought was pretty good in its day.

Hi Bob nice review! I'm trying to decide between this and the Canon SX720HS. btw you are of Hungarian origin?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Hi, Oliver... thanks! I have not used the Canon SX720HS, but I did own a couple of older small-format Canon cameras. They were pretty good -- certainly competitive with cameras from the other big makers (Sony, Nikon, Panasonic, etc.). I like the idea of a 40x lens on the Canon (vs. 30x on the Panasonic ZS50) and the Canon's pop-up flash -- it's too easy to cover the Panasonic ZS50's flash with a finger. Other than that, the Panasonic is less expensive now, at least in the US. So, the Panasonic is cheaper and the Canon has a longer lens and probably a better flash. That's really all I can say about it. Yes, my father was Hungarian, although I was born and raised in the US. I visited my relatives in Hungary in 2003 and had a great time.

Hi bob ! I travel a bit and would like to take clearer pictures (for printing and family cards) on something other than my iPhone. Could you recommend a point and shoot camera that’s budget friendly and travel friendly?

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

Carla, take a look at the Canon PowerShot SX620. It is really compact and will fit in a pocket or purse, it has a 25x zoom, and it takes nice photos. It costs $250 on Amazon. It will also shoot decent quality HD video. Does that fit the budget?

Great video. Very helpful! Any experience on macro pics? I often like to take closeups of watches, watch dials and watch movements.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

The ZS50 does macros well. You can leave it in auto and let it figure out what to focus on, which it does pretty well. Or you can do manual focus and choose your focus point. There's some zoom range with macro, too.

@chenchina4577

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the response! After weighing all the pros and cons, I pulled the trigger for the ZS60.

Hello, thanks for the very informative review. I was considering buying this camera, but wanted to read/see and objective reiview that doesn't just list the specs and praise them. Can reccomend something in this class of so called "premium pocket cameras" that is possibly better tnan the TZ70/ZS50? I'm mostly interested in good quality photos in a pocketable camera, so I was considering this, but now I'm not so sure if it's the one for me.

@BobKovacs

9 жыл бұрын

jojoton4eva The best photos come from the biggest sensors, so look for cameras with 1-inch or micro four-thirds sensors. Some examples are the Sony RX100, Panasonic LX100 and Canon G7X. I have a Panasonic GH3, which is similar to the LX100 in terms of image quality, and it is MUCH better at photos than the ZS50. (It's a lot more expensive, too, so keep that in mind.) I know someone with the Sony RX10 (the predecessor to the RX100) and it takes great photos. It's also expensive. So if photo quality is your top concern, look for a camera with a big sensor. It won't have the zoom range of the ZS50 (which is quite nice, actually), but the photos will be lots better.

Very good video, always i like to see review videos form normal people and not from the manufacturer or a distributor.... i would like heard your opinion about the ZS60 the new one...what i have seen it as some good new features so i am assuming if the Zs50 is good i thing i can buy the new one without check a review do you agree? or any comments Thanks very much in advance from Mexico.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I have seen the ZS60 in stores but have not used it. I sold my ZS50 camera and bought a ZS100, which I like a lot more than the ZS50. (However, the ZS100 is MUCH more expensive than the ZS50.) The ZS100 has a 1-inch sensor and I would not go back to a small-sensor camera such as the ZS50 or ZS60. There are too many compromises with small-sensor cameras, and I use the ZS100 for both professional photography and professional video.

nice review - for the money or $297 it is a very nice camera - 30x RAW etc - yes sensor is not 1 inch so not as good in low light as the Sony RX100/m2/m3/m4 or the Canon G7X - but then again a lot lot cheaper - and the RX100 and the G7X do not have an EVF - One cannot expect the world for $297 :) 30x zoom is amazing - it can do RAW so lots can be done in Post -

Nice review. For video, does the zoom mechanism cause any noise that get picked up by the mic?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks. There *might* be a little zoom motor noise in a really quiet environment, but it's not an issue in any practical shoot where there is some ambient noise. Fumbling on the camera to locate and use the zoom control makes more noise than the zoom motor. And although the ZS50 can zoom while recording, I really wish it was a slow, controllable *smooth* zoom.

What a review!

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Any recommendations for something similar like this, but more for photos? looking in the sub 300$ range.

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

I suggest the Canon SX620. It runs around $250 on Amazon. I've had good luck with photo quality from the Canon point-and-shoot cameras I've had.

Hi , I just bought this camera and Iam having a problem. When I connect the remote controller through the panasonic app in my phone I lose internet CONNECTION and I cant download information or just check webpages. Wifi disconnect mobile data. Is there a way to control the camera with the phone and not to lose the internet connection??

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

I don't know for sure, since I never tried the remote control feature. I assume that you can connect to the camera using WiFi and maintain your Internet connection through your carrier (wireless) account. I don't have this camera anymore, so I can't test with it. But maybe someone else will run the test and let us know.

Fab review! Can you attach and external mic to this camera?

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! No, the Panasonic ZS50 does not have a mic input jack, sadly. I have it's bigger brother, the Panasonic ZS100, and it does not have a mic jack, either. :-(

I just got this camera and I really like it. How can I manually adjust the Raw photos? I know it doesnt do Raw like my DSLR but I would like to know who to manage my raw files.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Working with raw files is something I've never done. I use Photoshop regularly, but always work with JPEGs and never raw files. I think the ZS50 has some raw processing capability, but I never looked for it or used it. Can't help you with that one.

Great review, Bob; you have an excellent presentation style. I have a DMC-TZ40 (DMC-ZS30 to you) which I'm pretty happy with. I bought it as a travel camera, and, while it may not take photos like one of those DSLRs that you see around many tourists necks, it's mostly good enough and it's oh so subtle. I've got big hands and I can wrap one right around the camera so that you can hardly see it, which makes me look less like a dopey intrusive tourist and a lot less like a good assault-and-robbery target. There are, however, some limitations with the DMC-ZS30; manual focus would be good, it sucks dust into the lens like vacuum cleaner, but my biggest problem is saturation in the highlight areas of pictures and to a lesser extent the shadows. I think that the lower resolution of the DMC-ZS50 (DMC-TZ70 to me) is promoted as alleviating this problem. Do you have any experience of this aspect of the camera?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Chris Eumundi Thank you for the kind words. I'm not familiar with the TZ40/ZS30, other than glancing at the specs. If it has an HDR mode, you should try it -- that will let you keep details in the highlights and still have detail in the shadows. I generally like the way the HDR mode on the ZS50 works, although it can suck the life out of images where you want strong backlights, such as rock-and-roll hair. For architectural, mechanical (cars, machines) and landscapes, HDR is excellent. It can be good for portraits if the lighting favors it. HDR is not usually good for wildlife, since animals move too quickly. I tried it once with a musical group and the results were hilarious, with pieces of hands and heads where they had no right to be. So give HDR a try and see if that helps.

@ChrisA57xx

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs Yes it has HDR, and I use it at times; but it does produce flat and lifeless photos. It's like overdoing the Shadows/Highlight tool in Photoshop, but without the resulting visual noise. I've tried all sorts of setting on the camera but still the highlights in brightly lit clouds in a high-dynamic-range scene just turn into a solid 255,255,255 mass.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Chris Eumundi I hate to ask the obvious, but have you tried reducing the exposure? Shoot in the P (Program) mode and reduce the exposure by 1/3, 2/3 or 1? That will restore detail in the clouds, and it usually makes the sky more deeply blue. But it's not a cure for everything. Otherwise, I can't say if the ZS50 is the cure for your blown-out details problem. I hoped that reducing the pixel count of the sensor would be more dramatic in terms of image quality than it is, but I'm kinda disappointed. The killer pocket camera will probably have a 1/1.7-inch sensor (the ZS50 is 1/2.3-inch), 12-megapixels and a 30x zoom that makes *clear* images when zoomed in all the way. And, of course, really good HD (or even 4K!) video. The price will probably be $600, but it would be worth it if the quality was there. The ZS50 is not that camera.

@ChrisA57xx

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs Going to a 1/1.7" sensor (when is the world of cameras going to drop that stupid metric?) means a 35% increase in the diameter and fully extended length of the lens and a bigger camera body to fold it all into, which is getting away from what a compact travel camera is all about. Reducing the exposure upsets the tonal range and the detail in the shadows. If it helps, reducing the picture count is a good idea. I don't need 18Mpx as I only do on-screen viewing and webpage photos 1500 pixels wide. But it sounds as if your experience is that it doesn't help anyway. You can see an example of what I'm talking about in the clouds in the last photo on this page: journeyanddestination.jimdo.com/2015/07/27/melrose/ . The highlights in the clouds are so over-saturated that they have even wiped out the power-lines in front of them. While this photo has been 'brightened up' for the web and down-sampled, the off-the-camera photo is just the same. You say that you keep the camera in your pocket - do you get much dust in the lens?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Chris Eumundi Yes, the 1/1.7 and 1/2.3 spec is idiotic, but that's how all the manufacturer's do it for some reason. Like you, I hate that. But it's what we now have to refer to. I have an older Canon G7 that's 10 megapixels with a 1/1.7-inch sensor. It's chunky but only a little chunkier than the ZS50. It's the same length and height as the ZS50, and about 1/4-inch thicker. Of course, the Canon G7 has only a 5x lens, but it is now about 7 years old and much progress has been made in lenses. The G7 has visibly less photo grain/noise than the ZS50, particularly at lower light. But it does only 640 x 480 video and has that 5x lens. With today's technology, maybe a bit of added thickness/weight could be the price to pay for a 15x or 20x lens? (My old Panasonic ZS7, which I bought to replace the G7, has a 1/2.3-inch sensor and only a 10x lens.) I very often carry a camera in my pocket and have never had a dust issue. I thought your photos looked very good and are easily appropriate for a travel blog. If the lack of detail in the clouds really bugs you, I suggest using HDR, then processing in Photoshop to restore a little punch in the mid-to-darker areas of the image. In other words, HDR will flatten the contrast, so use Photoshop to restore contrast toward the darker parts of the screen. I'm pretty good with Photoshop and process all my photos through it, but recognize that not everyone has it or knows how to use it. If you're good with Photoshop, processing the RAW images from the ZS50 will really help you restore details in the bright/dark areas. I don't use RAW with Photoshop, by my wife is a wiz at it, so I give her all the tough stuff. I have more or less stopped using the ZS50 in favor of my new Panasonic GX8 (with a Micro Four-Thirds sensor that's MUCH bigger than the sensor in the ZS50). The GX8 takes wonderful photos and videos, but is MUCH more expensive than the ZS50. The lens that I use (a Panasonic 14-140mm lens) costs $600 by itself! I still use the ZS50 for occasional snaps and as a backup, but it's out of the main rotation in my house. Hope that helps!

Greetings from Panama, Can I film with the camera meanwhile im charging the battery? Im making the question because i will love to use it with a tripod and connected to direct energy to film long shows, Without relying on the battery.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

No. As far as I can tell, the ZS50 (and the ZS100) will not run without the battery. With a charger connected, the ZS50 will charge the battery when the camera is off. Once turned on, the camera switches over to the battery and runs exclusively from the battery. The ZS100 is the same way. I consider it one of the faults of these cameras.

@Nodocascam

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks You Bob!

Does stopping down the lens in Aperture priority make for sharper photo resolution?

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Yes, up to a point. The aperture has a maximum of f8, which is not particularly small. But it does aid in focus a bit.

When shooting videos, does the ZS50 make any noise while focusing on auto-focus mode and when zooming in? How's the video and still quality?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Howie Young The ZS50 probably makes some noise, but I don't notice it. Regarding video and still quality... did you watch the video?

i used LG g5 for youtube video and Canon SX740 HS, and looking to try this camera.

Thanks for the extensive review. Do you know if there is a way to disable the microphone and still be able to record video? I would like to use it as an extra camera to record playing the drums at a different angle but since the microphone is not made for this I would rather not have the sound.

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

No, I do not know how the microphone can be disabled. However, every editing system I've used allows you to mute the sound of a video clip. The way I edit two cameras together, I use their audio to synchronize the clips, then mute the sound of the clip I think is worst. So what I'm saying is that you can handle killing the sound during editing.

@merpmerp3815

6 жыл бұрын

OK, thanks for the reply. My fear is the volume killing the microphone completely. I may just hold off until I eventually get the fz-300 and can add an external mic.

10:28 top left corner on lcd screen says r7m29s, does that mean it can only record that long per video or ? nice review!

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I hadn't noticed the 7:29 before, but I think that may be the record limit for slow-motion video. Just guessing on that, since I no longer have the camera.

can the screen go black? also can it be hooked up0 to selfie stock or small tripod

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

You can turn the screen off, if that's what you're asking. You can switch it so only the eyepiece viewfinder is on. The ZS50 will definitely go on a tripod. I don't know about a selfie stick, however.

Nice review! I love this camera. Not sure it's appropriate to ask for help on youTube, but you obviously know this camera so I'll give it a shot. Do you know why attempting to assign the "auto-focus modes" function to Fn2 doesn't work (nothing happens), and what's worse, why doing so makes "auto-focus modes" unavailable (grayed-out) in the "record" menus for ALL programs, even AFTER I un-assign it from Fn2? (I've assigned other things to Fn2 without problems.) I have to reset the camera to factory settings to get "auto-focus modes" to show up again in the "record" menu for the programs where it's supposed to be available (P, A, S, etc.). Only then it works like it's supposed to again. Thanks if you can help.

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment! Weirdly, I have never bothered with assigning any functions to the function buttons. So I can't help you with that one. And I no longer have the ZS50... I sold it on eBay 18 months ago.

thanks so much .. so is good for photography? . and what is the quality in the photos

@BobKovacs

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome. I was never happy with the ZS50's photos. It is okay for photos, but I would not describe the photo quality as "good." The ZS50 was good for video, with an excellent zoom range on the lens. And I enjoyed the decent slow motion video that the ZS50 could do. It also had a fun time-lapse feature that I used to make a couple of stop-motion animations. Nearly 6 years ago, I replaced the ZS50 with a Panasonic ZS100, which I like much better for photos. I still have the ZS100, and use it all the time. It makes good photos and excellent 4K video, as long as you keep the ISO low.

@nsfu6980

2 жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacs thanks for your help. and there's a great information in the video

Hi Bob . I was wondering if you could help me. I have this and am having trouble getting the focus ring round the lens to enable.(only works as zoom at the mo ) I know to press the macro/ manual focus button then, select M but it still uses the ring for focusing. I've looked on the manual but it just says to do what I have already done. Any advice on how to use the ring for focusing would be greatly appreciated. Keith

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

No, I don't have any advice for you. I no longer have this camera -- I sold mine more than two years ago -- so I can't suggest anything other than what the manual describes. Maybe someone will come along who knows and can point you in the right direction.

@lufc10

4 жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacs Thanks

Does it have any built in storage? Or is an SD card essential?

@BobKovacs

4 жыл бұрын

It has built-in storage for only three or four full-resolution photos. Essentially, it has no built-in storage, so you should consider an SD card to be necessary.

Mr. Bob Kovacs you have a very nice voice

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Dear Bob, Do you have some rumors about how the HX90-V Sony compares (concerning photo quality) with the ZS50? I was almost decided to go for the latter, then I have seen your wonderful albeit critical review... Thank you for a short feedback

@BobKovacs

9 жыл бұрын

Daniele Passerone Daniele, on paper, the Panasonic ZS50 has more features I like. The ZS50 has much higher resolution viewfinders, and the ZS50 does 4x slow-motion video in HD (720p). The ZS50 is lower resolution for photos (12MP vs. 18MP), but that should mean that the Panasonic has better low-light performance. However, the ZS50s low-light performance is not very good, so the Sony HX90-V might be better in that regard. Of what I know about the HX90-V, I'd probably stay with the Panasonic to get the better viewfinders and slo-mo video.

@danielepasserone5548

9 жыл бұрын

Bob Kovacs Thanks a lot! I will probably go for the Panasonic (which is called TZ71 here--- quite weird... :-)

Can you stream video to PC or Table to use as a monitor

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

If you use Panasonic's app, you can see what the camera sees and control it remotely. I tried to get that to work on my Motorola cell phone and couldn't, but it can theoretically work. I think the HDMI port is live when recording, so you can feed that to an external monitor.

Great video, thank you.

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Great review. Thanks! I'm thinking of getting one and this was very helpful. Price is now $300. At that price and considering it's a point-and-shoot, do you still have reservations about the camera? Another Bob from Stillwater, MN.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+George H Yes, I use my ZS50 daily, and always wish it took better photos. I still love its strong points: long zoom, manual focus, good battery life, reasonable portability, good video, slow-motion video. With more use, I've discovered that the flash is not very good. However, I've learned that the HDR (high dynamic range) mode and the panorama modes are pretty good. I now take a good portion of my photos in HDR mode, since it pulls details out of the shadows and bright spots that you can't get in the normal photographic modes. Still, I wish every day that the ZS50 had a bigger sensor that gave better photo quality with less noise.

@kenkenson

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs Thanks Bob! What camera would you recommend? I'm looking for a smaller, point-and-shoot camera that I can slip in my pocket. This would replace the six-year-old Canon SD1100 IS Digital Elph we currently own. I do want a camera with both video and zoom capability. We are a two camera family, and like to own both a smaller point-and-shoot as well as more expensive, bigger camera. Our other camera is an 11-year old Panasonic DMC-FZ20PP-S that also needs replacement. One thing that concerns me about Panasonic is the FZ20 we own. It also came out with great fanfare many years ago and we purchased one but didn't think that it lived up to the hype. Thanks again.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+George H If you must have a long zoom in a pocketable camera (such as the 30x on the ZS50), then your choices are the ZS50, Canon SX700 and Nikon S9900. All are going to be more or less the same in terms of photo and video quality. The Panasonic's convenient manual focus (which I use regularly) and slo-mo video (also used a lot) tip the scales for me there. Cameras that take better photos all have bigger sensors, and are more expensive and much more limited zooms. However, they all take great photos and videos. Three good examples are the Panasonic LX100, Sony RX100 and Canon G7x. They are MUCH more expensive than the ZS50, but are pocketable. They max out at 4x zoom or so. However, the Panasonic LX100 does 4K video. If I were to do it again, I would hold out for the LX100 and zoom with my feet as much as possible.

@kenkenson

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs Great. Thanks again. Appreciate the advice!

@sl7293

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs It seems to me that the HX90V is also a choice. Like the Panasonic, it has a viewfinder, but unlike the Pansonic, it does not support RAW. I have a Sony RX100iii and it is a great camera, but there are certain kinds of images, such as wildlife, that I can never get with it by zooming with my feet. One of these 30X zoom cameras might fill a void for me when I am traveling. Certainly carrying an RX100iii and say, the Panasonic 30X zoom that you reviewed so nicely, might be a better option when I need to go light in lieu of carrying a large camera with huge zoom lenses,

May I know how did you defocus/blurring the background in your pictures?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Kimo G There are a few ways to do that. If you focus on a flower or bee using the macro focus feature, the background is usually nicely out of focus. A great way to do it is to have someone pose at a distance to the background; then you stand back, zoom in on that person so that they fill the screen and take the shot. The camera will focus on the person and the background will be blurry -- this is called the "telephoto effect." The bigger the sensor is in your camera, the easier it is to get that out-of-focus effect. With a small-sensor camera like the ZS50, you have to work at it. Once you train yourself how to do it, it comes more easily.

Thanks for sharing your video. I am a novice at best, I recently bought this camera because of the TimeLapse feature they promoted. I have no idea how this works. Would you happen to know ? Many Thanks!

@BobKovacs

9 жыл бұрын

Cari T Cari, I have not yet tried the time lapse feature, and I'm really tied up during the next week. The soonest I might be able to experiment with time lapse will be in 10 days or so. I suggest opening the manual to that section and doing what it says step by step. That doesn't always work, but it's a good place to start. That's where I would start.

Great review! Are there any cameras with larger sensors and better still images quality in the same price range ? Any recommendations?

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm not aware of any Panasonic cameras that have a larger sensor than the ZS50 that also have a l-o-n-g zoom lens and cost about the same. The Canon G-series (current model is the the G16) has a 1/1.7-inch sensor, which is comfortably bigger than the 1/2.3-inch sensor in the Panasonic ZS50. However, the Canon G16 costs $600+ and is noticeably larger than the Panasonic ZS50. The Canon G16 also has only a 5x zoom. There are not really good options in larger sensors unless you're willing to pay much more. The "best" choice is the Panasonic ZS100, which has a 1-inch sensor, a 10x zoom and 4K video capability. It takes much better photos than the ZS50 -- I know because I have both a ZS50 and a ZS100. However, the ZS100 costs $700. Not really a good choice if you want to stay in the same price range as the ZS50, however. Look into similar cameras by Canon, Sony and Nikon. They may be better photo choices than the Panasonic ZS50.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

FWIW, you can get a factory refurbished Canon G7X with a 1-inch sensor (MUCH bigger than the sensor in the Panasonic ZS50) and 4.2x zoom for $450 from Canon. The Canon G7Xwill take much better photos and videos than the ZS50, but the Canon does not have the long zoom of the Panasonic. Here's a link to the G7X's sale page: shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/powershot-g7-x-refurbished

@drmohgladiator

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot. I'll check the G7X

@drmohgladiator

7 жыл бұрын

May I ask you about your opinion about getting a sony a5000? the price is in the same range and it has an even bigger sensor size. Thanks in advance.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

The Sony a5000 will take MUCH better photos than the Panasonic ZS50. Of course, the a5000 is a lot bigger and has a much more limited zoom lens that comes with the kit. But if you're focused on photo quality, there's no contest -- the Sony a5000 is a much better photographic camera than the Panasonic ZS50. The Sony will also take better videos, for that matter... there's no escaping the quality you get with a sensor the size (APS-C) in the Sony a5000 compared to the 1/2.3-inch sensor in the Panasonic ZS50.

Hi Bob, I know this video had been uploaded for a while now but may I know what video format is available? Does it support MP4 and what’s the resolution and frame rate? Thank you and have a great day 😃🙏

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome... I always enjoy getting questions to which I know the answers! The ZS50 can do up to 1080p (full HD) at 30 frames per second. That's 1920x1080 pixels. It can do slow motion up to 240 frames per second, but that's limited to 640x480 resolution. Still, it's fun to play with. And it can do 120 frames per second at 1280x720 for better resolution -- that's 4x slow motion. I have not had this camera for a few years, but I think I remember all that correctly. Here's a slow-motion video I shot with the ZS50, using both 240 fps and 120 fps: kzread.info/dash/bejne/a3iHpNVwgdG5YNY.html

@usshehewe

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacs alright thank you so much

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't answer your question about MP4... yes, video from the ZS50 is MP4 format.

I just bought this model and my only complaint so far is the location of the flash. It's right where you naturally place your right hand and I've found that my fingers will block the flash. I'll have to get used to that.

@terrymbone

8 жыл бұрын

+Terry Bone Just saw you mentioned that problem in your review.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Terry Bone Yep, I have to be really careful when using the flash... very easy to cover the flash with a finger. Also, in any mode other than iA, the flash seems to be weak. I have an older Canon G-series camera (G7) that cost about the same as the ZS50, and it lets you control the flash intensity. The G7 takes better photos too, but it has only a 5x zoom lens -- and the G7 doesn't do HD video. So there are lots of reasons to like the ZS50, but I just wish there were a couple less compromises.

hi!i have a Lumix gm dmc-gm5k and one day the screen and the pictures were very dark.i was wondering if you could help me because I have tried everything.thank you!

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Viv K That's one of Panasonic's Micro Four-Thirds cameras, which have MUCH bigger sensors than the ZS50 discussed in this video. The dark images could be the result of incorrect settings, or defective lens/camera. Can you try a different lens on your camera? What's the result? Can you try your lens on a different camera? What's that result? Without knowing what you've done, it's hard to advise you what to do. The first thing I would check is the exposure setting -- it sounds like the exposure is cranked down to -3 or so. Good luck!

@viviaklm

8 жыл бұрын

yes I totally understand!than you very much anyway! :)

@ChrisA57xx

8 жыл бұрын

+Viv K If your problem is caused by you accidentally changing a setting and now you can't find what that setting was, doing a reset to factory defaults should fix it.

I am a personal trainer/fitness Instructor and want to start taking videos and photos of my outdoor training sessions of people doing exercises. I would like to use a camera for my Instagram,Facebook and KZread channels. What camera do you recommend? My budget is under a thousand Australian dollars.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Christopher Simmons The Panasonic ZS50 (that's the US model number) is good for video but only fair for photos, especially in existing light. There is a new Panasonic camera coming out called the ZS100 (again, that's the US model number) that sounds like exactly the camera I'm looking for. It has a bigger sensor, but not *too* big. And it has a 10x zoom, which is pretty good. With its bigger sensor, it should take significantly better photos than the ZS50, and it also shoots 4K (nice quality!) video. With the bigger sensor, it should also be better in low light than the ZS50. I'm seriously thinking about getting the ZS100 myself -- it's expected to be released in the US around March 26, 2016. Canon has some nice pocketable cameras, such as the G7X and the G9. My problem with them is that they do not do 4K video and they are limited to 4x or 5x zooms. Super nice quality photos and HD video, however. Hope that helps!

Hi Bob ~ I ordered the DMC-ZS50 from B & H. I don't like the quality of the photos. My iphone takes better pictures. What camera would you recommend for ZOOM and great photos? Thank you.

@BobKovacs

9 жыл бұрын

+Jorjann Kuypers I know what you mean about the ZS50... the photo quality is disappointing. I am a fan of Canon's G series for good photos. I have a G7 that I got in 2008 or so and it still takes decent photos. It has a minor problem and its video quality is marginal SD quality, but newer G-series cameras are good for both photography and video. The problem: lenses that are only 5X zoom or so. The best reasonably compact camera I can think of for photo quality and zoom length is the Panasonic FZ1000. It has a 4/3 sensor and a 16X f2.8 lens. Of course, it's bigger, heavier and twice the price of the ZS50. But it will do excellent photos and video, including in low light.

@6580006247

9 жыл бұрын

+Jorjann Kuypers it says zoom is 20x!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello. Thanks for the good video. I don't much about cameras. Is this camera better than a cellphone? I have the Samsung S8. I know that for photos and video a camera will always be recommended, but still I prefer to ask first. Thanks.

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, this camera is better than a cellphone camera for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it has a much better lens than on a cellphone, giving you 30x optical zoom. There is no way to get that in a cell phone. Also, the camera has a much better flash than the flash in any cellphone, and the camera gives you much better control over your photos (such as setting ISO, having a manual focus ring, white balance adjustments, etc.). Cell phones take decent photos these days, but there is no getting around the usefulness of a zoom lens.

@felipegs1623

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for the comments.

Hi, Bob. Thank you so much for this. I have one of these cameras now and I am having a devil of a time with something. I go to the FLASH area, click on NO FLASH UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, so it looks like it will not flash, and then, the very next photo: FLASH!!!! I have done this multiple times and can't seem to find a way to TURN OFF THE FLASH! What do I do?

@BobKovacs

Жыл бұрын

I have not had this camera for a long time, but I will take a guess. If you have the camera in its automatic setting, it may use the flash regardless of how you set the menu. Set the control dial to the "P" setting -- that is similar to automatic, but it will let you tell it what to do. Be sure you have the flash turned off in the menu, then take a picture in "P" mode. Does that keep the flash off?

@jd3422

Жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacs WOW, Bob! You're the man! That did it. Thank you so much!

How much is the camera? Cause I currently have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 and I'm thinking about upgrading. Is it worth the money?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

Costco is selling it for $300. The ZS50 is definitely better than the ZS20 (I owned both and still have a ZS50), but only you will know if the improvements are worth it for you. If you do lots of video, the ZS50 is MUCH better than the ZS20 for video. The features there I really like are the easy-to-use manual focus, the good electronic viewfinder and fun slow motion video (720p at 4x slow motion is the best that the ZS50 can do, but it's fun). If photos are more important than videos, then the ZS50 may not be the right camera for you -- take a look at the competition from Canon, Nikon and Sony. If you think you want the ZS50, I'll sell you mine for $250. It's lightly used, and I'll include a spare battery and a 16GB SD card. (A new one will have just one battery and no SD card.) Let me know.

@KrisDaBoss

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs how would it be to put on a gorilla pod and just vlog out and about?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

It works well on a Gorilla Pod. I have a Gorilla Pod and the ZS50 is no problem for it. The ZS50 also works well on a monopod -- a Gorilla Pod and a monopod are two terrific video tools with the ZS50.

Very good video. Thanks. I just got this camera but I cant find out how to download the video. It will play on the camera screen, but when using a reader w/ USB to my Mac, all that shows are stills, no video. The manual is no help, I cant figure out anything reading it. Any ideas? Thank you , Bob.

@BobKovacs

9 жыл бұрын

gdw1910 I assume you recorded the video as an AVCHD file. If you did, then there is a complicated file structure that all AVCHD devices use, including this camera. Using your reader, look at the folders on the SD card. Click on Private >> AVCHD >> BDMV >> Stream. That's where your videos are. It's complicated and I don't know why that is done for AVCHD files... weird!

@w.a.a.

9 жыл бұрын

Im not sure what I used to record the video! I just shot it after hitting the on button! I have no knowledge to all this modern stuff! I will try your suggestion and hopefully it will work. Thank you much!

@BobKovacs

9 жыл бұрын

gdw1910 Ah... you're REALLY new at this! The ZS50 has an SD memory card under the same flap as the battery. If you press down on the card, it will pop up in its slot, letting you pull it out. If your computer has an SD slot (most today do), then just pop the card in that slot and search for the files. Also, the ZS50 came with a cable you can use to charge the battery in the camera. I think you can use that cable to read the files from the memory card when the card is still in the camera. The camera will need to be on to read the memory -- just plug the cable in at both ends, turn the camera on and navigate to the files as I described above. I never do it that way, so there might be another step or two. I always take the SD card out of the camera and pop it into a slot on my computer.

@w.a.a.

9 жыл бұрын

Bob Kovacs I did try using the cable that comes with the camera, but all I saw were still pix. I'll search AVCHD as you suggested. My laptop is several years old, it doesnt have an SD slot. Digital stuff has never been for me, but we're forced into it as things change.

@w.a.a.

9 жыл бұрын

I got it figured out - there's WAY too many steps for something so modern, tho. Oh well, it works and I guess that's what ya gotta do. Thanks so much for the help!

Wow, great content

@BobKovacs

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

This is The best review I seen comparing it to the DMC-ZS3/ZS7 which is still one of the best camera ever built!! even in todays standards & is this the replacement for it? I Have been waiting Years! wow almost a decade!!! lol nothing yet But Maybe? Video & Zoom = Yes, Picture's -maybe not , OH check out my video's Thanks Bob anything else to know when comparing the two? is their are mic level Input?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+musicstevecom2 Thanks! No, the ZS50 does not have an external mic input. The ZS7 was around in 2010, so it's been less than a decade since the ZS7. I agree that it took surprisingly good photos and videos, though. It's photos hold up to the ZS50... and maybe the ZS7 is better for photos. However, the ZS50 is better for video. If you want a Panasonic camera that's significantly better than the ZS50 for both photos and videos, look at the ZS100. The ZS100 is MUCH more expensive, though. I have a a l-o-n-g review of the ZS100 that you can see here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aXlqj9SogqaTY7w.html. Good luck!

is there a way to disable the viewfinder?

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

I no longer have the camera to test it, but it should have a button to toggle between the eyepiece viewfinder and the display on the back.

@billalphonso79

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobKovacs thank u, it worked! Just another question. Do u remember having any benefit shooting raw? I read that in small sensor cameras u dont gain anything shooting at raw. Indeed, some raw pictures I took are identical to fine quality pictures and actually they are a bit grainy. What do u think?

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

There is definitely a benefit to shooting raw... it captures more of the detail in the bright and dark areas of the image, so that you have more adjustment capability in software like Photoshop. I never use raw, but my wife uses it all the time and insists that I keep my camera set for raw so that she can process the photos the way she likes. And that is true even for small-sensor cameras.

did you connect to your smartphone? i got an iPhone 5s and i couldnt. need a hand with this, tanx.

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+Andres Amorocho No, sorry. I have not tried to connect the ZS50 to a smartphone. I have an Android phone anyway, so if I did connect it might not be applicable to you.

I am interested in this camera, but I would like to know if you can change the focus in video mode or only in photo mode?

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

You can use auto or manual focus in both photo and video modes.

@allengadzekpo9849

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Does it record 1080p/60fps?

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

Yes. I no longer have a ZS50, but the specs say that it does 1080p/60fps.

@chesleysimoneaux2767

5 жыл бұрын

What is the best mode for low light videos, like at a performance?

@allengadzekpo9849

5 жыл бұрын

@@chesleysimoneaux2767 I'm still learning how to use the camera, but I would suggest using manual or program mode.

Awesome review man, really really good, made my mind about it, amazon is selling ZS45 for 124 bucks! Plus i can call it the Devil May Cry(DMC) ASUHASUHSAUH I've always loved photography but i'm only getting into it now, given that i got a couple of questions: Do these cameras come with the Mem card? If not how much can they gigs can they store? Is it better to buy a second battery, or a power station that can be used for my cellphone and everything while i'm travelling?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+YourFavoriteBrazilian Thanks! In the US, my ZS50 did not come with a memory card. There is enough internal storage for only two or three photos, I think. One of my gripes is that camera manufacturers should build in a usable amount of memory into the camera, such as a minimum of 1GB. The Z50 runs a long time on a battery charge. I would get a spare battery. You can use the cable that comes with the camera to charge the camera from any standard USB charger. So with the camera's cable, you can charge the camera with the same charger you use for your cell phone.

@brushrunner

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs Thx! Gonna get my uncle to bring me one of these beaties :3

Can it shoot at 1080p at 60 fps

@BobKovacs

5 жыл бұрын

Yes... the ZS50/TZ50 can do 1080p/60fps.

The picture playback stopped working. It's not the memory card because it works in my computer.

@BobKovacs

Жыл бұрын

Sounds like the camera is broken.

What i really like about the video is your English

@BobKovacs

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I was on the radio years ago, and I learned to speak slowly and clearly.

Excellent. Thanks !!

@BobKovacs

4 жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

so, what camera are you using in 2018 in place of this ZS50?

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

I replaced the ZS50 with a Panasonic ZS100, which has the big sensor (1-inch) that I mentioned in this ZS50 video. I've had the ZS100 for 2+ years and it still works great. However, for professional video work, I just added a Panasonic GH5 -- got it just a couple weeks ago. For a better point-and-shoot replacement for the ZS50, my choice was the ZS100. I'm mostly happy with it, although I wish it had a longer zoom (it's only 10x). The ZS100 is pricey, though, and it's bigger than the ZS50.

@jesuisravi

6 жыл бұрын

I've looked at the ZS100. Nice, but, as you say, not much zoom. It is hard to do without the big sensor but I think I will get a Canon SX230. I love image quality but I love reach a little more.

@BobKovacs

6 жыл бұрын

I do more video than photos, so it's interesting to note that the ZS100's zoom range for photography is 25-250mm, but the zoom range for video is 37-370mm. (That's due to the way the image is cropped for 4K video shooting.) So for me, the 10x zoom range on the ZS100 has been pretty good. If would be nice if it would go wider than 37mm, but I've gotten used to that. In my channel here on KZread, I have a video that compares the ZS100 to another Panasonic model that costs about the same, the LX100. You might be interested in that video.

@jesuisravi

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I check it out.

have you ever recorded anything that was loud? like a rock band?

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Yes, I shoot lots of local concerts, including rock acts. The mics in the ZS50 are okay for that -- they sound pretty good and better than some other cameras I've had.

@deancoggins2851

7 жыл бұрын

I use a previous model which also has stereo mics and the sounds is great. no distortion. ever!

so it doesn't have a plug in for a mic?

@BobKovacs

3 жыл бұрын

No, the ZS50 does not have a mic input. I suggest recording audio on your cell phone and syncing that with the video during editing. It sounds complicated if you've never done it, but it's not hard at all.

Someone stole my Sony RX100 iii which I loved. I bought the Lumix ZS50 because of its lower price and 30x zoom. The zoom is fantastic and the video is good, but like Bob said, the quality of the photos is not great. I'm going to suck it up and buy another RX100 iii, but I'm going to keep the Lumix ZS50 for its zoom for sports and outdoor wildlife.

@BobKovacs

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment!

Help please. Should I get this camera $350 or the ZS40/TZ60 $270?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+june sixth June, I don't know where you are, but I've seen the ZS50 for $300 in the US... maybe from Costco. Costco may have the ZS40 for $250. The two cameras are very similar. If you are someone who likes to have a camera handy to take snapshots on vacations and at parties, either camera is about the same. If you have more serious work to do with a camera, the ZS50 is a little more "professional" than the ZS40.

@junesixth7088

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs I'm from Australia. The AUD is very weak compared to USD. Anyway I'm leaning toward the ZS50 because of the new sensor. Is there any difference in video mode?

@BobKovacs

8 жыл бұрын

+june sixth I haven't used the ZS40/TS60. However, if you watched my video, I really like video from the ZS50 -- it's one of the camera's strong points. I also really like the 4x slow-motion that the ZS50 will do with 720p resolution. (The only downside to using slow motion is that there's no image stabilization... you pretty much have to use a tripod.) I don't know if the ZS40 has the slow-motion feature. I have actually used the ZS50 to shoot a commercial video: link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid14080861001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAx_4TCE~,2j1DnvR_vOFULJqLkO9thCMh168rG6XU&bctid=4168979376001

@junesixth7088

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob Kovacs nice video :) I will get the ZS50. The price different isn't much and I don't want to lose out on new features. Thanks