Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 review

Image quality is normally our number one priority when we review cameras, but last year’s Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30 was an exception to the rule. Its image quality was perfectly respectable, with sharp focus from its 20x zoom lens and well-judged automatic exposures, but its sensor produced more image noise than rival cameras from Canon and Fujifilm. However, its superb video mode, lightning-fast performance, responsive, friendly controls and built-in GPS made it the best all-rounder.

These pocket ultra-zoom cameras are all about flexibility and convenience, so while the TZ30 wasn’t the best choice if you want to make large print-outs, features like its ability to move the autofocus point using the touchscreen are arguably more important.

The TZ40 picks up where the TZ30 left off. In many respects the two cameras are hard to tell apart, both in terms of their spec sheets and their appearance. They use the same lens and the layout of controls has barely changed, although we preferred the TZ30’s power switch to the TZ40’s power button, which is a little too easy to press by accident. The 3in screen’s resolution now stands at 920,000 dots, and its quality is excellent.

WI-FI FUNCTIONS

There’s one new button on the back to access the Wi-Fi menu, and there are a lot of functions on offer. Transfers to a PC over a home network simply involved entering our Wi-Fi password, Windows log-in and password and selecting a shared folder. Setting up uploads to social media sites was a lot more complex – there are only so many times we can retype a Wi-Fi password via a navigation pad (the touchscreen didn’t work here) before our will to live starts to fade. It was easy after this initial setup, though, thanks to a Connection History and Favorites list to track down previously used settings.

The new Wi-Fi button gets pride of place in the top right

The accompanying app for Android and iOS provides a much more convenient route to online sharing. If your Android device supports NFC you can skip the log-in process altogether. The camera we were sent for testing was an early sample and its NFC radio wasn’t functioning, but establishing a Wi-Fi connection manually wasn’t any trouble.

You can browse photos and (MPEG-4 but not AVCHD) videos in the app, transfer them across and forward them elsewhere. Alternatively, transfers can be managed using the camera’s controls, and even sent across automatically as soon as they’re captured – an extremely useful option that most other Wi-Fi cameras don’t currently offer.

The iOS app is the best we’ve seen to date

The app also serves as a remote control, complete with a detailed live view and comprehensive control over settings. Since we last tested the app, it now includes a video record button. We were also able to adjust shutter speed and aperture settings in manual exposure mode, but the lack of an ISO speed control is a bit of an oversight. Overall, though, this is the best Wi-Fi implementation we’ve seen on a compact camera.

OVERLY SENSOR-TIVE

The other significant change over the TZ30 is a move from 14 to 18 megapixels. This is an extremely – we’d argue ridiculously – high resolution high for a compact camera with a tiny 1/2.3in sensor. The gains in detail are usually minimal and the increased noise levels are far more substantial. However, we’re relieved to report that our worst fears weren’t realised here. Comparing our ISO 100 studio test shots with the TZ30’s, there was a small increase in detail in text and other high-contrast details. It’s a credit to this lens that it’s able to resolve enough detail to live up to the 18-megapixel rating – at middle-range zoom positions at least. Comparing high-ISO test shots, noise looked different to the TZ30’s output, but it wasn’t noticeably worse. However, this also means that the TZ40 still lags behind its rivals for image noise.

In practice, photos looked superb when resized to fit a 1080p screen but zooming in or heavily cropping revealed their limitations. Image quality was inevitably at its best in bright conditions at modest zoom positions, but even then, subtle textures such as skin and foliage looked somewhat featureless, save for a light sprinkle of noise. It got progressively worse as the ISO speed increased in diminishing light – or when shooting at the long end of the zoom in overcast weather. However, the digital processing did a fine job of handling the rising noise levels, and it was only at ISO 1600 that noise reduction became really intrusive.

These skin tones are a little scruffy and there’s not much definition in the grass, but it’s by no means a bad result

Shooting in the shade at the long end of the zoom has pushed the ISO speed up to 800 here. There’s a lot of noise in the shadows, but again, we’re happy with this shot

ISO 1600 is a step too far for us. Still, we appreciate how the camera identified a moving subject and raised the shutter and ISO speeds to avoid motion blur. This photo looks fine after resizing to around 1 megapixel

A key attraction of this kind of camera is being able to zoom right in to capture distant subjects. We were seriously impressed with the TZ30’s ability to maintain sharp focus throughout its zoom range, but the TZ40 wasn’t quite as crisp for telephoto shots. The two cameras appear to use exactly the same lens, so we’re not sure whether this is down to variations in individual samples or because the 18-megapixel sensor places higher demands on the lens. Either way it’s a little disappointing, but as with the noise issues, it’s only really a significant concern when heavily cropping photos or printing enlargements.

Focus is good rather than great at the full zoom extension, and it deteriorates towards the edges

There’s very little definition to the details in this telephoto shot…

…and the 2x digital zoom that’s offered in Intelligent Auto mode is pointless

WELL ROUNDED

The things that made the TZ30 great are still intact. The video mode is top notch, with outstanding picture and sound quality, smooth autofocus and zooming, powerful optical stabilisation and a choice of frame rates including 1080/50p and slow motion capture at 720/100p.

GPS worked superbly, with clever power management so it doesn’t forget its position when you power off but doesn’t constantly drain the battery.

The controls are intuitive and quick to use, with full manual exposure control, touchscreen spot-focus and a Q.Menu button to access various key settings. It’s extremely responsive for photo capture, taking 1.5 seconds to switch on and shoot, and 0.8 seconds between each shot. Continuous mode ran at 10fps, or 5fps with updating autofocus between each shot. The increased resolution isn’t accompanied by a larger memory buffer, though. It could only maintain these speeds for six or seven frames before slowing, whereas the TZ30 managed ten to 12.

We wish that Panasonic had resisted the temptation to use an 18-megapixel sensor. We’d happily settle for less detail for the sake of less noise. Still, image quality is on a par with the TZ30, which makes it the right side of acceptable for general snapping. As with the TZ30, it’s the superb features and performance that really make this camera shine, and the new Wi-Fi functions fit in perfectly. We’re looking forward to testing the latest models from Canon, Fujifilm and others, but for now at least, this is the best pocket ultra-zoom camera we’ve seen.