June 2018

I was happy to find out that the new Lumix TZ220 come with a 24 to 360 Eq zoom lens, one mm WIDER than the TZ110 it replaced.


In the TZ110 review, I lamented that ONE mm less at the wide end result in significant loss in coverage. Take a look at the picture below.


To prove to myself the TZ220 indeed came with a WIDER 24mm Eq lens, I took shots of the same scene with the TZ220 at 24mm setting to compare with a shot taken with a 12-32 kit lens, at 12mm setting. (12mm is 24mm Eq). Both files were JPEG, straight from the cameras.



WHAT?!!

It is not hard to notice that the TZ220's 24mm is NOT as wide as the 24mm on the kit lens!

WHY?

I asked and was not given a reasonable explanation from Panasonic.

To find out exactly what the TZ220 zoom saw at the instance of exposure, I opened the RAW version of that file in Affinity Photo...


SURPRISE?

Apart for the ugly Lens Vignetting (darkening) in the four corners, the TZ220 zoom is actually MUCH WIDER than a 24mm Eq, it look more like a 18mm ultra-wide!

So WORKING TO MY ADVANTAGE, I am able to post process that vignetting image (in PTLens) and rewarded myself with this...


 PRESTO!

Now my TZ220 is actually recording scenes at an ULTRA-WIDE 18mm Eq!!

Another example...


I also found out that the Lumix TZ220 actually exhibit DIFFERENT FOCAL LENGTH in COVERAGE at DIFFERENT ASPECT RATIO!

For instance...

In 4:3,    26 - 390mm in 35mm equiv.
In 3:2,    24 - 360mm in 35mm equiv.
In 16:9,  25 - 375mm in 35mm equiv.
In 1:1     31 - 465mm in 35mm equiv.

That explain why I am unable to get 24mm view because my TZ220 was set at 4:3 ratio, at 4:3, strange but true, I only get 26mm Eq from my zoom!

It seems if I want to get the full coverage of 24-360mm, I will have to use the 3:2 aspect ratio!

Panasonic should make that clear and obvious in their presentation.

Famous Last Words...

If you own a TZ220, it is quite straight forward to shoot RAW and by following my method, extract a much wider coverage from your built-in zoom!

Give it a try!

I love my little GM1, it is the tiniest full MFT camera that take interchangeable lenses, it is so small, it is hard to hand hold steadily till I found out and stuck on a Richard Franiec custom grip for the GM1!

Four years ago that small piece of 20g anodized aluminium alloy cost me a whopping US$34.95 plus shipping, my friends thought I am mad, paying that much for a small piece of metal! That piece of sculptured alloy was mounted on the GM1 with 3M double-sided tape and transformed the handling of the little camera!

Until, my friend Mity, post in Facebook what he ordered for his GM1!



I ordered one...

I was charged NZD 21.40 and that is free postage to New Zealand!

After a long wait of 23 days, my LB-GM1 Quick Release QR L-Plate Bracket Hand Grip For Panasonic DMC-GM1K Camera arrived from China!

This is how it look on my GM1...



The die-cast grip fit like a glove to the GM1, there is an opening below the grip to allow the removal of the battery and XD card, WITHOUT taking off the grip.

In contrast, the Panasonic DMW-HGR1 hand grip for GM1;GM5 have to be detached for that function and it cost NZD120.00 PLUS postage!

The LB-GM1 grip includes a alloy left holder for attaching accessory (I think), which can be remove with the included Allen keys.




Famous Last Words...

If you own a Lumix GM1 or GM5, this is NZD21.00 well spent!

The well made grip will make the little camera much steadier to hand hold!

Go and order one!

**  The Richard Franiec custom grip has ben discontinued.

Differ-Me

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