Articles by "Lumix"
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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!
June 07, 2018
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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.
June 05, 2018
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PANASONIC has been producing their TZ (TRAVEL ZOOM) compact camera range for nearly 12 years, their latest offering is the LUMIX TZ220.

By squeezing a large 1-inch 20.1MP sensor and a 24-360mm zoom lens into a pocket-sized body, I can see that Panasonic has no competition in this range!

The TZ220 is also known as Lumix TZ200 / ZS200 in other country.




In 2010 I concluded that...

A good travel camera should have the following quality:

1) It must be relatively light weight.
2) Take interchangeable lens.
3) Digital, with video.
4) Larger sensor than a point and shoot.
5) Able to shoot RAW.

Six years later, look like the TZ110 fit all the bill, except 2), on interchangeable lens!

But six years later, the TZ110 come with a Leica branded 25-250 10X zoom!  So may be I do not need my ideal travel-cam to be able to change lens anymore?

If you read my review on the TZ110, you will realised I was VERY IMPRESSED with the camera!

Two years after the successful TZ110, Panasonic up the ante and released the TZ220.

At NZ$1,400 is it that much better than the TZ110 which is selling at $987 now?

Lets take a look at the new features on the TZ220...




Externally, the TZ220 is virtually a copy of its older brother, except for that red lined RUBBER STRIP on the front which actually improved the grip of the camera.  The TZ110 is notoriously slippery and you risk dropping the small camera!


The next main difference is the lens.

Instead of a Leica branded 25-250 10X zoom on the 110, the TZ220 come with a WHOOPING 24-360 15X zoom!

Here are the rest of the new features on the TZ220...

* 1240k dots instead of the 1040k dots touch screen.

* 2330K dot live viewfinder, 1164 more dots than the TZ110.

* Come with Bluetooth so you can connect the camera to smart devices and share photos faster.

* New L Monochrome digital filter which claim to gives images a black & white film feel to them.

* TZ220 can auto marks images from 4K photo sequences to create a "time lapse" like photo.

* Battery life is now slightly longer than the TZ110.

The BIG QUESTION, is the TZ220 an IDEAL TRAVEL CAMERA?


The TZ220 is a very compact camera, you are able to put it into your cardigan's pocket, it is 30gm heavier than the 110 and you definitely can feel the heft, I would prefer a belt pouch when I am on the road.

I feel that a neck strap will help when travelling and when you have to do a lot of walking. The camera sadly only come with a thin hand strap!



Next I look at the "new" lens, the one with 5 times more zoom pull than it's older sibling.

One disappointment I have on the new lens is the maximum "brightness" of the optics, the older TZ110 lens is f/2.8 (W) - 5.9 (T) to f/8, which means at 25mm setting I am able to shoot at f/2.8, think of better low light capability!

The new TZ220 super-zoom however, is f/3.3 (W) - 6.4 (T) to f/8, at a low light situation I only have an effective f/3.3 at 24mm, a full f stop darker than the 110 lens!

However, the TZ220 lens is ONE mm WIDER (24mm against 25mm) than the TZ110!

Why is a mere mm that big deal?

When I first tested the TZ110 two years ago, I lamented why Panasonic did not install a 24-250 lens instead of the 25-250.

I even show what a mere 1 mm less wide can miss out in coverage!



That was how MUCH LESS coverage between a 24 and 25mm!

I am actually glad that finally Panasonic go for 24mm on the TZ220!

So what can this SUPER ZOOM deliver?

Lets take a look!

First, the RANGE of "pull" or coverage this versatile zoom lens is able to deliver...




The 24mm to 360mm zoom shown more clearly with a simple video...





Samples taken with the TZ220 on various zoom settings...

@ 360mm eqv
@ 360mm eqv

@ 24mm eqv

@ 24mm eqv
Panorama Mode

@ 360mm eqv
100% of the picture above


Group photo taken on 30mm setting, 1/15 sec, f/3.5 hand held.

Group photo taken at 24mm, 1/40 sec, f/4.5

Grab shot at 80mm, 1/1,600 sec, f/8.
Shot at 80mm f/4.9 1/2,000 sec.
@ 360mm f/8, 1/400 sec.
@ 24mm, f/6.4, 1/1,600 sec.
@ 24mm  f/6.3 1/2,000 sec
@ 260mm f/6.4 1/1,300 sec.
Crop from photo above.
Famous Last Words...

Again, Panasonic offer a very versatile compact camera for travellers!

The TZ220, as far as I can see, have no competition from other manufacturer.

However, the rather high NZ$1,400 price bug me a bit...

At the moment, for $1,195 I am able to get myself a GX85 with 12-32 (24-64) kit lens plus a free 25mm (50) f/1.7 lens!

Ok,ok... so I don't have a "SUPER ZOOM" built-in and my set up is much heavier but in exchange I get a much more capable camera with changeable lens and an image sensor that is FOUR TIMES larger than the one in TZ220.

But that is me...

On the other hand, if you prefer a NO FUSS travel photo taking, with a all rounded lens that can cover super-wide to super-tele, then the TZ220 is for you!

* TZ220 courtesy of Panasonic New Zealand. 
May 24, 2018
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I love my Panasonic Lumix GX85, it is not too small like the GM1 and not too big like the GX8.

The GX85 is perfectly balance and comfortable to hold with most of the compact M43 lenses, it gets a bit front heavy when you start using heavy or long lenses on this "thin" body.

Unlike the GX7 it replaced (the GX85 is GX7 Mk2 in Japan), the "front grip" on the GX85 is not thick enough to stabilise a long or heavy lens, this is when I decided to get an external grip.

After much searches, I am shocked that there are less than a handful grips for the GX85, most of them are NOT grips per sec but thumb rests EXCEPT ONE!



J.B. Camera Designs is owned and operated by a passionate photographer and photo equipment enthusiast J.B.Moore in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. They produce a range of hand crafted GRIPS for different cameras.

The one for my GX85 is the  J.B. Pro Wood Grip.

Eight days after I placed my order at their web site, my grip arrived!



The base of the grip is made of strong Peruvian Walnut and the vertical post is custom machined out of solid aluminium and then anodised to give a unique texture & professional look.

JB reckoned wood is a great material for camera grips because of its natural properties: great strength while being lightweight and the natural grain texture it provides for grip.

I actually find the walnut base beautifully unique and over time, they say the oils from your skin and any dings will only add to the awesome look of the Wood Grip.


We will see ;)



The JB grip is designed for full access to the battery and memory card compartment while attached. Tripod threads are also fully available through their custom Tripod Attachment Screw. They even include a US coin to attach the grip to your camera!


A "cut out" on the grip allow you to flip out the LCD screen easily.


The grip adds 77 gram to the camera, a tiny weight really.


The gripped GX85 with the rather heavy Nikon 105/2.8 FF, MF lens.


Much more steady and comfortable with the grip!!

Famous Last Words...

Is the JB Grip worth the US$80 (not including postage) cost?

It is!

With the grip the GX85 feels so much better in my hand.

So much easier to hold when I mount my heavy MF Nikon lenses on it.  I also like that the wide base plate lets me set my camera down and it doesn't tip over!

Every Pro Wood Grip is guaranteed for life.

"Apa Lagi You Mahu?" (What Else Do You Want)

NO, I DO NOT WORK FOR JB CAMERA DESIGNS.  :)
April 26, 2018

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