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Can the Panasonic DMC-TZ7 replace your camcorder?
Released in spring 2009, the Panasonic DMC-TZ7 has won many plaudits for its HD video mode, which, on paper looks like it could get close to rivaling a dedicated camcorder. But what's it like in the field?
Edouard Maire
Published: September 04, 2009
Published: September 04, 2009
Can you do any editing?
Yes: the video in this article is proof of that. The majority of video editing programs will be able handle video straight from the digital camera. However, the AVCHD format is much harder for your computer to use. Decoding AVCHD video takes a lot of processor, so it's better to have a powerful 2 GHz processor, or even better a dual- or quad-core.
The alternative is to film in MPEG, which is much easier to handle because it uses a lot less compression. You won't lose out on quality on the TZ7, as it supports several resolutions in this format: 1280 x 720, 848 x 480, 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixels.
The alternative is to film in MPEG, which is much easier to handle because it uses a lot less compression. You won't lose out on quality on the TZ7, as it supports several resolutions in this format: 1280 x 720, 848 x 480, 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixels.
The majority of camcorders currently available have similar characteristics to the TZ7, whether it's in terms of the recording format (AVCHD), the storage device (an SD card) or the zoom (12x). There is, though, one big difference: camcorders usually film at the HDTV 1080i resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, but the TZ7 is limited to 720p.
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The TZ7 films in the 720p HD format, producing a frame that measures 1280 x 720 pixels with a progressive scan. Watching your clips back on a HD TV, it's very satisfying to see such great quality video produced by such a small piece of equipment. That said, the colours are little too saturated, and the detail doesn't match what a Full HD camcorder could provide. This difference is largely explained by the differing number of lines: 720 on the camera but 1080 on a Full HD camcorder. Ins hot, the image quality on the TZ7 is more comparable to a pocket camcorder like the Creative Vado HD.
But the TZ7 has a trick up its sleeve: a 25 mm wide-angle lens, something we'd love to see on a camcorder one day! At the moment, the 'best' models don't get below 37 mm.
Its optical zoom is another strength. For one thing, it reaches 12x, the average for camcorders, but it also works during filming, something that isn't guaranteed on regular cameras. The TZ74s real weakness is its autofocus, which struggles, especially during a zoom.
AVCHD or MPEG?
The DMC-TZ7 can record video in two different formats: AVCHD and MPEG. AVCHD is based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec, which considerably reduces the size of video files. This is a new development, as other digital cameras in Panasonic's Lumix range could only film in MPEG until 2009. An AVCHD file occupies half as much room as an MPEG file but offers the same quality.
MPEG compresses each frame into a JPEG photo one by one, and is held in the QuickTime .mov container format. As there's less compression that with AVCHD, the files are larger and take up more space on the memory card.
Basically, AVCHD is the best choice if you have a lot to film, but MPEG is better if you want to be able to edit your video afterwards (see inset). The quality of the video itself is almost identical.
When filming in AVCHD, the TZ7 uses a maximum bitrate of 17 Mbps, which is petty decent: some camcorders can't even match this yet. Other bitrates are available--13 and 9 Mbps--to save space on the memory card.
Sound Quality
The microphone is on the top of the camera, and is in stereo with two separate mics. It's the best place to avoid noise either from the zoom lens or your hands operating the control.In general, the quality of the sound is pretty good, and worthy of a camcorder. That's not very high praise, though, as the built-in microphones on most camcorders are pretty mediocre. If you just want to record an interview for your blog, though, the TZ7 is perfectly useable, as long as you're in a quiet room and are close enough to the mic. Of course, it's not as good as connecting an external microphone. If you want to use that feature, try the DMC-GH1 instead.
Handling
Filming with the TZ7 relies on just one button that starts recording. The big red button is on the back of the camera on the right hand side. It's specifically dedicated to video and is easy to find. To watch your videos, you need to switch to playback mode in the same way you do for photos.
It really is very simple. The user doesn't have to worry about choosing video mode on the scroll wheel, and can therefore choose between taking snapshots and short film clips on the fly just by choosing open button over another. The only real problem is holding it still. With no viewfinder, you have to either try and hold it still with one hand, or find some kind of support.
The TZ7 in images
To get a real idea of what it's like, nothing beats some actual samples. We decided to take the TZ7 for a day at the races. Even in this short selection, you can see all of the advantages and disadvantages we identified: a powerful wide-angle lens and zoom, but problems with focusing and stability. Note that the final race was filmed at the maximum 12x zoom, but the image remains reasonably sharp.
To get a sharper image, turn on HD at the bottom right.
| Our Verdict Although it's expensive for a digital compact camera, the TZ7 actually offers a lot of value for money when compared to HD camcorders with memory carders sold for almost twice the price--which don't have the advantage of taking still photos. For shooting the occasional amateur video, a camera like the TZ7 will do the job. |
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