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Panasonic TZ90 Comparison Review

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 (called Panasonic ZS70 in some regions) is a fixed lens compact camera that was announced in April 2017 and is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 20.2 megapixel.

camera

Is the Panasonic TZ90 a good camera? The TZ90 has a Camera Elo of 2183. This rating puts the TZ90 among the top 30 percent of all superzoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (small sensor cameras), the TZ90 ranks among the top 10 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4.5-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic TZ90
Fixed lens compact camera
24-720mm f/3.3-6.4
20.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
4K/30p Video
ISO 80 - 3 200 (80 - 6 400)
Electronic viewfinder (1166k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second
380 shots per battery charge
112 x 67 x 41 mm, 322 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Panasonic TZ90 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Panasonic TZ90 vs credit card front
TZ90 versus credit card top view
TZ90 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic TZ90 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
    Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic TZ90 112 mm 67 mm 41 mm 322 g 380 n Apr 2017 US$ 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 US$ 499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX720 110 mm 64 mm 36 mm 270 g 250 n Feb 2016 US$ 379ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX730 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 300 g 250 n Apr 2017 US$ 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX740 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 299 g 265 n Jul 2018 US$ 399 amazon.com
6.
 
Fujifilm XF10 113 mm 64 mm 41 mm 279 g 330 n Jul 2018 US$ 499ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic FT7 117 mm 76 mm 37 mm 319 g 300 Y May 2018 US$ 449ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic FZ82 130 mm 94 mm 119 mm 616 g 330 n Jan 2017 US$ 399 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic LX5 110 mm 65 mm 43 mm 271 g 400 n Jul 2010 US$ 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic LX100 II 115 mm 66 mm 65 mm 392 g 300 n Aug 2018 US$ 999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic TZ95 112 mm 69 mm 42 mm 327 g 380 n Feb 2019 US$ 449ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic TZ90 was launched in the US market at a price of $449. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Panasonic TZ90 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic TZ90 among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design.

Panasonic TZ90 sensor measures

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
    Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic TZ90 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p19.110.610636
2.
 
Canon M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
3.
 
Canon SX720 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.881748
4.
 
Canon SX730 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.511.992450
5.
 
Canon SX740 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1105051
6.
 
Fujifilm XF10 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/15p24.013.4184483
7.
 
Panasonic FT7 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.612.1102851
8.
 
Panasonic FZ82 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.511.990049
9.
 
Panasonic LX5 1/1.7 10.0 3648 2736720/60p19.610.813241
10.
 
Panasonic LX100 II Four Thirds 16.8 4736 35524K/30p22.812.797972
11.
 
Panasonic TZ95 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.712.2110352
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The TZ90 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the TZ90 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the TZ90 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 1166k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.46x. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Panasonic TZ90 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
    Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic TZ901166 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
3.
 
Canon SX720none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX730none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon SX740none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 10.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Fujifilm XF10none n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
7.
 
Panasonic FT71170 n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/1300s 10.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Panasonic FZ821166 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Panasonic LX5optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y Y
10.
 
Panasonic LX100 II2764 n3.0 / 1240 fixed Y 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
11.
 
Panasonic TZ952330 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The LCD screen on the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the TZ90

One convenient feature of the TZ90 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ90 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
    Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic TZ90-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
2.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon SX720-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon SX730-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon SX740-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
6.
 
Fujifilm XF10-stereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
7.
 
Panasonic FT7-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
8.
 
Panasonic FZ82Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Panasonic LX5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic LX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
11.
 
Panasonic TZ95-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y

It is notable that the TZ90 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

The TZ90 has a zoom lens built in (4.3-129mm f/3.3-6.4), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 24 to 720mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Further information on the features and operation of the TZ90 can be found in the free online Panasonic TZ90 Manual or on the Panasonic support site.

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Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the TZ90 handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
     Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic TZ90..+ +4/5..4/54/5 Apr 2017 US$ 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 US$ 499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX720..+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2016 US$ 379ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX730..+....4/54/5 Apr 2017 US$ 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX740..+3.5/5..4/54/5 Jul 2018 US$ 399 amazon.com
6.
 
Fujifilm XF10....4/575/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2018 US$ 499ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic FT7..+....3.5/53.5/5 May 2018 US$ 449ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic FZ82..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 US$ 399 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic LX54/5+..73/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2010 US$ 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic LX100 II4.5/5+4.2/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2018 US$ 999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic TZ95..+ +....4.5/5.. Feb 2019 US$ 449ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Panasonic TZ90 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the TZ90.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Panasonic TZ90?

The camera is build around a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Panasonic TZ90 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Panasonic equipped the TZ90 with the Venus image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Panasonic TZ90?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200.

Does the Panasonic TZ90 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the TZ90 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic TZ90?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Panasonic TZ90?

The TZ90 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Panasonic TZ90 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

Does the Panasonic TZ90 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Panasonic TZ90 use?

The camera gets its power from the Panasonic DMW-BLG10 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Panasonic TZ90
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-720mm f/3.3-6.4
    Launch Date April 2017
    Launch Price USD 449
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5 184 x 3 888 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.18 μm
    Pixel Density 71.80 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 80 - 3 200 ISO
    ISO Boost 80 - 6 400 ISO
    Image Processor Venus
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 36
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 19.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.6
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 106
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1166k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLG10 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)380 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 112 x 67 x 41 mm
    (4.4 x 2.6 x 1.6 in)
    Camera Weight 322 g (11.4 oz)

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