Sponsored by Nuffnang
I write a blog which contains a large number of photos, so I often get asked by people what camera I use for my shots.
Well, the answer is I borrow RM’s digital SLR when I know I’m going to be shooting close-ups or in low light and the people around me won’t mind have a large camera on the table or in their face. The fixed lens takes elegant, romantic-looking images with a short depth of field, but because it’s a SLR it’s heavy and bulky and not practical all the time.
So in my handbag every day I carry a Panasonic Lumix compact, a hand-me-down from my technically-savvy Jetsetting Dad. Because you never know when you want to capture a great moment (or a plate of spaghetti) and sometimes the situation’s not appropriate for me to announce ‘I’m a blogger, I like to take photos of everything’ by pulling out a big piece of equipment.
So it’s a nice coincidence that Nuffnang and Panasonic have given me the newest Panasonic Lumix model to test out, the 12.1 megapixel Panasonic Lumix TZ10. In fact, Jetsetting Dad was quite excited about it when I told him, because the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 is the same travel camera that he recently purchased himself after much meticulous research.
Battery charged, I took the camera out for a spin. First thing I noticed – huge screen. I was much impressed with the general quality, brightness and clarity of the LCD screen.
Next up, the zoom. I take a lot of close-ups of food and landscapes of interiors, and the 25mm wide angle 12x (ie 300mm max) zoom means for me (a) better shots of the fitouts of restaurants, cafes and shops, with twice the shooting area of a standard 35mm lens; and (b) being able to zoooooooom right up close, whether it’s of a plate of food, of camera-shy people hiding from me or long-distance objects. Jetsetting Dad tells me that a usual camera with this sort of zoom would generally weigh 5 times more and be 5 times bigger.
As an amateur photographer the main challenges I’ve encountered with on-the-spot photography is being able to take a decent shot with available light and how to take a decent shot quickly. Melbourne venues love being dim and dark, but while it makes for great atmosphere it poses difficulties for me – I’m constantly trying to sit near windows, rearranging candles around or actually just taking photos in kitchens. So it’s good to know the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 has double hand-shake correction which means being able to take photos at slow shutter speeds without blurring. When a sudden photo opportunity pops up and I don’t have time to choose any settings, I switch to Intelligent Auto mode to achieve properly exposed, properly focused images. Basically, the difference between a great shot and one that’s not useable for the blog.
Finally, I’ve also been experimenting with the built-in GPS function which tags the location and local time of photos as they’re being taken. Sometimes I’m not as diligent with my blogging as I should be and I come across photos that I don’t recall taking! So having the GPS tell me the location helps me to match up that pizza to that cafe (Sparrow’s Nest, 95 Queen St in fact).
For more information about the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 and the technical mumbo-jumbo for you gadget geeks, go to http://lumix.panasonic.com.au/products/Lumix/Camera/DMC-tz10.
WIN! To go into a Nuffnang prize draw for your very own Panasonic Lumix TZ10 valued at RRP $649, just leave a comment below with your answer to this question:
Where in the world would you take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 and what photo would you take?
Naturally I’m not allowed to enter, but I’ll get you started. I would take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 to Rembrandt Gardens in London and take a photo of the park bench that I donated.
Competition closes Friday 3 September 11:59pm (AEST). Competition terms here.
I would take the TZ10 to Zambia, in fact to a wee place called Kanakantapa which is a resettlement village 80km outside of Lusaka in the bush where I would take photos of the children and families who live there and go to the school and health centre I set up when I was at University in 2003. I miss them
Hi Joyce,
Photos look great! Bit off topic…but whereabouts is that photo of the tonkatsu taken? It looks very tasty…I’d like to try it!
Caity
Twitter: caitymb
| August 3, 2010, 8:59 am
I’d take the LUMIX TZ10 to the nursing home in Seddon where my 87 year old nan lives and take photos of her while she’s in her Tai Chi class
Great review, I’m looking for a new digi-cam so this was a great read! ps. your pics are making me hungry
Twitter: thelipprint
| August 17, 2010, 9:58 pm
I would take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 to San Sebastian and take a photo of all the amazing food that I’d eat.
Twitter: jesselynlim
| August 17, 2010, 10:44 pm
I would take the LUMIX TZ10 to The Nicholas Building for open studio night this Thursday and Friday and take photos of the new shop – Harold and Maude on level 2 – an eclectic mix of found object, recycled, renewed and reinvented: its a Marche Rouge sibling!
I would take the LUMIX TZ10 to Buenos Aires, Argentina and would take a picture of my sister getting married.i would give her a Big hug,too!
I would take the LUMIX TZ10 to Paris and capture a couple sharing a heartfelt moment. Aaah, cliched? Yes, but romantic at heart I am!!
I would take my camera back with me to japan! All of the bars and restaurants over there seem to always be so dim with little light coming in from outside – so the low light features of this camera would be perfect! It would be great not having to carry around my massive SLR to restaurants and have something this small – which gives a great result without a flash.
Twitter: redvespa
| August 18, 2010, 8:57 am
I would take the LUMIX TZ10 to the MCG on Grand Final day and get a picture of the crowd as the final siren sounds in a very close grand final, capturing the elation and despair of the supporters of both teams.
Twitter: LucyChisholm
| August 18, 2010, 9:04 am
I’d go back to the Docklands one fine evening with a bunch of friends and re-create our jumping shot photos (without the blurred effects or too-late shots)…
Twitter: marialicious143
| August 18, 2010, 9:33 am
I would take the TZ10 to my wedding in Melbourne to capture “behind the scenes” shots that the wedding photographers might miss from all the flurry!
Twitter: akisalove
| August 18, 2010, 9:40 am
Stunning features all packed in a nifty little package! Tempting!
I’d take this LUMIX TZ10 to Alaska in to capture the mystical lights of the Aurora (or the Northern Lights), especially in 2012, when the activity of the lights will be at a maximum!
I would like to take the Lumix TZ10 to Thailand with me, in October! And take a picture of the wonderful beaches of Koh chang.
I would take it everywhere! everyday! I’m current up to day 229 of project 365 and the photo I would take would be an everyday thing in a different way. I’m current using my iPhone but would LOVE to have a Lumix TZ10 to take my daily photo.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150264&id=655915799&l=b13959c9db
The more I hear about this camera the more I’m impressed. Seriously good shots in there!
Where would I take it? Hmmm…..to the new vue de monde at the top of the Rialto (not opened yet) to take awesome photos of the food and across melbourne.
I would take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 out into the real world and take a photo of something seen every day but never appreciated by the naked eye.
Twitter: Hugh_Lucero
| August 18, 2010, 2:47 pm
As an avid traveller to south-east Asia I’d love to take my never-left-Australia partner there and capture on the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 the guaranteed trepidation and excitement experienced on first glance of thousands of push bikes filling Hanoi streets, over grown roots over ancient ruins in Cambodia and enthusiastically persistent sellers in colourfully buzzing Thai markets.
Cool camera…& great pictures shared.The panasonic lumix tz10 is a massive camera & too cute & handy…
I LOVE my earlier model Panasonic Lumix, but it’s little (or is that big?) brother looks even cooler. The versatility of the settings and quality of the Leica lens combined with the size that means you can always carry the camera with you means you really can capture spontaneous moments in life.
I would take the the Lumix TZ10 to El Salvador, where I’m meeting my 5 best friends (now on 4 continents).
I’d take this camera in to the birth suite with me and have the husband take photos as I’m in agony while giving birth to our first child. This will forever be a reminder of the things I go through for him.
Of course subsequently I’d use it to capture the life and times of our growing family.
I’ll take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 to a grad trip to Tasmania so that I can capture all the beautiful sights and lovely meals while having it location-tagged (love the GPS function!). The photos would serve as a good memory bank for me because I forget things easily!
I’d love to take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 to Paris with me to catch every moment in the ‘City of Love’
I would to take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 with me on my bike too adn from work each day – I can’t count the number of times I wish I had a camera handy to capture the moment (eg Magnolia’s blossoming – Spring? Is that you?!)…
Twitter: starbate
| August 20, 2010, 11:41 am
I will take my Lumix TZ10 to the beach.
I’ve always wanted to take a fun and playful picture like this: http://weheartit.com/entry/3436505
short and sweet- a picture’s worth a thousand words they say! how appropriate!
I would take the panasonic Lumix TZ10 with me everytime i went to the beach to try get some fantastic photo’s of myself and others doing tricks on the waves before we get to old to do the tricks so i have photo evidence that i once could do tricks.
I love Lumix.
I would take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 everywhere with me but especially to New Zealand and take pictures of all the Rugby World Cup actions.
I would take the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 to Melbourne airport when my sister returns from her year of globe trotting, and snap away as my son bustles my mother out of the way to get first hug, and as my mum tears up. Then there’d be a whole lot of tomfoolery in the backseat of the car as my sis and I get some of the old ‘myspace’ angles together!
I’d take it to Meredith Music festival, where I need a small versatile camera to take shots in all light conditions, to get me close enough to see expressions on musicians faces, and pull back enough to snap the atmosphere.
Twitter: plasmov
| August 27, 2010, 9:51 am
I’d love to take the Panasonic TZ10 to southern Western Australia during the spring season to take great close up photos of all the beautiful wild flowers and birdlife.
I would take the Lumix to Jordan and snap away at the amazing ancient city of Petra all carved out of rock.
That does sound wonderful but i’m still less than sure that I prefer it. Anyway will look far more into it and choose for myself!