Panasonic DC-TZ 91

The operation of the TZ 91 is, as usual with Panasonic, very intuitive. The TZ 91, like its predecessor, has a multifunction ring on the lens, where you can adjust the aperture, among other things.On the back is a folding display, a small electronic viewfinder with eye sensor and diopter compensation, as well as various controls, such as the four configurable function buttons, a dial with internal quick-select buttons for focus, flash, scrolling and exposure compensation.
Looking at the top of the camera, this is where you'll find the mode dial, the zoom rocker as well as the out?ser, the record button f?r video and the on/off switch. Of course, the touchscreen on the back of the camera allows you to select a variety of functions. You won't find an accessory shoe for an external flash or similar, as the built-in flash sits awkwardly between the "Lumix" logo and the small handgrip. This positioning makes it easy to accidentally put your finger in front of the flash, which of course leads to blurred areas when taking pictures.

Due to the versatile connectivity, it is easily possible to control the camera with a smartphone or tablet app. In this app you have all the settings also directly at hand. Another advantage is that you can save the photos directly to your smartphone or tablet and also upload them directly to social media or send them via email.
Storage is on SDHC or SDXC memory cards, which share the flap on the bottom with the battery. On the right side of the TZ 91 is the second flap. Even though it only has the HDMI lettering, the micro-USB port is also hidden here. This is not only used for transferring pictures or connecting to the computer, but also for charging the battery in the camera.

We were out and about with the camera for our test in the heart of D?sseldorf in bright blue skies and summer temperatures. The first thing we noticed was the enormous zoom range. For a camera with such compact dimensions, we were amazed at what this optical zoom can do and how close distant things can suddenly get. It is fair to say that the Panasonic Lumix TZ 91 has the right focal length for almost any subject.
The first impression when checking the image on the display was also convincing. The colour fidelity of the images was surprisingly good. The images appear vivid with slightly more saturated warm colour tones and the cyan slightly shifted towards blue makes the sky blue much stronger. Indoors or when shooting in poor lighting conditions, however, you quickly reach the limits of the physics. This is due on the one hand to the small sensor and on the other to the high zoom but low-light lens.

However, we only noticed this to a limited extent in our outdoor shots. Panasonic offers photographers an alternative in the form of the Lumix TZ 101. Although this camera does not have the same generous zoom range, it does have a larger 1-inch sensor. Here you have to weigh things up for yourself, as the large zoom range of the TZ 91 can usually be a decisive advantage, especially when travelling.
The image quality of the 4K videos is excellent as even fine details are reproduced superbly. The camera is therefore not only aimed at selfie enthusiasts, but also video bloggers. With razor-sharp Ultra HD and 30 frames/second including decent stereo sound, YouTubers and other self-promoters should be well served. The 4K video mode also opens the door to the 4K photo modes.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ 91 impresses with its relatively comprehensive range of features and many additional photographic functions, such as the many scene/creative programmes. Pansonic offers its photographers a great deal of convenience with the simplicity of the Wi-Fi connection or the sophisticated camera control options via the smartphone or tablet app.
The camera is particularly impressive when it comes to the lens, the 30x zoom is really great for the compact dimensions of the camera, and there is only minimal distortion and chromatic aberration.

When it comes to image quality, even Panasonic cannot change the laws of a small sensor with a high megapixel density and image noise is already visible at relatively low ISO sensitivities. When shooting outdoors or videos in 4K quality, we were able to achieve consistently positive results.
The compact dimensions and extremely high zoom range in particular make the camera the ideal companion for your next trip, when a large camera would only be a hindrance and the focus is on fast and creative photography.