All in all, the ZS50 is a fun alternative to using your phone. It's portable, packs a whopping 30x zoom, and the controls are balanced enough to be comfortable for new users and enthusiasts alike.

In a year when 20-megapixel compacts are becoming the norm, Panasonic made a bold decision to reduce the sensor resolution of its latest pocket superzoom, the Lumix DMC-ZS50 ($399.99).

Compact; 30x zoom lens; Integrated EVF; Raw shooting support; Excellent high-ISO images; 10fps burst shooting; Snappy autofocus; Lens control ring; Wi-Fi; Excellent 1080p60 video

External charger not included; Omits in-camera GPS; Pricey

Features Handling Performance Verdict Specification The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ70, announced in January 2015 updates the TZ60 , and is a premium compact camera with a 30x optical zoom lens and a 12.1 megapixel high sensitivity MOS sensor amongst a long list of other features, which also includes...

Lots of optical zoom in a compact body; Ideal for beginners and advanced photographers; Good resolution screen and LVF; LVF now features eye-detection; Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC; Lots of shooting modes; Metal body with ample rubber grip; Excellent image quality; Improved noise performance; Dual axis...

Some purple fringing; No touch screen

For the 2015 version of its Travel Zoom camera, the Lumix DMC-TZ70, Panasonic has done something a bit different. Rather than boosting the megapixel count of the sensor, it has actually reduced it, but made the individual pixels bigger.

Pocket-sized camera with a 30x optical zoom; Built-in EVF; Capable auto mode

Chromatic abberation can be noticeable; EVF sensor too sensitive; Function buttons could offer more shortcut choices

For the 2015 version of its Travel Zoom camera, the Lumix DMC-TZ70, Panasonic has done something a bit different.

Pocket-sized camera with a 30x optical zoom; Built-in EVF; Capable auto mode

Chromatic abberation can be noticeable; EVF sensor too sensitive; Function buttons could offer more shortcut choices

Solid image quality and lots of useful features, but the Panasonic TZ70 costs more than its direct rivals.

Panasonic has always taken the high-ground with its flagship travel-zoom, and it's a trend that's continued with the latest Lumix TZ70 / ZS50. Despite sharing a great deal with its predecessor and actually losing one major feature, Panasonic has made a number of improvements that genuinely enhance...

Huge 30x zoom range with decent stabilisation, Built-in electronic viewfinder with eye sensor, 12 Megapixel sensor a little cleaner at high ISOs, Support for RAW files, focus peaking and panoramas, 1080 / 50p / 60p video; also 720 / 100p and VGA / 200p, Built-in Wifi with NFC.

Viewfinder image is quite small; Control dials often perform same function; Screen still not touch-sensitive; RAW files won't deliver a boost in quality; GPS receiver of earlier models removed

Comparing the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ70 with its predecessor, the TZ60, doesn't reveal a huge amount of differences, so if you're thinking about upgrading from that camera, it's probably not worth it.

Panasonic Lumix TZ70 Review - The TZ70 is the latest in a long line of successful travel compacts, looking to build on the performance of its predecessor with several key upgrades

Solid image stabilisation performance; Presence of a control ring; Reduction in resolution of sensor; EVF upgrade

Lack of touchscreen control; EVF could be physically larger; Mode dial a touch soft; Some performance issues

Since Panasonic started the trend for travel cameras, plenty of other manufacturers have produced their own versions and there are now quite a few cameras which compete with the TZ70 – a 30x optical zoom is not the rarity it once was.

30x zoom range; Wi-Fi and NFC; Manual control

No touchscreen; Can't use some features with raw shooting