Panasonic TZ80 Ergonomic score

The TZ80 manages bush birds quite well with its fast accurate AF and AF area adjustable for size.

This post follows  my usual schedule for scoring camera ergonomics which you can read about here.

Setup Phase

The TZ80 uses a standard Panasonic Menu system which is very comprehensive, in fact near prosumer level in the number and variety of options available. The TZ80 gains Photo Style                 (Panasonic’s term for user configurable JPG settings) which was missing in the TZ70.

Both EVF and monitor can be configured to ‘viewfinder style’ or ‘monitor style’ and both are extensively adjustable.

The Q Menu is fixed, with no custom Q Menu being available.

I think it is time Panasonic reviewed its menu system for greater clarity through more coherent groupings of items.

Setup Phase score 12/15

Prepare Phase

There are plenty of options to make adjustments in Prepare Phase.

There is a comprehensive Q Menu.

There are three Fn buttons available after one is allocated to the Q menu. The function of each can be selected from 50 options.

If Touch screen is used the cursor buttons are also available for Capture and Prepare Phase adjustments.

Prepare Phase score 12/15

Capture Phase: Holding

There is a decently usable handle and a decent thumb support. The edges are bevelled for comfort. The camera is more comfortable and secure in the hands than most compacts.

Holding score 7/20

Capture Phase: Viewing

The monitor is bright, sharp and clear but fixed.

The EVF is also sharp and clear and always ready for immediate use, not requiring to be clipped on or popped up. It is however small.

Both monitor and EVF are user configurable.

Viewing score 10/20

Capture Phase: Operating

The TZ80 rewards the enthusiast user with twin dial operation and a decent set of controls. However the lens ring and rear dial turn the ‘wrong’ way for value up when adjusting some parameters but not others. The right hand has to release grip on the camera to operate the rear dial.

Update 13 July2016:   Panasonic released Firmware update 1.1 which allows the user to set rotation of the rear dial clockwise or anticlockwise. Unfortunately rotation of the lens ring is not user selectable.

The flash is badly placed, blocked by the third finger of the right hand in normal holding position.

Operating score 19/25

Review Phase

It is easy to recall pictures onto the monitor, enlarge each and scroll from one to the next at the same level of enlargement  and same location in the frame.

Review score 5/5

Total score 65/100

Comment:

The TZ80 scores better for ergonomics than any other small  compact which I have tested. It is pleasant to hold and can be operated efficiently.  It is a likeable little camera which is easy to live with.