Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ25 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20

54

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20

High-speed framerate
High speed movies
220 fps
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
GPS
Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Fastest shutter speed
Fast shutter speed
1/4000 of a second
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

40

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.8
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
Great battery life
470 shots
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-TZ20

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Size Much smaller 105x58x33 mm vs 118x76x89 mm
Help
4x smaller
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 27 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 220 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Thickness Much thinner 1.3" vs 3.5"
Help
2.7x thinner
Weight Lighter 219 g vs 367 g
Help
More than 40% lighter
Lowest price Much cheaper $273.17 vs $560.83
Help
The best price we've seen is $288 cheaper (2.1x less)
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-TZ20

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Aperture Wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.3
Help
At its widest zoom, the DMC-FZ38's lens captures marginally more light (0.5 f-stops)
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Zoom Slightly more zoom 18x vs 16x
Help
Around 30% more zoom
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Macro focus Better macro capability 1 cm vs 3 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 3x closer to the lens
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ38
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20
54 vs 40
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a travel zoom with a super zoom.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the DMC-TZ20 or the DMC-FZ38,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Andi-Achiruddin last month
Olympus SZ-30MR vs Panasonic DMC-TZ20

I'm beginner photographer and mostly like take human pictures.

0
votes
by MajorBitchslap last month
Panasonic DMC-TZ20 vs Nikon S9100

Hi guys! I own a Nikon D40 and I know how to handle it, so I'm not a beginner but not an expert. I...

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-TZ20:

"Go for the Panasonic, their travel zoom line of cameras are very highly regarded, I've recommended..."

0
votes
by Kandepalli-Prasanth last month
Panasonic DMC-TZ20 vs Sony DSC-HX9v

Which is better for taking pictures in low light

0
votes
by Lesley-Monaghan last month
Panasonic DMC-TZ18 vs Panasonic DMC-TZ20

I am not an expert camera user. I want something small and efficient. at a good price. Are the e...

0
votes
by Otto-Gruebl last month
Panasonic DMC-TZ20 vs Panasonic TZ30

Telephotos often low light, travel, occasional Macrophotography, Sky, attach to solar telescope, p...

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Longest exposure Very long exposure times Help
60 seconds
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1,600 ISO
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30

Panasonic Lumix TZ30

Travel zoom

$434 - $474

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
3D Takes 3D photos
Touch screen No touch screen
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ25

Panasonic Lumix TZ25

Travel zoom

$337 - $402

3D Takes 3D photos
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Touch screen No touch screen
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ18

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ18

Travel zoom

$272 - $305

Movie format Lower resolution movies
Touch screen No touch screen
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $324

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Touch screen No touch screen
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$237 - $289

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Touch screen No touch screen
Aperture Narrower aperture

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$495 - $500

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Larger
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Super zoom

$285

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports RAW No RAW support
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $215

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Aperture Narrower aperture
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom

$136 - $151

Lowest price Much cheaper
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Weight Heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Super zoom

$366 - $450

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom More zoom
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Size Slightly larger

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

discussion

Showing 0 comments