So… The Panasonic ZS99… Might I Interest You In a Used Sony ZV-1… Or GX7 Maybe If You are Feeling Lumix-y?
Warning: As mentioned to Hamish from 35mmc…
I think I may just be distracting myself from the real time collapse of the few remaining pillars of our democracy over here. Add in stressing a bit about some friends in the path of the California wild fires and whee!
So take all of this with a grain of salt. A coping mechanism at work. That being said…
Lumix crew do not come for my neck. I count myself in your number. OG style anyways.
But along with the S9 this camera baffles me a bit. While the ZS99 does retain a mechanical shutter it also has abandoned an EVF and hotshoe. That last bit is offset by a built in flash.
About those two other cameras mentioned
While a purdy thing admittedly…
…it does not seem to hold up when compared to older products on the market.
According to the Camera Decision auto comparator dealie the ZV-1 seems to hand the ZS99 its hind parts. And that is what I first thought when I read the specs for the ZS99. The ZS99 manages to land a few blows…
- Built in flash.
- Longer battery life.
- Lower price (new).
…but that is all that resonated with me. The remaining perks did nothing to sway me.
They both share the lack of an EVF but this has not proven to be a deal breaker with such small cameras. With RX100 bodies I have had in the past I rarely if ever used the EVF as framing with the rear screen was preferred.
But after a few jabs from the ZS99 the ZV-1 starts in with the haymakers.
- I counter your Leica branded 70 to 240mm f/3.3 to 6.4 equivalent lens with a ZEISS branded 24 to 70mm f/1.8 to 2.8 equivalent lens.
- Built in ND filter.
- Gyro for post edit stabilization.
- Eye tracking focus for animals and us humans.
- Product showcase mode.
- Must have now that I have gotten used to it.
- No 4K record limit.
- 24 fps burst instead of 10 fps.
- Faster e-shutter at 1/32,000s vs 1/16,000s.
- Mic port.
- Hot shoe.
- Looks ridiculous on such a tiny camera but I have used a flash and triggered a strobe to great effect.
- Webcam function.
- I much prefer the flip around screen on the ZV-1 to the flip up screen on the ZS99.
New the ZV-a costs hundreds more but the price gap can be closed by buying a used ZV-1. Lastly there is the main thing. While I have been very happy with the images I have produced with the ZV-1…
…I have not seen any ZS99 sample images in reviews that would sway me its way. Next up…
Petapixel mentioned that the ZS99 is largely identical to the older ZS80. The main upgrade being a newer USB-C port but it has an EVF. Why not get that instead of the GX7 I imagine you asking. Easy. For reasons I can not quite sort out that bad boy goes for hundreds more than the newer ZS99 and used ZV–1. What!? That would be a no. If anyone knows the reason for this please illuminate me over on Instagram. Until that justification arrives instead I would prefer a GX7.
I have one. It is cuss word awesome. And even though it predates the ZS99 by a good many years, it also nets a higher score over on the Camera Decision comparator dealie. There are more GX7 downsides than with the ZV-1.
- Down 4MP to 16MP.
- But there are more important things than MP count. See the last bullet in the GX7 pluses below.
- Slower fps at 5 instead of 10.
- No 4K video.
- With a 14-42mm power zoom the GX7 used does cost more.
But I am a stills guy mostly so I would still prefer the GX7.
- Being an interchangeable lens camera you get access to other lenses like the excellent 20mm f/1.7 above.
- In addition to also having a built in flas you get a flash shoe.
- Faster mechanical shutter at 1/8000s instead of 1/2000s.
- Last but not least a larger MFT sensor.
That last one easily puts the GX7 out front for me. This camera is capable of pleasing images…
…that again look better to me than what I have seen with the ZS99 sample images.
Ok, what am I saying here?
First and foremost you do you. If this ZS99 sings to you by all means go right ahead and get one. I wish you all of the best, and I am sure many wonderful images will be in your future.
Me?
Yeah, the ZV-1 or GX7 would be my personal preference. If you are ok with a no EVF I would even recommend the even less expensive GF1 pictured near the open of this post.
I have nothing against Panasonic reanimating an old camera model’s innards. But I would have expected added meaningful features, not a removal of the EVF.
And with that I will bring this coping mechanism masquerading as a camera nerd ramble fest to a close.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 