TechRadar Verdict
The SZ10 has a wide range of features, including a selfie screen, Wi-Fi and an impressive 12x zoom range, but it's let down by its indifferent image quality, especially at higher ISO settings in poor light.
Pros
- +
Optical zoom
- +
Inbuilt Wi-Fi
- +
Creative modes
Cons
- -
Poor performance in low light
- -
No manual control
- -
No touch screen
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
This entry-level point and shoot camera features a 16 million pixel sensor, which is accompanied by a 12x optical zoom. It's been designed with those who like to shoot selfies in mind, with a 180 degree tiltable, 460k-dot, 2.7-inch LCD screen.
Other features include inbuilt Wi-Fi, 720p video recording and a group of digital filters.
Build and Handling
The SZ10 is sleek and slim, and has been coated with a matt finish which makes it feel surprisingly luxurious in the hand. It also helps it to feel secure, which is useful because there's no grip or rest for your finger on the front of the camera.
Panasonic hasn't gone for a particularly revolutionary design with the SZ10. On the top of the camera is the shutter release button, which is surrounded by a zoom switch which feels fairly rugged and able to withstand repeated use.
Just next to this switch is a dedicated video record button, which has helpfully been indented into the body slightly to prevent accidental video recording.
On the back there are quite a few buttons for a small camera, but these are needed because the screen is not touch sensitive. You can alter the camera's exposure mode by pressing the dedicated Mode button, but there's not a huge number to choose from, just Intelligent Auto, standard Auto, Scene Modes, Creative Control and Panorama Shot.
While in Intelligent Auto mode, the camera will control pretty much everything, while if you use standard Auto, a couple of options, such as sensitivity can be changed if you wish.
Also on the back of the camera is a dedicated Wi-Fi button, and a four way navigational pad, with each of those directional buttons controlling a specific function, such as exposure compensation. There's also a playback button, and finally a quick menu button, which is useful for making rapid changes when you don't want to scroll through the full menu.
Performance
If you're only looking at images at standard printing or web viewing sizes, then the impression of detail created by the SZ10 is relatively good, but it's evident if you zoom in that image smoothing occurs throughout the sensitivity range.
Therefore, it's best to use the camera only in good light – in lower light conditions, more image smoothing and noise appears. Night time or low light landscapes aren't really worth shooting with this camera unless you use a tripod and set a low ISO.
On the positive side, if you can use the camera in decent light, colours have a good level of saturation and look nice.
If you like to get creative with your shots, there's a good range of options such as Cross Process, Dynamic Monochrome and Toy Effect. Some are better than others, and it will be mostly down to personal preference whether you would want to use some of the wilder options. You can also create panoramas, but although they are fun they don't stand up too well to close scrutiny.
Most of the time, the all-purpose metering mode creates well balanced exposures, while the automatic white balance setting also does a decent job, if erring a little towards warm tones when shooting in artificial lighting conditions.
This is a very basic camera which is a good option for those who don't have or don't want to use a smartphone to take their images – perhaps on days/nights out or for your holiday camera.
Click here for a full size version.
If, however, you are happy to use your smartphone, you probably won't find too much to appeal here, aside from the fact that you can use an optical zoom.
Image quality is decent in good light, but image smoothing is visible throughout the sensitivity range. The low light performance leaves a little to be desired, but the flash is reasonable for close subjects (like your friend's faces).
We liked
Inbuilt Wi-Fi is useful when you want to take selfies and group shots – and it's also handy when you want to share images you've taken quickly, say for tagging on Facebook and the like.
We disliked
If you're trying to take photos in low light of landscapes, indoor scenes or night shots, the image quality leaves a lot to be desired, which is a shame.
Final Verdict
The SZ10 is very simple and delivers some decent images in the right lighting conditions, but your mobile phone probably does that too. If you need a back up camera for when your phone runs out of juice though, or if you particularly want a long zoom range, this is a decent option.
