Panasonic's 2009 travel-zoom compact — 10MP CCD, 12x 25-300mm Leica lens, sold in the US as the DMC-ZS1
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ6 was a travel-zoom compact announced in January 2009, sitting just below the HD-video-capable DMC-TZ7 in Panasonic's TZ line. In North America the same camera was sold as the Lumix DMC-ZS1, so used listings appear under both names. It carried the TZ series formula forward: a long zoom folded into a genuinely pocketable body.
The TZ6 pairs a 10.1-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD with a Leica DC Vario-Elmar 12x zoom covering a 25-300mm equivalent range at f/3.3-4.9, stabilised by Panasonic's Mega OIS. A Venus Engine IV processor drives face recognition and AF tracking in Intelligent Auto mode. Video is WVGA 848x480 rather than the TZ7's HD, images record to SD/SDHC cards, macro focusing reaches 3cm, and the body weighs around 229g with its proprietary lithium-ion battery.
This suits travellers and casual shooters who want one camera to cover wide streetscapes through to distant detail without changing anything. Controls are largely automated, with little manual exposure control, and the small CCD means image quality drops off in dim light, so it works best outdoors in reasonable light.
Used examples depend on a proprietary lithium-ion pack and charger, so confirm both are included or budget for third-party replacements, which remain easy to find. Run the zoom through its full 25-300mm travel listening for grinding and watch for lens-error messages, check the LCD for scratches, and note that video is standard-definition only — buyers wanting HD in this body style need the TZ7.