The big trend is point-and-shoot cameras — and everyone’s getting one. I mean, why not? You can have both a companion camera that you actually want to bring with you and an upgrade from your phone in one device. And every time that you bring one out, people around you will get all bedazzled by how beautiful and unique it is. One of the best options currently available, the LUMIX ZS99, has a zoom range that’s useful for wildlife, hiking up the mountains, travel, and so much more. “…the Panasonic LUMIX ZS99 is worth it if you’re looking for a reliable, modern point-and-shoot with the retro digital quality you crave from the late 2000s,” we stated in our review. So if you’re planning on getting one, check this out.
This article is presented in partnership with LUMIX. The LUMIX ZS99 is all the camera you need. For only a few hundred bucks, you’ll never be happier with all this power in your pocket.
Telephoto in Daylight, Wide-angle in Low Light
Point and shoot cameras like the LUMIX ZS99 boast a fixed superzoom lens attached to the body. In this case, you can get from a wide-angle view to a more zoomed-in, telephoto view. But the aperture changes throughout the zoom range — making more of the scene in focus and letting more light in. So in a dimly lit situation, use the wide-angle option. That will sometimes mean walking right up to something to take its picture the way that you would with your phone. But in this case, you’re not getting all the super-processed imagery that a smartphone gives you. Instead, you’re embracing the vibey look from yesteryear.
When there’s plenty of light, use the zoom — which will have less light coming into the scene but likely more than enough to give you a great photo.
What this all means is that during the daytime, you can use the zoom lens to see the details in a faraway scene a whole lot better. Then when you’re ready to shoot photos of the things and ones you adore, you can get up close. Just don’t forget that you’re the photographer, turn the camera around and shoot a selfie every now and again! Luckily, the ZS99 has an LCD screen that makes it so much easier to do.
Don’t Forget about the Scene Modes
Most phones have an auto mode and some of the modes that professional cameras have. But what’s been missing from so many cameras are the fun scene modes. Luckily, LUMIX has a ton of those. And there really is something for everyone. Here’s a list of some of our favorites:
- Clear portrait: basically reduces blemishes and such along with a slimming mode
- Starry Night: Seen in the photo below
- Handheld Night Shot
- Artistic Nightscape
- Monochrome
Page 71 of the LUMIX ZS99 manual has a complete listing of the modes. You can combine these with the effects filters. This is yet another majorly fun part of the camera. Here’s what the filters do:
- Cross Process: This makes it look like the image you’re shooting was developed with the wrong film chemicals. The colors will be pretty funky and kind of like early 90s-feeling. Folks shot a lot of portraits and landscapes with this method. And you can see it in the look of a lot of vintage music videos from the 90s too.
- Bleach Bypass: The colors will be desaturated like they were when you develop images with a bit of bleach. Folks typically use this for fine art and documentary to give a more bleak look to things.
- Expressive: A super vivid mode. Think about Andy Warhol’s Pop art stuff.
- Retro: Take a wild guess at what this does. Think muted, soft, and airy. More specifically, imagine Instant film with a plastic lens. Try it with portraits.
- Old Days: This makes images look like really old film. We’re talking abour early color film here.
- High Key: This makes the brights pretty bright
- Low Key: This makes the darks pretty dark
- Sepia: The sepia filter
Use these modes to get a different look similar to what you used to find on apps like VSCO and Instagram. More importantly, slow down before you shoot. If you’re committing to shooting in monochrome mode, then think about how the world will look even before you bring the camera up to your face. And more importantly, don’t take it so seriously.
Embrace the JPEG Look
For years, all the pro photographers have been telling you to shoot RAW. But with a point and shoot, you really don’t have to. Just shoot in JPEG and embrace the look that it gives you. The image qualtiy is far unlike what you’d get from both your phone and a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. Part of that is because of the sensor size while the other big part has to do with the lens design. This makes the point and shoot camera become a very fascinating mid-way point between tech best known for being for professionals and the phone — which everyone has in their pocket.
Combined with the right scene mode, you’ll realize that it’s pretty hard to take a bad photo. And we guess that’s just part of the joy of owning a point and shoot like the LUMIX ZS99 — it’s so versatile and a wonderful mid-way point that lets experienced photographers have more access to modes they’ve probably never tried and passionate photographers have fun with other high end modes.