Like the Panasonic TZ18 that it replaces, the Panasonic Lumix TZ25 has a 16x zoom range (24-384mm equivalent) rather than the 20x range of the new Panasonic TZ30.
And, although it has the same type of high sensitivity CMOS sensor as the TZ30, the Panasonic TZ25 has 12.1 million effective pixels on its 1/2.3-inch chip rather than 14.1MP.
Panasonic's Mr Uematsu tells us that new sensor design results in significantly less noise than the one used in the TZ18, so we're looking forward to putting the TZ25 through our lab testing procedure to see how much difference it makes.
Panasonic's Lumix TZ series is designed with travellers and holidaymakers in mind, and these users want a camera that can be used in a wide range of situations, so improved low-light performance will be a major bonus.
Another main difference from the TZ30 is that the Panasonic TZ25 doesn't have a touchscreen, so as with the TZ18, you must rely on button and dial controls for making settings adjustments.
While this may please traditionalists, it means that selecting the AF point isn't quite as quick or intuitive as it is on the TZ30.
As with Panasonic's other TZ compact cameras, the Panasonic TZ25 has a large dial on its top plate for selecting the shooting mode. This makes switching between aperture priority and shutter priority or fully automatic much quicker than dipping into the menu system.
Because the Panasonic TZ25 sensor has a readout speed of 120fps rather than the 60fps of the old TZ18, its contrast detection AF system is faster in comparison - Panasonic claims an acquisition time of just 0.1sec.
We'll test this properly when we receive a full production sample for review, but the pre-production sample we were shown gave us no reason to doubt the claim, since it focused quickly and accurately.
Panorama
Panasonic recently introduced a new Panorama Shot mode for its compact camera line, and we're told that this will feature in the majority of its introductions for 2012, including the TZ30 and TZ25.
This uses the now familiar approach of continuously recording while the camera is panned to take in the whole scene. It worked well in the early sample we got our hands on, but naturally it's something we will look at more closely when we get a full production sample.
Verdict
With its 24-384mm equivalent lens and its combination of advanced and automatic exposure modes, the Panasonic TZ25 is an enticing proposition for anyone looking for a versatile compact camera to take on their travels.
The slightly reduced zoom range, lower pixel count and the omission of the touchscreen functionality help to keep the price down, making it a more affordable alternative to the Panasonic TZ30.
It will be interesting to see whether the more restricted focal length range and lower pixel count of the Panasonic TZ25 give it any advantage for image quality in comparison with its more expensive partner. We'll have to wait until we get a full production sample to find out.
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