Panasonic's Lumix ZS20 a pocketable package with performance punch

Hey, there. I'm Josh Goldman, Senior Editor with CNET. And this is a closer look at one of our top camera picks, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. Now, the headline feature is its lens, a 20x zoom that goes from an ultra wide angle 24 millimeters and extends to 480 millimeters, and that's all packed in a body that's just 1.1 inches thick. But while the lens is nice, it's really the overall combination of features, improved low light photo and video quality, and fast-shooting performance that takes it up a notch. And shooting performance really is key for this class of camera. Its 14 megapixel high sensitivity sensor and high performance image processor can handle burst shooting at up to 10 frames per second at full resolution and up to 5 frames per second with auto focus. Something other compacts just can't do. Combine with low-shutter lag and short shot to shot times, this is a good point and shoot choice for photos of kids, pets and sports. The sensor processor combo also gets you full HD video with 60P in AVCHD format but it captures web-friendly MP4 movies too. Its other features include a 3-inch 460K dot resolution touchscreen LCD, USB charging and an enhanced built-in GPS system. It's chock-full of shooting options too including manual and semi-manual modes, creative filters and easy panorama shots just by panning the camera. Really makes it a good choice for shooters of all levels and to top it all, the camera can be found for less than $250. I'm Josh Goldman and that's a closer look at the Panasonic Lumix ZS20. Thanks for watching.