If you want to get more from the Panasonic Lumix TZ90, learning where its key settings live is the fastest way to improve every shot.
This guide explains the camera’s menus, physical controls, and the most useful options to change first.
Understanding the Panasonic Lumix TZ90 Control Layout
The Panasonic Lumix TZ90, also sold as the Lumix ZS70 in some markets, combines a compact body with manual controls, a rear touchscreen, and a multifunction mode dial.
Knowing which controls handle direct changes and which ones open the menu system makes setup much easier.
Most everyday adjustments can be made with three parts of the camera:
- Mode dial for switching between Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and Scene modes.
- Rear buttons and control ring for quick changes to exposure, focus, drive mode, and flash settings.
- Function menus and main menus for deeper image, video, and system settings.
How to Change Settings on Panasonic Lumix TZ90 Using the Menu System
To change settings on Panasonic Lumix TZ90, press the Menu/Set button and use the directional pad, touchscreen, or control ring to move through categories.
The camera organizes options into tabs, usually covering recording, motion picture, custom settings, setup, and playback.
When you enter a menu, the current selection is highlighted.
Press Set to open it, choose the desired value, then confirm.
If you use the touchscreen, you can often tap the setting directly, which is faster for frequent changes.
For most users, the most important menu sections are:
- Recording settings for image quality, aspect ratio, white balance, ISO, and metering.
- Motion picture settings for video resolution, frame rate, and audio options.
- Setup settings for language, date/time, power saving, and formatting.
- Custom settings for button behavior, focus assist, and display preferences.
Change Image Quality and File Size
If your priority is detail, storage efficiency, or editing flexibility, start with image quality.
The TZ90 lets you choose between JPEG and RAW, and in many cases a combination of both.
JPEG files are easier to share, while RAW files preserve more data for post-processing in software such as Adobe Lightroom or Capture One.
Within the recording menu, look for:
- Photo file format to switch between JPEG, RAW, or RAW+JPEG.
- Image size to control resolution.
- Aspect ratio to choose between 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, and 1:1.
- Quality to set compression level for JPEG images.
For travel photography, a balanced setup is often RAW+JPEG with the full resolution available.
For casual use, standard JPEG at the highest quality is usually sufficient.
Adjust Exposure Settings for Better Brightness and Detail
Exposure settings determine how bright or dark your photo appears.
On the TZ90, you can change these quickly with exposure compensation or manually in creative modes.
Use these core controls:
- Exposure compensation to brighten or darken images in Auto, Program, and semi-automatic modes.
- Aperture in Aperture Priority or Manual mode to control depth of field.
- Shutter speed in Shutter Priority or Manual mode to freeze motion or introduce blur.
- ISO to adjust sensor sensitivity in low light.
If your subject looks too dark against a bright background, increase exposure compensation slightly.
If bright highlights are losing detail, reduce it.
For low-light scenes, raise ISO carefully because very high values can increase noise on compact-camera sensors.
Set Focus Mode and Autofocus Behavior
Autofocus is one of the most useful settings to customize on a travel zoom camera.
The Panasonic Lumix TZ90 offers different focus modes depending on the scene, including single-point and continuous autofocus behavior.
Common autofocus options include:
- AFS for still subjects, where focus locks once achieved.
- AFF for subjects with slight movement.
- AFC for continuous focusing on moving subjects.
- Face/Eye detection for portraits.
- Manual focus for precise control in difficult lighting or macro scenes.
For general photography, AFS with face detection is often the most reliable setting.
For walking people, animals, or sports, try AFC and a smaller focus area for better subject tracking.
Change White Balance for More Accurate Color
White balance helps the camera interpret colors correctly under different light sources.
If your photos look too warm indoors or too blue outdoors in shade, white balance is the setting to change first.
The TZ90 typically includes options such as:
- Auto White Balance for everyday use.
- Daylight, Cloudy, and Shade for outdoor scenes.
- Tungsten and Flash for artificial lighting.
- Custom white balance for precise color matching.
Auto White Balance works well in many situations, but custom white balance can be especially helpful for indoor photography, product shots, or mixed lighting.
How to Change Video Settings on Panasonic Lumix TZ90
The camera’s video options are managed separately from still photos, so if you want to improve motion recording quality, go into the motion picture menu.
This is where you set resolution, frame rate, and audio behavior.
Useful video settings to review include:
- Resolution such as Full HD or other available video modes.
- Frame rate for smoother motion or more cinematic playback.
- Continuous autofocus for moving subjects.
- Wind noise reduction for outdoor recording.
- Exposure control if you want to adjust brightness manually.
If you record travel clips or family videos, a stable full-HD setting with continuous autofocus is usually the most practical choice.
For handheld shooting, keep stabilization enabled if available in the video mode.
Customize Buttons and Shortcut Functions
One of the best ways to speed up operation is to assign frequently used settings to function buttons or quick menus.
The TZ90’s controls can often be tailored so you spend less time navigating menus and more time shooting.
Look for custom options that let you change:
- Fn button assignments for ISO, white balance, metering, drive mode, or focus mode.
- Quick menu layout to put your favorite settings within reach.
- Touchscreen actions for focus point selection or shutter release.
- Display information for grid lines, histograms, and shooting guides.
For many users, assigning ISO and white balance to shortcut controls makes the biggest difference because those settings often need frequent adjustment in changing light.
Set the Screen, Viewfinder, and Power Options
The Panasonic Lumix TZ90 also includes setup options that affect comfort, battery life, and shooting convenience.
These do not change image quality directly, but they strongly affect how the camera feels in daily use.
Common setup choices include:
- Brightness for the LCD screen and electronic viewfinder.
- Auto review to decide whether images appear after capture.
- Power save to extend battery life.
- Date/time and language settings.
- Format card to prepare a memory card for use.
If you shoot in bright sunlight, increasing viewfinder use can make framing easier.
If you want longer battery life, reduce screen brightness and use power-saving features when possible.
Recommended Starting Settings for Most Users
If you are unsure where to begin, a simple baseline setup can help you avoid common mistakes and produce consistent results.
This is a practical starting point for everyday photography:
- Mode: Program Auto or Aperture Priority
- File format: RAW+JPEG for flexibility
- White balance: Auto
- Focus mode: AFS with face detection
- ISO: Auto with a reasonable upper limit if available
- Exposure compensation: 0, then adjust as needed
- Image stabilization: On for handheld shooting
For video, start with full-HD recording, continuous autofocus, and wind reduction if you are outdoors.
These settings provide a reliable balance between quality and simplicity.
Troubleshooting Common Settings Problems
If a setting seems locked or unavailable, the camera is usually in a mode that restricts certain controls.
Scene modes, full auto modes, and some video modes may limit manual changes.
Check these common causes:
- The mode dial is set to a fully automatic scene.
- A setting is gray because another option is active.
- The touchscreen lock or button lock is enabled.
- The memory card is full or not properly formatted.
- A custom function changed the normal button behavior.
If the menu feels confusing, reset only the relevant settings rather than restoring everything at once.
That helps you isolate the cause without losing useful customizations.
Useful Terms to Know in the Lumix Menu
Panasonic menu wording can be compact, so knowing the terminology makes navigation faster.
Some of the most common terms you will see include:
- AFS/AFF/AFC: autofocus modes for static or moving subjects.
- WB: white balance.
- ISO: sensor sensitivity.
- Fn: function button.
- EV: exposure compensation value.
- RAW: uncompressed or lightly processed image data for editing.
Once these labels are familiar, it becomes much easier to change settings on Panasonic Lumix TZ90 quickly and confidently in real shooting situations.