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377 of 379 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My review of the Panasonic Lumix TZ5, 8 May 2008
This was my 'upgrade' to a now very low spec 3.1 mp Pentax Optio. To say it bluntly I was impresssed from the moment I switched it on. The TZ5, the supersceded model to the TZ3 carries a 'winning formula' from its predesessor. The TZ5 is difficult to flaw, the camera is very easy to use. I was whizzing around the options within minutes and the settings are very clear and understandable. One of my favourite features has to be the e.zoom button by the shot button. From the 1st press of this button the camera goes straight to a 10x optical zoom without having to do it using the manual control along the ring of the shoot button. This e.zoom button allows you to capture somthing in the distances with ease and speed, whether a passing celebrity or wildlife. Press the button again and it will go to a 17x digital zoom also very impressive given the overall distance you are trying to achieve taking these shots with 3 mp. The stability on this camera is also very impressive, it makes you think why ever need a tripod for a digital?
With regards to the picture quality, the 9 mega pixels along with the auto 'iso' sensitivity produces images which will give some SLRs a run for thier money. This is in my opinion the ideal travel camera, when you are abroad its ideal when compared to an SLR or semi-SLRs in terms of its 'carryibility' and ease of use. What is also equally impressive is the qaulity of the screen, very clear and vibrant, this will play back your images and video clips in good qaulity for you to admire. For a novice photographer this is definately a good starting platform, this camera will in my opinion inspire the user to take creative shots that will fail to dissapoint.
The battery life is equally impressive, capable of taking up to around 300 shots on one charge the camera is truly flawless for a compact it simply has to be one of the best out there. Despite the size being larger than some of the slimmer competitors on the market, a majority do not in my opinion pack as much of a punch as this will.
I have not used the video but with this being the only compact on the market so far with recording and play back facilities at 720p, I consider this to be more than sufficient to capture your movies where ever you are. The Lumix series are overall very impressive and this has to be one of its front runners.
Overall I rate the TZ5 5 *****
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87 of 87 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent all rounder - with latest firmware, 9 July 2008
This review is from: Panasonic DMCTZ5 Digital Camera - Black (9.1MP, 10x Optical Zoom) 3.0" LCD (Electronics)
We bought this a couple of weeks ago to provide a smaller alternative to our Nikon D40X DLSR. Our criteria were fast response time, SDHC and small size. Looking around, we found the DMC-TZ5 and the 10x zoom and HD video sealed it for us.
We took it home and the pictures were OK, but the auto zoom didn't lock at times. A quick google search later and we found v1.2 of the firmware from Panasonic, after a quick flash the camera is transformed.
It records decent video (With sound being recorded at 5m away!) and will suffice for 85-90% of your needs. My main gripe is the tendency to switch red-eye on and/or change the picture setting in iA mode which sometimes means that you will sometimes miss pictures of the kids running. This can be resolved by switching to Normal mode and having a play (I recommend setting ISO Max400 and auto flash without redeye for best results) but this is a great camera which will do most of what you will want/need for family pics and outside.
In short, there are better cameras for image better, but few better for having everything in one package - the Nikon is not the normal camera we use anymore and that should say something! :)
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69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but with several compromises, 16 Jun 2008
This review is from: Panasonic DMCTZ5 Digital Camera - Black (9.1MP, 10x Optical Zoom) 3.0" LCD (Electronics)
I was looking to upgrade my ultra-compact Pentax Optio S6, which was an okay camera, but simply 2½ years old and falling behind the curve.
I prioritized getting a compact, if not ultra-compact, form factor, good zoom and a nice screen - and so after much research I chose the Panasonic Lumiz TZ5, which has all of the above, and even include the ability to record video in 720p HD.
And I must say that for a relatively compact travel cam, the TZ5 isn't too shabby. I love the 10x optical zoom, the large, sharp and brilliant 460K 3-inch TFT, and the Intelligent Auto mode is pretty good at guessing what I want to shoot.
However, a few cautious words:
The autofocus sometimes has to hunt quite a bit, especially at high zooms.
A lot of images are rather soft - actually very soft in low light situations.
The video quality isn't all that spectacular in real life, and the audio is quite noisy.
So - if I hadn't been stupid and thrown out all the packaging, I might consider returning it and go for the Canon G9 instead. It's larger and somewhat heavier, but has more manual control, higher quality images and a beautiful video mode. Or possibly just go ultra-compact again with an Ixus or the Fujufilm f50fd or something.
That said, I'm fairly sure I'll be happy with the TZ5's features and the fact that it is very easy and quick to use, as well as the above mentioned factors - and you could, too - I just want to make sure you've thought it all through, pros and cons alike...
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