Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera is remarkable in that it contains a 10x wide-angle optical zoom lens in a compact, stylish body for the ultimate in picture performance and user convenience. With 9.0 effective megapixels of resolution for incredibly detailed images, and a wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28 - 280mm on a 35mm film camera), this versatile camera is well suited to a broad range of shooting opportunities.
You can easily capture a large group of people, or expansive architectural structures and landscapes with the wide end of the zoom range, or zoom in for sports, wildlife and event photography. In addition, the Optical Image Stabilizer feature (Mega O.I.S) minimizes the jitter from shaky hands that causes many photos to look blurred, ensuring that your images are always beautifully clear.
The DMC-TZ5 is incredibly fast thanks to the Venus Engine IV processor, which provides fast consecutive shooting, and boasts outstanding response time thus enabling easy capture of spur-of-the-moment shots. The image processor also provides for efficient power consumption, contributing to the camera's ability to take 300 pictures on a single charge of the included lithium-ion battery. The camera also includes a huge, bright and high resolution 3.0" LCD display to easily frame and view your images.
- 9.0 Megapixel Resolution
- With a resolution of 9.0 Megapixels, you'll be able to produce high resolution images that can yield photo quality 24 x 36" prints. The camera also has resolution options that are available in three different aspect ratios - 16:9 for displaying on a wide screen monitor or TV, 3:2 for making standard photo album prints, and 4:3 for more traditional image dimensions common in picture frames.
- 10x Optical Zoom Lens
- The Leica DC Vario-Elmar Lens includes an ED (extra-low dispersion) lens and aspherical lenses to delivers an exceptional optical performance, and the powerful 10x optical zoom (equivalent to a big 28 to 280mm lens on a 35mm camera) provides a broad range of photo capabilities from broad landscapes and group shots to nature and sports photos. The zoom ratio can be further extended up to 16.7x in 3 megapixel resolution mode with minimal deterioration thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom. Furthermore, in combination with the 4x digital zoom, an incredible zoom factor of up to 66.8x can be achieved.
- Easy Zoom Button
- With the first press of the Easy Zoom button the camera immediately gives you the maximum 10x power of the optical zoom. A second press delivers the maximum 16.7x power of the Extra Optical Zoom. This lets you bring your subject right up close, easily and comfortably, and is especially useful at sporting events and other outdoor activities when fast zoom may be needed to get a shot during quick paced action.
- MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer
- The MEGA O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer) feature offsets unintentional hand movement while you're taking pictures to give you clear, sharp images even when taking handheld telephoto shots or shooting at night. This system uses built-in gyrosensors to detect even tiny camera movement and then shifts a lens in the opposite direction to compensate. The system is completely optical so you get sharp, clear images with minimal degradation. It lets you reduce the shutter speed more than 3 stops below the conventionally accepted hand movement limit, greatly expanding what you can do with a handheld digital camera.
- High Sensitivity Mode
- When there's not a lot of light or you're using a slow shutter speed, hand movement isn't the only potential problem. There's also "motion blur" - the blurring that can result if your subject like children or pets move even a little in low lighting. The High Sensitivity mode allows you to shoot at up to ISO 6400 by using the pixel-mixed readout method, effectively raising the shutter speed. It not only minimizes motion blur, it also lets you take clearer, sharper shots in dim lighting without using a flash.
- Easy-to-use Scene Modes
- The DMC-TZ5 has 22 scene modes to provide the best overall image quality for common shooting situations, such as Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, and more. It is easy to select the best scene mode thanks to the Scene Mode list display and help screen, which shows the description of each mode on the LCD monitor.
- Face Detection for Superb Portraits
- The Face Detection function can detect individual faces in a scene then automatically adjust the camera settings to make sure faces appear well-lit and in focus. This advanced technology will even automatically readjust the settings if the positions of the subjects change while you are framing the shot.
- Reduce Blur with MEGA OIS and Intelligent ISO
- Image blur is commonly caused by either movement of the camera or movement of the subject. Camera movement is corrected with the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) feature which uses built-in gyro-sensors to detect the smallest camera movement and instantaneously shifts a lens element in the opposite direction to compensate, giving you sharp, clear images without deterioration. Motion blur - caused when a subject moves as the shot is being taken - is minimized with Intelligent ISO Control. This system actually detects whether the subject is moving and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to minimize the motion blur effect while maintaining good exposure.
- Intelligent Scene Selector
- The Intelligent Scene Selector will sense the ambient conditions and automatically select either the Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode accordingly. With the camera choosing the settings for you, you'll get beautiful results every time you shoot, no matter what the scene or subject.
- Intelligent Auto Technology
- Just turn the dial to "iA" and say good-bye to complicated settings. The camera will not only help eliminate blurring from hand-shake or subject movement, but it will also initialize the Face Detection system and automatically select the focus, exposure and scene modes for the best results. In fact, the Intelligent Auto Mode automatically begins focusing even before you press the shutter button, so you'll never miss a great shot.
- Super-Fast Shutter Response and Consecutive Shooting
- The DMC-TZ5 is fast and responsive - thanks to the Venus Engine IV processor. The camera has an extremely fast shutter lag, so you won't miss that "perfect" moment, and it enables high ISO to minimize motion blur and take pictures under low lighting without the need for a mood-killing flash. Furthermore, the advanced processor enables the cameras high speed burst shooting at a rate of up to 10 frames per second - a superbly useful feature when shooting sports or other fast paced events.
- Record High-Definition Motion Images & View with HD Output
- The DMC-TZ5 can record motion images with sensational 1280 x 720 HD resolution at 30 or 15 frames per second, plus you can use the zoom while recording, and capture some truly dramatic shots. You can also record video in Wide VGA format at 30 fps or 10 fps with enhanced picture quality and brightness, and it can also shoot standard VGA and QVGA resolution for home use or e-mail/web applications. When you're done shooting for the day, just connect the camera to an HDTV (optional DMW-HDC2 component cable required) and you're ready to view your still shots and motion images in high-definition beauty.
- Auto Angle Detection
- Auto angle detection records whether an image was taken horizontally or vertically. This ensures that when playing back on the LCD monitor and displaying images on your TV by connecting your Lumix Digital Camera with an AV cable, vertical images are automatically displayed vertically and horizontal images are automatically displayed horizontally.
- 3.0" Intelligent LCD Display
- The DMC-TZ5 features a Huge 3.0" diagonal high-resolution Intelligent LCD monitor that makes it easy to see your subject - day or night, indoors or outdoors - because the brightness and contrast of the LCD adjusts automatically as ambient light conditions change. The High Angle Mode improves viewability from a low angle, such as when shooting over a crowd, and the display also provides many shooting assist features such as guide lines for better image framing and a histogram function to check exposure on the fly.
- Built-in and Expandable Memory
- The camera includes 27MB of built-in memory, and the memory capacity can be expanded dramatically with Secure digital (SD) or Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards. You can also copy images from a memory card or PC to the built-in memory, and view them on the LCD anytime you like.
- Mode Dial and Q.Menu Button
- The Q.Menu Button provides a shortcut to frequently used menu settings - this single button lets you turn consecutive shooting on/off, make white balance adjustments, set the ISO sensitivity and image size, and select the compression format, while you continue to view your subject on the LCD. The Mode Dial is combined with a unique Mode Position Display, and as you operate the dial, large animated icons are displayed on the LCD Screen, making it easy to find the mode you want.
- Special Travel Functions
- The camera's clipboard allows you to take photos of maps, timetables and other travel info, and save them in a separate folder of the built-in memory to distinguish them from normal photos. You can print titles and other characters on the photos you shoot with the Title Edit and Stamp - great for creating your own postcards from a vacation trip. You can also manage your travel photos by inputting your departure date and destination with the Travel Date Setting so later, during photo viewing, the camera will indicate on which day of the trip each shot was taken and the location.
- Print Directly From Your Camera
- You can send images directly to print, right from the DMC-TZ5 camera without the need of a PC. Simply connect the camera to a PictBridge compatible printer by using the included USB cable, and then simply select the pictures you want to print.
Go To
| Camera Type | Compact Ultra-zoom Wide-angle Point-and-shoot Digital Camera with Optical Image Stabilization |
| Image Quality | |
|---|---|
| Image Sensor | 1/2.33" 10.7 Megapixel CCD with Primary Color Filter |
| Effective Resolution | 9.0 million pixels |
| Color Depth | 24-Bit RGB |
| Color Modes | Standard, Natural, Vivid, Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia |
| Image File Formats | JPEG (Fine, Standard) |
| Recorded Resolution |
4:3 Aspect Ratio 3456 x 2592 3072 x 2304 2560 x 1920 2048 x 1536 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480 3:2 Aspect Ratio 16:9 Aspect Ratio |
| Video Recording |
QuickTime Motion JPEG with Audio HDTV (1280 x 720 @ 30 or 15 fps) Wide VGA (848 x 480 @ 30 or 10 fps) VGA (640 x 480 @ 30 or 10 fps) QVGA (320 x 240 @ 30 or 10 fps) Clip length limited only by available memory to a maximum of 2GB |
| Audio Recording |
WAV Format Up to 5 seconds record time with image, up to 10 seconds dubbing |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Leica DC Vario-Elmar Lens |
| Optical Zoom | 10x (up to 16.7x Extra Optical zoom with 3MP or smaller image) |
| Lens Focal Length | 4.6 - 46mm (28 - 280mm equivalent) |
| Digital Zoom | 4x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 2" (5cm) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.3-4.9 |
| Optical Image Stabilization | Yes (MEGA O.I.S.) |
| Accessory Lens/Filter Mount | No |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | TTL Auto Focus System with AF Assist Lamp |
| Focus Modes | Normal (Face, 1 point, 1 point high speed, 3 points high speed, 9 points, Spot), Macro, Quick AF, Continuous AF |
| Focus Range |
Normal: 19.7" (50cm) - infinity Macro: 2" (5cm) - infinity wide |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity |
Auto ISO Selectable ISO (100, 200, 400, 800, 1600) High Sensitivity ISO Mode (1600-6400) |
| Shutter Type | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Shutter Speed | 8 - 1/2000 seconds (15, 30, 60 seconds in Starry Sky Mode) |
| Aperture Range | f/3.3-4.9 and f/8.0-11.0 (2 steps) |
| Exposure Metering | Intelligent Multiple, Center-weighted, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Program AE, SCN, Intelligent Auto (w/ Backlight Compensation), Exposure Compensation (±2 EV in 1/3 EV increments), Auto Bracketing AE (±1/3EV-1EV Step, 3 Frames) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, White Set, White Balance Adjustment (10 steps) |
| Scene Modes | Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self-Portrait, Food, Party, Candle Light, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial Photo, Snow, High Sensitivity, Baby 1&2, Underwater, Sunset, Pet, Hi-Speed Burst, Multi-Aspect Shooting |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes (Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync. Forced On, Forced Off) |
| Effective Flash Range | 1.0' (0.3m) - 20.7' (6.3m) wide |
| External Flash Connection | No |
| External Flash Control | Not Applicable |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Start-Up Time | 0.95 seconds |
| Shutter Lag | 0.006 seconds |
| Time Between Shots | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Burst Capability |
Continuous: 0.7 fps Standard Burst: 2.5 fps up to 7 images (standard) or 4 images (fine) High-speed Burst: 10 fps (2.5M or less resolution) |
| Self Timer | 10 seconds or 2 seconds |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Date & Time Stamp | Yes |
| Memory & Power | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | 27MB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compatible Memory Cards |
Secure Digital (SD/SDHC) Card MultiMediaCard (MMC) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recording Capacity |
Includes 27MB of Built-in Memory Still Image Capacity
Video Capacity
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battery Type | CGA-S007 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery (3.7V, 1000mAh) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power Adapter | DMW-AC5 AC Adaptor (Optional) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Input/Output | |
|---|---|
| Computer Interface | USB 2.0 |
| Direct Print Capable | Yes (PictBridge) |
| Remote Control | No |
| Video Output |
NTSC & PAL HDTV Out with optional DMW-HDC2 component cable |
| Web-Cam Capable | No |
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows 2000, XP, Vista Macintosh OS X (10.1 or later) |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder | No |
| LCD Display | 3.0" Polycrystalline TFT color LCD (460,000 pixels) with Power LCD and High Angle LCD Mode |
| Language Options | English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese |
| Playback Options | Single Image Thumbnail display (12 or 30-up), Calendar Display, Zoomed Playback (16x max.), Playback of Favorite Pictures, Category Playback, Slide Show, Image Rotation, Resizing, Trimming, Protection, Aspect Conversion, DPOF Print Setting |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2.4 x 4.1 x 1.5" (61 x 109 x 38mm) |
| Weight | 7.4 oz (209g) without battery |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 106 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
98%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Large clear LCD (98)
- Easy to setup (88)
- Simple controls (84)
- Strong construction (71)
- Easy to keep clean (41)
Cons
- Poor in low light (17)
- Limited manual controls (6)
- Long lag time (5)
- Noisy at high ISO (3)
- Poor image quality (3)
Best Uses
- Travel (95)
- Fun (89)
- Family photos (32)
- Art (18)
- Photojournalism (17)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Enthusiast (35), Photo enthusiast (25), Casual photographer (19), Casual user (14), Semi-pro photographer (5)
Most Liked Positive Review
TZ5: Leica lens a winner!
The Panasonic TZ5 is a small, fast, digital point-and-shoot with an amazing Leica 10x optical zoom, and a very clear 3 inch high-resolution (470,000 pixel) LCD screen.
The 10x Leica op...Read complete review
The Panasonic TZ5 is a small, fast, digital point-and-shoot with an amazing Leica 10x optical zoom, and a very clear 3 inch high-resolution (470,000 pixel) LCD screen.
The 10x Leica optical zoom (28mm-280mm equiv.) is a delight to use showing no color fringing (truly surprising) that I could see, and amazing detail. And the camera is replete with features such as image stabilization (two modes), metering modes, auto-focus modes, three aspects ratios (4:3, 3:2, and 16:9), and HD video.
The Panasonic TZ5 lens exhibits exceptional sharpness and contrast even in the corners. As is typical of many Panasonic cameras (TZ3, FZ8, FZ18, etc.), if you view your image at 100% on-screen you will see "noise" (similar to a fine-grain pattern) throughout your midtones and shadow areas. Shooting with a setting of FINE, the highest quality, and 9MP (full sensor), I found image noise is barely visible at 100% on large prints, and invisible on a 8x10 or smaller size prints. On an 11x14 print the image of 3,456 x 2,590 pixels is actually printing at 78%.
Noise becomes more noticeable at any ISO above 200. If you are more demanding of your images and want to minimize the effects of noise, I recommend Noise Ninja. I've gotten great results from it but it is not the only product on the market. Find something that you feel works for you. But again, some may not find the noise objectionable at all, particularly in prints.
AUTO program prioritizes shutter speed over lens opening (aperture) often setting it to the maximum, and SCENE modes change ISO (increasing noise) frequently to achieve its priority. There is manual mode and for those of us itching to control aperture settings (or sharpness as with the LX2) it is a bit frustrating (even with a plus or minus two stop override), but the results are usually exceptional.
This is a great point-and-shoot Panasonic for a beginner, but also yields excellent, sharp, beautiful results to those experienced or more demanding photographers if you can learn to accept the auto results.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Almost perfect, if only...
...if only it was made by Canon. The TZ series have everything you might dream of for a compact camera - outstanding Leica optics, breathtaking LCD, good OIS, tons of features, ...Read complete review
...if only it was made by Canon. The TZ series have everything you might dream of for a compact camera - outstanding Leica optics, breathtaking LCD, good OIS, tons of features, excepted what makes good pictures: a proper image processor.
The Venus Engine IV will only deliver good images at its lower ISO setting (100) and under bring sun conditions. Anything else will be plagued with heavy noise and artefacts. I mean VERY visible on 50% crops already.
Dark areas in very contrasted images (like snowy mountains with forest/rock patches) will in addition get heavy-handed softened. Rather say blurred actualy. Get ready for systematic post-processing, and forget about ISO400 and up.
My $93 Nikon Coolpix L11 takes better-looking pictures, what a disappointment...
HD video is nice on paper but disappointing too: while the internal playback engine is perfectly fluid (.MOV files), Quicktime player will show shaky images (deinterlacing issues). Built-in microphone's gain is poor at best, and its placement directly... under your left index finger.
Modes selection rotary dial is loose and half of its revolution is not assigned to any feature, so 50% of the time camera will turn on in "dial not in proper position" mode. Which means every other time you pull it out of your belt case. The other time it's the connectors cover with will accidentally flap open, because it is just ill designed and misplaced on the side you hold/manipulate the camera.
Finally, the mount thread in located on the far left side of the bottom, completely off-balance. How practical...
I have purchase two TZ5 within one month and both had the very same issues - so it is poor design, not manufacturing defaults.
In resume: if like me you do need that 28-280m in point & shoot format you are doomed to buy the TZ and live with its defaults. If not, run away from Panasonic and get a camera made by a company whose engineers have ever actually used their products on the field.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 106 customers
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Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
This one I bought as a gift and it has excellent features to make the owner happy and feel proud. Wide Angle lens, Image Stabilization and handy Optical Zoom range.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
Bought one for my daughter and also for myself. Have recommended to a lot of family who purchased as well. Solid construction and great to throw into a bag and bring with you anywhere. I don't always like to carry around all my photography equipment, so this is a perfect option. Pictures are clear plus I can do really nice video. The video feature is clear and I love it. I do so much more family videos then I have in about two years because I was sick of the hassle with the video camera. I will likely be upgrading to the new on that is coming out in a few months - but for now -- this one suits my needs in both price and function.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
I bought this camera for general use and I am very pleased so far.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
- Short Battery Life
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
Great point and shoot camera with many easy to use features. Large viewing screen, easy way to review pictures and the ability to delete multiple pictures in a few simple steps are helpful features. Auto focus on the face is a must have, other settings like "Sport" are great for the action shots of the kids.
Video is high resolution, great quality. If you want to use the highest setting be sure to get an SD card that:
A. Can capture information fast enough (class 4 card)
B. Has a lot of space (one 3 minute video I captured took up 250 megs).
Only drawback I've found is that it records as an .MOV file, but that's just personal preference. I'm sure there are many that prefer that format.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
I've always owned Canon cameras, both photographic and video, but a friend convinced me to try this Panasonic. I'm really glad I did. It's not as compact as other similar cameras, but the fact this camera has HD video makes it worth the tiny bit of extra heft. And the video quality is terrific. We keep this camera with us when we take the kids out for walks and to play at the park. It's a lot easier than hauling around our DSLR and we've always been pleased with the results.
Pros
- 10x zoom
- Strong Construction
- Wide angle lens
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
Got it because of the wide-angle, and the 10x zoom is nice. Solid feel, but somewhat heavy as a result. Wish it had a viewfinder and more dial settings instead of the dozens of settings accessible only via the menu. Wish it ran on AA batteries. Wish it used a standard USB/4 pin connection (uses an 8-pin connection).
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Art
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Photojournalism
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera has wonderful features and after lots of research I bought it and couldn't be happier.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Complicated manual
- No optical viewfinder
Best Uses
- Art
- Photojournalism
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera has a powerful Leica zoom lens that other pocket digitals can't match. The lens makes the DMC-TZ5 a bit bulky for most shirt pockets, but the quality and versatility of the package compensate for minor inconvenience.
This is a high-quality camera, perfect for a serious amateur or a quick-shot professional.
The camera does not have an optical viewfinder and that's it's only fault. I suppose the zoom lens makes a viewfinder impractical.
As a used-to-be professional, I'm not easy to please when it comes to casual cameras, but this one meets requirements for versatility and quality.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
- Mic placement
- Video audio
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
I am very pleased with this camera. For a point and shoot, it far exceeds my expectations. The zoom on this camera is amazing. You can be far away and still get great shots. The LCD is nice, easy to review shots. The intelligent mode works great, but sometimes it gives the person a weird glow around them. I still dont know whats causing that. I put it in sports mode(one of the many scene modes) when I want to capture pictures quickly of my baby. The video is great quality, however, the audio is only 8-bit mono, so don't expect it to replace your camcorder. Also, look to buy the AC adapter charger, or a second battery, as you have to remove the battery from the camera to charge it. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for more than a basic point and shoot.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Easy To Use
Cons
- FUZZY PICTURE QUALITY
- Poor Operation in Low Light
Best Uses
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
I used to own a Panasonic TZ1, and even though it was only 5megapixels, the pictures it took were really spectactular. I was excited about getting this as a replacement, and the pictures looked great on the LCD screen. But when you put it on a computer screen, you realize the majority of the pics are both huge and fuzzy! Very disappointed. After two years and double the megapixels, this is the improvement on the TZ1? Will have to sell this and see if I can find a TZ1 on [...], or just buy a DSLR.
Pros
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Long Lag Time
Best Uses
- Family Photos
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
The camera is easy to use and the zoom is better than most digitals I have used in the past.
- Recommended:
- Lowepro Rezo 30 Compact Camera Pouch (Black)
Pros
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy To Use
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Poor Operation in Low Light
Best Uses
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
I love this camera for travel. The calendar feature and the ability to add audio to each picture sure helps when the trip is over.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Art
- Family Photos
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
The controls are extremely easy to use. My wife is a self described technophobe and was intuitively able to set all useful controls. The image stabilization works well. The three inch screen is great. The zoom range and quality are great. It feels more durable than any other camera I've tried. Video quality is quite good for a point and shoot.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
This is as close to an ideal travel camera as I have seen. High resolution, very good zoom range, movie mode, compact size, takes pictures in extreme low light. Battery life could be better and shutter response time is sometimes a little slow, but overall the package is excellent at an affordable price.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
- No Viewfinder
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
We bought this as a first digital camera for my 79-year-old mom who only has the use of one hand. Her age, lack of experience & physical difficulties were no match for the ease of getting great pictures from this camera. Its intelligent auto settings make using this a breeze. The 10x zoom gives it one of the strongest telephotos to be found in a point-and-shoot. Add in the image stabilization, and you have the perfect camera for folks new to digital and/or those who don't want to be bothered with manual settings.
More experienced users will find all of these features useful, too. It's a great backup camera if you don't want to lug around your DSLR. My current point-and-shoot is a Panasonic DMC-FZ20; the TZ5 has many of the same features - and some that my camera does not - in a package half the size. Granted, it won't take the filters or add-on "lenses" that the FZ20 will, but I wouldn't mind having a TZ5 for myself for those times that I just want something reliable to stick in my pocket.
I would have preferred that it had a viewfinder as well as the LCD (old film camera habits die hard), but all in all, it's a point-and-shoot that's easy to use & easy to recommend!
- Similar:
- Panasonic DMC-FZ20
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
Photography is my hobbie that I have been praticing for many years. This camera is by far, one of the easiest to use. This camera is light weight, so can be taken anywhere with no strain on neck or shoulders. I've had many digical cameras over the years and this one takes the best pictures.
Pros
- 10x zoom
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Excellent image stability
- Great Picture Quality
- HD 720p Movie recording
- Strong Construction
- Up to 60sec shutter time
Cons
- Almost no manual controls
- HD movie format too big
- HD movie mono audio
- Kinda big
- Kinda long flash lag time
- Some noise in dark region
Best Uses
- Art
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Photojournalism
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
Great camera for the most part. The photo quality is really good, the LCD screen is amazing, the HD movie recording is fluid, and the zoom is super-useful during my trip to San Diego. Controls, image stabilization, menus, and functionality as a point-and-shoot is well-done.
Couple caveats: HD movie only records in mono audio & the format takes up way too much space: 2GB for a little over 8mins of video! Also, some indoor lighting can throw-off the white balance w/o flash, but there's a manual WB. Little manual control available. Finally, it is on the large size for a pocket camera. But, it is still a pocket camera.
Overall, I am satisfied with this camera, and should be a great bargain when its successor (TZ7 or ZS3) launches in April=)
Pros
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
A great camera -- small enough (but not ELPH size) to carry in pocket/purse, but with lots of functionality. The zoom range is great -- 28 to 280 optical, and additional digital. I've taken great pictures in low light hand-held. Has lots of features and modes (some I'm still exploring). And can get video. Like most P&S's, will pale to a SLR in terms of quick focusing on fast objects, but it does OK. In movie mode, it does some searching for focus, but you can fix the focus. In summary, while not a SLR, it's hard to find a camera with all these features in such a small package.
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Easy Setup
- Easy to Keep Clean
- Easy To Use
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Poor Operation in Low Light
- Short Battery Life
Best Uses
- Art
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
I got this for Christmas, and after a few shots was relatively disappointed with the outcome. The camera feels and looks great, but fails to deliver on picture quality. While the pictures look great and crisp on the LCD screen, once you blow them up even a little on a computer screen, they get very chunky and not so crisp. Also, I had major problems having the auto focus be consistent, especially with slightly higher iso settings. Many shots of my wife look like she is in motion, when in reality i asked her to remain still so i could test the auto focus. I am certainly not a professional photographer, but the shots i used to get with my 5 MP canon powershot seem much crisper to me than the ones from this camera, even in doors (or in the subway, for that matter). If you want a great looking camera that you mainly use to look at the pictures on the LCD screen (as many people do), this is good, but for accurate and crisp pictures, i would look elsewhere.
Pros
- 10x zoom
- Bright LCD
- Easy Setup
- Easy To Use
- Fast shutter speed
- HD Video
- Wide angle lense
Cons
- Poor audio
- Weak Construction
Best Uses
- Family Photos
- Fun
- Photojournalism
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera (Black):
The differentiators for me were the 10x lense and the burst mode shooting. I opted for the TZ5 rather than the TZ4 so I could get the HD (720p) video. After approximately 1 months with it I'm very happy. The 10x zoom is great at the zoo and the wide angle was quite helpful on a recent house inspection. With a class 6 SD card, I'm averaging about 4-6 shots per second in burst mode. The video is crisp and vibrant but the audio is no where as good as my miniDV Canon camcorder. The still pictures are on par with my 3 year old Canon Elph except that they are a bit more vibrant, sometimes a bit too much.
There are some minor complaints:
-Subpar audio, probably due to the location of the microphone
-Some lines that appeared when recording video with the sun in the background (Panasonic says this is a normal attribute of CCDs)
-The grip could probably be a bit larger
-The build quality doesn't seem as good as my old Canon (loose dial and lense cover).
Overall, this is a good little point and shoot that fits in your pocket but can act as a poor man's SLR and camcorder.
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Memory Cards
Sufficient memory is not included so be sure to have enough storage capacity.
- Price: $9.95
- GBP 6.34
Batteries & Power
Always keep a spare battery handy so you won't get caught without power.
- Price: $29.99
- GBP 19.10
Bags & Straps
Carry, store, and protect all your equipment with a bag or a strap.
- Price: $10.99
- GBP 7.00
Screen Protectors
Protect your LCD screen from scratches and finger prints.
- Price: $8.95
- GBP 5.70
Filters & Adapters
Get the desired effect with a filter and the appropriate adapter.
- Price: $13.98
- GBP 8.90
Tripod & Support
Place your camera on a tripod for the support and stability you need.
- Price: $12.95
- GBP 8.25
Books & Tutorials
Learn all that your new camera can do.
- Price: $17.95
- GBP 11.43
What's in the Box
- CGA-S007 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery
- Battery Charger
- USB Cable
- A/V Cable
- Wrist Strap
- Software CD-ROM (PhotofunStudio viewer, ArcSoft MediaImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, QuickTime, Adobe Reader, USB Driver)
- User Guide
- 1 Year Parts/90 Days Labor U.S.A. Limited Warranty
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