Panasonic DMC-TZ5S Best Price, Review, Compare

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 3:39 am

Panasonic DMC-TZ5S Best Price, Review, Compare.

Product: Panasonic DMC-TZ5S

List Price: $349.95
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I did a colossal deal of research before purchasing this camera because I don't have the time or money that some people apparently have to be doing the eBay revolving door thing. What I came to realize is that, disappointingly, there isn't a clearly grand compact or ultracompact camera out there. There are only cameras with greater or lesser compromises and the trick is finding the one you can live with. The Lumix TZ5 was a marvelous move companion and turned out to have few flaws.

Since it irritates me when people say that they do a sizable deal of research and then never piece it (doesn't that irritate you? ), here are some of the cameras I ruled out based on my (maybe not your) criteria:

Fujifilm FinePix F100fd (difficult menu compose, pink banding yell), Canon PowerShot SD890 IS (reported bad handling and poorly designed controls), Casio Exilim Card EX-S10 (No image stabilization, very slim, describe quality ok, dilapidated zoom, miniature controls), Casio Exilim EX-S880 (No image stabilization, reported dreadful image quality), Olympus Stylus 850 SW (reportedly unpleasant video shooting, dreadful battery life), Pentax Optio V10 (No image stabilization), Casio EX-Z1080 (Reduced pixels compared to others, 38mm starting range), Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 (Reportedly falls short on image quality, no viewfinder, larger), Ricoh Caplio R7 (No optical viewfinder, very noisy, some barrel distortion when fully extended, awful customer service?, reported quality mediocre), Pentax Optio A40 (Reportedly awful autofocus), and Canon PowerShot A470 (No viewfinder, no image stabilization, faded zoom) .

Unfortunately, doing all this research meant I didn't salvage the Lumix TZ5 till apt before my amble to Amsterdam - I was literally reading the manual on the plane. I don't recommend this, but it does assist as a gracious smash test for what the camera could (and could not) do out-of-the-box.

As you probably know, this isn't an ultracompact but it is not as tremendous as some reviewers develop out. Could fit in a ample pocket but it is rather heavy and unprotected in that environment so I got a LowePro case for it that sat on my belt. Worked well, allowed for extra batteries and SD card, and access was swiftly for candid shots.

Things that worked well:

* The Intellectual Auto mode worked resplendent well for most situations. I suggest studying the exposure compensation settings since I had to consume these often in high difference and bulky sun situations.

* One handed operation works well.

* Menu system was radiant intuitive for basic functions.

* Zoom is unbelievable and E.Zoom setting was very useful. Be clear to read how to consume the "extended optical zoom" which lets you go out to 16.9x at reduced report quality (I contain you have to have report quality area at max 9MB and this is then reduced to 3MB) . I didn't employ the digital zoom.

* The cover is magnificent and the playback is improbable - many people commented on this.

* Taking video is pleasing easy, though I would have preferred a button rather than having to rotate a dial. Be careful on playback to distinguish between what is a quiet recount and what is video - I accidentally deleted some video because I idea they were unpleasant unexcited shots, rather than the inaugurate of the video.

* If the dial is accidentally rotated, the camera will not let you prefer a represent until you correctly settle an actually setting.

* Fairly fleet open up - not stellar but not dreadful.

* Can area up something called Depart Date, which will organize pictures by 1st, 2nd, 3rd day. This was useful when sharing pictures and to benefit you remember the chronology of the stir.

* You can zoom while taking video, although more slowly than with smooth shots.

What didn't work well:

* No matter what you read, the glowing LCD veil is no replacement for a opinion finder even when you expend the Auto Power LCD option to compensate. In daylight, even on the brightest setting, the mask washes out. Another dilemma I had was I had to win my glasses to manufacture on the camouflage, which was a hassle with rapidly-moving candid shots. This was the biggest disappointment and I took off one star for this.

* Determined functions of the camera will only work in distinct settings. For example, you can only region the self-timer for 10 sec in IA mode, histograms cannot be displayed in IA mode, exposure settings can only be veteran in normal mode, extended optical zoom cannot be worn in motion relate mode, etc. It can be frustrating, and you can miss a satisfactory shot, if you don't have all that memorized. I imagine all cameras are like this, but understanding I would mention it since we are discussing an out-of-the-box experience.

* The door to the sockets on the right-hand side comes originate easily (does not lock closed but only snaps shut), which is a hassle at times. I am concerned that it will snap off one day.

* In my idea, the flash is underpowered.

Overall, I am delighted with the TZ5 and impressed with the pictures and video it produced - especially since I had so itsy-bitsy experience with it. My friend, who is a film maker by trade, was also impressed with the camera. It is bigger than I would have liked, but the trade off for a 10X zoom was worth it for me.

Do derive an extra battery - I went through both batteries in 4 hours of shooting, mostly stills but some video. Tall hassle to hurry out of juice in the middle of your day. A SD Uncouth III 8GB was recommended in some reviews and it worked well for me, especially with shooting video. In doing research about buying a camera, one of the most worthy websites I found was the "What Camera Should I Consume? " forum at the Digital Camera Resource Page - [...]

In looking at the reviews here on Amazon for the TZ5, be aware that they are organized by color, so check each color for information about this camera.

I already wrote a review on the slight sister, the TZ4, which is a phenomenal camera; I am however returning it because the ticket differential with the TZ5 is so uncouth at this point it made more sense for me to spring for the few extra bucks on the TZ5 .

If you read any professional reviews, you already know that this is not the camera for poster size enlargements, even at rude ISO values. While the noise reduction has been turned down, there is mild some NR smudging and noise. Thankfully, the noise at least can be removed to the point where I was able to doctor a sample ISO 1600 narrate to see fair handsome in 4 x 6 size (thanks to NeatImage) . And I've had no problems with 8 x 10's at ISO 100 and 200.

And guess what? That is THE ONLY allege with this camera, and it is one that all other compact cameras also section to various extents. The contrast here is that many other compacts also add lots of other "negatives" to the mix, such as severe wide angle distortion, wild and wooly purple fringing, reduced zoom range, and corner blurriness . The TZ 4 and 5 do nothing of the kind.

For what you're getting, a compact, POCKETABLE 28 - 280 Leica lens with IS, there simply is nothing like it out there. And that's before even looking at the HD movie mode, the surprisingly legal brilliant scene selection feature, the lustrous LCD and the jewel-like workmanship.

This is the ultimate vacation camera if you opinion to leave your DSLR home and fade lightly, and aren't spending all day in museums shooting w/o flash. I highly recommend this camera, especially if you lock in the highest possible ISO value at 400, turn the dial to iA, and then give the camera to a complete newbie to shoot pictures with. I mediate he/she AND you will be very pleasantly surprised with the capable results.

As an advanced photographer with two pro DSLRs and an array of lenses I was looking for a light compact camera that will calm have some of the features I am so feeble to from my DSLRs. This camera has the best lens in the industry bar none. Leica is marvelous to any other compact point and shoot lens out there (except other Lumix cameras that all employ a Leica Lens) . The camera is swiftly wt commence up and can engage 3 FPS in sports mode. It packs a 10X optical zoom and on the TZ5 can go up o 17X with some resolution loss. I never employ Digital zoom as I do not reflect it a zoom.

The Camera ergonomics is large, may of the features photographers need are easily accessible and well though of. I have been using the TZ3 for 2 years and took more than 10000 pictures with incredible results. I pick many night shots and this is really where this camera excels. It can assume 15, 30 and 60 seconds exposures which no other compact can do.

Battery life es very acceptable. A second battery is a recommended inexpensive accessory. The camera get quality is pleasurable, durable materials and high quality. I have evaluated a large number of cameras and the Lumix comes on top by far based on its image quality, image stabilization, optical zoom, Leica top-notch lens, make factor and overall value. The closest camera you can salvage with similar performance is the Canon SX 100 IS. It is bigger, bulkier, heavier, powerful noteworthy slower and costs about the same. When it comes to compact point and shoot with advanced features and a hefty zoom nothing beats the Lumix.

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