Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5

9.10 Megapixels   10.00X optical zoom lens   3.0 inch LCD

One of the most thrilling announcements at PMA 2008 wasn't a DSLR, but the after that age group of Panasonic's TZ series of small high-zoom cameras, the Lumix DMC-TZ5 ($299, predictable street). Panasonic also announce the DMC-TZ4, but since the TZ5 is the higher of the two, we'll center on it here.

Purchase Camera By:

The Panasonic TZ5 has the similar 10x optically stabilized 28-280mm f/3.3-4.9 Leica DC Vario-Elmarit goblet as the TZ3, other than it jump to 9.0 effectual megapixels, adds 720p HD video imprison (1280x720 pixels at 30fps!), burst 2.5 fps at filled decree or 10fps at 2MP, can output still photo to an HDTV via an not obligatory part cable, adds a devoted playback/capture button, a devoted one-touch wide-to-tele zoom button, upgrades to a 406,spot, 3-inch (diagonal) TFT LCD that auto gain, and a host of other upgrade. For the most part, the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 represents a very rational and imposing evolution of the TZ lineup.

If you remember in our reporting of both the TZ3 and TZ1, we've been clamor for RAW imprison, and more physical controls on the after that generation of TZ cameras. Did Panasonic listen? Totally not. Nope, there's no RAW, nor are present full physical controls.

But following a long day of testing with an early manufacture version of the new TZ5 we don't resent Panasonic one bit for eschew RAW or manual controls. Inside many ways, the TZ5 is truthfully a point-and-shoot camera, in the total best sense of that oft-maligned word. We ran the TZ5 from side to side its pace in and approximately Las Vegas, Nevada and the Grand gorge, together on the ground, and from the heavens. And more often than not, we nailed the shots we were following.

One new characteristic of the camera is the so-called "clever ISO," skill which Panasonic claim analyzes the image in awake to 3,000 quadrants and can regulate the ISO in some or all of these areas to optimize the contact in demanding lighting situation. And all this is motorized by the new Venus IV engine, an improve to the computer which Panasonic tells us will do attractive much all except polish our shoes.

We put the camera to highest-quality JPEG imprison, and absent all other image excellence settings to the camera default and ablaze away at just about all we could see -- jet fighters, contest cars, rock formations, far-away hills, nightspot dancers, towering casinos, in the middle of other belongings. The TZ5 did a very reputable job of capture the scenes, even at what time there was extreme difference, mist, and other scene-destroying rudiments in the border (other than those pesky reflection in the airplane window glass). It seem the TZ5's sensor plus firmware are intended to protect details and colors crossways a wide lively range, and in our first impersonation, it does this very decently. Shadow and highlight feature is good, and we were quite honestly astonished to see toe and shoulder particulars in a number of shots we consideration would undergo from serious cases of blowout and block up. almost certainly due to this notice to feature, we found most shots wanted a little bit of post-processing to put in contrast. We're completely OK with this! We'd quite have to nip our shots lightly in post-production for optimization than contain overly cooked contrast shots as the crow flies from the camera that are tougher to correct in position.

More on Panasonic