Zalebox.com : Consumer Buying Guide

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Blue
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: DMC-TZ5A
• Released on: 2008-03-07
• Dimensions: 4.07″ h x 1.44″ w x 2.33″ l, .47 pounds
• Display size: 3
• Included Software: Yes

Features

• 9-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
• 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens; Face Detection
• New Panasonic Venus Engine IV improves noise reduction, elevates the detection accuracy and corrective effects
• 3.0-inch LCD; Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO
• Captures images to SD memory cards (not included)

Manufacturer Description

The 9.1-megapixel Panasonic DMC-TZ5 packs a 28mm wide-angle, 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens in a compact design, ideal for the active photographer who needs a versatile camera. By combining a 28mm wide-angle lens, which lets you capture a wider-framed shot when compared to a traditional 35mm camera, with the TZ-Series 10x optical zoom, you’re empowered to take expanded shots, both wide and far. Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto technologies are also expanded, with new Intelligent Exposure and Digital Red-eye Correction.

With the addition of Intelligent Exposure and Digital Red-eye Correction, Panasonic’s Advanced Intelligent Auto mode consists of seven intuitive technologies, all which are specifically designed to help make photo-taking an enjoyable and seamless process unnoticed by the consumer — helping them to take clear photos. When in Advanced Intelligent Auto mode, the following technologies all operate automatically; no settings need to be manually changed.

Also new to the TZ5 is the Venus Engine IV, Panasonic’s new high-performance image processing LSI. The Venus Engine IV produces higher-quality pictures than its predecessor, the Venus Engine III, by using a more advanced signal processing system. The new Venus Engine IV also improves noise reduction, elevates the detection accuracy and corrective effects in both Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO and reduces the shutter release time lag. Both models also incorporate Intelligent LCD, which detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level of the LCD in 11 fine steps, to offer optimal clarity in any situation, whether dark or light; indoors or outdoors. With a newly developed 460,000-dot high resolution in the TZ5’s 3.0-inch LCD, photos can be easily viewed on the display, regardless of the shooting environment.

The TZ5 is also capable of recording 720p high-definition motion pictures, and because of its support of SD memory cards, is easily compatible with Panasonic Viera plasma HDTVs that have an integrated SD memory card slot, so viewing photos is simple. Also, with the newly added HD component output capability, users can also connect the TZ5 to an HDTV and watch a slideshow complete with mood-appropriate music, choosing from natural, slow, urban and swing.

Lumix DMC-TZ5A Highlights

Intelligent Exposure With this new feature, photos will no longer be under- or over-exposed. Instead, the TZ5 instantly analyzes the framed image and adjusts the brightness in areas that are too dark because of dim lighting, backlighting or the use of the flash. The camera will automatically adjust the brightness accordingly.

Digital Red-eye Correction This feature helps to eliminate the red-eye problem that sometimes results when taking flash shots at the night. Incorporated into the built-in flash, the camera emits a small preliminary flash before the main flash, detects red-eye and will digitally correct it.

Mega O.I.S. Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and the lens system shifts to compensate, helping to prevent hand-shake from creating a blurry image.

Intelligent ISO With Intelligent ISO, the TZ5 can determine if the photo subject is moving and change the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus giving a blur-free photo.

Intelligent Scene Selector Intelligent Scene Selector senses the ambient conditions, recognizes the shooting environment and will automatically select the appropriate scene mode from: Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode. This intuitive technology, helps you use the most common scene modes that are built into the camera, but often go unused, without making any manual adjustments.

Face Detection Panasonic’s Face Detection detects faces anywhere in the frame and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure settings so portraits come out clear and crisp. Detecting up to 15 faces, Panasonic’s Face Detection can even track a face if the subject is moving.

Continuous AF The Continuous AF (auto focus) system maintains focus on the subject even without pressing a shutter button halfway, thus minimizing the AF time.

Customer Reviews

Lumix- great zoom, easy to use
I bought this mainly for the flexibility of having a (35mm equivalent) 28-280 zoom. The Leica made lens does not disappoint.
As a multi-Canon owner I was unsure of learning new menu icons but the Lumix is fairly easy to adapt to. Love the ‘quick menu’ guide.
Only downside is I do occasionally miss having an optical viewfinder and why can you only use certain IS and Aspect Ratios settings with video?

With the close-outs deals the TZ5 is a No-Brainer
All the leading camera makers offer outstanding products for family photograhy, but after cutting through all the gadgety stuff and arcane settings that I’ll never used, but the TZ5 was the only contender with a real Leica lens, 10X zoom, 28mm wide-angle, and 3″ screen. When prices were reduced because a new TZ7 model was being introduced, it reached no-brainer level.

I’m not a highly skilled photographer but I’m getting exceptionally high quality pictures effortlessly. I took some test shots in problem lighting and the subjects were consistently well exposed. The controls are simple, the 10X zoom rocks, the flash brightens the whole room, and the LCD screen is big and bright. And its easier to grip than the slightly smaller ultra-compacts. I look forward to becoming familiar with the manual settings to get even more out of it.

Another thing…camera reviews usually give little space to video performance. TZ5 video is simply SPECTACULAR in daylight use. I haven’t done any vids in artificial light so can’t comment on that. Though limited by the software to 15 minutes per shoot (EU import issues?), the 16:9 high quality setting produces home video as good as any I’ve seen. Its supposed to be even better in full HD if the $35 optional “component” cable is used, but really I can’t imagine how. And it zooms while videoing, though the autofocus might not keep up in large changes.

I bought my TZ5 for $[...]at Costco but would have no issues spending more and am very satisfied.

Panasonic Lumix TZ5 Awesome Camera!
I bought this camera for the wide angle lens. It sole purpose was for a vacation pictures and then new baby photos.
So far it has only been used for the V action shots. It has worked flawlessly. It takes great pictures. The camera is a tiny pit heavy compared to others in its size, but in its class it is small light weight and excellent.
I would recommend this camera to all friends and family.