Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) Reviews

• The best compact digicam money can buy today

  
  By A34CPEAFJ52Y27 on 2008-04-02
  As an advanced photographer with two pro DSLRs and an array of lenses I was looking for a light compact camera that will still have some of the features I am so used to from my DSLRs. This camera has the best lens in the industry bar none. Leica is superior to any other compact point and shoot lens out there (except other Lumix cameras that all use a Leica Lens). The camera is fast wt start up and can take 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 use Digital zoom as I do not consider it a zoom.
  The Camera ergonomics is great, 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 amazing results. I take many night shots and this is really where this camera excels. It can take 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 build quality is good, durable materials and high quality. I have evaluated a huge number of cameras and the Lumix comes on top by far based on its image quality, image stabilization, optical zoom, Leica superior lens, form factor and overall value. The closest camera you can get with similar performance is the Canon SX 100 IS. It is bigger, bulkier, heavier, much much 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.
  
  
  
  

• Dissapointing

  
  By A24HG9JM6B3VZ2 on 2008-03-31
  I purchased the TZ5 because I was interested in the 28-280mm zoom lens (35mm equivalent) for a trip to SE Asia.. A couple of friends had the TZ3, which peeked my interest. However, I was ultimately dissapointed in its performance in low light situations and ISO over 200. I had read that the TZ5 would prove superior in this regard, but it turns out only minimally so.
  
  I have spent the last two days putting the TZ5 through its paces and comparing it shot by shot with my Canon SD870. The Canon blew it away time after time, especially in low light situations. I was looking for a camera that would give me the same quality image as the Canon SD870, but also provide a more substantial zoom range in a small package. The TZ5 fell short. However, I don't know of any other compact camera outside the Lumix TZ line that offers anywhere near the zoom range, so it does benefit from occupying a very unique niche.
  
  My advice: If you need the 28-280mm zoom lens, it's your only option. If not, go with the Canon SD870
  
  

• Great Travel Camera

  
  By A2ZR0UFWJWVRHO on 2008-05-31
  I did a great 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 superior 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 good travel companion and turned out to have few flaws.
  
  Since it irritates me when people say that they do a great deal of research and then never share 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 design, pink banding issue), Canon PowerShot SD890 IS (reported awful handling and poorly designed controls), Casio Exilim Card EX-S10 (No image stabilization, very slim, picture quality ok, weak zoom, tiny controls), Casio Exilim EX-S880 (No image stabilization, reported poor image quality), Olympus Stylus 850 SW (reportedly poor video shooting, poor 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, poor customer service?, reported quality mediocre), Pentax Optio A40 (Reportedly poor autofocus), and Canon PowerShot A470 (No viewfinder, no image stabilization, weak zoom).
  
  Unfortunately, doing all this research meant I didn't get the Lumix TZ5 till right before my trip to Amsterdam - I was literally reading the manual on the plane. I don't recommend this, but it does serve as a good crash 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 big as some reviewers make out. Could fit in a large 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 quick for candid shots.
  
  Things that worked well:
  * The Intelligent Auto mode worked pretty well for most situations. I suggest studying the exposure compensation settings since I had to use these often in high contrast and full sun situations.
  * One handed operation works well.
  * Menu system was pretty intuitive for basic functions.
  * Zoom is amazing and E.Zoom setting was very useful. Be sure to read how to use the "extended optical zoom" which lets you go out to 16.9x at reduced picture quality (I believe you have to have picture quality set at max 9MB and this is then reduced to 3MB). I didn't use the digital zoom.
  * The screen is gorgeous and the playback is amazing - many people commented on this.
  * Taking video is pretty 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 still picture and what is video - I accidentally deleted some video because I thought they were poor still shots, rather than the start of the video.
  * If the dial is accidentally rotated, the camera will not let you take a picture until you correctly choose an actually setting.
  * Fairly quick start up - not stellar but not bad.
  * Can set up something called Travel Date, which will organize pictures by 1st, 2nd, 3rd day. This was useful when sharing pictures and to help you remember the chronology of the trip.
  * You can zoom while taking video, although more slowly than with still shots.
  
  What didn't work well:
  * No matter what you read, the pretty LCD screen is no replacement for a view finder even when you use the Auto Power LCD option to compensate. In daylight, even on the brightest setting, the screen washes out. Another problem I had was I had to remove my glasses to compose on the screen, which was a hassle with rapidly-moving candid shots. This was the biggest disappointment and I took off one star for this.
  * Certain functions of the camera will only work in certain settings. For example, you can only set the self-timer for 10 sec in IA mode, histograms cannot be displayed in IA mode, exposure settings can only be used in normal mode, extended optical zoom cannot be used in motion picture mode, etc. It can be frustrating, and you can miss a good shot, if you don't have all that memorized. I imagine all cameras are like this, but thought 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 open 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 opinion, the flash is underpowered.
  
  Overall, I am happy with the TZ5 and impressed with the pictures and video it produced - especially since I had so little 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 get an extra battery - I went through both batteries in 4 hours of shooting, mostly stills but some video. Big hassle to run out of juice in the middle of your day. A SD Extreme 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 helpful websites I found was the "What Camera Should I Buy?" 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.
  
  

• Honestly, nine out of ten or 95 out of 100. It's just short of perfect.

  
  By A2ZR3YTMEEIIZ4 on 2008-04-08
  I love this camera. I really do. I'm so happy with its performance and feature-set, I'm willing to forgive the lack of manual controls and the price drop I just saw.
  
  I pre-ordered and also bought a 16Gb SDHC card. I plan on having this device replace my current Canon Powershot A75 and my Sony TRV-608 camcorder. I can plan this way because... this camera shoots 720p high-definition video. My big-screen LCD will really allow the captured video to shine. In my preliminary tests on a 22" LCD, the output is gorgeous, so much clearer and vibrant than the Hi-8 video I would shoot using the old Sony.
  
  It's a wonderful progression of technology. My Sony camcorder can shoot in zero light, zooms to some ridiculous level, but I hardly ever use it because it's yet-another-device you need to carry. My Canon worked well for three years, then decided to stop running. I loved the manual controls and ability to bracket shots, but with 3x optical zoom, I was missing something. Plus, it was a family camera, and The Wife could not care less about manual controls.
  
  The Lumix TZ5 is a perfect blend of features and performance for me. It will allow me to grab high-definition camcorder video in the same device I can just hand to The Wife and say, "Press the button". It has a removable Li-On battery with separate charger, so I can buy a spare and keep them charged and ready to travel. It does a lot, for a fair price.
  
  I will miss the manual controls, especially for low-light shots, but in my testing I've already seen how well it can handle low-light with no flash. Pictures look remarkable, shutter lag is less than the A75, and flash recharge is not too bad. The LCD screen is huge compared to the A75, almost the size of a PDA screen. That'll take some getting used to, especially since there's no optical viewfinder. In all, I'm really happy with it, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new point-and-shoot who needs the ability to grab quality video every now and then. With two kids, that'll be every day for me.
  
  -C
  
  
  
  

• Amazing Point and Shoot!

  
  By A2UE437XZ2QY86 on 2008-03-22
  [EDITED] 03/29/08: []-indicates modifications
  
  I've had the camera for [about 2 weeks now] so bear in mind that not all the features were tested. Also, this is my first advanced point and shoot camera so I cannot compare it to others I didn't own. I've tested the reasons why I chose this particular camera. The high resolution, compact size (can't really test that except that it fits in my pocket great!), and its ability to shoot high resolution video.
  
  The high resolution is amazing but only a 4 star. 4 because there will be much playing around to do in order to get the sharpest possible image. Perhaps the ISO was set too high, perhaps I didn't use the perfect setting, much playing around to be a perfectionist - and only because I am coming off a manual digital camera where you have full control.
  
  The pre-set settings in this are incredible! It even has a pre-set setting for PETS! I shoved the camera in my spaztic cats face and as he was trying to get away, I had a clear and up close shot of his face (with FLASH!) Any other digital camera and it would have been fuzzy or non existant as the lag between shutter, flash, and actual photo would be greater than the cat's ability to dissapear within a second. I did this more than once - super sharp and ultra fast! Poor cat...
  
  There are baby-settings where you can give it a name and birthdate! Probably so you can title your pictures automatically later - I don't know yet - but it's cool!
  
  Face detection - perfect! 4 faces in one shot I believe. Also, the flash compensates to the distance to each face (multiple flashes) so if you're closer to one person, that person's face won't be washed out in light! That's amazing technology!
  
  Enough tech - plenty more in there to play with - onto the video!
  I wanted a camcorder replacement so I don't buy another gadget just to take the few videos I DO want to take. Something fast and easy to capture the moments as they arrive out of nowhere. This camera's ability to take 1280x720 wide-screen videos to display on our flat-screen is what I was looking for. I only give it 4 stars though - which is STILL such a feat! The reason for a missing star is the camera's inability to focus fast enough on moving objects or while you're zooming. I'm sure the motor tech will develop over subsequent cameras but for SUCH a small package to deliver such high resolution "clips" is truly a feat! The maximum length of video at the highest resolution [tested] is 2GB [turned out to be 10:38 minutes]. Most videos won't need that much continuous shooting anyway so that's not a big deal. The format is Quicktime's MOV. I'll need to play around with transfering that to DVDs but looks great on the computer! You can get the optional component cable that hooks directly onto the camera to the TV for instant enjoyment. (it comes with a VGA cable). [I hooked up the camera to a 42" HD Plasma via the AV cable and got a great resolution - better than a broadcast TV and JUST shy of HD sharpness - but I was up next to the screen so sitting back at the couch - doubt I could tell the difference. The AV cable is mono with one video out so the sound only came out of the center channel speaker. I'd give the sound 3-stars as there was a detectible background noise - I made sure to test it with little sound to decipher. Sounds and voices came out clear - but it was not high fidelity by any means. This is definately NOT a surround sound HD camcorder! The camcorder "clips" however are phenomenal!]
  
  Oh, also, to download pictures from the camera to the computer? NOTHING REQUIRED TO INSTALL!!!! You plug the camera in the USB port, turn on the camera, choose PC on the camera (you can set it to always be that), and the computer recognizes it as a hard-drive from where you can drag and drop to your hearts content!
  
  This is NO DSLR where you have full control - but that's not what this is for. So as you can tell, I highly recommend it and know it will be the perfect companion for pretty much all your photo-video needs in ONE tiny package (which travels VERY well!).
  
  [I am still working on posting samples - I'm sure others will beat me to the punch now that it's widely available and on sale]
  
  
• If you know what you're getting into, you'll be thrilled
  By A3KEFFVJMUG0RY on 2008-04-24
  I already wrote a review on the little sister, the TZ4, which is a phenomenal camera; I am however returning it because the price differential with the TZ5 is so low 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 low ISO values. While the noise reduction has been turned down, there is still 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 picture to look just fine 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 issue with this camera, and it is one that all other compact cameras also share to various extents. The difference 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 accurate intelligent scene selection feature, the brilliant LCD and the jewel-like workmanship.
  
  This is the ultimate vacation camera if you plan to leave your DSLR home and travel 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 think he/she AND you will be very pleasantly surprised with the excellent results.
  
  
• Nice upgrade over my TZ3
  By A2UOHALGF2X77Q on 2008-03-28
  I received my TZ5 today, and so far I'm impressed. While some of the improvements over my TZ3 are minor, some are significant. Most people will enjoy the return of zooming ability while taking video, and the introduction of HD video. The TZ5's LCD screen is the nicest I've ever seen on a camera. I've taken several dozen test pictures under different circumstances, and the results were for the most part very good. Under perfect conditions, the results weren't much different than the TZ3. Under low light conditions, the Venus IV engine seems to do a little better with noise at ISO 400 and above. I wouldn't call it a dramatic improvement though. I'm going to do a little "pixel peeping" in the near future to see how the TZ5's small sensor handles the increase in megapixels. All in all, the TZ5 is just a great camera that is loaded with features. Is it a DSLR? No, but it's not supposed to be. If you already own a TZ3, you may want to weigh whether the TZ5 has enough new features and improvements. For myself, I'm happy with the upgrade, and will give my TZ3 to my wife. The only thing I wish that I had done was get a black TZ5 instead of the silver one.
  
  
  
  
• Great Small Camera!
  By A2QTQFOTPBS1OR on 2008-04-07
  I have a Pansonic DMC-FZ7 that takes excellent photos, but is a bit bulky when you don't want to look like a tourist. I've grown jealous of a friend's Panasonic DMC-TZ3 which he keeps on his belt loop in a Lowepro Rezo 30 case. It also has a wide angle lens which I don't have on the FZ7. I've purchased the TZ5 as a second camera for when I want to be a more discreet tourist without a camera bag. This may become my primary camera.
  
  I am not a fan of small cameras as a rule. Some of them (e.g., Canon Elph) have screens and icons so small, I can't see them. But this camera has a lot of features, most also available on the TZ3 & new TZ4. (The TZ3/TZ4/TZ5 fit into the Lowepro Rezo 30 case, but no room to spare.)
  
  The choice of which model to buy depends on your need for Megapixels and what you are willing to spend. I have used my friend's TZ3 and don't really notice any significant improvements in the workings of the TZ5 that would justify the price for routine point-and-shoot photos. However, the TZ5 has a 3 inch LCD while the TZ3 & TZ4 only have 2.5 inch. That was a deciding factor for me.
  
  If you need a camera where you look through a traditional view finder to frame your photos, this is not the right camera for you. I prefer using the LCD screen, so I don't miss this feature.
  
  I find the Panasonic menus easy to use to access all of the varied features. If you just want to use it as a point-and-shoot, it's easy to do. If you want to experiment, the features are there for you to play with...
  
  There is another feature on Panasonic that is an absolute MUST for me. It is possible to set the flash "off" so it doesn't go off when you don't want it to (i.e., in places that restrict flash photography). Some of my friends have cameras where they have to turn the flash off each time. And they forget...
  
  Another reason I opted for the Pansonic FZ/TZ series is the easy to use battery charger/rechargeable battery. The batteries that hold their charge for 1-3 days, but I do carry a spare. I'm not a fan of carrying around AA or AAA batteries.
  
  
  
• TZ5A is a qualified "10"
  By A3VX6DDDK0681Z on 2008-05-11
  Lumix is perfect for me, former pro photog in the 60s. Recently restarted with an FZ20, liked it semi-pro. Went FZ30, better. Went FZ50 and it does excellent portraits/landscapes, so replaced my Olympus point-and-shoot (P&S) (good camera, but xD) with TZ3K (black), and cut my "shaky" pix in half, improved my low light (harbors at night, etc.) pix, and got very good family pix even with the wimpy flash. So when the TZ5A (blue) came out, it was just a bit pricey. With Amazon discount, bought it early this year, and I remain very impressed with its quality despite being a P&S. The face recognition does a better job than the excellent TZ3, the 10X zoom gets shots I used to have to skip, color is very good, and it works well with CS3 and Elements 6.0 at 9 Megapixels. This camera lacks manual controls, but from what I've seen so far, I haven't needed them: the automatic/ intelligent exposure rarely misses. Battery life is very good (200 to 250 pix average before replace/recharge). I've become a Lumix fan because much as I loved 35 mm and 2-1/4 Mamiya and Nikon years ago, Lumix gives routinely nearly the same quality without the extra cost and complex menus that can buffalo us oldsters. Lightweight, commonly available battery same as the TZ3, and it ran the 8 Gb and 16 Gb flash cards with no significant problem (counter has a display-only limit with 16 Gb). With SDHC cards, the Lumix TZ5 (A, K, or S) is my choice for a non-pro but near pro-quality P&S camera. Wow! Cheyguy
  
  
• Awesome Camera for anyone!
  By A2SPCY7D4XOMMP on 2008-04-06
  I bought this camera after 3 years of researching digital cameras. I know its a little excessive but I wanted to make sure I was getting the best for my money. A few things really caught my eye with this camera. The 10x zoom. The 460,000 pixel screen and the Intelligent Auto mode. There are so many features on the camera its hard to explain them all. It takes amazing pictures, especially for a point and shoot. There are lots of scene specific choices. It takes great night shots with the starry night mode and fantastic video in widescreen and highdef 720p. Which is amazing. I can't believe a camera this small can take this kind of video. I'm always trying to get pictures of my 8 month old nephew but he moves so fast I needed a very fast camera and this is it. I always get the shot I want. It has a rubberized grip and a spot for the thumb which helps alot because I just had wrist surgery and it helps me alot when holding the camera. Most point and shoots don't have this. It has convenient popup menu and camera or playmode switch which is really nice. I would highly recommend this camera any day to anybody. It beats out all the other point and shoots I've ever used by a long shot.
  
  
• Disappointed
  By A1WCRIQUX3L1AR on 2008-03-31
  I had been waiting for this camera to come out for a while, now that I have played with it for a few hours, I must say I am disappointed. I don't think that there are enough tech upgrades to get this model over the TZ3. The so called HD video is not HD by any means, and there are serious audio sync issues with the video I have taken. The videos are VERY grainy indoors, but better outdoors. The biggest issue is the very SLOW focus mechanism when shooting video, it's terrible. The main reason I waited for this camera was to have the option at better quality video, with the functionality of a P&S camera. It's quite large for a P&S, and frankly, there are other cameras out there with as good, if not better PQ in a smaller package. As far as the camera functionality, not much different that the TZ3. I don't think the extra pixels are worth the price. All I can say that it's going back to Amazon. BTW, Amazon, how about filling the "air bags" in the shipping box with actual air. Mine came with 3 deflated air bags, and a camera box that was loose in the package.
  
  
• LOVE IT!!!
  By AOVU033F4LJK1 on 2008-04-09
  I also wanted to replace an older canon powershot AND an old canon camcorder. With kids, it needed to fit into my SMALL messenger bag (about 7"x9")along with diapers/wipes, etc. I was leery of the quality of the video, as I had read reviews where they noticed the camera constantly trying to focus on the images. If you turn off the autofocus and set the focus setting to the whole screen, you can alleviate this problem. The video is GREAT, the photos are awesome. I love that the battery recharges INSIDE the charger - wireless. I bought a 16gb card with reader for around $80 on amazon so I can handle about 1 hr of the highest quality video (in 9 minute increments). It's met all of my requirements. It feels sturdily built, the lcd screen is amazing (get a boxwave screen protector!), and I'm having lots of fun and finally taking the photos and videos of my kids I should have been taking for the last couple of years. Always read reviews here on amazon but never written one - will update if any problems.
  
  
• Just A Great, Great Little Camera
  By A1I2MGEJJ056MI on 2008-05-19
  I came from a Sony DSC-V1 which was a terrific camera in it's day. It's downfall was a tiny little LCD screen and a limited zoom range that ended at 35mm on the wide end. I wanted a camera that went down to at least 28mm and had a clear, large LCD. I looked at the Canon 870IS and the Nikon P-80 but settled on this. Why? The Canon's LCD was not as clear as the Lumix and it had a limited zoom range on the top end. And, to be honest, it didn't have some of the 'bells and whistles' that the Lumix did. The Nikon was really not pocketable and has been getting horrible reviews all over the internet since it's recent introduction (Amazon, DPReview.com, etc.). It seems that Nikon really knows how to do dSLR's but comes up way short in the P&S category. I also briefly considered the Fuji 100SD but rejected it due to well known problems with pink banding and purple fringing. If you like to do a lot of low light, higher ISO photography though, the Fuji should be on your very short list.
  
  I know a number of people have complained that the TZ5 is 'not as small' as they thought/hoped it would be. C'mon guys, this thing has a 10x zoom that goes down to 28mm!!! Something with those capabilities is never going to be the size of a credit card! And the thing for me is that I just can't stand geometric distortion and the Panasonic/Leica is a real champ in this regard. There's nothing worse than that horrible barrel distortion you see in so many wide angle lenses. This one has none of that. The trade off is that it gets iffy at higher ISO's. You can effectively prevent this by setting the camera to never let the ISO get above, say 400. The camera allows you to do this. The Optical Image Stabilization ("OIS") is really superb as are the exposure options. And, of course, the face recognition is a great new development that Panasonic has implemented quite well in this camera.
  
  Now to it's video capabilities. It'll shoot 720p HD video in 16:9 which is awesome if you have a HD TV which is, of course, 16:9. Just be sure to turn off "auto-focus" when in video mode or the camera will constantly be 'hunting' for the right focus. It's depth of field is excellent so it'll be in focus most of the time anyway.
  
  Just a couple of nits. The low light assist lamp is not terribly effective (nowhere near as good as the one on my Sony DSC-V1) and the camera sometimes takes a second or two to find the right focus in low light. And I wish there was a way to more easily control/allow for long shutter exposures as I love night photography. As it is, you have to set the camera to "Starry Night" (one of the scene modes) to get shutter speeds longer than 1 second. Not that big a deal and certainly a minor criticism of such an excellent overall camera.
  
  Oh, and one final thing...the build quality is superb. Everything about this camera just shrieks "quality." Great job Panasonic. All at a price point of <$300. Incredible!
  
  
• Awesome Point & Shoot Camera !!!
  By A2DYRA4E8EFFYC on 2008-04-28
  I must say that I am very satisfied with my purchase of the TZ5. I looked at the new Casio Z200 as well as the Nikon D500/600. Went to B&H in New York City to see first hand. The Casio & Nikon left me unimpressed. Once I had the Panasonic in my hand, I instantly felt something different. Without experimenting with it, the outside & overall look of it had true sense of craftmanship. It really isn't that big for a Point & shoort & it has a nice, solid feel to it. The more I played with it, the more impressed I became. I absolutely love the fact that you can take multiple shots by simply holding down the shoot button. Great if you have a young baby or small children. It's not exactly an SLR but for a digital point & shoot, I think it works great. The pictures come out great & the 3inch screen is crystal clear. I'm not a professional photographer, & I'm sure some professionals may find some fault, but overall, I'm really impressed with this camera. Nice job Panasonic !!!
  
  
• Very pleased so far!
  By A35HNDMXI6UEWN on 2008-03-31
  I pre-ordered this from Amazon and it was shipped from J&R Music World. I have had it about a week and I am very impressed. I returned my Canon SX100 because of poor battery life, this Lumix blows the Canon out of the water. Charged it for only 20 minutes out of the box and got over 3 hours of "play" time. I was concerned the first couple of indoors shots I took, kept coming out "red", with a little time spent playing with the scenes and camera I think I have figured it out. The ULTIMATE test for me is to go to a museum and take test shots. The shots I got were some of the most crisp and vibrant I have ever taken!! Zoom is INCREDIBLE and shots taken outside in bright conditions are wonderful! I love the feel of it, it has a lot of "bulk", not heavy but just feels very secure and SOLID in your hands! The TZ5 LCD has double the pixels of the TZ3 and is a simply the best LCD I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
• Great camera for features and size!!!
  By ASMBB2T4RBHHQ on 2008-04-30
  I did research for about two months before deciding to purchase this camera. I was originally going to buy the TZ3 for $249.99 and the day I was going to buy it I read an article that Panasonic was going to come out with the TZ5.
  
  I decided to wait a few weeks and read what I could regarding the quality of the new TZ5. It took a few weeks but reviews started popping up online and I was able to see the features of the new camera verses the TZ3. I decided to go ahead and spend the extra $50 dollars and purchase this camera.
  
  I am very pleased with the features of this camera. I was looking for a small compact camera that was easy to use for my wife, but a large zoom for me. Most point and shoot digital cameras have 3x or 4x zoom, this camera has a monster 10x zoom, which is great for my needs. The camera stays relatively small so my wife can carry it around and with the Ai settings it makes it a very easy camera to use, which meets her needs. I am also impressed with the photo quality of this camera. There was one hang up though and I expected this so I knew what I was getting into - right out of the box I had to begin reading the instruction manual and adjusting the cameras settings to get the best picture quality.
  
  Pros.
  + Small compact point and shoot with large 10x zoom
  + HD video resolution (720p capture with component cable playback)
  + Zoom while capturing video (option was not available in TZ3)
  + Ai setting makes the camera easy for beginners, just turn it on and shoot.
  + Large 3.0" LCD display screen makes reviewing pictures easy (the TZ5 also has a higher resolution screen then the TZ3)
  + 9.1 megapixel
  + Able to take pictures in different aspect ratio's 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9
  
  Cons.
  - Picture review button has changed from the TZ3 model. Now instead of easily hitting down on the 4 way directional pad you have to push a switch down to go into "review mode" to see the last picture you just took. I found this a little slower than the TZ3 and one more moving part that can break. For reference see the back of the TZ5 and notice the toggle switch from "capture to review" in the upper right hand corner.
  - If the camera is not set to Ai then taking a good picture straight out of the box might not be perfect. You will want to spend a little time reading the manual and adjusting some settings to get a great photo.
  - Will only us SDHC memory cards. Since I did not have a memory card this was not a problem for me, but if you are upgrading from an older camera you cannot use the old standard memory card. The new SDHC cards are faster and it is suggested that you get a high speed card (transfer rate) in order to capture HD video.
  - ISO Images above 800 do have artifacts (static) in the image. This does not make the photo horrible or bad looking just noticeable if you blow up the image to a large size such as an 8x10. I knew this going in and most digital cameras have this problem, some worse.
  
  
  After owning this camera for over a month I am very pleased with it and couldn't be happier. I hope this review helps and if you still need information or possibly some sample photos, then go to Google and type in "review Panasonic TZ5". You will see a few great websites that can help you decide what the best camera is for your needs.
  
  
  
• Panasonic TZ5
  By AUL983COKRGA5 on 2008-06-09
  I bought and returned this camera within 29 days from Amazon, they were great about the return and it was easy to do online. The reason I made the purchase in the first place was to replace my old Canon SD200, which still works great, it's just old and the water housing was getting beat. I figured I would buy the Panasonic based on specs and the fact there would be an available water housing for it. When I did make the purchase, I was not able to get the water housing for it yet, I expected to wait a little while, but took the camera to the beach and took great surf shots from a distance using the 10X optical zoom. The pictures turned out just OK, when zoomed in on them, I noticed they were a little grainy, (first gripe). I next took the camera to my kids school play which was in a dimly lit auditorium, suffice to say, this camera does not do well in low light and I didn't get some of the shots I wanted. I played with the settings but could not get this thing to cooperate. (second gripe) Finally, after having a couple of opportunities to try this out, HD Video included, I was not impressed and began to miss my little SD200. My three or four year old Canon was a lot faster, smaller, and took better pictures, so I decided that I didn't need 10X optical zoom (I wanted small to begin with) and that I sacrificed to many things to have 10X optical zoom and HD video and returned it, promptly going out and buying a Canon SD870 and a water housing the same day from my favorite little mom and pop camera shop down in Encinitas. My Canon blows the Panasonic away in all aspects. I also want to say, the Panasonic required a proprietary cable to hook up to the computer instead of your standard mini usb cable, which I found annoying. I will never buy another Panasonic camera again and instead stick with what I know and has never failed me, my Canon.
  
  
  
• An Awesome Camera with an Awesome Feature Set
  By A1Y0RKLUMMCHRO on 2008-04-29
  I have used this camera for about a week now and there is NOTHING I could really complain about. The pictures come out super sharp with really accurate colors. The stabilizer is really reliable, and the zoom is fast. The screen is OUTSTANDING....haven't seen anything clearer. I do like the quick zoom function, just press it and it maxes out the zoom for you. The lens is really useful, and the fact that it's still small enough to fit in my jeans pocket makes it a real winner.
  
  There are tons of scenic modes that are cool but I haven't gone through many of them. The face detection works like a champ, and the intelligent auto mode is the most smartest feature that could ever be put in a camera. I hate when I have a stranger take a picture for me (like when I want to get in the picture with a group of people at a restaurant and I have our waitress take the shot) and the pic doesn't come out great. I have to always change settings or scenic modes to get a good shot. Here the camera does it for you. The intelligent auto mode makes the camera a real POINT AND SHOOT for those who don't know how to use it.
  
  As others have mentioned the workmanship is solid, the camera feels really solid in your hand. The camera is Made in Japan so you can't go wrong. (I know some manufacturers start making stuff in Japan and later in the product's life they make it elsewhere, probably to still make a profit after price drops, so don't hold me to it if your's isn't made in Japan.)
  
  The issues that some bring up about noise in the photos I think are overly particular and picky. If you aren't one of those kind, you gotta get this camera. Go to various review sites to see sample photos, thats how I made up my mind.
  
  
  
  
• Great stills but awful video
  By AOKC4MRKH1UON on 2008-05-06
  I found the still images to be excellent, as good as any other small camera. I shot about 90 images over two days and all but 3 were mis-exposed or out of focus. Color, sharness and exposure were consistently good under a wide range of lighting conditions. One setting identifies the kind of scene being shot and adjusts appropriately. It worked well, focusing on faces in portrait shots and identifying backlit conditions.
  
  But, I'm sorry to report, the video performance was very disappointing. I found the videos to go in and out of focus when shooting a subject under bright cloudy skies, even while the subject was at a fixed distance, and I did no zooming.
  
  I reread the user manual and it said to turn off the continuous focus setting when taking movies. Could that be correct? Apparently it is, based on other reports of owners that talked with Panasonic tech support. But what happens when someone moves closer or further away? Isn't that what movies are all about? Moving subjects with action and some activity?
  
  So I did some checking reading dozens of on-line comments and reviews, and while most reviewers mentioned the issue, none classified it as a deal breaker. The most interesting discussion was on the Panasonic Forum on DPReview where many reported they contacted Panasonic, only to be told "What problem?, This is the first I've heard."
  
  Clearly if the camera has to revert to a fixed focus mode to take movies, this is a huge defect. While much about the camera is very good, this is a deal breaker for me. I did try making a number of videos in the fixed-focus fixed and they were slightly better, but, unfortunately a lot worse than my Canon Elph 900 that's several years old. As a result I have returned the Panasonic camera to Amazon and will wait for this either to be corrected or the next model that hopefully will not have this defect.
  
  I would only recommend this camera to those that don't want to take movies. For stills it's hard to beat, but for movies it's unacceptable by any reasonable standard.
  
  
• 4.5 stars, great camera, see sample pictures uploaded.
  By A3BFEEL2F7O5XB on 2008-05-18
  I saw some pictures taken with the Sony DSC bridge camera and I thought the pictures, while good, weren't as crisp as I'd like so I decided to look at the Lumix cameras. Both Lumix cameras, the TZ5 and FZ18 (bridge model) Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) are great. I wanted a camera with more zoom than the 3x or 4x on most point & shoot cameras. I owned a Leica point & shoot when film was still the way to go and always loved the great pictures I got from that camera so the Leica lens was a great draw. You may have to use a tripod or monopod to steady your camera at full zoom to get a nice shot--if you don't care for this consider sticking with more MPs with less zoom and crop--you should be able to crop quite a bit and still get a decent shot. I don't recommend using full optical and digital zoom with any camera as the pictures get more "grainy", but if you have to get that tight shot you have that option.
  
  Pros for TZ5: Ready to go out of the box in iA (intelligent autofocus) mode--goes automatically from landscape to macro and mega OIS stabilization is very good. Has 10x zoom and can go to full zoom using optical & digital zoom (I believe this gives you 28x). Has an E.Zoom button that will take you to full optical and/or extended zoom using optical and digital zoom without having to use the zoom lever. Amazed at how well the macro mode worked and loved the options to switch to wider panorama type shots. There are 2 other scene modes you can program & save with your preferences so you can quickly & easily shift to your pre-adjusted modes using the camera dial. Large LCD screen. Menus were relatively easy to learn and can easily switch to different camera options. Pictures were crisp and clean. You can also be creative using B&W, sepia, and vivid and other camera options. Burst mode and bracketing options available. Small size you can fit in your purse or pocket. If you prefer to have some options but don't want to fuss a lot with a camera this is a great point & shoot camera.
  
  Cons for TZ5: The FZ18 shot better with lower light and overall the shots had noise, but still not bad for a point & shoot and not a big issue unless you do a lot of low light shooting. You can also try high sensitivity and sport scene options to as well as focusing options to get better indoor or low light shots. Details in dark colored models were not as easily seen on LCD--I couldn't see the details clearly on some skinny red orchids and just pressed the shutter on faith--I still got some nice detailed shots. Also, autofocus didn't do as well on dark colored objects and in dim light. Pale yellow didn't photograph as well in iA--at least not close up--I had to step back to get better color rendition on a pale yellow hibiscus. LCD has clear, shiny "window" over it that helps brighten and sharpen the image, but gets "fingerprinty" and may scratch--I use a microfiber eyeglass cloth to keep it clean.
  
  I uploaded photos, mostly of flowers and plants I photographed in my yard so you can judge--the photos are un-retouched and not cropped. The day was bright & hazy, a breeze blowing so the flowers were not always sitting still. All were taken handheld. There is one handheld, indoors in dim light of my laptop screen.
  
  I have not used the video function so can't comment on it. I also haven't used all the scene options so I can't say if all work well. Backlight function worked pretty well.
  
  I notice the silver TZ5 camera is cheaper than the black for some reason--if you don't mind silver and want to save a few bucks, that may be the way to go. I will leave some comments on the FZ18 for those that want some info on that camera.
  
  Verdict: A KEEPER. Much better than the previous Canon Power Shot I owned, which was slow and clunky.
  
  Thanks to everyone for posting their pictures and comments on Amazon, I appreciate the assistance and I hope I have been of some help to other consumers in return.
  
  
• Wow!
  By A1QLYBD96V4U7D on 2008-05-29
  Ordered the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S for the convenience of having a "point & shoot" (P&S) while on vacation in San Diego. I usually shoot with my Nikon D50 and LOVE it, but the girth of a DSLR is often too much when all I'm wanting to do is preserve some memories. For several years my "P&S" was a 2001 vintage Kodak ... very basic.
  
  I've got to say, as someone who loves to take photos and is pretty good at it, that this Lumix blows me away in how far "P&S" technology has advanced in the past several years. If you are a pure amateur, just set this rascal on a max ISO of 400 and "iA" setting and start snapping! It's virtually foolproof. The most advanced auto mode I have ever used on a "P&S".
  
  The HD video capability is nice. It's not going to give you videos of the quality you might expect from a dedicated vidcam, but this IS a "P&S". Not having to carry around two separate cams is worth the trade-off in quality if you are just chronicling vacation stuff.
  
  Build quality is top flight and very sturdy. The viewing screen is brilliant. The images taken with this cam are very, very good.
  
  **Bottom line : a very high "BUY" recommendation for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S.**
  
  
• Very good camera
  By A3SL0HA6422W4M on 2008-03-24
  I have the TZ3 and am acquiring the TZ5, so my comments apply only to the still picture process, which is straightforward. Don't be swayed by the favorable comments on the 28mm "wide angle" lens - when shooting landscapes or large groups of people etc., all you will see in the details (with real users' images) is pixel smear. The whole point of a "fat" and heavy camera like this, which does not fit a shirt pocket, is the long end of the zoom, which could be 350mm, but sadly is only 280mm in actuality. For shooting people and landscapes, there are wide angle cameras from Casio, Sony, perhaps even Panasonic, that are small and light and pocketsize with up to 14 megapixels that have much better image quality than this camera. Where this camera really leapfrogs over the others I mentioned is in the long zoom. When shooting pictures of birds and other things small or farther away, this camera will give you *much* better images because of the long zoom.
  
  
• Extremely disappointing image quality
  By A3UMZ97GSIPYY3 on 2008-07-21
  I read the reviews of this camera on the various digital camera sites. While they all mentioned a high level of noise, they still recommended it. So I bought it. How bad could the noise be?
  
  The answer is "very bad". I wasn't expecting miracles from a compact camera. But... indoors, outdoors, low light, bright light, flash, no flash, zoom, no zoom... the images coming out of this camera were decidedly, noticeably subpar.
  
  I loved the build quality, zoom, features, size, weight, and styling. I really wanted to like this camera. But I had to return it. I bought a PowerShot G9 instead, which I am very happy with.
  
  
  
• TZ5 is much better than the TZ3
  By A3OKH5G69MS8D9 on 2008-05-13
  Key new features of the TZ5 that really work. 1) Zoom during movies: If used sparingly, zooming can produce very nice results. 2) Improved viewing screen: The improved resolution makes it much easier to use this camera. 3) IA (Intelligent Auto): This was missing from the TZ3. IA combined with the new engine (V4) makes the camera work quite well for most picture taking situations. 4) The mode switch on the back, which switches between taking pictures to viewing pictures, is an excellent addition of a frequently used function to a dedicated button. It is duplicated on the little wheel, but you will always use the new switch. 5) The quick menu button - very handy for changing the most common settings. 6) The TZ5 has an improve menu structure on the amazingly clear screen. 7) I almost forgot, the TZ5 takes better sharper pictures than the TZ3, especially in low light situations without the flash. By far, this is the best super zoom small pocket-size camera to buy. After writing the above review, I took this camera to China, where I took pictures under a wide variety of conditions. The 10x zoom was essential for the scenes, some of which were in the distance and others were fine detail 50 or 100 feet away. I took dim-light pictures of the Terra Cotta soldiers in a huge room where flash was useless. The results were sharp and well exposed even at 10x zoom. Is this camera as good as an expensive single lens reflex camera? It was good, but not as good. Then again, you cannot buy a 10x zoom SLR, and an SLR will not drop into your pocket while you are walking around. At least not my pockets.
  
  
• This Camera is Grrrreat!
  By A197NLFPO60BQQ on 2008-05-25
  Firstly, be aware that this is a "point-and-shoot" camera. I had read too many reviews where the only negatives were comparing it to digital SLRs. I think there is some confusion that because it has a 10x zoom that it is a full-blow SLR. Not so. It is like any other compact digital in many of its functions. It is only about 1/2 inch thicker than my Casio due to the lens, so it fits nicely in your palm, fanny pack, or pocket.
  
  Secondly, the 10x zoom is AWESOME. Other features, like the image stabilizer, makes the Lumix TZ5 zoom even better (if that's possible).
  
  Also nice is the 28mm wide-angle Leica lens - quite a professional addition to a point-and-shoot.
  
  Other awesome features are the intelligent exposure, intelligent scene selector and burst shooting.
  
  Menu is easy to learn and use (we didn't even read the instructions).
  
  For a die-hard compact digital camera geek like myself, the pictures this camera produces look excellent. Be assured, the color is MUCH sharper than in the examples above (perhaps due to compression by amazon).
  
  I had read that the battery door and tripod mount were plastic and flimsy for such a heavy-duty camera. For sure, plastic seems like a cheap addition to such a sturdy camera. But I haven't noticed either being flimsy. Of course, knowing they are plastic makes me handle them with a little more care.
  
  The LED screen is LARGE and automatically adjusts in brightness according to your environment.
  
  Another feature I appreciate (for a point-and-shoot) is the little rubberized ridge on the front right - just perfect for your fingers in taking quick one-handed shots.
  
  Lastly, if you want to see this camera in action, go to [...] and search on "panasonic lumix tz5". You will be impressed.
  
  
• Simply put, an outstanding camera!
  By A238WA18BQAU8A on 2008-08-15
  I wanted to get a camera that was closer to a DLSR in quality and features, but that wasn't bulky. I wanted to get a camera that I could not only use casually at home and around town, but also on vacation where I tend to take a greater variety of camera shots. The TZ5 checked all the boxes and then some!
  
  Other reviews compare it to the Canon sd870is and other cameras so I won't go into that here. Here's how I see it:
  Pros:
  - The lens and 10x optical zoom. Simply fantastic. I know, you may think you don't need the zoom. And I agree, for the most part, you probably don't. I'm certainly no professional photographer, but I thought about it, and those occassions when I do need more than your standard 3-4x zoom actually comes up more often than I would have thought - whether video taping an at bat for a baseball game or taking a close up photo from a moderate distance. And since I bought it, I have wound up using the zoom far more than I would have expected. Particularly in the 5-8x range for a variety of shots. This is key since many other comparable cameras only have zoom up to 4x.
  
  - The wide angle! This is my first wide angle camera and boy does it make a difference from your standard point and shoot! I won't go back. It's more than just getting more into a shot, in many cases, its the difference between getting a shot framed properly or not. Getting the whole background or building or whatever into the shot or not.
  
  - Pre-set camera modes are great. The TZ5 has 15+ pre-set camera modes that really are great for different environments. What's even better is that you can set two of those modes into the dial at top for quick access. This way, you don't have to keep adjusting the mode for each shot. For instance, at night, I pre-set the dial at top to "candle light" and "night portrait" and can quickly take shots that way.
  
  - Great picture quality. I've read various commentary on the superiority of the Canon picture. I haven't done side by side comparisons but what I can say is that I've taken a lot of photos and am very satisfied. And anyways, I'm skeptical of some of these side by side comparisons on photo quality. So much of a photo is the setting, light, etc that you shouldn't be using the "standard auto setting" to get the best picture regardless. I doubt those comparisons adjusted each camera appropriately for each shot.
  
  - Crisp, large 3" LCD screen. This is one of the primary differences between the TZ4 (comes with 2.5" screen) and TZ5.
  
  - Long exposure shots are really, really cool. This camera takes amazing low light, night time shots. The exposure is 15 or 30 seconds but literally (if you don't move for that long), you can get AMAZING night time shots without a flash and with really cool light effects.
  
  - Very cool "burst shooting". This is indespensible for action or fast moving shots. You can do normal burst shooting of any camera setting at about 2.5-3 pics/second and you can do it continuously! You can also do a high-burst at 6 pics/second at 2 megapixel quality. I got great shots diving off a boat in mid-air with this.
  
  - For the lens and quality it's relatively compact. While its bigger than your standard compact point and shoot, its still small enough to fit in your pocket. Its about the size of an old school ipod, though thicker, and its way better than slugging around a DSLR. And the design is ergonomic.
  
  And now some Cons:
  
  - HD video recording. The quality of the HD picture on playback is great. But there are two shortcomings with this feature. 1) Sound quality is as you would expect for a camera. So its sort of like HD picture/low tech camera sound. It won't replace your HD camcorder, but its certainly good enough for casual recordings. 2) Takes up a ton of memory. I got a 16GB card and that will record about 30min of HD video. Not a lot if you want to take a lot of pics as well on a vaca. I just wind up taking normal non-HD videos, which works fine.
  
  - Auto zoom on video recording is annoying. You need to turn the feature off when taking video, otherwise your video will be in and out of focus as you zoom. But the ability to zoom WHILE taking video is a differentiator for this camera vs. others. Also, some of the features still a work in progress. For instance, the auto face detect works some times, but not others.
  
  - There are not many manual adjustments you can make- primarily shutter speed/exposure and other standard features common in most point and shoot cameras. Obviously I wouldn't expect this to be as flexible as a DLSR, but just something to keep in mind.
  
  - Camera has two automated picture shot modes (where it takes a picture by itself) and the delay is either 2 or 10 seconds. I use this mode a lot - this way everyone can get into a pic! I wish they had longer delay time and more lead up warning to when the picture is going to be taken.
  
  In summary, I would highly recommend this camera for anyone who wants the ability to take a wide variety of high quality pics but doesn't want to lug around a big camera. The cons are far outweighed by the pros. Don't hesitate - you will love this camera!
  
  
• HD video
  By A2RBFKRIAELJ6G on 2008-04-29
  After Nikons and Leicas, its hard to like point-and-shoots, but I got this one for the HD video capabilities in a very portable format. So far I'm pleased with the 720p results for videos of my baby. The focus is a bit on the slow side so you get some blurry passages as it tries to refocus on the move, but you can zoom while recording so its got the basics covered. The color is pretty bright and the resolution is worth the price of admission. Another downside is the seeming cap of 8min 37 seconds for each continuous video clip even though I have an 8GB card in there - not a biggie since long clips get pretty boring but you can't shoot a basketball game with this camera.
  
  A hidden surprise was the intelligent autoexposure (iA) mode. It actually works really well. I've futzed with Canons P&S cameras in the past to get fill flash and other ways to get a decent shot - but iA mode does all that for you and the shots come out very well with no tiny menu surfing - big win. For indoor flash photography, it actually produces a few keepers here and there.
  
  All told its not a revolutionary camera and certainly not the super-slim ultraportable camera that you'd keep on your person at all times....but HD video in your pocket! And some decent pics too.
  
  
• Good pictures in bright light, video mode defective?
  By A2ZG0K24X03W9W on 2008-05-22
  Good:
  
  1. 28mm wide angle
  2. 10x Zoom
  3. Can zoom during video recording
  4. Good picture quality but only in great lighting conditions
  
  Bad
  
  1. Poor picture quality in low light, probably due to the small sensor size?
  2. Audio in video clips cuts off midway into the video clip. Puzzling.
  3. A bit large to comfortably fit into a jeans pocket.
  
  
• Solid P&S Performer
  By A18SO9U5M34LK1 on 2008-05-27
  My primary camera is a DSLR, but I keep a point&shoot for my wife/kids to use, as a backup camera, and for daily trips around town. I used a Canon SD700, until my kids hid it and forgot where they put it ;-}
  
  Anyway, what I wanted is something small that can handle the beating of everyday family use and still produce great pictures. I did a fair amount of research and selected the TZ5 based on it's balance of good reviews, price, and zoom/features. After two weeks of shooting with it, here are my current impressions:
  
  Pros:
  - Image quality is great. Not as sharp as DSLR, but I think better than my prior Canon SD700. Also, colors are natural & attractive. Very pleased with the results that it captures
  - The face-detection/focusing system is really really cool. I'm not a big "all auto" shooter, but the TZ5's face detection is so effective that I find myself setting the camera in "iAuto" mode most of the time.
  - Good control placement, menus, and setting flexibility.
  - The 10x zoom is wonderful. A good range from wide angle to telephoto, gives lots of shooting options.
  
  Cons:
  - Body is considerably larger than the Canon. While better for larger hands, the size makes the TZ5 harder to tote. The metal body feels solid, but as a result, it's heavy. Overall, the TZ5 will not fit comfortably in a pocket, so be ready for a belt case or the need to drop it into your purse.
  - Shutter lag is bad - almost like it was designed in 2002! Ok, maybe it's not THAT long, but the lag is noticeable and causes missed shots.
  - Battery life is pretty horrible. Using the huge zoom on the unit, I can't even get through a single 4GB card (about 600 shots). I almost never use the flash, but assume performance would be much worse. It's worth getting a 2nd battery until Panasonic makes the TZ5 more efficient.
  
  Haven't found a perfect everyday camera yet (at any price), so there's still an opportunity for some manufacturer to meet the need! That said, this unit is pretty good and I'm happy with it. Also, LOVE the option to buy in different colors (I chose blue, and am very happy with it) - why has it taken so long for us to get more options than just black or silver??
  
  Enjoy & happy shooting!
  
  
  
• The RIGHT one after 7 months research.
  By A3UAIEEN7VGI26 on 2008-07-26
  I am an "OC" kinda guy. I like to be sure that I get the most for my money when I make a purchase. I outline exactly what I want and what I expect from my purchase BEFORE I start shopping. I spent 7 months reading, comparing and researching all similar Ulta Compact and Compact cameras before I made my choice. I would have been even happier if this camera had 10 Megapixels instead of 9.1 ... only so it matched others that I was comparing (I compared 12's too, pics generally were NOT as good). Frankly, I am extremely happy with the fabulous pics this camera produces. I FIRST thought that I wish it were "a little smaller" - now I am very happy that it is not. If it were much smaller I don't believe it would be as easy and comfortable to use. Yes!. I handled nearly a dozen of its competitors, as well. I read every review (Pro and Users) I could find anywhere (online, magazines, trade journals). Be carefull with some of them. I put a lot of "weight" in reviews by the Pros, HOWEVER I found that many of the things they said about this camera were not true. Some of their comments caused me to "pause" and almost not buy this camera. Some talked about features they wish this camera had, that others did have ... only I found that SEVERAL such features ARE present in this camera. Some features that they reviewed as a "Negative", after learning how to use them turn out to be a great "POSITIVE". The ZOOM is very sharp and the Wide angle really helps me get shots that would NOT be possible with other "similar" cameras! You won't need the flash as much as with other cameras. The camera can adjust the ISO (as well as many other settings, in "IA" mode) to give you great shots when you can't use a flash (and you can set it to 6400 ISO for very dim non-flash shots). I was happy with my long-arrived-at choice the day I bought it. If I knew THEN what I know NOW ... I would have bought it much sooner! I enjoy it more everyday! I planned to use my "PRO Camera" (a $2500.00 Olympus system - 18 months of research) for "all the things that this camera would not be able to do" ... NOW I know that this Panasonic will do a fine job for 90 to 95% of all the camera tasks that I want to do! AND it is much much smaller and lighter! I find I am using my Pansonic more and more everyday!. I do suggest you get a couple of 1300 Mah batteries and a couple of 8 Gig LEXAR (Yes, the brand matters - they are much faster 20 Mb/sec) SDHC cards if you plan to do lots of serious picture taking as I do. This camera has an excellent battery life compared to others, but I take LOTS of PICS and videos and need the extra batteries. You can stop looking now. You WILL enjoy this camera! (By the way MROCK makes a perfect case for it and a spare battery and spare memory card, I am now looking for a very small case, when I want to take just the camera in a pocket). Have FUN with it!
  
  

• Kingston 4 GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card SD4/4GB
• aVinci Media SMG-51-0003 Polar Express DVD Kit
• Transcend 16GB SDHC CARD (SD 2.0 SPD CLASS 6) with Compact Card Reader
• Transcend TS8GSDHC6-S5W 8GB SDHC6 Memory Card with Card Reader
• Vista Explorer 60" Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag

• Transcend TS8GSDHC6 8GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)
• Panasonic CGA-S007A/1B Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery for Panasonic DMC-TZ1-Series Digital Cameras
• Kingston 4 GB SDHC Class 4 Flash Memory Card SD4/4GB
• Transcend 16GB SDHC CARD (SD 2.0 SPD CLASS 6) with Compact Card Reader
• SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)