Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Review Discussion

[David Rasnake]

Panasonic arguably invented the compact ultrazoom class of digicams with the release of the TZ1 in 2006, and each successive TZ model, including the new flagship Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5, has been a highly anticipated released. Few expected sweeping changes to the latest TZ camera, and most of the TZ5's hardware, including its excellent 10x Leica zoom, is familiar. A resolution bump and a larger screen keep key specs on the cutting edge for the new Lumix, but will these generally light overhauls on a fairly staid basic platform be enough to impress consumers this time around?

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[CalebSchmerge]

Nice review. My brother just got one of these and was very happy with it.

[usapatriot]

Excellent review for a good camera, it seems as if Panasonic has created a worthy sucessor to the popular TZ3.

[David Rasnake]

Thanks, guys. It is still a fairly unique camera, given that no one else is really doing this concept in earnest (Ricoh does, though their presence is so small in the U.S. as to be, sadly, a bit of a non-factor).

dr

[Andy Stanton]

I'm a little concerned about the TZ5's problems with macro focusing.

[David Rasnake]

It was oddly inconsistent. I was surprised that macro focusing seemed to lock with more regularity in the Intelligent Auto mode than in Normal Picture mode with macro focus selected. Just another one of this camera's quirks...

dr

[jetstar]

Thanks for the review!

[babygodzilla]

Audio recording is not very good.

[David Rasnake]

Audio recording is not very good.

No, it's not, though I don't find it any worse than any other compact camera in this regard. This is probably the one area that keeps the video from being true camcorder quality.

dr

[babygodzilla]

No, it's not, though I don't find it any worse than any other compact camera in this regard. This is probably the one area that keeps the video from being true camcorder quality.

dr

The Canon Powershots have much better audio. But the zoom on this Lumix is way too useful to pass on. Because I take a lot of videos, and I don't wanna buy a separate camcorder, I almost returned this thing for another Canon. But I just couldn't pass on the zoom. immensely useful.