Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Review: 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. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S can go up o 17X with some resolution loss. I never use Digital zoom as I do not consider it a zoom. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Review: Key new features of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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) manages 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S has an improve menu structure on the amazingly clear screen. 7) I almost forgot, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Manufacturer Description: The 9.1-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 3.0-inch LCD, photos can be easily viewed on the display, regardless of the shooting environment.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 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.
Product 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)
Technical Details:
* Brand Name: Panasonic
* Model: DMC-TZ5S
* Optical Sensor Resolution: 9.1 MP
* optical_sensor_technology: CCD Unknown modifier
* Optical zoom: 10 x
* maximum_aperture_range: F/3.3-4.9 Unknown modifier
* Minimum focal length: 4.7 millimeters
* Maximum focal length: 47 millimeters
* Lens Type: Zoom lens
* optical_sensor_size: 1/2.33″ Unknown modifier
* Included Flash Type: Built-in flash
* Display Size: 3 inches
* light_sensitivity: ISO 100 Unknown modifier, ISO 800 Unknown modifier, ISO 400 Unknown modifier, ISO 200 Unknown modifier, ISO auto Unknown modifier, ISO auto (1600-6400) Unknown modifier, ISO 1600 Unknown modifier
* Image types: JPEG
* Shooting Modes: Frame movie mode
* Exposure Control Type: Candle, Beach, Snow, High sensitivity, Starry sky, Soft skin, Baby1, Baby2, Portrait mode, Aerial photo, Hi-speed burst, Clipboard, Party/indoor, Night portrait, Self-portrait, Pet, Scenery, Food, Fireworks, Night scene, Underwater, Sports mode, Sunset
* Viewfinder Type: None
* Width: 1.42 inches
* Depth: 1.5 inches
* Height: 2.34 inches
* Weight: 0.51 pounds
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Description: Now you can fit sweeping landscapes into a single frame with the 28mm wide-angle setting. Pull in subjects from far away to capture even subtle facial expressions with the dynamic 280mm telephoto setting. Ideal for traveling, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Lumix 9.1-megapixel digital camera combines a wide-ranging LEICA DC Vario-Elmar lens with a handy, compact body. The Extra Optical Zoom function also extends the zoom to as much as 16.9x, giving you even greater telephoto power. Set the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S to iA mode and let the five Intelligent Auto functions team up to help prevent shooting errors. Intelligent Exposure corrects lighting differences, so images come out just the way you see them; Intelligent Scene Selector chooses the mode that best fits the situation; MEGA Optical Image Stabilization helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur; and Face Detection helps produce clear portraits by optimizing the focus and exposure settings.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S can record motion images with sensational 1280 x 720 HD resolution at 30 frames per second (fps). f=4.6-46mm (35mm equiv - 28-280mm) Focal Length 3.0 Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (460K dots) Focusing Area Normal - Wide 50cm/Tele 200cm - infinity, Macro/Intelligent AUTO / Clipboard - Wide 5cm / Max 200cm / Tele 100cm - infinity 8 - 1/2,000 sec. Starry Sky Mode - 15, 30, 60sec. Shutter Speed Auto /100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode - Auto(1600 - 6400) ) ISO 27MB Internal Memory (additional memory recommended to store more photos and video) Built-in Microphone and Speaker SD/SDHC, MultiMedia Card Slot Built-in Flash with Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off modes DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), HD AV Output (Component), USB Connections PictBridge Compatible Approximate Battery Life - 300 Shots (CIPA Standard) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.507 lbs.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is a great little camera. I was a little hesitant to purchase after reading some of the criticisms by the so called expert reviewers, but decided to purchase the camera in the end mostly because of the lens and it’s capabilities. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is an easy camera to work, and it takes excellent photo’s, both in automatic, and manual settings. I took a walk by the lake on a sunny day to practice shooting with the camera and used the various features-beautiful photo’s! I was also concerned with the quality of indoor photo’s, but the red eye worked quite well, and I am happy that the indoor shots are very good-not great, but much better than my previous canon Sureshot. Also, the zoom lens is great, make sure to take advantage of the image stabilization. All in all I love the camera so far, i’m not an expert, but this camera makes it easy to take very nice shots.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Review: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is an extremely handy and effective camera. It takes excellent pictures, once you get your settings right, and has great wide-angle and telephoto range. Image stabilization is pretty reliable. Battery seems to run down more quickly than advertized because it drains even while connected to computer for downloading. And new owners are likely to spend quite some time with the manual digesting all the instructions for use. These cavillings apart, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is small enough to take anywhere and is pretty well up to any photographic challenge.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Review: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is a marked improvement over the previous TZ3. Although the extended zoom is only marginally better, the metering and ease of use is significantly better. The only way to made this compact packed with great features camera better is to make each setting unchanged by any other setting alteration. e.g. Make the exposure bracket stay on until you shut it off. And the bracket setting may be on on one setting and not in another. The clarity of the photos is outstanding. The lens system superlative. In short, a small camera with big capabilities and Quality.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S Review: I wanted a big-zoom camera with a relatively small body. The choice came down to the TZ5 or the Canon SX1000IS. Really, I was sold within 30 seconds of picking up the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S. It has a metal body. The body’s not heavy per se, but it feels substantial. The Canon felt flimsy in comparison. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S controls are perfectly laid out for me, and I had no trouble getting a good grip. Also, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S menus are well-organized and intuitive. The only compromise I had to make in choosing the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S was that I had to give up the most useful manual controls.
Having used the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S for about a month, I have been very pleased with the performance and image quality. I think it is pretty-much a perfect automatic camera. The image stabilization is excellent, as my pictures are almost never blurry. I h
ave not had any problems with the automatic white balance, and in fact I haven’t used the manual WB override at all. Exposure is generally good, but it is not perfect, and I do use the manual exposure setting and the auto bracketing function quite a bit.
My only complaint about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is that it should have more manual controls. For instance, the macro mode is very good, but it would be even better if I could override the auto focus, which sometimes back-focuses. Also, I would really like to have more control over the exposure. But, again, the vast majority of my pictures come out really well. In conclusion, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is a great automatic camera. I believe it is the only camera that offers such a wide/ long lens in a pocketable form. It’s true that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S is not a substitute for a full manual camera, but it is still very useful.
Price Range: $346.99