Introduction
The Panasonic Lumix TZ5 digital compact is the latest camera from Panasonic featuring their impressive 10x Leica optics which sports their MEGA O.I.S image stabaliser. A successor to the TZ3, and the bigger brother to the TZ4, this camera sports a 9 Megapixel photo resolution (10.7MP sensor) and comes complete with all the latest features you would expect from a digital compact.
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SCORE: 8/10 |
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Almost exactly 12 months after announcing the TZ3 Panasonic announced the TZ5 and TZ4 replacements. Now after a few months wait I have finally got my hands on the real TZ5 and bring you a users review. This review is based on a UK retail TZ5, bought with my own money!
The TZ5 is part of the 'super zoom' Lumix range, well known for their incredibly long zoom lenses. Although physically very similar to the TZ3 announced in January 2007, the camera sports a host of new features to help it compete (and indeed exceed) the competition.
Even though the TZ5 continues the pursuit increased pixel counts in ever smaller sensors (10MP on a 1/2.33" CCD) I was impressed with image quality. Shooting at ISO 200 or lower produces good images at all sizes. Shooting at anything higher should only be done in an absolute emergency.
The main differences between the TZ3 and TZ5 are:
- More pixels
- multi-aspect photographs
- HD Video recording
- All new LCD screen
- Intelligent Auto mode
- New Venus Image processor
For more information on the camera, technical specifications and other details have a look at Digital Photography Review.
As you can see from the following set of images the quality of the photos at the wide angle and at the long end are both good. Just a shame about the sacrifice you have to make for the extra mega pixels.
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MEGA O.I.S.
Nobody should really ever need to buy a camera without some form of optical image stabaliser. It is important to note that the MEGA O.I.S. in the TZ5 FEELS less effective then the IS in a Canon lens, even the non-L series ones. But the proof of the pudding is in the photos and the quality of the IS is clearly very good. Realise that all photos were taken HANDHELD on quite a chilly Glasgow afternoon. Using the full power of the optical (and digital) zooms is impossible to hold steady by hand, but the results obtained with the MEGA O.I.S. is still perfectly acceptable.
Conclusion
Unlike most photography sites, I've actually spent my money on this camera*. This must mean I think it is the best available on the market. This is what I needed, in order:
- Easy to pocket
- Powerful zoom
- Point and shoot
- Bit of manual creativity
- HD Video (Nice to have)
The driving force was that a 350D with 24-105 L series lens is not a small camera. The quality of the photos is excellent, but it just isn't practical to take to a pub or party most of the time.
The Panasonic TZ5 delivers on all the requirements. While it is more bulky then a canon Ixus for example, the camera is still easily pocketable. It is not possible to get a bigger zoom lens on a camera smaller then this.
The only down side of the camera is the quality of the images at high iso ratings. Even at low speeds the noise is far more then an SLR user would be use to, but this is the direction that the compact market is going towards, and something you will have to accept until camera makers realise that packing more and more pixels is just not the solution. I would much rather have a good 6MP compact then a poor 12MP one.
All said, this is the best, fully featured camera on the market today, and it is highly recommended for anyone looking for a simple compact. If you want something with a little more control, have a look at the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 a great baby SLR.