Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Review

The Panasonic Lumix TZ5 is a compact digital point-and-shoot camera with a 10x Leica 28mm wide-angle zoom lens. The TZ5 has 9.1 megapixels of resolution, a large and vivid 3-inch LCD screen, an Intelligent Auto mode as well as regular Auto and scene modes, QuickTime and HD video recording, and a special Clipboard mode geared toward travelers.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Studio Test Images
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Pros 10x optical zoom — one of the longest lenses on a pocket point-and-shoot. 28mm wide-angle lens makes it easy to capture the whole scene. Intelligent Auto mode really helps get great pictures. QuickTime and HD video recording with zoom capability. 2 frames-per-second continuous burst shooting mode. Optical image stabilization. Fits in a pocket or purse. Large, easy-to-see LCD screen. Clean, simple design inside and out. Long battery life.

Cons Image quality could be better. No manual exposure options. No optical viewfinder. Flash takes a while to recharge.

Introduction
I bought the Panasonic Lumix TZ5′s slightly lower-end sibling, the TZ4, for myself last June. Both models share a 28mm, 10x zoom lens, which, aside from its purse-friendly size, was the camera’s main selling point for me. Later, I was given the TZ5 to review. The main differences between the two cameras are the TZ5′s 9.1 megapixels of resolution and 3-inch LCD screen versus the TZ4′s 8.1 MP and 2.5-inch LCD. Also, while both cameras have QuickTime video recording capabilities, the TZ5 takes it a step beyond with impressive HD resolution and output. Otherwise, the two cameras are virtually indistinguishable.

I used the TZ5 in and around my home in Missoula, Montana, to shoot landscapes, flowers, friends and their kids, self-portraits, a political rally, a Day of the Dead parade and a graffiti wall.

The TZ5 has its limitations, which I will detail later in the review, but in general, I’m pleased with the performance of this camera (and the TZ4).

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