Review: Panasonic Lumix TZ5

For a while I had been looking for a digital camera. But not just any digital camera. Even though I had no clue on what I was looking for, I am the type of person that tends to future proof myself whenever buying something tech or even electronically related, mainly due to me not wanting to regret my purchase some few months down the line.

I had toyed around with a whole heap of cameras in my lifetime but nothing really got me excited. A number of cameras in particular that I had played around with were different models of the Sony Cybershot. I liked them particularly because it was very thin and compact but at the same time there is always a cost when choosing physical form factor over performance, the picture quality isn't the greatest especially when taking shots using its highest resolution. After thinking about it for a while, I had decided that I would go the route I had always taken throughout my life, and that was performance over looks.

The Panasonic Lumix series was first brought to my attention when visiting one of my favourite review/blog sites (www.winsupersite.com). A writer by the name of Paul Thurrott (who also participates in Leo Laporte’s Windows Weekly podcast) seems to share the tastes as myself when it came down to technology. When reading his ‘What I Use’ column he pointed out that he had a Panasonic Lumix TZ3 and that it had phenomenal picture quality amongst other things. So I started my research and noticed that a newer model had since been released, the TZ5.

The first thing that caught my attention when I first laid my eyes on the TZ5 was the huge glaring 28mm Leica lens. I hadn’t seen a ‘point and shoot’ camera with a lens that big before, and in my books, the bigger the lens the better!


Let’s Take A Look At The Stats

* 9.1 megapixel 1/2.33” CCD Sensor
* Leica Wide Angle 10x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 28mm to 280mm)
* MEGA O.I.S optical image stabilization
* 3" LCD Display (460K pixels)
* Face Detection, Digital Red-eye Correction
* Intelligent Auto mode with Intelligent Exposure
* Video recording: HD 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 1280x720 30 fps, 15 fps
* Continuous shooting: Full-Resolution Image 2.5 frames/sec Max. 5 images
* HD Output : Yes (HD AV Output (Component))
* Red-Eye Reduction: Yes
* ~5cm Macro mode
* ISO : Auto /100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode : Auto (1600 - 6400))
* Scenes: Portrait / Soft Skin / Scenery / Sports / Night Portrait / Night Scenery / Self-Portrait / Food / Party / Candle Light / Baby1 / Baby2 / Pet / Sunset / High sensitivity / Hi-Speed Burst / Starry Sky / Fireworks / Beach / Snow / Aerial photo / Underwater / Multi Aspect
* Histogram available: In playback and record
* Exposure bracketing: 3 shots upto +/- 1 ev
* Optical viewfinder: No
* Manual WB: Yes


First Impressions

The first thing that I immediately noticed when picking the camera up is it’s nice solid weight. It’s a true statement in the photography world that the heaver the camera, the better it will be and that’s just what I thought when picking it up. So after packing in the battery and turning it on for the first time, I began taking a few test shots. I was really surprised to find that the auto-focus is pixel perfect without the slightest bit of blur to be found. The pictures themselves were mind blowing, to the point that I didn't believe it. So immediately I transferred the pictures to a PC (because I was at work) and zoomed in to its native 9.1 megapixel resolution. It was then that I truly realised that I had picked an outstanding camera that would last me for many years to come, but it didn't stop there.

As well as sporting a 10x OPTICAL zoom and over 20 different shooting modes ranging from portrait to sport, indoors to outdoors, video recording was something that I really wanted to conquer as I also hosted a YouTube channel and I was currently fixed to the iMac’s iSight without being able to record other than in front of my computer. The TZ5’s ability to record 720p HD video was also a deciding factor when it came to purchasing the camera as YouTube just started to allow HD video to be uploaded and viewed in its native resolution. The end result was a marveling beauty. How could so much come out of a device?

I was then keen to discover the flaws and drawbacks...


Overall

It has now been a little over two months since owning the camera and I feel that I have come to know it pretty well. While still maintaining its excellence as described above, only two things can I honestly say could be better.

Firstly, the audio when recording video clips tends to be quite muffled and does require a lot of volume amplification when I incorporate them into my YouTube videos. Even then, that doesn't resolve the issue fully as there does seem to be a lot more lower level bass compared to the lack of mid-range and higher frequencies, its comparably the same as talking into a pillow.

Secondly, this isn't so much as a negative thing, more something I would say that could be better is the battery life. In the short two months of owning the device I have used it quite heavily, some nights even taking close to 150 pictures and over 10 HD video clips and have managed to sustain enough battery power to view the entire contents of the memory card on the way home. As I really do like its ability to hold enough power to get the job done, I personally would feel a little more comfortable knowing that I can get a few more snaps out of it without having to worry as to whether the battery would die or not. But even with that said, it still out performs the battery of any other digital cam I have ever used.

So my overall opinion of the Panasonic Lumix TZ5 is as clear as daylight. If you are looking for a camera that can pack one heck of a punch, and still take flawless photographs as well as being able to make you smirk while you record HD videos, then without a doubt this camera is for you. It isn't the smallest and thinnest of cameras but at the cost of its size it does make up by doing what a camera is supposed to do, and that is flawlessly capturing those moments that you can go back to again and again.

9.5 / 10

The Shady Geek

iLife '09 Review

Just like many Windows PC’s, Mac’s also are bundled with their own set of useful creation tools, however Apple glorifies them a lot more than its competitors. By doing this, not only do they make the suite sound more desirable, but are also creating a big buzz over something which can easily be not such a big of a deal, because lets face it, when was the last time you ever heard somebody go nuts, let alone even mention Windows Movie Maker or Windows Photo Gallery? ...my point exactly.

Without turning this into a Mac Vs PC war, iLife is comparable to the newly branded Windows Live Essentials suite, which recently made it’s exit from Windows into a completely separate optional package, due to anti-competitive regulations that were filled against Microsoft.

iLife consists of 5 applications; iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, iWeb and iDvd. iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband received major updates this year when Phil Schiller announced iLife ’09 during the last ever MacWorld keynote in January. So let’s start with iPhoto...


iPhoto

iPhoto is the Mac’s most widely used photo management application, partly due to it being bundled with every new Mac sold today. iPhoto let’s you arrange and organise photos in a typical Mac fashion which is swift and very easy to use. This time around, iPhoto saw some very big changes.

The two main changes to iPhoto were the additions of photo and GPS tagging. Photo tagging works in a very similar way to the photo tagging in Facebook, where the user simply highlights a person, and types in a name to distinguish that particular individual, however iPhoto ’09 now has face recognition built in, so it learns as you go along tagging people. In my experience, it took between 5-10 tags of a single person before it had fully learnt who they were. Now as Phil Schiller did say during his keynote speech “no face recognition technology is perfect”, in saying that, iPhoto does throw random curve balls from time to time where it thinks its recognised you as the face of an old man or young lady, but the good thing is you can always confirm or correct its guesses. I’m guessing that over time iPhoto will get smarter (much like iTunes’ Genius playlists) and eventually rule out the problem all together.

GPS tagging works much like photo tagging, where you can navigate through a google maps type browser, dropping pins onto the locations of where your photos were taken. But the neat feature is if you happen to own a GPS camera such as the iPhone, then GPS co-ordinates are automatically embedded to the meta-data of each picture file, so when it is eventually imported into iPhoto, the exact locations are already mapped out. Very nice!

Other features such a being able to upload or share your photos have now been made even easier due to shortcut buttons located at the bottom right corner of iPhoto. Integrated support for Mobile Me, Facebook and Flikr have made sharing photos a breeze, as well as being able to attach photos into the Mail app with just a click of a button within the app itself.

As a new Mac switcher, I never really used any photo management software previously on the PC, as I would keep photos tucked away in to neat folders, so my first impression of iPhoto when i made the switch almost 5 months ago was quite overwhelming. I felt as if there was just a little too much control over something quite simple as photos, therefore I never really used iPhoto ’08 to a great extent. But now with the new features of iPhoto ’09, I can say that ever since watching Phil Schiller give the demonstration up on stage, iPhoto is now a very fun application to use, and makes it even easier to manage your pictures, especially when your memory isn't your greatest asset. It makes searching for pictures by name or geographical location a breeze. iPhoto ’09 does give a glimpse into the future of photo management, and as somebody that never used to use applications like iPhoto... I like what I see.



iMovie

iMovie is the one application that I use the most in the iLife suite. Mainly due to hosting my own YouTube channel, iMovie has made it a breeze creating, editing and even posting home-made videos. As I joined the Mac community during the iMovie 06 vs iMovie 08 controversy, I jumped right in using iMovie 08 as it came pre-loaded on my Mac. Now to this day, I still have not used iMovie 06 and I probably won’t simply because I am a firm believer of always going forward with software, and that at some point or another, the iMovie 08 layout was the way it was going to be for future iterations of the application. So without trying to dwell on the past, what’s new in iMovie 09?

To sum it up in a nutshell, iMovie 09 is everything iMovie 08 is, but multiplied several times. It’s just more, more, more. More transitions, more themes, more movie styles, and more new features.

Some new technologies have also graced iMovie 09, namely precision editor, video stabilisation and video effects.

The precision editor allows the user to fine tune the order of events in multiple clips, and this goes for audio as well as video. So the user is in total control of what segments are to be shown in each clip.

The video stabiliser allows the removal of shaky camera work by scanning each individual frame before hand and creates a ‘centre’. A centre is an area of the video which is present in each frame so after cropping the unnecessary edges, what you’re left with is a nice smooth video. This kind of professional tool is great for nature trails, concerts or when children get ahold of a camcorder.

Video effects can now be applied, so all of your favorite effects in Photo Booth can now be shown in your own videos.

The Project Library window has also been refreshed to display more information at a glance on your most recent projects.

So in all iMovie 09 is a huge improvement over its predecessor. These were the kind of features and tools needed to really widen the gap between the new and old generations of iMovie users. I think for those that remained with iMovie 06 now have a perfectly good reason to make the switch rather than just an alternative layout, which was the case with iMovie 08. Professional tools like these aren’t normally found in low-end or bundled apps but Apple is clearly trying to make a statement here and quite rightly so. I host a YouTube channel, I don’t have tons of time on my hands to edit and my videos don’t need to be of any kind of broadcasting standard, so why would somebody like myself spend hundreds of pounds on a professional editing suite that would only confuse me, when now everything I need is right here, bundled into a nice package at a very small fraction of the price. iMovie 09 is clearly a winner.


GarageBand

GarageBand didn’t really receive much of an update this time around, so there really isn't much to discuss except for the addition of one main new feature; Music Lessons.

Music lessons are pretty much self explanatory, so I wont delve too much into its definition, however what I will mention is the way Apple have presented it. Apple is notorious for its depth and design when it comes to presentation, so what better way to improve an already perfect application?

You can now learn to play the keys or strings with on screen instructors in HD quality tutorials. This is perfect for those that have always wanted to give it a try without going out on a limb by arranging and attending music lessons in person. GarageBand makes it fun by allowing such big time musicians as Sting and Norah Jones (to name a few) to give you their background, stories and tips on how to play some of their songs, making it a truly personal experience.

GarageBand comes pre-bundled with 2 basic lessons (one for the strings and one for the keys), and then allows the user to download more basic lessons for free if needed. Artist Lessons can be purchased within GarageBand at £3.95 per lesson.


Conclusion

iLife is an absolutely fantastic suite of applications that really raise the bar when it comes to pre-bundled software. Users who purchase a new Mac will get the upgrade either free of charge or as it currently stands if you purchased a Mac between 6th January 2009 and 28th March 2009 then for an additional cost of shipping (usually around £8) you can receive iLife 09 which can then be installed at your own convenience. But as it stands, iLife 09 costs £69, and in my opinion, worth every single penny.

The other two iLife applications; iWeb and iDvd saw no major updates worth mentioning but rest assured they are still as brilliant as ever whether creating a website with iWeb or creating customised DVD’s with iDVD.

To end this review on a positive note, iLife 09 is fun, exciting and most importantly easy to use. Apple have taken the wheel, re-invented it and made it fun again, as these types of applications have been around for almost a decade now. My only anticipation now is to see what Apple has in store next for the calculator!


Until the next time.

The Shady Geek