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