Expert Camera Reviews

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K (on Amazon.com link in new window)

The best of the recent lot of point-and-shoot cameras which offer the beauty of wide-angle photography and are less expensive is the 7.2 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ3K, which couples a 28mm wide-angle lens with built-in optical image stabilization, a wide three-inch LCD and a reasonable number of specialty modes.

To help stabilize your shots, the TZ3 offers three separate shooting modes, two of which utilize Panasonic’s MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), along with a separate Intelligent ISO Control setting, which detects movement’s of the subject and automatically adjusts ISO and shutter speed to decrease blur. The wide-angle, high-zoom camera performs well and takes acceptable shots, though it’s hardly perfect. Its higher resolution, wider lens, and larger screen make it better than its predecessor in nearly all categories.

Strengths:
• Extremely fast and responsive with an excellent startup time
• Wide powerful lens with little distortion
• Mega Optical Image Stabilization
• Sharp Leica lens, producing crisp pictures with accurate color
• Large LCD screen with 230,000 pixels resolution
• Very good battery life

Weaknesses:
• No manual exposure controls
• No stop motion movie mode
• Large and heavy
• Tiny buttons

Specifications:
Megapixels – 7.2
Weight(oz) – 8.2
Optical Zoom – 10x
LCD Size – 3.0 inch
Flash range (ft) – 2 ft – 14 ft
Image Stabilizer – Yes, optical
Batter Type – 1 x Rechargeable Custom Lithium Ion
Special features - RAW and JPEG file format support, ISO 100 – 3200, storage MMC, SD, SDHC Card Slot, USB 2.0 support, 4x Digital Zoom, Dual Image display in playback, 12.7 MB Internal Memory

Summary:
Its higher resolution, wider lens, and larger screen make it better than its predecessor in nearly all categories. Unfortunately, it misses one of its predecessors most fun shooting modes, and it keeps some minor image issues which need to be improved. Overall, the DMC-TZ3K offers a lot of value for the money and easily trumps amongst other super zooms on size.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ1 digital camera is based on a 5 megapixel imager coupled to a prism-folded 10x optical zoom lens with MEGA optical image stabilization technology. The Panasonic TZ1 is powered by the powerful Venus Engine III image processor. The TZ1 also offers infinite continuous shooting mode and a widescreen movie mode at 848 x 480 pixels. This camera is ideally for photographers who need a lot of zoom power.

Positive features:

• Good macro performance
• 10x Optical Leica zoom which ranges from 35-350 mm and maximum 50x digital zoom
• Dual-mode O.I.S which reduces camera shake in both long zoom and low zoom shooting
• Fast shot to shot cycle in continuous shooting mode
• Bright and beautiful motion pictures at 640 x 480 as well as 848 x 480
• Simultaneously record audio and still images

Negative features:

• Lots of noise in pictures taken at middle and high ISO levels
• Very little built-in memory
• Lacks manual exposure and Shutter/Aperture Priority modes
• Limited flash range
• No viewfinder of any kind

Specifications:
Megapixels – 5.0
Weight (oz.) – 9.2
Optical Zoom – 10x
LCD Size – 2.5 inch
Flash Range (ft) - 1.0 to 12.1 ft
Image stabilizer – Yes, Optical
Battery type – Rechargeable CGA-S007A Lithium Ion
Special features – Venus Engine III image processor, AF illuminator, 3 Flash modes, 16 scene modes with help screens, USB 2.0 interface, PictBridge compatible, SD Memory card storage

Summary:
The Panasonic Lumix TZ1 is a pleasure to use with a 10x optically stabilized zoom lens, high ISO scene mode and a large LCD, but the significant lens flare from middle to long telephoto raises concerns. Another failure of the TZ1 is the weak flash and lack of some manual exposure options. It misses our recommendation by a very narrow margin.

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Like its predecessor LX1, the Panasonic LX2 is clearly motivated by the swelling popularity of widescreen televisions. The LX2 employs a unique set of triple-wide features which are, 10.2 megapixels combined with a 28mm wide-angle Leica lens, a 16:9 wide CCD, and a 16:9 wide LCD. If you are someone who likes to have a high count of pixels, then the Panasonic LX2 is an ideal choice with a 10.2 megapixel CCD that uses the full resolution of the sensor when shooting at 16:9. The Panasonic LX2, includes many notable manual options, face detection, scene selection and Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabilization feature.

Some good features of the Panasonic LX2 are:
• Very fast all-around performance with no shutter lags during pre-focus
• Latest LSI Venus Engine III image processor which lowers overall noise
• Very high quality Leica lens which offer lower than average distortion, very low chromatic aberration and excellent sharpness in pictures
• Movie mode shoots in 16:9 widescreen and offers above average resolution.
• Long battery life
• Images with excellent white balance, exposure, and color saturation

Drawbacks are:
• Images shot at ISO 1600 and above are too noisy for printing
• HD movie clips are playable at only 15 frames per second
• Very small built-in memory of 13 MB
• Slow playback of full resolution images on LCD screen

Specifications:
Megapixels - 10.2
Weight (oz.) – 7.6
Optical Zoom - 4x
LCD Size - 2.8 inch
Flash Range (ft) – Built-in
Image stabilizer - Yes, Optical
Battery type - Rechargeable Lithium Ion
Special features – RAW and JPEG recording modes, Venus Engine III Processor, Sensitivity upto ISO 3200, 13 MB built-in memory, support for SD memory cards

Summary:
As one can see from the long list of positive features and very short list of drawbacks above, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 has a lot going for it and is an ideal camera for novices to handle and expert photographers to have in their arsenal.

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