This Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 review offers details on this digital camera including megapixels, ultra-zoom, resolution and more. Keep reading to learn the pros and cons of this Panasonic digital camera and how the Lumix DMC-TZ5 compares to other cameras.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 is a follow-up to the very popular DMC-TZ3 which was introduced in 2008.  That camera was a compact ultra-zoom and came with a 10X, 28-280 mm lens with image stabilization and a host of additional point and shoot features, all in a midsize body.  So is the TZ5 a step up from the laudable TZ3 and how does it compare to its less expensive sibling, the TZ4? 

To begin with, DMC-TZ5 features a 9.1 effective Megapixel CCD compared to 7 Megapixel on the TZ3.  The TZ5 also boasts a Venus Engine IV image processor, which helps with noise reduction among other things, a very high resolution 3.0” LCD display with 460,000 pixels and auto brightness adjustment, and Intelligent Exposure that brightens any dark areas in your photos automatically.  On top of all this, the TZ5 comes with standard face detection, redeye removal, high speed burst mode, HD video mode, a choice of three aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, or 16:9), enhanced slideshow, and improved battery life.

Extremely similar to the TZ4, the TZ5 offers higher resolution and a larger LCD.  Because of the the higher resolution, however, the TZ5’s performance is also a bit slower, with fewer photos fitting in its memory buffer, than the TZ4.  It’s also larger and heavier by about 0.01 inch and 8.4 ounces.

The dial on the TZ5 is user friendly and intuitive allowing you to switch among camera and movie modes, as well as two slots for program exposure scene modes, Intelligent Auto and Clipboard mode that captures low resolution photos to internal memory for quick display.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the TZ5 is the placement of the microphone on the top left of the camera.  This placement is awkward as it is a natural location to rest your fingers and the microphone can often be inadvertently covered while recording movies, diminishing the quality of the recorded sound.  If the video recording feature is something that you think you’ll use often, the placement of the microphone on the TZ5 alone might be a reason to consider other models.

The Q(uick) menu brings up a number of options that are also available in the full menu: LCD brightness, aspect ratio, picture size, ISO sensitivity, Auto Focus mode, white balance, burst shooting, optical stabilization, etc.  The full menu has more shooting settings, as well as Intelligent ISO, continuous Auto Focus, color effects, digital zoom, audio recording, and more including setup screens.

Some of the TZ5s most useful features include the minimum shutter speed setting, which you can use to set shutter speed to as slow as 1 second or as fast as 1/200.  Adjusting these settings doesn’t prevent the camera from taking a picture when exposure drops below the threshold, it does blink a warning message.  Intelligent ISO lets you set up a maximum for the auto ISO 400, ISO 800, or ISO 1600.

The TZ5 also has somewhat problematic Auto Focus (AF) modes, for example the 9-area AF frequently chooses the incorrect subjects, while the 3-area AF chooses correctly more often as it limits its focus area to the middle row of the frame. 

Unfortunately, the TZ5 isn’t the best performer when compared with it’s peers.  As previously mentioned, the TZ5 tends to be slow which is the results of its higher resolution.  The time to focus and snap under optimal conditions is a tad sluggish and even the Free (manually adjusted) burst mode runs slow, though it still performs comparably to other cameras in its class.

One of the high points of the TZ5 is its large, bright LCD that remains viewable in bright sunlight.  The TZ5 also records nice movies (if you don’t put your finger over the microphone!) and, unlike many competitors, you can zoom while recording.  Another high point is the TZ5 produces very pleasing photos that will make the great majority of users very happy.  Even in bright light exposures look good and when it focuses correctly, the TZ5 takes sharp photos that could be blown up as big as 11”x14”.  Overall, the TZ5 offers many great features at a reasonable price.

Recommended: Yes.

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