I have a DSLR that I really, really like, but there are times when I want to travel with a minimum of gear. And then, of course, it's absolutely true that the best camera is the one you actually have with you when you see that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

I've not been a Panasonic user before this and was actually quite leery of the brand based on professional reviews that complained about other Panasonic models suffering from a watercolor effect and heavy handed noise reduction artifacts. So I went with Fuji first and then Canon, but couldn't "get happy" with any of their offerings.

So far, neither noise reduction artifacting nor watercolor effects are apparent in this iteration, the TZ-4. It is a gorgeous metal camera that is easy to hold by a guy with even fairly large hands, despite the fact that it's very compact. The menu system is quite straightforward and there are plenty of scene modes that at least approximate what a manual control camera might offer you. ISO, AF area, metering area, exposure compensation and bracketing, and white balance can all be manually set. There is no shutter or aperture priority, although you can specify the absolute minimum shutter speed the camera will choose, down to a full second.

The custom white balance set feature is very well implemented, and I had no problem getting beautifully lit, correctly exposed existing light shots indoors using the image stabilization feature and low ISO.

The LCD monitor is not as sharp as the TZ5's but plenty good for checking pictures, and the battery lasts longer in this camera than the TZ5 if that matters to you.

The AF assist light is very, very helpful and focus lock is almost always very quick and on the money. The macro feature is astounding. The controls are well placed and give good feedback.

I have three gripes: the power switch and the scene wheel can both be inadvertently activated; there need to be way firmer detents or they both have to be recesed. AF seems to struggle a bit with the movie mode, but being able to zoom during the actual video shooting is a godsend. And finally, the USB out port is irritating. It pops open very easily. I may use a piece of black electrical tape to cover it.

All in all a superb little performer for what you get for your money; chock full of features and of course the lovely 28 - 280 zoom. WOW. I highly recommend this camera as an ideal all around travel camera you might actually take with you !!

This is a great little camera for both an advanced amateur (like me) looking for a second camera to carry everywhere you can't take your DSLR or for a complete novice (like my wife) who is looking for a camera that is really easy to use yet takes good pictures.

IN SUMMARY
What makes this camera special is that you have a full 10X zoom in a very compact form factor with a real wide-angle lens at 28mm. Most other cameras offer a smaller zoom range (around 4x), provide a semi-wide-angle at about 35mm, or are much bulkier.

PICTURE QUALITY
In reality, most cameras today take pretty decent pictures. Most people really don't need more than 2 megapixels, unless you are planning to either crop your photos or make very large prints. Therefore 8.1 megapixels are more than enough. My DSLR has 5 megapixels and I have never needed more.

The Leica lens is very high quality. The multiple built-in scene modes will make it easier to capture that sunset or use custom settings for that special picture. As with most cameras, it is always to have a photo editing program to adjust contrast (or levels if you are a bit more advanced), do some cropping and adjust sharpening.

As an advanced amateur (take a look at my Nikon DSL photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdada ) I found the quality of the pictures from the Lumix TZ4 to be excellent. AT the same time, my wife was able to use the Intelligent Auto mode to snap some pretty decent pictures. The flash does an especially good job - indoor people pictures had very nice tones and not blown out or underexposed like some other cameras.

VIDEO
With a 1Gb SD card I was able to capture a couple videos of my daughters dancing (to Hannah Montana, of course). The quality and resolution of the video is pretty amazing for a camera in this price range. You may want to use Windows Movie Maker (included with XP and Vista) to do some edits and make the video a smaller size suitable for emailing.

OTHER FEATURES
The camera feels very well built and solid. Face detection technology works incredibly well, ensuring your subjects are always in focus (as opposed to focusing to whatever is at the center of the picture). Image stabilization works . The LCD screen is very large and bright. Controls are easy to understand.

SUMMARY
I spent a long time looking at many cameras and playing with them. If you are an advanced photographer, this is not a camera to replace a DSLR, but a perfect companion to take to those places where you don't want (or can't) bring your big expensive camera. The TZ45 does not provide all the manual controls of other cameras, yet it allows enough settings for me (i.e. exposure compensation, ISO settings, etc.) .

For the average user, you can find a cheaper and a smaller camera for sure. But I doubt you will find a solid, pocket camera with a 10x zoom and a 28mm quality lens that produces such great photos with little effort. Definitely, the TZ4 is highly recommended.

Excellent camera! Easy to use. Takes good photos and videos. I bought this camera to take pictures of my kids playing sports. The camera took excellent shots of the kids playing soccer and running track. You can use the zoom manually or the automatic feature. Video playback was clear. You have playback options by calendar or with added music built into the memory. It also uses the new high performance SD cards which allows you to purchase either a 8gb or 16gb card allowing you to record one hour video. Amazon sales an 8gb for around $30. Don't forget to by a reader for the high performance card which I also purchased through amazon for $8.

This being a new product i was little apprehensive about buying it. But after getting this i just find that its too good. All round winner and would say its better than the SX-100 its competing against with 10X optical zoom. Its predecessor didn't have the zoom active while taking videos, but with this new model its taken care of that. More or less the remaining review will me same its predecessor except for some improvements. Looks are good and also small and will easily fit in a loose jeans pocket as well.
Absolutely worth the money and a complete all-round camera.

This is my first point and shoot camera and I gotta say that im very satisfied with this product. The quality of the pics are great and the 10x zoom is amazing. The menu is easy to use and so far it has worked nicely in very dark enviroments. I highly recommend it.

I really like the 10X zoom - it provides much greater flexibility than my previous compact digitals that had 3X zoom. The picture quality seems very good. I've only used the camera on a short trip to visit family, and haven't learned all the features, but so far I've found it to be very satisfactory. My only complaint is the fact it doesn't have an optical viewfinder, but the LCD monitor quality could make up for that.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
great product and does everything. Still learning about its capabilities.

This is a truly excellent choice for a small camera. Pocket sized yet a great 10x optical Leica zoom, excellent auto function and easy to read instructions. Fantastic view finder and wide angle, as well as micro. I highly recommend the TZ5 and TZ4. Simply said, used it over a month with 200 plus photo's of graduation and grandchildren, including crystal clear movies, 10 out of 10.

I bought this camera, after quite a bit of research, to replace my Canon SD400 that was going on three years of use (and I always have a camera on me, so that's a lot of use). I wanted something relatively small but more capable than my Canon, which took great pictures of still objects in great lighting and decent video, but was slow and limited by its 3X zoom and insensitive flash.

Out of the box, the TZ4K looks nice, albeit a little clunky next to the sleek Elphs and other more compact cameras on the market. However, it powers up quickly and adapts readily to just about anything I've tested so far (the first week I had it consisted of nothing but rain, so for a while I was just doing poorly-lit indoor shots of my cats and random furniture. That said, that my cats actually looked like cats and not blurry blobs or white glowing things is a major improvement over my old camera).

I took it to the zoo, where it had a little trouble deciding what to focus on if using the long end of the zoom (especially if the subject was moving), but I suspect this could be helped by turning off the continuous auto-focus. I got a few interesting action shots of my three-year-old nephew running around. I took it to the bar with a few friends and had a shoot-off with a friend who owns a Nikon. Today I took it on a hike and tried out the scenery and macro modes, the latter of which can be a little tricky sometimes. It can't always decide whether it should be focusing on the background or the foreground, even when macro mode is selected (though it does tell you when you're too close for it to focus).

I did notice some of the focus changes during video mode that some people have complained about in reviews of this and the TZ3/TZ5, but to be honest it was minimal and can be avoided by turning off the AF. Sound quality is comparable to my Canon -- not the highest quality, but clear and audible.

Battery life is good and it has a battery meter on-screen, so you don't have to hunt through any menus to find out how long you've got.

I bought it bundled with the 4GB SDHC and reader and they arrived on the same day. Also got a Lowepro Rezo 30 case for it, which isn't too bulky but has a soft lining and lots of padding.

Overall, I really love this camera and would recommend it to anyone interested in purchasing it. Definitely worth it.

Well, this might be a little different approach to the typical review, but I thought it was only fair since I spend so much doe at this website! Firstly, the credentials of this camera are above reproach. The finist German Lens on the market. The most powerful zoom on a compact point and shoot. I could go on, but hey, this is a great camera. Only one thing I could add. You might find this a dirty trick, but, tough luck. I went to Costco and got it with a coupon and it came with a case, a 1 gig card, and it was $199.00. So don't be mad anyone, I spend plenty here, I just thought it fair to pass along the advice. Gooday, from a faithful Amazon buyer. J

I picked this camera up for our major family vacation to Greece this year, as I wanted a new camera with a nice zoom and better resolution. I spent about 3 weeks investigating which camera to pick up, looking at a number of different web sites and their reviews (Amazon and c-net were great places for info).

The camera was great out of the box, easy to understand and program as it has a few nice trip programs to assist with filing pictures.

The zoom is great as I was able to get up close to a number of ruins with the lens. During the trip I noticed a majority of the travelers had the same or a different version of this Panasonic camera.

It has a fast opening speed, which is nice when you need to pull out the camera and get it open for that unexpected shot, as well a rather fast picture to picture speed if you want to capture a number of shots quickly. Also, there is no delay from pushing the button to the camera taking the picture, which was nice (my old camera had a delay which made timing a little difficult).

All in all, wonderful camera, we just returned and the pictures are great quality.

One negative point - make sure that you pick up an extra memory card - as the camera does not come with one, so you can only take a few pictures. I picked up a 4 Gig card, which as the vibrant picture setting is good for about 1,000 pictures.

It's so nice to finally have some freedom with a compact camera. I thought I was going to need a 5 lb. Digital SLR, to take quality pictures. It's relatively easy to understand, but I admit I read the directions on everything I buy regardless. I did have to return the camera within the first month, due to a faulty connection cord, but received the replacment in 4 days. Overall I am quite happy with my purchase and a great price too.

I'm not a professional photographer, but would consider myself an advanced amateur. I jumped on the "digital" bandwagon in '98 and since then have owned 8 different cams. I currently do most of my shooting with a Canon SLR, but bought this Panasonic for my wife (she was carrying a small 5Mpix Canon in her purse for point-and-shoot type use). She wanted something that was small, light, but had WAY better ZOOM capability so she could do occasional BIRD shots. The Panasonic seemed to fit the bill. We've only had it for a few weeks, but here are our observations:

1. Very well built; quality feel
2. Smaller/lighter than I thought (given the awesome zoom lens)
3. Panasonic's choice to position the zoom to START at a wide angle (28MM equivalent) was right-on. We can take shots indoors (or do great landscape shots) then ZOOM in for more detail
4. The anti-shake is amazing. She's done some hand-held sunsets at full zoom and the results rival what I can do with my Canon SLR on a tripod!
5. Speaking of sunsets, she uses the full-auto mode and the exposures are PERFECT!
6. We've only taken one video and the results are GREAT. For MOST video uses we won't be carrying our camcorder any longer.
7. For all manner of shots (indoors with flash; outdoors in the evening with fill-flash; Full sun; Sun+Shade; Close-ups etc etc) the exposures and color saturation are spot on.
8. VERY impressive face-recognition capability! Spooky to watch it track the subject as they move around in the frame and keep focus on them!
9. Great Battery life (we've taken maybe 50-60 photos + the video and the battery "gas guage" still shows 3/4 capacity left.)

Negatives?....so far we've not found any.

Basically this is the MOST impressive Digital Camera we've ever owned and for a shade over $200 it's a terrific bargain as well!

This is an absolutely great camera. The fit and finish are extremely good and the camera blends nicely the issues of size and weight. It is small enough to take everywhere, but not so small as to be actually difficult to use with anything but tiny hands

The HD movie feature works great and the images are superb. The nice thing is you can actually zoom while taking a video, something not offered in most cameras. Nice easy to use features, great price, very flexible wide range of features and sharp crisp pictures.

The only thing needed is more megapixels and now the new version is out in 9 mp.

I probably don't need all the features this camera has, but because of rave reviews by amateur photographers and professionals, I decided I had to have this one. I haven't had any of the pictures printed yet, so my gauge of picture quality is based only on what I've seen on the camera and on the computer screen, but I have no complaints there. I absolutely love how great it takes pictures through windows with the ariel scene option. The iA mode does take remarkably good pictures, but beware! I was getting terribly blurry shots of a tiger until I realised the the tall grass right in front of me had prompted it to switch to macro. I turned it to normal picture mode, and got some great shots. The only thing I wish is that it could take a shot quicker from the moment you turn it on, but then I wouldn't have that great zoom lens which really does take fantastic pictures. Also not really an option for someone insisting on a very slim camera, but for me, it's just fine. Rather than try to fit it in my purse when on a trip, I stick my money and id in my camera case and end up traveling much lighter than the other way around!

Fabulous. We've had the TZ3 as well - this one is for my father. So we were comparing to the TZ3. Wonderful shots, image stabilization is the best!

So far I am enjoying my new camera. I am still learning all the special features and noticing some things that I am doing wrong. For instance, taking pics of my daughter at her 8th grade awards night - the stage wasn't well lit and when I used the zoom the pics were a bit grainier than I wanted - but I know that's errors on my part. I think you really gotta play with the settings to get great pics - you gotta know what settings to use at different events (I'm trying!)

Overall - I really like the camera. Clear pictures, easy to use, love the battery thingee! I'm enjoying it!

I decided to do a little test comparing the SD 800 IS (28mm to 105 mm), SD 850 IS (35mm to 140 mm) and the Panasonic Lumix TZ4 (28mm to 280 mm). I just wanted to make sure that I got the camera that was right for me.

As part of the test, I took about 70 photos with each camera in various lighting conditions, indoor lighting behind, indoor lighting in front, outdoor, zoom, wide angle, etc. Because I usually use only 4x6 prints, I printed all the photos in 4x6 prints at a local photo lab. There was no post photo processing on any of the photos. I just wanted to see the results right out of the camera so to speak.

Thus, to me, the test was as real world as possible because that is how people use the camera, you don't shoot screens of color swatches, you shoot people, things, landscapes, grass, etc. Printing it out at a photo lab let me see the pictures as best as they could be. All cameras were set on full auto and no special modes were used for any of the shots.

The results were very intersting but hardly surprising. With the exception of a somewhat noticeable difference in the telephoto and zoom ranges, at a 4x6 size, there is essentially no discernable difference in the pictures generated by the Canon SD 850IS and the Canon SD 800IS. There was no difference indoors, outdoors, or anywhere else. This is not surprising, because the cameras are very very similar, use the same processor, and only differ in the lenses.

The Panasonic was another story. It exhibited performance issues, had zoom hunting, poor focus, fringing, etc. on the indoor shots. Outside, with plenty of light, it performed very well and produced excellent photos, but because I don't shoot exclusively outside, that was a deal killer for me. You basically cannot shoot anything moving indoors with this camera. Based on the reviews, I understood that this camera had limitations, but did not realize how much the processor hobbled this camera's indoor performance.

Here's the Review for the Panasonic Lumix TZ4:

PROS:

LENS: The quality and range of this lens are ideal. That is the absolute best part of this camera. Wide angle lens is a real treat in a point and shoot sized camera. I shot many group shots with this camera and everyone of them fit in the picture, and I did not have to walk back any steps (or wedge myself into a corner, etc. to do it). Also, outside, and especially outside, it is amazing what you will fit into a picture. There is absolutely no distortion with this lens. The outside pictures are superb.

ZOOM RANGE: You will not find better.

FEEL: The feel of this camera is of a well built quality piece. The grip is excellent and it feels good in the hand.

FAST: Pretty fast for a point and shoot. Not as fast as the Canons.

SIZE: The smallest superzoom anywhere. Smaller than Canon's superzoom the SX-1000. Looks better too.

LOOKS AND FEEL: I absolutely loved the looks and feel of this camera. It reminded me of my old SLR. It had a nice heft to it, and the controls were laid out nicely. Also love the fact that it was black and made of good quality materials.

BATTERY: Battery life is very good. Took almost 200 shots and did not even come close to using up the battery.

FLASH: Flash is very strong for a camera this size. Reaches rather far, but will not illuminate an object at the end of the 10X zoom.

CONS:

PROCESSOR: This camera is a grand slam waiting to happen if they can just put in a better processor. On indoor pictures, there is no ability to take a good candid with the camera because it hunts for focus and zoom for too long. Many of the pictures that were taken exhibited astounding amounts of fringing, or were out of focus. Because I was looking for a camera that I needed to take many indoor candid shots (where people are moving around and not posing), this was a deal breaker for me.

On outside shots, where you have plenty of light and if people don't move around too much, the camera takes excellent pictures. Many of the professional reviewers lament Panasonic's heavy handed noise reduction, but you don't see anything on the outside shots. This zoom range is an unbelievable asset to have outdoors.

Overall, many reviewers labelled this a "travel camera" and it is easy to see why. It is durable, has a great lens, and will take excellent sightseeing photos. For that purpose, it is highly recommended. I knocked it down to three stars because I need a camera that does it all very well, and the indoor performance of this camera was disappointing in view of how much I really wanted to like and keep this camera.

Hope this helps and best of luck in your shopping!

I usually only buy cameras that are made by camera companies not electronic companies...The Pana Lumix TZ4 showed promise so I bought one to test...After the first 25 or so pictures I was sold....I own A Nikon D70 and Coolpix 7900 which are great cameras with short zooms...The TZ 4 filled in what I needed , longer zoom / 28-280 / and very impressive pictures...The Leica lens is what sold me...Since the quality of the picture comes from the lens and not so much the features I took a shot and wound up very happy with this product...

Short falls , no view finder . short range flash no other complaints....A great little toy for a good price

This camera behaves exactly as reviewed and expected. There is no reason to but the 10MP version for $100 more, 8.1MP is plenty. The 10x zoom is awsome and the large screen can't be beat. Highly recommended.

I recently purchased this Lumix and find it easy to use and a good quality for a digital camera. I like the 10x optical zoom and the variety of settings that are available. It is a good solid camera, although a bit heavier than most current digital cameras on the market. I looked at several cameras and narrowed it down to a Canon and the Panansonic. The Lumix was the winner because of the zoom. It is a clear and crisp picture. It is also easy to use without even working through the manual. Not sure yet about the battery life. I hope that the lithium ion rechargeable battery has a lot of pictures in it before needing recharging since it doesn't use regular rechargeable batteries. I find this to be a possible negative since I can't carry extra AA batteries like my last camera.
I would recommend this camera because I feel it is a good quality camera at a reasonable price.

Picture quality is great in good lighting. In lower light, it's not great, but I've seen far worse. Every once in a while, after taking a photo, I can't get it to take another photo until I do something with the controls. Haven't figure it out. I haven't played with it long enough to rule out user error, but it is annoying watching people's smiles go stale. Anyways, for the price, I'm not complaining. Seems like one of the better deals in it's class. I'm going to keep using it ... maybe even read the manual one of these days. The IA setting isn't that great.

My husband and I purchased this camera to be a cheaper, more portable camera than our DSLR. It has turned out to be a wonderful purchase! The camera has the amazing 10x optical (not digital- this will not change the image quality) zoom which has proven to be awesome! We got to test it out yesterday at a wedding at the results were phenomenal. The pictures were clear and bright and the colors were vivid. The video mode was extremely impressive. We took just a short clip of the actual vows at the wedding, and watched it on our LCD TV and found it to be pretty darn sharp and not very grainy what-so-ever.

We have yet to mess around with the settings too much, but the iA (intelligent automatic) seems to work just fine. It definitely appears to have some varying settings, but it still is a point and shoot and will not replace an SLR, but it is a wonderful companion to one. We are very, very pleased and would recommend to anyone.

I am thrilled. I was so upset when my other camera died. I had NO IDEA which camera to choose. I researched as much as possible and always ended up with this one on my list. I am a scrapbooker and NEED my pictures to come out well...and they did. The first time I used it was at my son's first grade picnic. I had just gotten it and had not even read the manual. I just put it on the automatic setting and hoped for the best. I downloaded the pictures that night and printed up some for the kids in his class. Their parents RAVED about the quality. My husband has read bits and pcs of the manual (I must confess...I still haven't read the manual) and made a cute little video using pictures and music...done directly on the camera. I am truly thrilled with this purchase. If you are iffy about buying this camera...trust me...BUY IT...you will be glad you did.

I recently purchased the Lumix TZ4 to replace my Canon A510 which suffered from severe flash recycle lag, which drove me nuts. I was drawn to this Panasonic mainly because of the 10x zoom, which is great.

After using the camera for two weeks now, I find it very easy to use, and the battery life seems good. Indoor shots, with or without flash, come out much better than my Canon.

Video turns out nice, although the microphone does not seem to pick up noise more than a few feet away. I like the different aspect and frame speed options. Be sure and turn off continuous auto focus for video mode, otherwise the camera has a hard time focusing on just one thing and everything turns out blurry.

My only complaint is when I download and view the photos on my computer, I notice what seems to be haze/grain/noise on my outdoor sunny shots. The photos do not appear crisp at all, and I have tried several settings, changing the color mode from standard to natural, as the manual suggests, but with no difference. I did some comparison outdoor shots with the Lumix and the Canon, and the Canon's shots are much sharper and crisper.

I am also slightly annoyed with the cover to the cord ports. It doesn't snap shut or anything and I have found that it is easy to rub my hand against it and it will open.

In the end, I decided to keep the camera, because the Lumix's speed, zoom and other features are still an upgrade from my Canon, but I am not impressed that it cannot master the basic function of a camera, to take nice, sharp images. Please let me know if I am missing something.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
I have a larger Panasonic but felt that I needed a "pocket size" camera which allows better mobility. This Panasonic fits the bill to a tee. It is jam packed with features and has an excellant battery. I purchased a Sandisk 4 GB SDHC chip which makes this camera a powerful little camera. The auto zoom and quick menue top off the added features.
Just wonderful

I have used this on three trips so far. I find that it is easy to take photos in very low light, which I am really pleased with. The varoius scene modes really do work well. The trip function is very useful, telling me which day of the trip I am on every time I take a photo. In fact, I could get more out of my camera if I actually read the manual, but just the basic usage has been great and although it is not ultra-compact, it is very easy to pop into a small purse or to carry on a plane. I wish there were more manual ability available but other than that I am very satisfied.

I have been using this camera for 3 weeks and been very happy with it. Fast focus comparing to my old one(Olympus C-770UZ) and really inteligent automatic mode.Only small dissapointment comes from decreasing resolution of wide angle 16:9 mode, but still looks great on my 42" plasma. So far no problems.

I have been using this for approximately one month. Very simple to use in auto mode. Good zoom. Pictures are fairly well detailed. To me, simple is good.

A first class digital camera for the price. The zeiss lens is certainly a main attraction. Its features assure an excellent result.The one drawback is that there isn't a view finder. It's extremely difficult to size up a photo with the sun on the lcd monitor.

I bought this camera to replace my larger x12 zoom Sony, as I needed a small one to carry around with my new baby. This is a perfect camera for family pictures, small, fits in a pocket, has a x10 optical zoom + some advanced features that allow semiprofessional adjustments. The Leika lens, plus x 10 optical zoom make all the difference, plus programmed scenes allow for easy picture taking when you are out of time. What I find is optimal is the camera's skin tone colour... even with flash it captures it better than all the other ones I've tried. The burst mode is also excellent for capturing that first baby smile. The filming and sounds also work nicely, so for such a compact little thing, and the price, I give it 5 stars.

Perfect camera for someone who wants to take pictures far off or just needs a 10x zoom but does not want a bulky camera. I just replaced my Canon S2IS which was 3 times this size. Fits right in your pocket.

Can't ask for an easier to use menu interface. Great pictures. Umpteen picture taking modes. Everything is automatic, meaning there is no manual aperture or exposure settings. Having just gotten this recently, I was surprised the easy the shooting mode dial turns... maybe too easy. in fact, I wonder if it's loose... anybody owning same, please comment.

Amazing little digital camera. The pictures are not quite as good as my SLR, but almost -- and definately more portable!

I was looking for a camera small enough to fit into a pocket during kayaking expeditions or hikes but that still had more than a 3X zoom!! Hard to come by! This camera finally fit the bill and I couldn't be happier with it! The Intelligent Auto mode is amazing! I thought just AUTO was easy but this is even easier and more precise. The wide angle lens by Leica is also a plus and the 10X zoom allows me to take closer shots of wildlife I see on my outings. So far, I'm very happy with this camera. The price was incredibly reasonable as well!

No frills, feels really solid, pretty compact for a 10x. But I think if I had to do it over I would get the TZ5K, the manual is annoying when it says it can do a certian function then has a * saying TZ5 only....

After shooting several shots with this camera I can safely say that I would recommend it to anyone who asks. To see some shots taken with the tz4 go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickrplicker/

Very very good camera, I am very impressed. I purchased it for my girlfriend who originally had a canon sd1000 which she managed to drop after 2 months of owning it. However, it seems like it was a turn for the better. I am far more impressed with the features of this camera, the zoom is amazing and the scenery pre-sets are great as well. overall I would say it out performs the sd1000 in many areas. However there is one little disappointment and its the darkness of the pictures when using the AI features, but that can easily be overcome with the backlight setting. All in all, she is very happy with it and so am I so I decided to purchase the Z5 for myself. That will come with another review when I take a couple hundred pictures with it haha.

First let me say I am not a camera fanatic so I am not familiar with all the technical aspects of cameras and am limited mainly to using the automatic settings most of the time. The only thing I normally change is to disable the flash.

That said, I think this is a wonderful camera for folks like me. It takes high quality pictures on the automatic setting and the feature I really love is the 10x zoom. That makes a huge difference.

The build quality of this camera is nice and sturdy. It is on the heavy side compared to other compact digital cameras, but it feels solid and is well constructed. The controls are easy enough to figure out, the instruction manual is clearly written and covers all the aspects of the camera, and it comes with all the accessories most people would need (but you have to get your own SD flash card).

I like this camera because it is easy to use, the pictures so far have come out very, very nice, the 10x zoom is great, and it just feels like high quality when I hold it. I think it is a better value than the TZ5K as the latter's extra features aren't worth the difference in price, but if you are the type who lets those little things nag at you, it might be better to consider the TZ5K just so you feel like you have everything.

I've always had good luck with Panasonic products (this is my first camera from them, though) so I had no hesitation getting this one when choosing a brand.

I bought a Fuji f30 on its reputation for having the best picture quality among camera of that size. It really DID take great pictures, but the ergonomics were problematical... it was complicated to use, the controls were not intuitive, and it was limited to 3X zoom. Moreover, I discovered that just about very use I had for a camera seemed to require greater zoom capability. I'd been looking at the Lumix line, and decided that the TZ4 was the price point for the features I wanted. I bought one and after a week, was able to sell the f30 (still like new) for more than I paid for the Lumix. The Lumix's conrols are more logical and intuitive than the f30's so it's MUCH easier and more convenient to use. Its best picture quality is about 98% that of the Fuji's, but all in all it's a much more useful camera for my purposes. Not only can I take the technical and whiteboard shots I need but could never get before, but with 10x optical zoom I can also take respectable wildlife shots of the sort that would typically require an SLR. Shots taken with the digital zoom, however, are less imposing. Lumix was the first line of small and moderately priced enthusiast super-zoom cameras on the market. It has competition now, but Lumix cameras are still the smallest, and feature for feature, among the least expensive of the bunch.

After reading many reviews mainly from people who cant resist comparing this camera with a 700 dollar DSLR.
It is better than I was expecting.
The build quality is top notch. Good quality buttons, nice looking and still small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.
Several people gave this camera high marks but complained the indoor performance was lacking.
I am getting very good indoor results. The camera overall is very easy to use. With a little practice you should be taking nice photo's.
In movie mode this camera rivals my dedicated camcorder in most ways except in sound quality.
The sound recording with this camera is not so prominent that you hear every little sound. With my camcorder recording in stereo the sound is so prominent, that is it distracting.
I've been using a standard 2 gig SD card which seems to work good. I do think one of the faster write cards would be a good idea especially if your doing a lot of Video.
The video in highest quality mode does use some space. With a 2 gig SD card you will get about 20 minutes of video, which for me is all I've needed so far.

Bottom line I would recommend this camera. It does what Panasonic advertises it should do.
It takes great photo's and video, and seems to be a very high quality camera that should give good service.
So for the great price that Amazon is offering this camera for, I would say go for it.
I ordered this camera on Monday morning, and received it Thursday morning. Which is typical top notch service from Amazon.
One final thought, comparing this camera with the TZ5. The TZ4 is the best bang for the buck.
The TZ5 does offer a few extras, but I have a feeling you will find this camera very feature rich and probably all the camera you will need.

I'm extremely impressed with the Leica lens and Venus IV engine in this camera for outdoor pics, especially with the wide angle (28mm eq.) through 10x optical zoom (15.9x w/digital). Pictures are extremely clear with great color and very little distortion. Plus, with its size, you can easily buy a "fanny"-type carry bag that hooks on your belt, and if you're walking around or hiking, biking, etc., it's extremely convenient.

I have had some problems similar to those reported elsewhere with indoor shots in moderately low light. The flash is ok, but it's easy to cover up with your right middle finger. Plus, the Auto White Balance has some problems in low light, especially, producing some pictures that definitely need some post-processing to look good. This is the only reason I deducted one star. My biggest disappointment is that it's not as good as my Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom for indoor photos, though it has the capability to be better since it has a wide-angle option which should really improve upon the Canon.

Interestingly, it takes excellent macro pics, even in NO light (see my pics I've uploaded). It's true that with this lens, you can't get quite as close to the subject as with other digital pocket cameras, but I'm still thrilled with the results.

I was lucky to get this camera on an open-box special through the "warehouse specials" at Amazon.com for about fifty thalers (sorry -- trying to avoid the auto-editor) less than the current new price. The box had been opened, but none of the accessories had, and the camera has nary a mark on it. Just as new. Might want to wait for some more of those to pop up to save some money. At that price, it's an amazing steal for such a great little camera.

This was the best combination of price, quality build, zooming and Megapixels for me. High quality photos. Had to compromise for a little bulkiness; much heavier than I expected. I bought an 8GB SD card with it from Amazon- both at an awsome price; we recorded several short videos & took hunderds of 8MP pictures with ample memory space left on the card.. it was a good decision.. Highly recommended if you don't mind the extra bulk and weight (4 out of 5 due to that) compared to the slicker slimmer cameras with less features.

I was hoping I'd really like this camera. After all, a great lens and powerful zoom fitting in my pocket is very cool. Other reviews I'd read suggested this would be a great travel camera.

Unfortunately, I cannot agree. Without a viewfinder, the reflective lcd is virtually impossible to see on a bright day. In fact, with my prescription sunglasses, there was no image whatsoever. With them off, I could barely make out my shot, but with no definition. I did read the manual and adjusted the display for outdoors, but it still was very poor. Further, with the lcd operational, I couldn't get more then 70 shots on a battery charge.

I had a Canon before, and ended up going back to another. I didn't get the lense and zoom, but I sure feel I got a more thought out camera. Right from the manual (didn't need a magnifying glass to read it) to the auto focus, the Canon just seems to get it right more of the time.

This is another great Panasonic camera. I own a couple of other Lumix models, the FZ20 and FZ50. I bought this as a lightweight option to those full-sized cameras. There are other smaller, less expensive cameras in this megapixel and price class.

My advice right off the bat is that this camera is an excellent choice. Don't be tempted by the more expensive TZ-5, unless you really need HD video capability in a still camera, and an extra megapixel.

At 8mp, this camera has plenty of capability to provide high quality shots at 8x10 or so. The lens is able to produce the equivalent of a 28mm focal length (wide-angle by conventional camera terms), and it has a best in class 10x optical zoom. Not digital, folks, 10x OPTICAL. That's like having a 28mm - 280mm lens on a traditional 35mm camera. Few competitors match that.

Like its bigger FZ brothers, the TZ4 features a lens made by renowned lens maker Leica.

The ISO speeds on this camera range from 100 to 1600, exceptional speed range for a compact digital. 80 ISO is very nice for minimizing "noise', but Panasonic's new Venus IV engine works wonders in that respect, and I really don't see a difference in noise between my other cameras at 80 or 100 ISO and this camera at 100 ISO.

The 2.5" LCD is very bright and easy on the eyes.

The TZ-4 also has "face detection". It has the ability to "find" faces in the exposure and select the best focus for the subject.

For a fairly small camera, this device is easy to operate, takes great shots, and is a wonderful "second camera" when you don't want to carry a lot of gear yet still produce high quality photos.

This camera works well for the novice, those who don't like gadgets or the young camera user! it also has enough flexibility to allow more experienced photographers to enjoy it.

I've taken a lot of shots with the TZ-4 and can't find much difference between the shots and my other Panasonics or my Nikon DSLR.

this is a camera for very beginers. if you are a occasional user, this is an OK camera for you. I took this thing to take pictures in a wedding, after taking 15-17 pictures, the unit started to hit up, flash was sucking up all the battery juice.

After scouring the internet for reviews and comparisons on various digital cameras, I found myself purchasing the Panasonic Lumix TMC-TZ4K. I purchased this camera mostly because my prior digicam (Nikkon 7600) took AA batteries and they died constantly. For someone like me, this camera is perfect.

As far as point and shoot cameras go, this one is really top notch. At 8.1 megapixels, the shots come out crisp and clear. The intelligent autofocus mode can make even an amateur look like a fairly good photographer. For those of us who are not all that camera-savvy but are interested in learning, the TZ4 enables you to use manual mode and work the settings on your own.

The "scene" mode settings are pretty typical of most point and shoot cameras. One extra that I thought was interesting was the "starry sky" setting, which enables the user to use shutter speeds of 15, 30, and (i think) 45 seconds. In very low light settings this feature is excellent. It is also a neat setting if taking photos of a band in a dark basement.

The camera is very sturdy and just holding it you get a feel that you have a quality product.

The 10x zoom really is what sets this camera apart from any other point and shoot camera you can get today. The next highest zoom I found was only 5x. After having a camera with such a high zoom capacity I can't imagine going back to anything less.

Conclusion: For the amateur photographer who wants to have a chance to fiddle with a few settings, this camera is great. It shoots people very well as well as scenery (which are the two major functions I use it for). At $221, it isn't too heavy on the wallet for the quality of a point-and-shoot camera you are getting.

I am not the most technologically inclined person I know & I prefer easy-to-use electronics be it my laptop, stereo, digital camcorder or camera! I just got a puppy and I am always outdoors snapping shots in action. My old Kodak easyshare was not capturing the shots, so I decided to research new cameras with quality zoom capabilities without paying over $500.

I cannot believe the quality of photos from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K. I have been an avid fan of the 'auto' setting while I learn the rest of the features the camera has to offer. This is my first super-zoom and I recommend it to anyone who wants a quality super-zoom camera for a minimal cost. It is amazing for outdoor use and for any shot. I have to agree with previous comments that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K lacks performance indoors on still frame portraits. It was worth every penny and I am very pleased with my purchase and the shipping services. I might suggest ordering a larger memory card and extra battery with the purchase.

Absolutely wonderful camera. The 10x wide angle brings everything close and vibrant. There are so many special features to help you take wonderful, sharp pictures in any light. I would recommend this camera to everyone. My mother ran out and bought it after seeing the pictures it took on vacation.

I purchased this TZ4K as a back-up to the TZ4K I recently bought for a trip to Peru. I so loved the first, I wanted to be sure I had another TZ4 if something happened to the one I have.

I'm not a technically savvy photo-geek, but I am an enthusiastic photographer. The "Intelligent Auto" feature on the TZ4K is just what the doctor ordered -- I can capture photos under all kinds of light conditions and activity speeds as well as shots of close-up to faraway objects without having to think about it. I took over a thousand pictures including ones from moving vehicles, and they all turned out great.

If there's a negative aspect to this camera, I haven't found it.

For a small camera to have 10X optical zoom power with image stabilization is awesome. But its best features is the scene1, scene2 option, ie. you can set scene1 for landscapes, scene2 for sports then depending on your subject a quick move of the selection dial allows you to go from auto to landscape or sports. GREAT feature.