I've had the camera for less than a week so bear in mind that not all the features were tested. Also, this is my first advanced point and shoot camera so I cannot compare it to others I didn't own. I've tested the reasons why I chose this particular camera. The high resolution, compact size (can't really test that except that it fits in my pocket great!), and its ability to shoot high resolution video.

The high resolution is amazing but only a 4 star. 4 because there will be much playing around to do in order to get the sharpest possible image. Perhaps the ISO was set too high, perhaps I didn't use the perfect setting, much playing around to be a perfectionist - and only because I am coming off a manual digital camera where you have full control.

The pre-set settings in this are incredible! It even has a pre-set setting for PETS! I shoved the camera in my spaztic cats face and as he was trying to get away, I had a clear and up close shot of his face (with FLASH!) Any other digital camera and it would have been fuzzy or non existant as the lag between shutter, flash, and actual photo would be greater than the cat's ability to dissapear within a second. I did this more than once - super sharp and ultra fast! Poor cat...

There are baby-settings where you can give it a name and birthdate! Probably so you can title your pictures automatically later - I don't know yet - but it's cool!

Face detection - perfect! 4 faces in one shot I believe. Also, the flash compensates to the distance to each face (multiple flashes) so if you're closer to one person, that person's face won't be washed out in light! That's amazing technology!

Enough tech - plenty more in there to play with - onto the video!
I wanted a camcorder replacement so I don't buy another gadget just to take the few videos I DO want to take. Something fast and easy to capture the moments as they arrive out of nowhere. This camera's ability to take 1280x720 wide-screen videos to display on our flat-screen is what I was looking for. I only give it 4 stars though - which is STILL such a feat! The reason for a missing star is the camera's inability to focus fast enough on moving objects or while you're zooming. I'm sure the motor tech will develop over subsequent cameras but for SUCH a small package to deliver such high resolution "clips" is truly a feat! The maximum length of video at the highest resolution is 2GB (about 8.5 minutes). Most videos won't need that much continuous shooting anyway so that's not a big deal. The format is Quicktime's MOV. I'll need to play around with transfering that to DVDs but looks great on the computer! You can get the optional component cable that hooks directly onto the camera to the TV for instant enjoyment. (it comes with a VGA cable)

Oh, also, to download pictures from the camera to the computer? NOTHING REQUIRED TO INSTALL!!!! You plug the camera in the USB port, turn on the camera, choose PC on the camera (you can set it to always be that), and the computer recognizes it as a hard-drive from where you can drag and drop to your hearts content!

This is NO DSLR where you have full control - but that's not what this is for. So as you can tell, I highly recommend it and know it will be the perfect companion for pretty much all your photo-video needs in ONE tiny package (which travels VERY well!).

I have the TZ3 and am acquiring the TZ5, so my comments apply only to the still picture process, which is straightforward. Don't be swayed by the favorable comments on the 28mm "wide angle" lens - when shooting landscapes or large groups of people etc., all you will see in the details (with real users' images) is pixel smear. The whole point of a "fat" and heavy camera like this, which does not fit a shirt pocket, is the long end of the zoom, which could be 350mm, but sadly is only 280mm in actuality. For shooting people and landscapes, there are wide angle cameras from Casio, Sony, perhaps even Panasonic, that are small and light and pocketsize with up to 14 megapixels that have much better image quality than this camera. Where this camera really leapfrogs over the others I mentioned is in the long zoom. When shooting pictures of birds and other things small or farther away, this camera will give you *much* better images because of the long zoom.

I purchased the TZ5 because I was interested in the 28-280mm zoom lens (35mm equivalent) for a trip to SE Asia.. A couple of friends had the TZ3, which peeked my interest. However, I was ultimately dissapointed in its performance in low light situations and ISO over 200. I had read that the TZ5 would prove superior in this regard, but it turns out only minimally so.

I have spent the last two days putting the TZ5 through its paces and comparing it shot by shot with my Canon SD870. The Canon blew it away time after time, especially in low light situations. I was looking for a camera that would give me the same quality image as the Canon SD870, but also provide a more substantial zoom range in a small package. The TZ5 fell short. However, I don't know of any other compact camera outside the Lumix TZ line that offers anywhere near the zoom range, so it does benefit from occupying a very unique niche.

My advice: If you need the 28-280mm zoom lens, it's your only option. If not, go with the Canon SD870

I pre-ordered this from Amazon and it was shipped from J&R Music World. I have had it about a week and I am very impressed. I returned my Canon SX100 because of poor battery life, this Lumix blows the Canon out of the water. Charged it for only 20 minutes out of the box and got over 3 hours of "play" time. I was concerned the first couple of indoors shots I took, kept coming out "red", with a little time spent playing with the scenes and camera I think I have figured it out. The ULTIMATE test for me is to go to a museum and take test shots. The shots I got were some of the most crisp and vibrant I have ever taken!! Zoom is INCREDIBLE and shots taken outside in bright conditions are wonderful! I love the feel of it, it has a lot of "bulk", not heavy but just feels very secure and SOLID in your hands! The TZ5 LCD has double the pixels of the TZ3 and is a simply the best LCD I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!

As an advanced photographer with two pro DSLRs and an array of lenses I was looking for a light compact camera that will still have some of the features I am so used to from my DSLRs. This camera has the best lens in the industry bar none. Leica is superior to any other compact point and shoot lens out there (except other Lumix cameras that all use a Leica Lens). The camera is fast wt start up and can take 3 FPS in sports mode. It packs a 10X optical zoom and on the TZ5 can go up o 17X with some resolution loss. I never use Digital zoom as I do not consider it a zoom.
The Camera ergonomics is great, may of the features photographers need are easily accessible and well though of. I have been using the TZ3 for 2 years and took more than 10000 pictures with amazing results. I take many night shots and this is really where this camera excels. It can take 15, 30 and 60 seconds exposures which no other compact can do.
Battery life es very acceptable. A second battery is a recommended inexpensive accessory. The camera build quality is good, durable materials and high quality. I have evaluated a huge number of cameras and the Lumix comes on top by far based on its image quality, image stabilization, optical zoom, Leica superior lens, form factor and overall value. The closest camera you can get with similar performance is the Canon SX 100 IS. It is bigger, bulkier, heavier, much much slower and costs about the same. When it comes to compact point and shoot with advanced features and a hefty zoom nothing beats the Lumix.

I also wanted to replace an older canon powershot AND an old canon camcorder. With kids, it needed to fit into my SMALL messenger bag (about 7"x9")along with diapers/wipes, etc. I was leery of the quality of the video, as I had read reviews where they noticed the camera constantly trying to focus on the images. If you turn off the autofocus and set the focus setting to the whole screen, you can alleviate this problem. The video is GREAT, the photos are awesome. I love that the battery recharges INSIDE the charger - wireless. I bought a 16gb card with reader for around $80 on amazon so I can handle about 1 hr of the highest quality video (in 9 minute increments). It's met all of my requirements. It feels sturdily built, the lcd screen is amazing (get a boxwave screen protector!), and I'm having lots of fun and finally taking the photos and videos of my kids I should have been taking for the last couple of years. Always read reviews here on amazon but never written one - will update if any problems.

I love this camera. I really do. I'm so happy with its performance and feature-set, I'm willing to forgive the lack of manual controls and the price drop I just saw.

I pre-ordered and also bought a 16Gb SDHC card. I plan on having this device replace my current Canon Powershot A75 and my Sony TRV-608 camcorder. I can plan this way because... this camera shoots 720p high-definition video. My big-screen LCD will really allow the captured video to shine. In my preliminary tests on a 22" LCD, the output is gorgeous, so much clearer and vibrant than the Hi-8 video I would shoot using the old Sony.

It's a wonderful progression of technology. My Sony camcorder can shoot in zero light, zooms to some ridiculous level, but I hardly ever use it because it's yet-another-device you need to carry. My Canon worked well for three years, then decided to stop running. I loved the manual controls and ability to bracket shots, but with 3x optical zoom, I was missing something. Plus, it was a family camera, and The Wife could not care less about manual controls.

The Lumix TZ5 is a perfect blend of features and performance for me. It will allow me to grab high-definition camcorder video in the same device I can just hand to The Wife and say, "Press the button". It has a removable Li-On battery with separate charger, so I can buy a spare and keep them charged and ready to travel. It does a lot, for a fair price.

I will miss the manual controls, especially for low-light shots, but in my testing I've already seen how well it can handle low-light with no flash. Pictures look remarkable, shutter lag is less than the A75, and flash recharge is not too bad. The LCD screen is huge compared to the A75, almost the size of a PDA screen. That'll take some getting used to, especially since there's no optical viewfinder. In all, I'm really happy with it, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new point-and-shoot who needs the ability to grab quality video every now and then. With two kids, that'll be every day for me.

-C

I already wrote a review on the little sister, the TZ4, which is a phenomenal camera; I am however returning it because the price differential with the TZ5 is so low at this point it made more sense for me to spring for the few extra bucks on the TZ5 .

If you read any professional reviews, you already know that this is not the camera for poster size enlargements, even at low ISO values. While the noise reduction has been turned down, there is still some NR smudging and noise. Thankfully, the noise at least can be removed to the point where I was able to doctor a sample ISO 1600 picture to look just fine in 4 x 6 size (thanks to NeatImage). And I've had no problems with 8 x 10's at ISO 100 and 200.

And guess what? That is THE ONLY issue with this camera, and it is one that all other compact cameras also share to various extents. The difference here is that many other compacts also add lots of other "negatives" to the mix, such as severe wide angle distortion, wild and wooly purple fringing, reduced zoom range, and corner blurriness . The TZ 4 and 5 do nothing of the kind.

For what you're getting, a compact, POCKETABLE 28 - 280 Leica lens with IS, there simply is nothing like it out there. And that's before even looking at the HD movie mode, the surprisingly accurate intelligent scene selection feature, the brilliant LCD and the jewel-like workmanship.

This is the ultimate vacation camera if you plan to leave your DSLR home and travel lightly, and aren't spending all day in museums shooting w/o flash. I highly recommend this camera, especially if you lock in the highest possible ISO value at 400, turn the dial to iA, and then give the camera to a complete newbie to shoot pictures with. I think he/she AND you will be very pleasantly surprised with the excellent results.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K is an extremely handy and effective camera. It takes excellent pictures, once you get your settings right, and has great wide-angle and telephoto range. Image stabilization is pretty reliable. Battery seems to run down more quickly than advertized because it drains even while connected to computer for downloading. And new owners are likely to spend quite some time with the manual digesting all the instructions for use. These cavillings apart, the TZ5 is small enough to take anywhere and is pretty well up to any photographic challenge.

After Nikons and Leicas, its hard to like point-and-shoots, but I got this one for the HD video capabilities in a very portable format. So far I'm please with the 720p results for videos of my baby. The focus is a bit on the slow side so you get some blurry passages as it tries to refocus on the move, but you can zoom while recording so its got the basics covered. The color is pretty bright and the resolution is worth the price of admission. Another downside is the seeming cap of 8min 37 seconds for each continuous video clip even though I have an 8GB card in there - not a biggie since long clips get pretty boring but you can't shoot a basketball game with this camera.

A hidden surprise was the intelligent autoexposure (iA) mode. It actually works really well. I've futzed with Canons P&S cameras in the past to get fill flash and other ways to get a decent shot - but iA mode does all that for you and the shots come out very well with no tiny menu surfing - big win. For indoor flash photography, it actually produces a few keepers here and there.

All told its not a revolutionary camera and certainly not the super-slim ultraportable camera that you'd keep on your person at all times....but HD video in your pocket! And some decent pics too.

I did research for about two months before deciding to purchase this camera. I was originally going to buy the TZ3 for $249.99 and the day I was going to buy it I read an article that Panasonic was going to come out with the TZ5.

I decided to wait a few weeks and read what I could regarding the quality of the new TZ5. It took a few weeks but reviews started popping up online and I was able to see the features of the new camera verses the TZ3. I decided to go ahead and spend the extra $50 dollars and purchase this camera.

I am very pleased with the features of this camera. I was looking for a small compact camera that was easy to use for my wife, but a large zoom for me. Most point and shoot digital cameras have 3x or 4x zoom, this camera has a monster 10x zoom, which is great for my needs. The camera stays relatively small so my wife can carry it around and with the Ai settings it makes it a very easy camera to use, which meets her needs. I am also impressed with the photo quality of this camera. There was one hang up though and I expected this so I knew what I was getting into - right out of the box I had to begin reading the instruction manual and adjusting the cameras settings to get the best picture quality.

Pros.
+ Small compact point and shoot with large 10x zoom
+ HD video resolution (720p capture with component cable playback)
+ Zoom while capturing video (option was not available in TZ3)
+ Ai setting makes the camera easy for beginners, just turn it on and shoot.
+ Large 3.0" LCD display screen makes reviewing pictures easy (the TZ5 also has a higher resolution screen then the TZ3)
+ 9.1 megapixel
+ Able to take pictures in different aspect ratio's 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9

Cons.
- Picture review button has changed from the TZ3 model. Now instead of easily hitting down on the 4 way directional pad you have to push a switch down to go into "review mode" to see the last picture you just took. I found this a little slower than the TZ3 and one more moving part that can break. For reference see the back of the TZ5 and notice the toggle switch from "capture to review" in the upper right hand corner.
- If the camera is not set to Ai then taking a good picture straight out of the box might not be perfect. You will want to spend a little time reading the manual and adjusting some settings to get a great photo.
- Will only us SDHC memory cards. Since I did not have a memory card this was not a problem for me, but if you are upgrading from an older camera you cannot use the old standard memory card. The new SDHC cards are faster and it is suggested that you get a high speed card (transfer rate) in order to capture HD video.
- ISO Images above 800 do have artifacts (static) in the image. This does not make the photo horrible or bad looking just noticeable if you blow up the image to a large size such as an 8x10. I knew this going in and most digital cameras have this problem, some worse.


After owning this camera for over a month I am very pleased with it and couldn't be happier. I hope this review helps and if you still need information or possibly some sample photos, then go to Google and type in "review Panasonic TZ5". You will see a few great websites that can help you decide what the best camera is for your needs.

The product is exactly what I wanted. A smart little digital camera.
Ordering it was easy. It was delivered on time. It was a good experience.

Just bought this today at B & H. Had some doubts initially as I really wanted the Ricoh R8 which is also another sexy little black number. But went with this as the price was very competitive at under $300. It really is the business! I'm now happy I've tried this out first instead of Ricoh. Mind you Ricoh R8 is still a great camera but it was $400. This has everything a companct camera should have. Different modes, movie w/zoom, 10x optical zoom,large large lcd screen, playback in different modes too. Something fun happens when you playback the slideshow^*^. I can't wait to take it on my upcoming trip with me..

This is a great little camera. I was a little hesitant to purchase after reading some of the criticisms by the so called expert reviewers, but decided to purchase the camera in the end mostly because of the lens and it's capabilities. It is an easy camera to work, and it takes excellent photo's, both in automatic, and manual settings. I took a walk by the lake on a sunny day to practice shooting with the camera and used the various features-beautiful photo's! I was also concerned with the quality of indoor photo's, but the red eye worked quite well, and I am happy that the indoor shots are very good-not great, but much better than my previous canon Sureshot. Also, the zoom lens is great, make sure to take advantage of the image stabilization. All in all I love the camera so far, i'm not an expert, but this camera makes it easy to take very nice shots.

I took this on a cruise - it was perfect. Not only did I get consistently better snapshots than those with compact cameras, but I was able to take some spectacular pictures of scenery - sunsets, coming into port, etc. Exactly as reviewed, best camera I have ever owned.

The one great thing about this camera's video is that you can have it when you need it without carrying multiple items. It will not replace a good camcorder, but it does provide good quality video (720 HD) with ease. It is very small, and provides you not only with good video, but great photos. I have used panasonic before, and have been very pleased with the photos and also pleased with the video on most of the small digital cameras offered by them.

The colors in the photography is crisp and bright, and is very easy to use. The video is good, but seems to have trouble with the autofocus during zooming, however, it is a big plus to be able to zoom in a camera like this. I have read that if you play with the settings, you can make the focus better during video. Another big plus is the 10x digital zoom. If you are looking for a good point and shoot camera with a good video option, you should be very happy with this.

One part of the software package has to be registered. This in turns runs a small billboard in lower right hand corner that you cannot turn off. The billboard advertises the latest weekly specials, and acts like spyware. The other portion of this software package is a program that has no uninstall executable. Upon deleting this program I was warned, that other programs may not function if deleted. I think Panasonic can aford to do alot better than this... still, it's a jewel of a camera!

First off, the good: Shoots great, very detailed pictures, excellent videos, I love the high speed burst mode to shoot short series of pictures, the 10x OPTICAL zoom is awesome! The display is large and crisp. Is ready to shoot as soon as you hit the On button.
The not so good: The packaged software Panorama Maker 4 is unsuitable for newer Intel Macs and Panasonic and the maker of the software both deny any support responsibility. The USB connectivity reports the camera as "NO NAME" which looks pretty cheap. Triggering a shot through the USB cable is not possible. I am comparing this to my Canon Powershot S50 which is much more mature in this regard. Basic functionality is available through Mac OS X and the Canon PhotoStitch software works fine with the Panasonic images.
The lens cover is very flimsy. The camera fell onto the ground from about 1' high and it took me 30 minutes of shaking and manually pushing the parts of the lens cover back and forth until it finally recovered and worked again.
I have decided to keep the Canon Powershot for situations where I feel a more rugged camera would be good and have the Panasonic to take pictures of the finer things in life.

Hi,
Can someone please help me with my problem? I am a first time pana digiCam user. I got my pana DMC TZ5 thru online store. The box itself is not sealed by pana but by their store sticker. it this normal???
also, my instruction menu and CD are not put in the order that
was shown on the diagram. can someone please tell me what other documents/menus you got besides instruciton menu? (I saw 1 on line pic that someone got a bag of documents(instruction menus+some other menus???)
Thank so much.

Excellent point and shoot camera for the money...Large LED screen is great..Software not thrilled with but works with my other software..Great photo clarity even in zoom..nice photos in darkness..would buy as a gift..worth the wait on this one to come out..packed with good features..

I came from a Sony DSC-V1 which was a terrific camera in it's day. It's downfall was a tiny little LCD screen and a limited zoom range that ended at 35mm on the wide end. I wanted a camera that went down to at least 28mm and had a clear, large LCD. I looked at the Canon 870IS and the Nikon P-80 but settled on this. Why? The Canon's LCD was not as clear as the Lumix and it had a limited zoom range on the top end. And, to be honest, it didn't have some of the 'bells and whistles' that the Lumix did. The Nikon was really not pocketable and has been getting horrible reviews all over the internet since it's recent introduction (Amazon, DPReview.com, etc.). It seems that Nikon really knows how to do dSLR's but comes up way short in the P&S category. I also briefly considered the Fuji 100SD but rejected it due to well known problems with pink banding and purple fringing. If you like to do a lot of low light, higher ISO photography though, the Fuji should be on your very short list.

I know a number of people have complained that the TZ5 is 'not as small' as they thought/hoped it would be. C'mon guys, this thing has a 10x zoom that goes down to 28mm!!! Something with those capabilities is never going to be the size of a credit card! And the thing for me is that I just can't stand geometric distortion and the Panasonic/Leica is a real champ in this regard. There's nothing worse than that horrible barrel distortion you see in so many wide angle lenses. This one has none of that. The trade off is that it gets iffy at higher ISO's. You can effectively prevent this by setting the camera to never let the ISO get above, say 400. The camera allows you to do this. The Optical Image Stabilization ("OIS") is really superb as are the exposure options. And, of course, the face recognition is a great new development that Panasonic has implemented quite well in this camera.

Now to it's video capabilities. It'll shoot 720p HD video in 16:9 which is awesome if you have a HD TV which is, of course, 16:9. Just be sure to turn off "auto-focus" when in video mode or the camera will constantly be 'hunting' for the right focus. It's depth of field is excellent so it'll be in focus most of the time anyway.

Just a couple of nits. The low light assist lamp is not terribly effective (nowhere near as good as the one on my Sony DSC-V1) and the camera sometimes takes a second or two to find the right focus in low light. And I wish there was a way to more easily control/allow for long shutter exposures as I love night photography. As it is, you have to set the camera to "Starry Night" (one of the scene modes) to get shutter speeds longer than 1 second. Not that big a deal and certainly a minor criticism of such an excellent overall camera.

Oh, and one final thing...the build quality is superb. Everything about this camera just shrieks "quality." Great job Panasonic. All at a price point of <$300. Incredible!

I bought this camera following the enthusiastic reviews that seemed to be everywhere on the web. It has all I wanted: good parts (the Leica lens were a good selling point), good zoom (10x!!!), decent video (I already own a camcorder) and the wide-angle (very imprtant).

It is also easy to use. Has both point-and-shoot capability (been using it a lot, especially with the pre-set scenes and auto-selection of scenes and loving it) and some manual settings to play around with when I'm in gadgety-mood (but I'm not a photographer, and don't know what half of those things mean... will learn, hopefully!)

The zoom is outstanding: I took a picture of my mother from a distance of approx. 20 meters, and I can zoom to see what time her watch is showing.

On the down side, I must admit that it is a lot heavier and bulkier than I thought it would be (or indeed, than I realized when I looked at it at the store). It does not fit completely in the palm of your hand and is certainly not light-weight. Most reviews say it's perfect for travelling and will fit in your pocket... makes me wonder what kind of pockets people use... It certainly won't fit in an average jacket pocket.. in fact, most cameras at the store could fit in the cheap no-brand cases on sale, but the TZ5 couldn't.

I'm starting to wonder whether I shouldn't have gone for the FX35 instead. The FX35 seems to have less features, and slightly worse images (but difference noticeable only in the lab), but looks a lot more portable and lightweight (also cuter design, but who really cares?).

Overall: This is an excellent camera, and results have been great. I'm convinced it's excellent value. Before purchasing, though, think twice about the use you are really going to make of it, and consider buying the Lumix FX35 instead. I know the TZ5 was a bit of an over-kill for me, and now I'm stuck with larger handbags than expected.

This Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle is a great camera. I have used it a few times. The pictures are beautifully clear and sharp which is easy to use after fully reading the directions.

I saw some pictures taken with the Sony DSC bridge camera and I thought the pictures, while good, weren't as crisp as I'd like so I decided to look at the Lumix cameras. Both Lumix cameras, the TZ5 and FZ18 (bridge model) Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) are great. I wanted a camera with more zoom than the 3x or 4x on most point & shoot cameras. I owned a Leica point & shoot when film was still the way to go and always loved the great pictures I got from that camera so the Leica lens was a great draw. You may have to use a tripod or monopod to steady your camera at full zoom to get a nice shot--if you don't care for this consider sticking with more MPs with less zoom and crop--you should be able to crop quite a bit and still get a decent shot. I don't recommend using full optical and digital zoom with any camera as the pictures get more "grainy", but if you have to get that tight shot you have that option.

Pros for TZ5: Ready to go out of the box in AI mode--goes automatically from landscape to macro and mega OIS stabilization is very good. Has 10x zoom and can go to full zoom using optical & digital zoom (I believe this gives you 28x). Has an E.Zoom button that will take you to full optical and/or extended zoom using optical and digital zoom without having to use the zoom lever. Amazed at how well the macro mode worked and loved the options to switch to wider panorama type shots. There are 2 other scene modes you can program & save with your preferences so you can quickly & easily shift to your pre-adjusted modes using the camera dial. Large LCD screen. Menus were relatively easy to learn and can easily switch to different camera options. Pictures were crisp and clean. You can also be creative using B&W, sepia, and vivid and other camera options. Burst mode and bracketing options available. Small size you can fit in your purse or pocket. If you prefer to have some options but don't want to fuss a lot with a camera this is a great point & shoot camera.

Cons for TZ5: The FZ18 shot better with lower light and overall the shots had noise, but still not bad for a point & shoot and not a big issue unless you do a lot of low light shooting. You can also try high sensitivity and sport scene options to as well as focusing options to get better indoor or low light shots. Details in dark colored models were not as easily seen on LCD--I couldn't see the details clearly on some skinny red orchids and just pressed the shutter on faith--I still got some nice detailed shots. Also, autofocus didn't do as well on dark colored objects and in dim light. Pale yellow didn't photograph as well in AI mode--at least not close up--I had to step back to get better color rendition on a pale yellow hibiscus. LCD has clear, shiny "window" over it that helps brighten and sharpen the image, but gets "fingerprinty" and may scratch--I use a microfiber eyeglass cloth to keep it clean.

I uploaded photos, mostly of flowers and plants I photographed in my yard so you can judge--the photos are un-retouched and not cropped. The day was bright & hazy, a breeze blowing so the flowers were not always sitting still. All were taken handheld. There is one handheld, indoors in dim light of my laptop screen.

I have not used the video function so can't comment on it. I also haven't used all the scene options so I can't say if all work well. Backlight function worked pretty well.

I notice the silver TZ5 camera is cheaper than the black for some reason--if you don't mind silver and want to save a few bucks, that may be the way to go. I will leave some comments on the FZ18 for those that want some info on that camera.

Verdict: A KEEPER. Much better than the previous Canon Power Shot I owned, which was slow and clunky.

Thanks to everyone for posting their pictures and comments on Amazon, I appreciate the assistance and I hope I have been of some help to other consumers in return.

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.

I am so pleased with this camera. I have a 3 month old son, who generally has red eyes in every picture, but the automatic red eye removal works wonders!! When a picture is first taken I can see he has red eyes in the picture, but after about 2 seconds the camera automatically removes them, no more manually editing every single picture!

Good:

1. 28mm wide angle
2. 10x Zoom
3. Can zoom during video recording
4. Good picture quality but only in great lighting conditions

Bad

1. Poor picture quality in low light, probably due to the small sensor size?
2. Audio in video clips cuts off midway into the video clip. Puzzling.
3. A bit large to comfortably fit into a jeans pocket.

Agreat camera. I first bought a Canon Rebel SLR bought thought it was too big, heavy and complex for traveling. I am going to Europe and wanted something smaller and lighter. I am not a profession photographer and my family are not professional photo reviewers.

The DMC-TZ5A is perfect for me. Great set of features to include the zoom and the video recorder.

When the time came to replace our 5-year-old Sony Cybershot I did lots of research all the while intending to buy another Sony. When I came across this model I was intrigued. Most of the cameras I had considered touted many features I would never use. This camera offered everything on my checklist with a unique added bonus in this price range----A REAL lens with incredible zoom and wide shot capabilities.
I bought it about three weeks ago and could not be happier. We have taken many photos and videos during the final weeks of the school year and I am blown away by the difference in quality VS our old Sony. Low-light photos are brilliant. Isn't technology wonderful?!!?!!

I bought this camera for the 10x optical zoom and for the AF feature. I was disappointed in the picture lag time and it does not take good pictures in low light situations. However, the red eye feature works great and the zoom. I took the camera back, due to the bad low light pictures and the lag time.

The Leica lens are brilliant, wonderful colors, good compensation on low light conditions, very good zoom and excellent stabilizer. Very simple to work with. Excellent buy!

This is a great product. It has wide-angle and 10x zoom in a small package.

My primary camera is a DSLR, but I keep a point&shoot for my wife/kids to use, as a backup camera, and for daily trips around town. I used a Canon SD700, until my kids hid it and forgot where they put it ;-}

Anyway, what I wanted is something small that can handle the beating of everyday family use and still produce great pictures. I did a fair amount of research and selected the TZ5 based on it's balance of good reviews, price, and zoom/features. After two weeks of shooting with it, here are my current impressions:

Pros:
- Image quality is great. Not as sharp as DSLR, but I think better than my prior Canon SD700. Also, colors are natural & attractive. Very pleased with the results that it captures
- The face-detection/focusing system is really really cool. I'm not a big "all auto" shooter, but the TZ5's face detection is so effective that I find myself setting the camera in "iAuto" mode most of the time.
- Good control placement, menus, and setting flexibility.
- The 10x zoom is wonderful. A good range from wide angle to telephoto, gives lots of shooting options.

Cons:
- Body is considerably larger than the Canon. While better for larger hands, the size makes the TZ5 harder to tote. The metal body feels solid, but as a result, it's heavy. Overall, the TZ5 will not fit comfortably in a pocket, so be ready for a belt case or the need to drop it into your purse.
- Shutter lag is bad - almost like it was designed in 2002! Ok, maybe it's not THAT long, but the lag is noticeable and causes missed shots.
- Battery life is pretty horrible. Using the huge zoom on the unit, I can't even get through a single 4GB card (about 600 shots). I almost never use the flash, but assume performance would be much worse. It's worth getting a 2nd battery until Panasonic makes the TZ5 more efficient.

Haven't found a perfect everyday camera yet (at any price), so there's still an opportunity for some manufacturer to meet the need! That said, this unit is pretty good and I'm happy with it. Also, LOVE the option to buy in different colors (I chose blue, and am very happy with it) - why has it taken so long for us to get more options than just black or silver??

Enjoy & happy shooting!

Excellent quality pictures and HD videos! awesomeness because this is a camera I can actually carry around easily.
So long as you keep the subjects properly lit - preferably with daylight, you will see great pictures. For HD videos you absolutely need great lighting otherwise the videos will be grainy

Its been just about a month since I started using this camera! I've learned only 20% of its features!! I really like the size and ease of use!! The slide show blew me away the first time I used it (music playing too).

The zoom is fantastic!! I have been trying the numerous settings for the type of subject I'm shooting!! Still learning!! The 3" screen is something I find great to use while setting up and reviewing!!

Just started my Ebay business and am using the camera every week with great success!

Will report back in a few months when I become more proficient!!

The pix are GREAT!!!!

Firstly, be aware that this is a "point-and-shoot" camera. I had read too many reviews where the only negatives were comparing it to digital SLRs. I think there is some confusion that because it has a 10x zoom that it is a full-blow SLR. Not so. It is like any other compact digital in many of its functions. It is only about 1/2 inch thicker than my Casio due to the lens, so it fits nicely in your palm, fanny pack, or pocket.

Secondly, the 10x zoom is AWESOME. Other features, like the image stabilizer, makes the Lumix TZ5 zoom even better (if that's possible).

Also nice is the 28mm wide-angle Leica lens - quite a professional addition to a point-and-shoot.

Other awesome features are the intelligent exposure, intelligent scene selector and burst shooting.

Menu is easy to learn and use (we didn't even read the instructions).

For a die-hard compact digital camera geek like myself, the pictures this camera produces look excellent. Be assured, the color is MUCH sharper than in the examples above (perhaps due to compression by amazon).

I had read that the battery door and tripod mount were plastic and flimsy for such a heavy-duty camera. For sure, plastic seems like a cheap addition to such a sturdy camera. But I haven't noticed either being flimsy. Of course, knowing they are plastic makes me handle them with a little more care.

The LED screen is LARGE and automatically adjusts in brightness according to your environment.

Another feature I appreciate (for a point-and-shoot) is the little rubberized ridge on the front right - just perfect for your fingers in taking quick one-handed shots.

Lastly, if you want to see this camera in action, go to [...] and search on "panasonic lumix tz5". You will be impressed.

Pros:
1. Big LCD display
2. Intuitive options and menu navigation
3. Partial HD quality pictures and video (Not sure of this, read on why)
4. Awesome optical zoom. I could capture clear small text (about 16 Aerial font size) from 30 feet away!

Con:
1. Pictures of vibrant colors taken using iA (intelligent Auto) mode (most frequently used more) with finest quality available on this camera, appear grainy when seen on computer at actual size. In fact you can already see minute grains of the taken picture when viewed in zoom mode on the camera itself. This compares very badly with the images I have taken with my old Canon S230. I am returning this Panasonic camera. I will buy a Canon with similar optical zoom capability of this Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S.

I purchased this camera specifically for a trip to Egypt where we were cruising on the Nile. It produced terrific shots via the 10 x close-up feature of people, animals, etc on the shore. It was fairly easy to use with little instruction, although I have yet to read the entire operating instructions (100 + pages) and probably am not aware of all the available features. Battery recharged in a couple of hours and 4 GB memory card allowed me to take 350 photos with memory to spare. Over all, I was very pleased with this product. Amazon service was outstanding. I received the camera four days after placing order via standard shipping.Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5A 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Ordered the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S for the convenience of having a "point & shoot" (P&S) while on vacation in San Diego. I usually shoot with my Nikon D50 and LOVE it, but the girth of a DSLR is often too much when all I'm wanting to do is preserve some memories. For several years my "P&S" was a 2001 vintage Kodak ... very basic.

I've got to say, as someone who loves to take photos and is pretty good at it, that this Lumix blows me away in how far "P&S" technology has advanced in the past several years. If you are a pure amateur, just set this rascal on a max ISO of 400 and "iA" setting and start snapping! It's virtually foolproof. The most advanced auto mode I have ever used on a "P&S".

The HD video capability is nice. It's not going to give you videos of the quality you might expect from a dedicated vidcam, but this IS a "P&S". Not having to carry around two separate cams is worth the trade-off in quality if you are just chronicling vacation stuff.

Build quality is top flight and very sturdy. The viewing screen is brilliant. The images taken with this cam are very, very good.

**Bottom line : a very high "BUY" recommendation for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S.**

This camera is unbelievable!! Crisp photo's and high definition video. Not to mention very easy to use and navigate through the settings. Highly recommended for a novice photographer or professional.

I did a great deal of research before purchasing this camera because I don't have the time or money that some people apparently have to be doing the eBay revolving door thing. What I came to realize is that, disappointingly, there isn't a clearly superior compact or ultracompact camera out there. There are only cameras with greater or lesser compromises and the trick is finding the one you can live with. The Lumix TZ5 was a good travel companion and turned out to have few flaws.

Since it irritates me when people say that they do a great deal of research and then never share it (doesn't that irritate you?), here are some of the cameras I ruled out based on my (maybe not your) criteria:
Fujifilm FinePix F100fd (difficult menu design, pink banding issue), Canon PowerShot SD890 IS (reported awful handling and poorly designed controls), Casio Exilim Card EX-S10 (No image stabilization, very slim, picture quality ok, weak zoom, tiny controls), Casio Exilim EX-S880 (No image stabilization, reported poor image quality), Olympus Stylus 850 SW (reportedly poor video shooting, poor battery life), Pentax Optio V10 (No image stabilization), Casio EX-Z1080 (Reduced pixels compared to others, 38mm starting range), Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 (Reportedly falls short on image quality, no viewfinder, larger), Ricoh Caplio R7 (No optical viewfinder, very noisy, some barrel distortion when fully extended, poor customer service?, reported quality mediocre), Pentax Optio A40 (Reportedly poor autofocus), and Canon PowerShot A470 (No viewfinder, no image stabilization, weak zoom).

Unfortunately, doing all this research meant I didn't get the Lumix TZ5 till right before my trip to Amsterdam - I was literally reading the manual on the plane. I don't recommend this, but it does serve as a good crash test for what the camera could (and could not) do out-of-the-box.

As you probably know, this isn't an ultracompact but it is not as big as some reviewers make out. Could fit in a large pocket but it is rather heavy and unprotected in that environment so I got a LowePro case for it that sat on my belt. Worked well, allowed for extra batteries and SD card, and access was quick for candid shots.

Things that worked well:
* The Intelligent Auto mode worked pretty well for most situations. I suggest studying the exposure compensation settings since I had to use these often in high contrast and full sun situations.
* One handed operation works well.
* Menu system was pretty intuitive for basic functions.
* Zoom is amazing and E.Zoom setting was very useful. Be sure to read how to use the "extended optical zoom" which lets you go out to 16.9x at reduced picture quality (I believe you have to have picture quality set at max 9MB and this is then reduced to 3MB). I didn't use the digital zoom.
* The screen is gorgeous and the playback is amazing - many people commented on this.
* Taking video is pretty easy, though I would have preferred a button rather than having to rotate a dial. Be careful on playback to distinguish between what is a still picture and what is video - I accidentally deleted some video because I thought they were poor still shots, rather than the start of the video.
* If the dial is accidentally rotated, the camera will not let you take a picture until you correctly choose an actually setting.
* Fairly quick start up - not stellar but not bad.
* Can set up something called Travel Date, which will organize pictures by 1st, 2nd, 3rd day. This was useful when sharing pictures and to help you remember the chronology of the trip.
* You can zoom while taking video, although more slowly than with still shots.

What didn't work well:
* No matter what you read, the pretty LCD screen is no replacement for a view finder even when you use the Auto Power LCD option to compensate. In daylight, even on the brightest setting, the screen washes out. Another problem I had was I had to remove my glasses to compose on the screen, which was a hassle with rapidly-moving candid shots. This was the biggest disappointment and I took off one star for this.
* Certain functions of the camera will only work in certain settings. For example, you can only set the self-timer for 10 sec in IA mode, histograms cannot be displayed in IA mode, exposure settings can only be used in normal mode, extended optical zoom cannot be used in motion picture mode, etc. It can be frustrating, and you can miss a good shot, if you don't have all that memorized. I imagine all cameras are like this, but thought I would mention it since we are discussing an out-of-the-box experience.
* The door to the sockets on the right-hand side comes open easily (does not lock closed but only snaps shut), which is a hassle at times. I am concerned that it will snap off one day.
* In my opinion, the flash is underpowered.

Overall, I am happy with the TZ5 and impressed with the pictures and video it produced - especially since I had so little experience with it. My friend, who is a film maker by trade, was also impressed with the camera. It is bigger than I would have liked, but the trade off for a 10X zoom was worth it for me.

Do get an extra battery - I went through both batteries in 4 hours of shooting, mostly stills but some video. Big hassle to run out of juice in the middle of your day. A SD Extreme III 8GB was recommended in some reviews and it worked well for me, especially with shooting video. In doing research about buying a camera, one of the most helpful websites I found was the "What Camera Should I Buy?" forum at the Digital Camera Resource Page - [...]
In looking at the reviews here on Amazon for the TZ5, be aware that they are organized by color, so check each color for information about this camera.

This is a great camera. I love the 10x lens and the small size. It also has an artificl intellengent feature that automatically sets the camera for low lighting etc. I have really enjoyed this camera so far and I have gotten some great pictures. I highly recommend it!!!!!

The TZ5 is a marked improvement over the previous TZ3. Although the extended zoom is only marginally better, the metering and ease of use is significantly better. The only way to made this compact packed with great features camera better is to make each setting unchanged by any other setting alteration. e.g. Make the exposure bracket stay on until you shut it off. And the bracket setting may be on on one setting and not in another. The clarity of the photos is outstanding. The lens system superlative. In short, a small camera with big capabilities and Quality.

Great camera that is easy to use. The menus are simple and the image quality is great. The LCD Screen size is fantastic and looks sharp. The 10x optical zoom alows me to get great pictures with depth of field.

My only grip is that the audio quality for the video is not so great and the mic is located on the top where I usually put my finger. But the audio of most other cameras that my friends have are about the same. It's just a shame because the 720p video looks fantastic.

One option that I would have liked included would have been a longer exposure. The most this camera does is 2 seconds and I would have liked it to go up to 15, but that's not so important.

A second option would be to have camera control when connected to a computer, but obviously that really isn't important for most users.

Like a number of others, I researched digital cameras on-line and in stores for about 3 months before I decided to buy ...I looked at Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Panasonic, and made made a great choice with the TZ5.

I'm assuming that because you're reading this review you know all or most of the TZ5's features, so I won't belabor those except to say that they are great and work well. I really like the camera for several reasons...first, it is relly simple to use. Even my wife takes great pictures simply by using the Auto/Intelligent mode. I prefer the "normal" mode, and I find the camera gives me multiple options that are all easy to use mainly because the menu system is so logical and well thought out. The only features that are missing are aperture and shutter priority. You've got everything else...i.e. W/B, ISO, saturation, exposure control, etc. These can be accessed easily and quickly (unlike Sony and Canon) to make manual adjustments for shooting.

The 10X zoom and electric zoom to 16.9X are terrific as is the 3" LCD screen. Connecting the camera to view pictures on your TV is a snap, and the pictures show beautifully in 16:9 mode at near high definition. Images viewed on my computer are really sharp, and the few prints I've made so far are incredible...as good as my old Minolta SLR with a 1.4 lens...that's saying something.
My one complaint is that because the camera is smaller than I am used to, I have to be careful that my right forefinger doesn't cover the flash when I'm shooting indoors. I suspect that will get better the more I get used to the size. Also, I found a small carrying case with neckstrap and room for an extra battery to be very helpful. For memory, I bought a SanDisk 4GB SDHC card with the MicroMate reader. It seems to work extremely well, and the reader downloads pictures to my computer very quickly and easily.
This is my first Panasonic Lumix camera, and so far, I am very impressed. If my wife commandeers this camera from me, I'd buy another Panasonic...maybe the FX18 to complement the TZ5.

I bought and returned this camera within 29 days from Amazon, they were great about the return and it was easy to do online. The reason I made the purchase in the first place was to replace my old Canon SD200, which still works great, it's just old and the water housing was getting beat. I figured I would buy the Panasonic based on specs and the fact there would be an available water housing for it. When I did make the purchase, I was not able to get the water housing for it yet, I expected to wait a little while, but took the camera to the beach and took great surf shots from a distance using the 10X optical zoom. The pictures turned out just OK, when zoomed in on them, I noticed they were a little grainy, (first gripe). I next took the camera to my kids school play which was in a dimly lit auditorium, suffice to say, this camera does not do well in low light and I didn't get some of the shots I wanted. I played with the settings but could not get this thing to cooperate. (second gripe) Finally, after having a couple of opportunities to try this out, HD Video included, I was not impressed and began to miss my little SD200. My three or four year old Canon was a lot faster, smaller, and took better pictures, so I decided that I didn't need 10X optical zoom (I wanted small to begin with) and that I sacrificed to many things to have 10X optical zoom and HD video and returned it, promptly going out and buying a Canon SD870 and a water housing the same day from my favorite little mom and pop camera shop down in Encinitas. My Canon blows the Panasonic away in all aspects. I also want to say, the Panasonic required a proprietary cable to hook up to the computer instead of your standard mini usb cable, which I found annoying. I will never buy another Panasonic camera again and instead stick with what I know and has never failed me, my Canon.

All what you need from a big digital camera is in this little digital camera from Panasonic. Colors are bright and clear. Is a must!
Saludos, Allan.

I'm an owner of 2 DSLRs and various film single lens reflex cameras but I wanted something small and portable that I could take with me everyday. After scouring the adds for Point&Shoot digital cameras, I settled on the Panasonic TZ5. I got the camera in the mail a couple of days ago and so far, I'm not dissapointed.

The camera is really well built, but the tripod socket is made of plastic and the door to the USB Ports is made of some real flimsy plastic(Why Panasonic decided to do that, I don't know ?) Everything else is metal.

There is not that many controls, or switches (thank god), but the Menu system is, pretty extensive. I kind of like the weight of it, makes it feel like you are carrying a precise instrument, not a plastic toy you got at the discount store. The Leica brand on the lens certainly adds to the prestige.

I haven't taken many pictures with this camera yet, but from what I can tell so far, the images are very sharp and natural in color, if you keep the ISO below 400. Even above an ISO of 400, maybe up to an ISO of 800 the pictures are still very acceptable.

What I really love about this camera is the ease of operation. I only had to refer to the all-English and well written manual a few times to learn how to operate it. Navigating the menus is really simple and intuitive once you learn how to interpret some of the icons.

I would have given this camera 5 stars instead of 4 if it had at least one Manual function and a viewfinder and if the lens was a little faster. Not being acustomed to composing pictures on an LCD instead of a viewfinder can be a little daughting, however you can display a Grid on the LCD panel to aid you in the composition another value addition.

The camera came without a carrying case, or flash card, but you can purchase these items as accessories separately. I purchased a Lowenpro case that B&H and Amazon advertise on their websites, rather than getting the Panasonic semi-hard case which seemed a little bulky. Nevertheless, The Lowenpro case is not exactly sleek and slim either. I also purchased an 8gig card so I would have enough space for videos.

If you want to remain anonymous I would recomend placing the camera inside a jacket pocket since it's to bulky to fit inside a shirt pocket.

All in all I am very satisfied with this camera. It takes great pictures, it looks nice, it takes videos with sound, it is easy to operate, it's quiet, the deceptively small flash is pretty powerful and produces nice even lighting.

One thing I noticed that in automatic mode the flash fires almost every time even in bright sunlight. Good thing you can force the flash not to fire through the Menu.

All in all this camera is like my cell phone. Small enought to carry with me everywhere. Now if I see a something that looks like it might make a great picture, I could just reach inside my jacket pocket and fire away. This is something I always wanted to do.

i have this camera 5 stars. not because i think it's the best camera around; it isn't. i have a Nikon D70 and it produces nicer images than the TZ5. you just aren't going to find a point and shoot that can produce what a nice DSLR can. with that out of the way, the TZ5 is terrific given its limitations. wide angel and 10x zoom AND HD video??? seriously, all of this for $269 or so. that's incredible.

i can fit this camera in my pocket, but it does bulge my pocket out enough that it looks awkward. i ended up ordering a lowepro 30 something or other that has a belt clip. but this is still 100 times more portable for every day use than my D70. we'll be off to Europe for a few months soon and i wanted something that could be out of the way until i need it and this TZ5 is the best camera i could find. i spent a lot of time viewing sample images, reading reviews and checking prices. i am very pleased with this purchase. i did buy a clear screen protector and i'd recommend that for anyone getting this camera (or any other camera with a big display on back).

I bought this camera a couple of months ago primarily because it was one of the very few still cameras that also recorded movies at 720p resolution. (A couple more have been released since.) My previous camera, a Fuji F700 had just died after a long and fruitful life and I was looking to upgrade. This camera seemed to be just the ticket. I wanted a camera with great stills, of course, but also good quality video, because I don't want to carry two pieces of equipment around. This camera delivers on both ends.

Let's start with the pros. The pictures are very good, I don't see any problems with them. The 3" screen is very sharp and really nice. The 10x zoom is terrific. The camera is a nice comfortable size.

Battery life is pretty amazing. Although I bought two backup batteries, I find that I don't have to use them at all. Also, the charger, with foldup electrical prongs, is tiny and does a great job recharging in 90 minutes or so. Easy enough to throw the charger in the suitcase as well.

The cons are not too bad, but annoying and simple to fix. After shooting a still picture, the camera, of course, shows you a still of what you've just shot. However, when you turn the camera sideways to shoot, say, a picture of the Eiffel Tower, the playback will flip the shot so that you don't have to turn the camera. Why have that gorgeous 3" screen if you're not going to use it? I'll readily admit this is a minor annoyance, to be sure. This is the default mode, and after some searching in the camera's memory, it can be changed to that the playback mode doesn't flip the picture.

When shooting video, the camera's default is to have continuous focus. Even if you're not moving the camera much, the camera will continue to go in and out of focus while shooting video, blurring everything. This is more annoying than the picture flip I mentioned. This is also correctable in the menu.

The third annoyance is the camera's memory reading ability. I have an 8 GB card, which is more than ample memory for anything. In fact, the camera can shoot about 33 minutes of video on the highest-quality setting - 720p, 30 frames/sec. However, when you go to shoot video, the camera only reads that there are 8 minutes and 30 seconds of video. This is no big deal; however, after you shoot, say, 1 minute of video, and the counter counts down to 7 minutes and thirty seconds, then you press the shutter release again to stop recording, the reading changes right back to 8 minutes and 30 seconds, the maximum amount of memory recognizable by the camera. This makes you think that the video didn't get saved.

This thinking that the video didn't get saved is reinforced when you go to play it back, leading to my final annoyance, the camera's integration with my Panasonic Viera plasma TV. I didn't buy a Panasonic camera for this purpose, but as long as I did, I figured, "what the hey?" The TV has an SD slot in back, so you can take your memory card out of the camera and stick it directly into the TV and have a slide show of your pictures. Sounds good, right? But it doesn't play back video through the card slot.

To play back the 720p video on the 720p plasma TV, you have to use cables, and connect it to one of the inputs. The problem with this is that the cables provided aren't even composite cables - they're the standard red, white, and yellow - and this degrades the video quality. This is just plain dumb, dumb, dumb. The only way you can look at the video in all its HQ glory is on your computer.

All in all, these are minor annoyances, I'll admit. But they do keep me from giving the camera a 5-star rating.

I'll keep it short.

I've gone through 5 digital cameras in as many years (Broken, lost, stolen, upgraded)

The only complaint I and many have about this camera is the auto-focus in movie mode. It constantly refocuses making for bad video, so my recomendation is to simply turn it off, then when ready to take a video, set the zoom to about where you want it and start recording. I've zoomed to about 30 feet away while shooting my kids, and they came up close to a foot or two and the video still looks pretty sharp. No problem!

Oh yeah I dropped the camera from about 4-5 feet a week after I got it and... nothing happened. Great.

Enjoy this camera.

this camera is really nice! Takes beautiful pictures. Easy to use, lots of options on menu that are easy to use as well. It is my first digital without a view finder.....a learning experience for me. I think the only improvement panasonic could make is to add screen protectors to the packaging.

Zoom x10 with image stabilizer - great! (even x13.5 with 5M resolution)
Resolution 9M - sounds good, but quite meaningless with the noise level.
"Intelligent auto" mode actually works very good, saves much time.
Sound is noisy, maybe due to the upward location of the microphone.
Compactness makes a big difference, you just carry it with you any time.
Video size is huge due to the awkward MJPEG format, I convert to MPEG4.
Lack of reclining screen is quite inconvenient in difficult positions.
Overall, a great camera for any condition, just don't use high ISO values.

This camera shipped to me 24 hrs after buying it her on Amazon in perfect condition. I opened the box and immediately put the battery in the charger. After a day of fully reading the manual and having the camera right next to me to see what the manual was describing - I was ready to go. I've been out now shooting pictures with this camera for 3 straight weeks with my tripod and have had excellent results. I'm a tad bummed however that you cannot set the aperture when taking 15sec, 30sec or even 60sec exposures :( this means that you can only really take open exposures of night time scenarios. Also, the colors this camera captures are great for $300 - but nothing compared to an SLR so don't fool yourself. Lightweight, convenient, beautiful, and quick/responsive AND a FANTASTIC ZOOM is all I can really say for this 4 star camera. E N J O Y !

Having owned dozens of both high-end SLRs & Digital (but not DSLR - they cost too much for high-end) the DMC-TZ5K is perfect for what it does & is intended (imho).
I have yet to see a blurry shot or one with red-eye!
Pocket sized, terrific optics, auto lens cap, huge MP shots...
what more do you want?

If you can only get one digital camera, this is the one to buy.
I like it better than my Canon S5 IS.

I am happy with the quality and ease of use. I also own a Canon Powershot G5 and wanted something a bit smaller. I selected this camera over others because I wanted the zoom capability and I liked the stablization as I sometimes get a little blur with the Canon. For the money, I think it is worth the look.

Pro's

Sturdy build quality
Excellent ergonomics
Excellent image quality
Very easy to use
Great lens (wide and long)
Perfect size (for me) -- substantial, but fits in a shirt pocket


Con's

Would benefit from more manual controls
Bundled software is not very good


I wanted a big-zoom camera with a relatively small body. The choice came down to the TZ5 or the Canon SX1000IS. Really, I was sold within 30 seconds of picking up the TZ5. It has a metal body. The camera is not heavy per se, but it feels substantial. The Canon felt flimsy in comparison. (The Canon is made of cheap, slick plastic, and I did not like the grip.) The TZ5 controls are perfectly laid out for me, and I had no trouble getting a good grip. Also, the TZ5 menus are well-organized and intuitive. The only compromise I had to make in choosing the TZ5 was that I had to give up the most useful manual controls (focus, aperture priority, shutter priority).

Having used the TZ5 for about a month, I have been very pleased with the performance and image quality. I think it is pretty close to being a perfect automatic camera. The image stabilization is excellent, as my pictures are almost never blurry. I have not had any problems with the automatic white balance, and in fact I haven't used the manual WB override at all. Exposure is generally good, but I do use the manual exposure setting and the auto bracketing function quite a bit (very useful).

My only complaint about the TZ5 is that it should have more manual controls. For instance, the TZ5 is good for taking macro shots, but it would be even better if I could override the auto focus, which sometimes back-focuses instead of focusing on the intended subject. Also, I would really like to have control over aperture priority and shutter speed priority, not just a general manual exposure function. I don't know of any good reason why the TZ5 doesn't include these controls. It seems like a marketing decision as much as anything else.

Finally, the bundled software is fine for cropping pictures, but otherwise the image-tweaking options don't make my pictures look any better. For instance, there is a "sharpening" function, but it doesn't actually make my pictures look sharper, it just adds a sparkly grain to them.

In conclusion, the TZ5 is a great automatic camera. I believe it is the only camera that offers such a wide/ long lens in a pocketable form.
It's true that the TZ5 is not a substitute for a full manual camera, but it is still very useful. (In fact, I ended up buying a second camera with full manual controls and RAW support, though I am also keeping the TZ5 since each camera has its own strengths.)

I started out looking for a small camera with the best zoom I could get. This one is PERFECT! Besides meeting that criteria it has tons of options, a huge screen and takes GREAT pictures. I was really surprised with how good inside photos in low light came out on just the Auto setting. I really disliked my older Sony camera and had stopped taking pictures because I never got anything good with it. Obviously the technology has improved a lot since my last digital camera purchase, but I really think this is a top-notch camera. I'm just an amateur, take family photos, kind of photographer and this camera by far meets and exceeds the requirements I have.

This camera is basically easy to use and takes excellent pictures. The battery life is great. I was on vacation for a week and did not have to recharge my battery at all! LCD screen is the perfect size to take great pictures.

This is a great camera with 28mm wide angle and 10x telephoto SLR type capability in a compact body. It still fits in your pocket but barely. The only draw back is the grainy low light shots.

I looked at several compact cameras before deciding on this one. I wanted a small camera with wide angle but I also wanted more zoom than was availble on the other compact cameras I looked at. This camera has excellent image quality with easy point and shoot operation. The scene modes do take some getting used to but they can provide the perfect image in almost any situation. Unless you are looking for full manual control this camera will let you take the picture you want. It is expensive but comparable in cost to the Canon, Nikon, and Fuji models I was also reviewing.

i just got this camera yesterday...i charged up the battery and starting playing with the camera late last night. I already know I adore this thing. The zoom, the feel of the unit, the menus, wow. Oh, and I suppose the "pictures" are kind of important too? :) I've only taken a few but they are wonderful. There are lots of picture modes left to try...I love taking sepia tone photos so I know that will be a blast for me. Thanks, Amazon, for bringing it to me at a price no one else can touch! Amazon ROCKS. So it's early Sunday morning so hopefully I can find lots of time to play with my new toy. :)

Through an unfortunate turn of events, I had to replace my DMC-TZ3, and the only luck of the situation was the timely introduction of the new TZ5. I haven't had the time to fully explore and learn all the tools this camera holds, but here are some key feature changes and improvements and why I came back for another TZ:
New with TZ5:
The switch from camera mode to view mode has been taken off the wheel on top of the camera to a more convenient seperate switch on the back of the camera adjacent to the display. Video quality rocks, at a purported 720p! Beware you will need a minimum 10Mbps SD card, especially for highest video settings 6 X 9 - 30 fps. I found some 8GB Sandisk 133x (20mbps) Extreme III SD cards that work great. This camera seems to handle low light quite a bit better than the TZ3, but still a weekness, it appears. I still need some learn time with the scene settings, but have found that it will do long exposures once you understand how. Not sure the TZ3 could ever manage that, and any low light shot I could ever muster was very grainy with the TZ3.
Why buy the TZ line?
The primary feature that brought me to Panasonic and the TZ3 originally was looking for a pocket digital with a wide angle lens. Getting in more people close up, or more scenery in long shots has always appealed to me. Adding to that a great 10X Zoom that never leaves you wanting, and a 3" high quality display - great for showing your pictures as well as shooting, and you have a great package. On top of those core features, Panasonic has loaded a ton of features for both the novice and more advanced user to give you an incredible machine that can still fit (barely) into a pocket.

I bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 as a replacement for an ageing Canon S60. Initially, I hesitated in this choice because of the lack of full manual controls, but the TZ5 lived up to the glowing reviews.

The centrepiece of the camera is the wonderfully sharp Leica lens with a 28mm - 280mm span(35 mm equivalent) that covers all possible shooting situations from wide angle to telephoto. I travel a lot, and often use the wide angle setting to take pictures of buildings and landscapes and the telephoto setting to zoom in on the details. The Optical Image Stabilization feature allows you to take pin-sharp pictures even at full zoom without any camera shake.

The camera is solidly built, with a metal construction and a good weighty feel. The huge 3" LCD screen takes up most of the back and this is a real beauty, bright and clear even in sunlight and with a very high resolution.

Operating the TZ5 is simplicity itself, with the full auto iA setting taking care of every aspect, even analysing the scene and selecting approriate settings such as portait or landscape. For greater manual control, there is a programmable auto setting where you can adjust various parameters and a large number of "scene" modes. But on the whole, the full auto setting works well, and I expect to leave it there for most situations.

The Panasonic image processing engine does an excellent job of removing imperfections, leaving almost no post-processing to be done to have print-ready pictures.

As an added bonus, the camera has a 720p HD video mode, useful for occasional video taking - but the memory card will fill up fast!

In summary, the TZ5 is strongly recommended as an advanced point-and-shoot compact camera, ideal for travelling.

Great little camera, easy to use, and great feature set. Very compact for a camera with a 10X optical zoom. Operation is quite intuitive. A little larger than my compact Canon, but, a lot more lens (10X vs. 3X). Significantly smaller and easier to use than my Nikon 8800. Just about the perfect combination of lens (wide-angle to 10X Optical zoom) for me.

I have owned many digital cameras, and the DMC-TZ5 is the best yet.
Practically NO SHUTTER LAG. With 10X optical zoom or even with the 64X zoom(digital enhanced), the mega optical image stabilization is absolutely amazing. I have not taken one blurry picture yet at either optical or digital max zoom.
The intelligent auto (iA) system is the best automatic system I have ever used, as it even selects the proper scene mode automatically (with almost perfect accuracy).
HD VIDEO at 720p is awesome for a point and shoot. My only complaint is that the microphone is not stereo, and is in the top of the camera, where it can easily and inadvertently be covered by a finger.
The camera is pocketable, and nearly as light in my hand as my tiny Casio exilim seven mpixel.
The battery is only 1000 mAh, but it lasts me about 3 hours of constant use (with sleep mode enabled - again - close to no lag for power up from sleep).
I have owned mine for about two weeks, and I am VERY SATISFIED because of the following features: the 10x zoom with ABSOLUTELY NO BLUR; an extremely intelligent automatic system; lcd that is viewable in direct sun; NO BLUR; NO BLUR; NO BLUR (not a typo - it is AMAZING).
If you are interested in this camera, go for it, you WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!

A few years ago I bought my Mom a TZ1 and she absolutely loves it to this day.
I saw the new version TZ5, did a bit of research and bought one for myself.

First thing you notice is the incredible screen on the back and the amazing Leica lens on the front.
Panasonic took an already great camera and made it even better with 9MP, HD movie capability & simpler menus.
Menus can be accessed in either a quick or full version,...really handy!

After testing both the iA & Standard picture mode (more manual settings) I found myself simply using the iA mode.
(In both modes, the overall speed of the camera and its focusing is relatively fast)

The iA mode really is all you'll need for the majority of your pictures,
it takes great point/Zoom/shoot pictures.
I could go on and on about the i