Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Review

Mark Goldstein | Digital Compact Cameras | August 29, 2008 | 5 Comments |

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5, a 9 megapixel update of Panasonic’s best-selling camera ever, the TZ3.

“Panasonic’s recent cameras have shown significant improvement in image quality, and the TZ5 continues this trend, although image noise is still something of a problem at higher ISO settings. There is a noise-like pattern visible in darker areas even at 100 ISO, although this may be an artefact of the image processing. Oddly shots at 200 ISO actually appear slightly cleaner, but the noise reduction kicks in at 400 ISO and fine detail begins to deteriorate. At 800 ISO the image looks like it’s been blurred and re-sharpened a few times, and at the maximum 1600 ISO colour reproduction is very poor and the image quality is very poor.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Review

Website: Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Review

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#1 JH

Is TrustedReviews a bit partial towards Panasonic, because despite the critic they awarded such good grades to the TZ5?

11:31 am - Friday, August 29, 2008

#2 panasonic

No idea, since I never bother reading much about compact cameras. All except fuji are almost all equally bad.

But especially Panasonic is "renouned" for their (high) noise levels and artifacts in postprocessing, especially thanks to their useless megapixel race. So I wonder how they got the:

"However as long as you stay under 400 ISO the TZ5 is capable of producing excellent shots, with good colour, above average dynamic range and plenty of fine detail."

They really are improving these days?

1:57 am - Saturday, August 30, 2008

#3 FSPCNO

Hello Panasonic!

So funny how you are able to put down your own company!

3:39 am - Saturday, August 30, 2008

#4 dana

I have owned the TZ5 for 1 1/2 years now. In my opinion it takes excellent pictures. They are marvelously sharp, with spot on color and exposure. When expanded 1:1, they show some graininess (ie noise) in the shadows, but not excessively so. I use the camera in the IA mode (intelligent auto) because many shots are available only for seconds, and there is no time for picking exposure/lens particulars.

I think photographyblog correctly assessed this camera as a 5/5. Our Italy travel pics are completely to my satisfaction, without having to carry a DSLR around.

After about 9 months of use, my TZ5 screen got brown streaks. I returned the camera to Panasonic and within 10 days they sent a replacement that has been working ever since with zero problems. It seemed like they sent a brand new camera to me.

I have no connection with Panasonic whatsoever, other than owning this camera. I used to have an f31fd (which I loved but lost). The TZ5 has virtually no purple fringing, but is a little noisier (ok a significantly more amount of noise). But the larger zoom range, the image stabilization, and the lack of purple fringing make up the difference and then some.

5:40 pm - Saturday, November 6, 2010

#5 bob

had a Lumix TZ5 for about 2 years - just sold it.

images and video were always noisy no matter what lighting situations - i bought it to replace an aging Canon Powershot (S400 i think) which, even though about 6 years old now still shoots more agreeable pictures.

that's my two-penneths

8:21 pm - Thursday, November 11, 2010