Panasonic upgrades its TZ line with compact cameras offering 28mm wide-angle, 10x optical zoom lenses.
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 |
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 We liked Panasonic's TZ3 when we reviewed it last year, so we were pleased to see that Panasonic didn't change much when updating the line with the TZ4 and TZ5. Still packing the same 28mm wide-angle, 10x zoom Leica lens, Pansonic beefed up the TZ5's sensor while leaving well enough alone. The form factor seems identical, but the display jumps from 2.5-inches to a massive 3-inch LCD with an astounding 460,000 dots of resolution. While not exactly able to playback video in 720p resolution (which it records in), it is certainly the sharpest LCD we've seen. The aforementioned HD video recording is impressive, especially since the camera allows zooming during recording; even more impressive is how smooth the zoom works, as we were able to zoom in and out with minimal choppiness. We also liked how the continuous auto focus maintained focus without depressing the shutter, saving valuable time when trying to take the perfect shot. Probably the most interesting feature of the TZ5 was the extra optical zoom, which provided additional optical magnification, extending zoom up to 16.9x (at a reduced resolution of 3-megapixels) using the center part of the CCD sensor. Release: March 2008. Price: $350.
Pros: Excellent wide-angle Leica lens, 720p video, beautiful LCD screen
Cons: Extremely heavy for its size
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Panasonic today introduced two new additions to its TZ-family of Lumix digital cameras, the DMC-TZ5 and DMC-TZ4 - both packing a 28mm wide-angle, 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens in a compact design.
Both cameras feature intelligent exposure, red-eye correction (TZ5 only), optical image stabilization, intelligent ISO settings, intelligent scene selector, face detection for up to fifteen faces and continuous auto focus.
Also new to the TZ5 and the TZ4 is the Venus Engine IV, Panasonic's new image processing LSI. The Venus Engine IV is claimed to produce higher-quality pictures than its predecessor, the Venus Engine III, by using a more advanced signal processing system. The new Venus Engine IV also improves noise reduction, elevates the detection accuracy and corrective effects in both the optical image stabilizer and the intelligent ISO and reduces the shutter release time lag.
Both models incorporate intelligent LCD, which detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level of the LCD in 11 fine steps, to offer better clarity whether it's dark or light; indoors or outdoors. The TZ5 offers a 3-inch LCD screen, while the TZ4 has been graced with a 2.5-inch LCD screen.
The TZ5, with 9.1-megapixels is capable of recording 720p HD video, and because of its support of SD memory cards, is easily compatible with Panasonic VIERA Plasma HDTVs that have an integrated memory card slot. The TZ4 comes with an 8.1-megapixel sensor and is also capable of recording 720p HD video.
The Panasonic Lumix DM-TZ5 (image gallery) will be available in blue, black and silver models for about $350, while the DMC-TZ4 (image gallery) will be available in black and silver for about $300. Both models will be shipping in late March 2008.
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