Do you find it difficult to buy a camera?
Tell me about it. I spend days to reading reviews. I go to camera stores, looking at many models, feel it, touch it, even take snap shoots to see quick results etc. Last couple years I have been using Sony DSLR , and very happy about it.
But I decided to get a daily use, easy to carry a point and shoot camera for several reason.
About $300 price range, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 is the best camera you can get.
After I searched couple days, I decided to buy this small, fast, good quality lens camera that will fit in a shirt pocket.
Many people ask what I would recommend to them within a budget, for a simple to use camera?
Since there are a lot of camera models it is hard to tell them which one is good. It really depends on what you are looking for.
Here is the top questions you should ask yourself when you buy a camera.
- What is your budget?
- Do you have more than one, cf card, sd card, memory stick? Before you buy a camera whatever you have most, try to get a model uses that type of memory card.
- Do you prefer certain brand? If so look at their models.
- You can print up to 16×20 photos with a 9 megapixel camera just fine. Iif you are not going to print big size posters, you do not need 12 or more megapixel camera.
Here is the sample image: ( You can buy this camera from Fry’s)
After I started to use this camera simply carrying in my pocket, I was having really good time just taking photos of daily life. It has really good wide angle and 10 optical zoom gives you enough flexibility. The battery lasts quite a long time. So far all the outside pictures came out vivid and sharp. It uses high quality Leica lenses. If you take a lot of ind inside photos, I would recommend to use intelligent mode. I found it especially handy to have face detection when you are taking photos in dark environment. However there is no viewfinder. If you are used to viewfinder, you might need to choose another camera. It also has wide selection of auto settings such as : Pet , Food , Snow , Baby1 , Baby2 , Beach , Candle , Sunset , Scenery , Clipboard , Fireworks , Soft skin , Starry sky , Underwater , Night scene , Sports mode , Aerial photo , Party/indoor , Portrait mode , Self-portrait , Hi-speed burst , Night portrait , High sensitivity.
I used quite often food mood and scenery. Pictures came out very good.
So far I am very happy with my choice, I would recommend this camera as a great traveling companion.
Review of Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5
General Specifications
* Product Type: Digital camera – Compact
* Manufacturer: Panasonic
* Model: DMC -TZ5
* Width : 4.1 in
* Depth :1.5 in
* Height : 2.3 in
* Weight : 7.5 oz
Main Features
* Resolution: 9.1 megapixels
* Color Support : Color
* Optical Sensor Type : CCD
* Total Pixels: 10,700,000 pixels
* Effective Sensor Resolution 9,100,000 pixels
* Optical Sensor Size 1/2.33 in
* Light Sensitivity: ISO 100 , ISO 200 , ISO 400 , ISO 800 , ISO 1600 , ISO auto , ISO auto (1600-6400)
* Digital Zoom: 4 x
* Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
* Shooting Programs: Pet , Food , Snow , Baby1 , Baby2 , Beach , Candle , Sunset , Scenery , Clipboard , Fireworks , Soft skin , Starry sky , Underwater , Night scene , Sports mode , Aerial photo , Party/indoor , Portrait mode , Self-portrait , Hi-speed burst , Night portrait , High sensitivity
* Special Effects: Cool , Warm , Sepia , Vivid , Neutral , Black & White
* Image Stabilizer: Optical (MEGA O.I.S.)
* Max Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec
* Min Shutter Speed : 60 sec
* Exposure Metering Spot , Multi-segment , Center-weighted
* Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
* Exposure Compensation : 2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
* Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps in 1/3 EV step
* Face Detection: Yes
* White Balance: Custom , Presets , Automatic
* White Balance Presets: Shade , Cloudy , Halogen , Daylight
* Digital Video Format QuickTime
* Still Image Format: JPEG
* TV Tuner None
* Video Capture QuickTime – 640 x 480 , QuickTime – 320 x 240 , QuickTime – 848 x 480 , QuickTime – 640 x 480 , QuickTime – 320 x 240 , QuickTime – 848 x 480 , QuickTime – 1280 x 720 , QuickTime – 1280 x 720
Memory / Storage
* Flash Memory 27 MB Flash – Integrated
* Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
* Integrated Memory :27 MB
* Image Storage Fine , Standard JPEG 3456 x 2592 , JPEG 3552 x 2368 , JPEG 3712 x 2088 , JPEG 3072 x 2304 , JPEG 3072 x 2048 , JPEG 3072 x 1728 , JPEG 2560 x 1920 , JPEG 2560 x 1712 , JPEG 2560 x 1440 , JPEG 2048 x 1536 , JPEG 2048 x 1360 , JPEG 1920 x 1080 , JPEG 1600 x 1200 , JPEG 640 x 480
Camera Flash
* Camera Flash: Built-in flash
* Flash Modes: Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Slow synchro, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
* Red Eye Reduction: Yes
* Effective Flash Range: 1 ft – 21 ft
* Features: AF illuminator
Lens System
* Type Zoom lens – 4.7 mm – 47 mm – F/3.3-4.9
* Focal Length: 4.7 mm – 47 mm
* Focal Length: Equivalent to 35mm Camera 28 – 280 mm
* Focus Adjustment: Automatic
* Auto Focus: TTL contrast detection
* Auto Focus Points (Zones) 9
* Min Focus Range 19.7 in
* Macro Focus Range: 5cm
* Lens Aperture: F/3.3-4.9
* Optical Zoom: 10 x
* Zoom Adjustment : Motorized drive
* Lens Construction 9 group(s) / 11 element(s)
* Lens Manufacturer Leica
* Features ED glass, Aspherical lens , Built-in lens shield
Additional Features
* Self Timer: Yes
* Self Timer Delay: 2 sec , 10 sec
* Additional Features DPOF support, Face detection , Audio recording , Date/time stamp , Built-in speaker , Histogram display , Resizing an image , PictBridge support , Built-in help guide , USB 2.0 compatibility , Digital image rotation , RGB primary color filter , In-camera red-eye removal , Automatic face tracking technology
Viewfinder
* Viewfinder Type: None
Display
* Type LCD display – TFT active matrix – 3 in – Color
* Display Form :Factor Built-in
* Display Format :460,000 pixels
Microphone
* Type Microphone – Built-in
* Microphone Technology Electret condenser
* Microphone Operation Mode: Mono
Connections
* Connector Type 1 x USB , 1 x Composite video/audio output , 1 x Component video output , 1 x DC power input
* Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Software
* Software Drivers & Utilities , ArcSoft Panorama Maker , ArcSoft MediaImpression
Power
* Power Device Battery charger – External
Battery
* Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery – 1000 mAh ( Included )
