Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)

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.

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.**

I have used this camera for about a week now and there is NOTHING I could really complain about. The pictures come out super sharp with really accurate colors. The stabilizer is really reliable, and the zoom is fast. The screen is OUTSTANDING....haven't seen anything clearer. I do like the quick zoom function, just press it and it maxes out the zoom for you. The lens is really useful, and the fact that it's still small enough to fit in my jeans pocket makes it a real winner.

There are tons of scenic modes that are cool but I haven't gone through many of them. The face detection works like a champ, and the intelligent auto mode is the most smartest feature that could ever be put in a camera. I hate when I have a stranger take a picture for me (like when I want to get in the picture with a group of people at a restaurant and I have our waitress take the shot) and the pic doesn't come out great. I have to always change settings or scenic modes to get a good shot. Here the camera does it for you. The intelligent auto mode makes the camera a real POINT AND SHOOT for those who don't know how to use it.

As others have mentioned the workmanship is solid, the camera feels really solid in your hand. The camera is Made in Japan so you can't go wrong. (I know some manufacturers start making stuff in Japan and later in the product's life they make it elsewhere, probably to still make a profit after price drops, so don't hold me to it if your's isn't made in Japan.)

The issues that some bring up about noise in the photos I think are overly particular and picky. If you aren't one of those kind, you gotta get this camera. Go to various review sites to see sample photos, thats how I made up my mind.

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 iA (intelligent autofocus) 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 iA--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.

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