About RSS
Search for: in 
image: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
Similar articles
Reviews section
Jargon Buster

More from Computeract!ve
ADVERTISEMENT
Reviews Disclaimer
Readers are reminded that the opinions expressed, and the results published in connection with reviews and/or laboratory test reports carried out on computing systems and/or related items are confined to, and representative of, only those goods supplied and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase.

Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 digital camera

Big zoom compact strives to provide the best of both worlds

What is this?
Price: £300
Manufacturer: Panasonic



Ratings
Overall rating: Overall rating
Rate this product
Verdict

Good points

  • 10x optical zoom
  • Compact and pocketable
  • Good value for money

Bad points

  • Styling a tad underwhelming

Overall With such a large zoom providing fantastic flexibility and delivering colourful shots, there’s little to fault on the TZ3.


Gavin Stoker, Computeract!ve 09 May 2007

ADVERTISEMENT

Last year Panasonic amazed us by shoehorning a 10x zoom into its TZ1 pocket camera; 12 months on and the latest attempt, the TZ3, maintains this impressive range and its predecessor’s price but ups resolution from five to 7.2 megapixels.

Light sensitivity has also been given a boost – from a maximum ISO1600 to IS03200 here.

The fact that the zoom starts at a wide 28mm going all the way up to a film-camera equivalent 280mm also provides greater flexibility than its competitors currently offer.

And all this from a camera that while perhaps not the cutest around, at least doesn’t resemble a house brick.

The big lens doesn’t mean the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 is slow to get going either; flick the on/off switch and you’re ready for the shot in a couple of seconds.

Shooting at the telephoto end of such a long zoom requires some form of image stabilisation, and Panasonic has included one of the more reliable varieties, built into the optic itself.

This means the image relayed to the camera’s large 3in screen is impressively steady when zooming in fully, and an on-screen indicator helpfully details at what point in its range you are. Operation of the zoom feels smooth and fluid, allowing you to glide from one end to the other in just three seconds.

The TZ3 is also user friendly, with fully automatic functionality and a range of common shooting and playback options accessed via a mode wheel atop the camera. Give this a twist while the unit is activated and a ‘virtual’ version momentarily appears on screen so you don’t have to take your eye off your subject when choosing a setting.

In terms of images, the TZ3 delivered some of the sharpest most vividly coloured shots we’ve seen from a compact in recent months – at the wide end of the zoom, that is.

At maximum telephoto there was by contrast a degree of softness, but not so great as to make the image unusable.

While its styling is a tad underwhelming, the TZ3 still holds its own as the best compromise for those wanting an impressive zoom range yet a camera that slips comfortably into a pocket, and as such comes highly recommended.

Vista compatible: N/A

See also:

image: Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 digital cameraSlender slide-open-and-shoot 8MP compact with 5x zoom, face detection and HD TV compatibility  01 May 2007
image: nikon coolpix s500Stainless steel bodied pocket snapshot that sees in the dark  24 Apr 2007
Review: Ricoh Caplio R6 digital cameraPortrait recognition and a huge zoom bring a new face to the Caplio range  16 Apr 2007

All Digital Cameras
Tags: Digital Camera

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

Post this to Delicious del.icio.us    Post this to Digg Digg this    Post this to reddit reddit!

Permalink for this story

R E A D E R   R E V I E W S
M A R K E T P L A C E
Sponsored links
Join our fight for a fair deal when shopping online
ADVERTISEMENT