|
Average rating:
4.41
|
|
|
|
|||
 |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 (Lumix DMC-TZ8)12.1 megapixels | 2.7" screen | 25 – 300 mm (12×)
|
|
Average rating:
4.41
|
|
|
|
Opinion: Just bought a ZS5 (previously want to buy a ZS3, but drop the idea due to its size and weight and the newer models; like the ZS10 seems to be overloaded with too many functions that I don’t need.) This super zoom and super wide compact camera is all I needed for a walk. Excellent IQ; sharp and good color tone with the Leica Lens.
Problems: not yet.
Opinion: This camera - ZS5 - was picked out as a replacement to FZ5 that worked very well thru 115 deg dry heet of Palm Springs to 90deg Houston sauna to -30 Siberian winter. Been to Vietnam and all over Europe too. Sold it to another happy photo bug :) My girl and parents got TZ4s from me awhile back and are very happy with them.
I must add I'm not affiliated with Panasonic and was very picky buying cameras, believe it or not.
I bought camera in Alaska while on business trip, it was on sale and no taxes, great value :)
Camera has excellent ergonomics, very good to excellent pic quality, good battery life, sufficient LCD. Although, ability of using 3rd party replacement batteries would be VERY desirable, did you hear that Panasonic?
Overall, very pleased with my purchase.
Problems: No problems, but 3rd party battery support would be a killer deal.
Opinion: Great zoom range. Beautifully crisp, sharp images. Good colour and exposure. Very
easy to use if you just leave it on the iA (auto) setting, but there are a lot of features
and variables to keep track of if you use any of the other settings. Overall, I'm very
happy with this camera.
Problems: I would echo Smada's comment about the lens's limited depth of field — I've tried
opening up the lens all the way, but haven't yet been able to really isolate a subject
with selective focus.
Another limitation concerns macro photography. If you want to get really close to
your subject, you can do so only on the wide-angle setting, which distorts your
subject. It won't focus close to your subject off the wide-angle setting.
My only other complaint is with the user manual. My camera came with a very basic
user manual. The "advanced" manual was a pdf document on CD, which I ended up
getting printed commercially. I contacted Panasonic, and the rep said they've had
many complaints about the lack of a printed copy of the user manual. Also, I found
the user manual not well organized and not easy to understand. Previously, I've had
Canon digital cameras, and their user manuals were much better by comparison.
No reliability or quality issues so far. The camera has worked perfectly since I got it
two months ago.
Opinion: A very nice camera to handle, with an impressive zoomrange. Faster and better focusing than my older cameras! Even usable for video recording.
Problems: I have just owned it for a couple of weeks, but up to now I have not found any weaknesses.
Opinion: I've used and carried the camera almost daily for 6 weeks. For a point and shoot it is nearly excellent. I like the heft and solid feel. I used it almost exclusively in Program AE as the limited DOF and slow but excellent lens make A and S priority almost moot. For recording stuff going on around you and spur of the moment it is great and a good value for the $$$. It is clear of GPS and HD gimmicks. If you want video buy a camcorder.
Problems: WB and ISO buttons would be nice. No mechanical or reliability problems. If you want more pro features go to your DSLR.
Opinion: The camera arrived yesteday and I have spent a lot of time putting the camera through its paces. I've taken around 100 images under controlled circumstances to flex its various capabiities and I have to say I am VERY impressed indeed with it.
My other camera is a Sony DSC R1 which as is generally know is a Very Good Camera. I bought the Panasonic as a travel camera and much to my surprise, the TZ8 turns out images that are better than the Sony. I don't know if there has been some firmware changes, but the images I'm getting are better than the review images I've seen on other websites. I know, because I downloaded them so I could look at them closely and still have them to compare to.
The resolution is amazing and I have yet to see noise levels greater than the Sony. I've tried the camera on manual, intelligent auto (even more point and click than programme) and high dynamic scene mode (which in contrasty scenes is very impressive).
Right now, I'd struggle to praise the camera highly enough - I'm going on holiday at the end of the week and if my holiday pictures are as good as I think they will be, my Sony will be on eBay faster than you can say "stone me"
Problems: None so far!
Opinion: Good list of features. Lacking manual focus which this
camera should have. Great Zoom.
I took several good pictures before the camera broke.
The video quality is good as well.
When the camera worked, I was happy with it and
could stand to deal with the other issues, but now I
wish I never had strayed from Canon.
Problems: The lens broke 3 weeks into owning the product. one
week at the customer support/services department
and they still do not know where my camera is, let
alone know when I will get it back. VERY
FRUSTRATING!! And none of the tech support people
speak English, so communicating my frustration to
them is pointless.
Other issues were:
1. I had to fiddle around with the settings quit a bit to
get the image quality to be good. A lot of the
automatic settings produce very poor pictures.
2. The way the camera save images on the SD card
(file storage format) is poor. You cannot create folders.
All files are stored in one AND ONLY one folder.
3. Due to the file storage format, you are essentially
required to use their software to download the images
if you want them in separate folders based on day of
image capture.
|
|
Reviews and specs
|
Galleries
|
Challenges
|
 | 22.3 megapixels 3.2" screen Full frame sensor |
