Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7

Author's product rating:   

Picture Quality	Good
Range & Quality of Features	Excellent
Ease of Use	Very Easy
Durability	Excellent
Overall Look & Design	Excellent
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	25mm wide angle lens, IA mode, 12x zoom, compact design
Disadvantages:	Problem persists in higher ISO setting

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7

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Basic Ideas

Panasonic is a leading brand in consumer electronics market with almost all kind of products. We have seen that some of the digital cameras and handy cams are most popular from Panasonic and they are really rocking with excellent quality and features. Technology growth will never end up as it will remain continuous growing status. Whenever we buy most advanced products, there are some lacks of features which we really need or there are some more requirements. These requirements keep technology growth alive and we get something new every time.
Now I am taking an example of digital camera, if we have a look on digital cameras of just before five years than we will see that there was nothing like quality or features. Those cameras were really very bad in terms of quality and peoples feel that nothing like quality in digital cameras. All photographers wanted to keep film cameras only. Digital cameras were only for fun and we got more and more excited due to its digital features which we never seen before. Most important point was its data storage in memory card and we don’t need any film role to store data. Second important and exciting point was its playback feature in which we can see out captured photographs as live and on spot without any problem like developing the film role.

Now the time has been changed. Almost all photographers have digital cameras. The most exciting changes done in terms of digital SLR cameras. Some time ago all photographers used to keep SLR film cameras and we were unable to see latest pictures of current news as on exact time. There were very less photographs published in newspapers. But now we are getting current news in seconds with all required photographs. All stuffs are due to digital technology.

The camera

Discussed lots about digital technology and now I am going to main point about this camera. Panasonic Lumix TZ7 is a name of new model from Panasonic inc. I also want to discuss some earlier models of this series to explain this model properly. Panasonic Lumix TZ-1, Panasonic Lumix TZ-2 and Panasonic Lumix TZ-3, these are the most discussed models of TZ series. What was the hot about these all cameras? That is definitely its compact travel design with long zoom lens and lots of features. Panasonic had put a new sensation in compact camera market with its long zoom range in ultra compact body. Another new sensation got in terms of optical zoom while movie recording. I don’t have proper idea that which model has been provided with this feature. I think some of from Panasonic Lumix TZ-1 or Panasonic Lumix TZ-2 has this. But I know that in last year Panasonic launched two new models with Panasonic Lumix TZ-4 and Panasonic Lumix TZ-5. Both cameras have similar kind of features but they are slightly different in terms of recording features, Display size and resolution. Panasonic Lumix TZ-5 that is also called as Panasonic Lumix TZ-15 in Asian market, has been provided with superb quality display with large 3.0-inch, 460,000-dot resolution screen. I had this camera and got very excited with this feature. But I was bit disappointed with its picture quality and lack of manual controls. Most important feature of this camera was its capability of optical zoom while movie recording. Zoom works slowly but it was really very exciting and useful. Lumix TZ-4 also called as Lumix TZ-14 in Asian market has similar kind of features with compare to TZ-5 but there are lacks of optical zoom in movie recording, not a good resolution screen size like TZ-5 and slightly lower resolution with 8 MP.

Now we have some more advanced and updated models of both of the cameras. This year Panasonic has launched two new models in TZ series with Panasonic Lumix TZ-6 and Panasonic Lumix TZ-7. There are not many changes over previous models but some changes really have worth.

First of all I want to discuss about its all important features and performances with results. Most important point that you will notice is its compact design. Ultra compact design and lots of features is really amazing for these models. 103.3 x 59.6 x 32.8 mm Size is an easily pocket-able and you will never feel that there is something disturbing you in your pocket. But for me it is slightly heavier that what I expected. Not a bad at all in terms of its size and it is really easily accessible while traveling. You can keep it with you every time and you will never miss any important shot due to its size. Its weight is about 230gm and not a bad or heavy at all.

Sensor

IF we have a look on its sensor resolution than there is slightly improvement over previous models. I am not interested with its resolution but you will really find it as exciting feature for you. There is a 10.1 Mega pixel sensor resolution in this camera. Panasonic Lumix TZ-5 has almost 9.1 mega pixel resolution and it has been upgraded with about MP in this camera. If we capture photographs in high resolution than we need more storage capacity to store that much of data. I don’t think that above 5 MP resolution is needed for daily routine photography. Higher resolution photographs are required for very large prints. Generally we use maximum A-4 size print for our routine life photographs. Maximum prints remain in 4x6 size and or post card size. For good resolution and quality print of up to A4 size, 5MP setting is good enough. If we capture higher resolution photographs than we need higher storage capacity in our PC. So it is not a wise decision to capture all photographs in 10 MP setting.

Zoom

Now have a look on zoom range for this model. I want to go back with previous model of Panasonic Lumix TZ-5. The Panasonic Lumix TZ-5 camera has good 10x optical zoom and due to its size and compact design, this zoom was really very exciting and important feature for the camera to get so popularity. Now Panasonic went ahead with one more step and they have provided 12x optical zoom in similar kind of compact body. Optical zoom and digital zoom are two different kind of features in which I hate digital zoom. Digital zoom is not recommended in any condition as it reduces the picture quality. Optical zoom is recommended in every condition as it doesn’t affect the picture quality. Digital zoom is only needed in very urgent situation where you don’t want to miss long distance shot without any tension of picture quality. Picture is more important than its quality, and you really want to use digital zoom than you can use this.

Other important point about optical zoom is its capability of using zoom while capturing movie. We have seen in earlier model with Panasonic Lumix TZ-5, and this camera was the second one to has optical zoom option in movie mode. Now Panasonic has given again new model with enhanced features and optical zoom in movie mode. This feature is really has worth and many of the users like to buy this camera due to its long optical zoom in compact design and its capability in movie mode also.

Focal length

Focal length is a very very important point of this camera. Take a look on its previous model Panasonic Lumix TZ-5, and that model was loaded with 28mm wide angle lens. TZ-5 model got huge response due to its wide angle capability also. Now Panasonic went ahead with one more step and they have provided 25mm wide angle lens in this camera. This feature will really attract you to buy this model. Due to wide angle lens, we can capture wider frame and need not to worry in group photo to miss some of your friends face. Very attractive and worthy upgrade has been provided in this model.

ISO Sensitivity

ISO sensitivity has not been changed in this model as it is similar to previous one. The range of ISO sensitivity is from 100 to 1600. I am not satisfied with any digital camera in terms of ISO sensitivity. We can take good quality photographs up to ISO 200 only. After that we will lose the quality of pictures and noise will increase as ISO increase. The ISO problem has been solved as a higher level in digital SLR cameras, where we can have good quality of photographs and there will be no noise visible till ISO 800. Here we have ISO capacity up to 1600, but that is rubbish and no need to capture image in ISO 1600 mode. This setting will completely ruin the quality. So if you want good quality photographs than keep this setting limited.

And Last

All important upgrades have been explained but I also want to discuss some other routine points also. Like this camera has very important Intelligent Auto mode. If you are a new in digital photography and don’t have any knowledge to operate camera, than need not to worry. Put camera in Intelligent Auto mode and forget everything about this, it will automatically adjust all settings and with provide appropriate quality photos.

Other important feature is its scene modes, if you want to capture any specific scene photo, than put camera in scene mode and forget all about other settings. This camera also has some important features like Auto angle detection, live Histogram, Intelligent Exposure, and Digital Red Eye Correction.
Battery is similar like its previous models and it can capture up to 300 shots between charges. Storage card support is Secure Digital, Secure Digital HC (high capacity). SD cards are most popular and they are cheap also so that you can get higher capacity card with very affordable price.
Over all this is a perfect travel camera with very exciting features and image quality. Recommended.