Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)




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I have had the camera for a month now and I absolutely love it. I bought it for the massive zoom and the ability to slip it into my pocket. I was also looking for something inexpensive, but is feature rich and adjustable. The lumix offers so much more than that. I love the 10x Zoom. It turns out that I have used high zoom many times in a month. I am glad I did not buy a camera that has a 3x or 4x zoom like the canon, or go around toting a big camera bag.

The camera has lots of very handy adjustments. I haven't figured out all of them yet though and keep discovering new features. The lcd display is big and very good.

I never missed not having a view finder. Frankly, who uses view finders with digital cameras anyway?

The only con I found so far, and hence 4 stars - the low light pictures are good, but could be better. It still is a great improvement over a minolta and a canon I had previously.


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Pros
1. Good zoom. Can go upto 60X in digital mode with 3megapixel.
2. Good outdoor photos
3. Can not carry in pocket but can carry in the camera bag attached to belt
4. Bigger LCD screen
Cons
1. Bad indoor pictures
2. Avoid using this for night pictures


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I love this camera! It takes great stills and wonderful movies. The resolution is great and it takes good pictures even in low light. I would have given it 5 stars, except for the fact that without an optical viewfinder it makes it hard to take pictures in bright sunlight. That being said, if you just point it in the direction of what you want to take a picture of it takes a great picture anyway!


->Affordable Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I tested this camera extensively. For casual point-and-shooters, who print small prints, this camera is small, has a great zoom lens, and gives usable pictures. For those like me, who like enlarging pictures, or cropping, this camera blurs details. The Venus noise reduction system applies a blur to all images, greatly softening detail at high magnification. At close magnification of test images, my old Canon S50 pocket digital camera provides much more crisp detail, while this Panasonic TZ3 blurs all the fine details in an image. This was true in bright daylight, flash, at all ISO's, and was especially severe in low light. After testing this, I returned it.
If you want a casual point-and-shoot camera with a great zoom lens, this is a good choice. If you are into semi-serious use of the images, you will find loss of detail unacceptable.
UPDATE: I've since discovered that all current "ultracompact" cameras have worse picture quality than the compact digital cameras of a few years ago. Since people continue to buy tiny cameras, the camera makers are putting in much smaller CCD's than a few years ago. So if you're like me and you have a compact digital camera that's a few years old, don't count on any of the current ultracompact models to do as good a job.


->Compare Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Although not necessarily immediately apparent at first glance, digital camera technology has come a long way in the past few years. We needed to replace a DSC-T1, state of the art at its time, due to increasing frustration with missed shots. With a new baby, the need to get a shot quickly and the first time is critical. With the T1, there were far too many times where we needed to try and try again, at which point the chance was lost.

Another part of the consideration was zoom. After a recent trip to Alaska, the 3X optical zoom proved entirely inefficient for anything other than someone standing in front of you.

The TZ3K has solvved our problems admirably. It is an easy-to-use camera which we bought trhough Amazon and put through its paces on a trip to Martha's Vineyard with the baby. We were constantly amazed at how the camera was able to interpret the setting to compensate for problems, account for the baby moving, and get a great shot the first time. We kept taking second shots because we are used to it, but inevitably it was the first shot that was better.

For a small camera, it is remarkable that it can handle 10X optical zoom at 7.2 megapixels. Surprisingly, they do not market that it can do better. By changing the resolution to 5MP, you can get 12X optical zoom, 15X optical at 3MP (which is perfectly fine for printing up to 5X7 prints), and so on.

We are thrilled with the camera. It is not as small as the previous T1, but there is no shortage of equally small cameras, and we decided that this was not really what we valued most.


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All cameras have something that could be improved , there is no such thing as perfect anything. This one comes close enough for me. I am no beginner either, I have used SLR cameras for years and now like the freedom this offers, things that people take for granted these days did'nt exist yesterday. Like the features this camera offer, people just think Oh! someone said on the internet Panasonic cameras don't take good pictures, noisey or what not. BULL CR**. Film cameras did'nt work the best in really low light , why do people think digital ones won't have problems like that? Most people don't know a thing about photography anyhow and wonder why they don't get good results. Learn to use it and it will reward you! I get GREAT results with my LUMIX and you will to with a little practice. My latest 12x18 was taken in the US air force museum in Dayton OH. , impressed anyone who saw it, no visible noise , very sharp, couldn't ask for much more.


->Prices Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Although there is a description of this camera, it takes some careful reading to find that it has NO VIEWFINDER. While this is not a problem some of the time, any picture you try to take in moderate to bright sun is hopeless. There is no way to shield the large screen, so you just point and hope for the best. The reason for the missing viewfinder is the technical configuration to allow it the 10X optical zoom - which is wonderful. I think Panasonic should mention the viewfinder at the beginning of the description of this camera.


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I recently bought this camera and was very excited about the hype. This camera looks great, very "quality" feeling, I also find it has the ability to take great pictures, you just have to experiment with the settings. My only gripe about the camera is that the sound quality is SO bad. My 4 year old camera sounds clearer! If you don't care about the sound quality then I would recommend this camera for you. Overall, it's good enough.


->Comparison Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K Digital Camera is a great camera. Having alots of fun with it. The pictures and colors are superb. Have know problems with it at all. I subscribe to consumers reports and it gives
Panasonic Lumix Camera the highest ratings. Thanks a lot for the great
price and service.
[...]


->Comparison Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Fast shutter speed and remarkably smaller fellling (dimension are only slightly less) make this a far better camera than the TZ1 which I had previously tried. The various available presets are more than adequate for all shooting conditions I have experienced and the quality of the photos is remarkably good. Shooting at 5MP vs the available 7 provides stunning optical zoom.


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I'm happy with the camera so far - but the manual is really poorly written - it seems it has been translated to English from a foriegn language and it's very unclear and has missing information - had to call customer service for downloading to my computer.


->Lowest Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

This camera could have had it all. Panasonic packed more features into this camera than anyone could probably use. The lens is great, the zoom range is great, the amount of configurable features is great, and the movie mode is great. Unfortunately, I bought this camera to take pictures, and that is the one thing that isn't great.

I get a new point-and-shoot camera about every 15 months. Early on, I stuck with Sony, then moved to Canon, which made the last three of my cameras. This was my first Panasonic, and I am not impressed. I took about 200 shots in and around my house and neighborhood. I used all the different settings and features, then went to look at the photos on my computer. From a distance, they look great. When you zoom in to 100% (so you see the actual resolution of the photo), the pictures are grainy, noisy, and blocky; even in bright light, even with the sensitivity turned way down.

What good are all the bells & whistles when all the camera can give you is a lousy photo?

(Note: I recognize that half of digital camera users don't care about image quality. Those people will love this camera, as the rest of the camera is great.)






->Sale Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

This camera does so much more than older versions of larger 10x zoom cameras. Quality and features are excellent. It is the smallest camera you can get with such a large zoom. I love it.


->Buy Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Good: First of all it is a bit of confusion with all the digital cameras out there to decide witch one is the right choice for each individual. I did an extensive research to keep up to date with technology at the time I want to buy my 2nd digital camera and I found out this Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3S 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom had no competition. The display is very good for day and night shooting what's more is the wide angle (28mm) Lumix lens that is so impressive combined with an outstanding zoom lens (10X) that is more than adequate for day to day shooting. State of the art optical anti-shake technologically top this model for sometime to come.
Not so good: Nothing yet


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As I'm a beginner as far as camera's go, the TZ3 does take a little learning as far as settings, etc. goes. My last camera, a Sony MVC-FD200 was very basic, just point and shoot, of course I could do very little to enhance my picutes with that model. The TZ3 allows me to set the camera, depending on the situation, to allow for more versitility. The 3" display is a very nice upgrade from my last camera. I guess if I had any complaints about the camera, a view finder would have been a nice option.


->Purchase Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I think the DMC-TZ3 is a great camera, I just buy it and get into my vacations on the beach so I had immediately the opportunity to test it and I was really happy with the quality of the pictures.
The only disappointed I have with this camera was that even the specification said the camera has a wide range of speed and apertures, the selection of them is merely automatic with just some options to customize it. The camera has 21 preloaded settings (from portrait to air picture) that let you play a little bit with the camera, but if you are looking for something more customizable I will recommend you another option.
Anyway it has a lot of very nice options and as I said the quality of pictures is excellent. I get really surprised with the 28 mm equiv lens and I love the way my landscapes pictures look.



->Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Easy to use, especially with image stabilizer, screen is nice, and having 4:3, 6:4, 16:9 picture options and burst mode is a plus. Bulky for a point and shoot camera BUT it's still the smallest camera with a 10x optical zoom, fair trade off. Turn on time is fairly quick. Video is in quicktime format, and I prefer AVI, but I use it to take pictures, so I don't really care. Overall nice camera.


->Discount Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

we bought this camera with the express purpose to take distance photos using the incredible zoom of the camera. What we obtained during our trip were fantastic shots of distant objects. for long distance shots the camera was perfect and performed as I expected. Evening shots were not as good as the day shots and in general I found the picture quality to be inferior to my Fuji F31 .


->Purchase Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I am no techno-freak, just a straight-point-and shooter. This camera is actually two in one. Having a wide angle and long range zoom in one unit is a dream come through. The pictures are of great quality and this is all I care. In the past I used the canon S2-IS, but I feel that this one is superior, especially with the wide angle and the more compact size. Love it.


->Shipping Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I love panasonic products and since I found this great camera I didnt hesitated to purchase it. I love the optical zoom, gives me great closure to objects, people or places. The quality of my pictures are superb!


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I am really happy with this camera. I was searching for the camera which has high optical zoom and more than 5 MP and Panasonic TZ3s is really matching to my requirement. I will suggest to go with this camera if you want high optical zoom and slick model. I will rate this as a 4.5


->Best Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Big and shinny screen. Menu are easy to read and very logic. Camera is fast and histogram is useful. Quality photos are amazing. I have used cannon, epson and nikon. Panasonic lumex is the best.


->Cheap Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

For a camera this size, it's a great value. Image quality is not great but very acceptable. Indoor low light situations are not always real good if you're out of flash range. However, with sufficent light the camera can take some good indoor pictures. The white balance also does a very nice job. There are not many manual controls, but the camera does a good job of making the right choices.

Outdoor pictures are consistantly very good. Quick to focus and the zoom range is outstanding for a camera this size and price range. Image stabilization works really well too.

Is this camera the right camera for all situations, no, but it will do well for most. If you shoot in a lot of low light situations you will need a camera with a wider aperture.

Bottom line, it's a great value.


->Sale Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Great camera..10x super zoom in small package wow!! Plus
16:9 format in video and still photos.I use mulit-burst w/ optical zoom
on ocean waves crashing on beach for beautiful color images.
Deleting photos takes a bit longer than a cannon I own but the
multi-delete is very useful.All in all I say its money well
spent considering all the options you get. Just purchase an
extra battery(Frys $35) and a 4G card and you can shoot all day..
video included.


->Wholesale Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

We owned the same Fujifilm digital camera for over seven years, so before buying a new one, I did a lot of research. I settled on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 for a number of reasons, the primary being:

1. The wide angle view at the bottom of the zoom range -- I find that a wide angle lens is much more useful in general photography than a super-telephoto range. The TZ3 has a 35mm camera equivalent of a 28mm lens, which is perfect for group shots, landscapes, interior photos, etc. And having 280mm on the far end is nothing to sneeze at, either -- that's nearly a 6X magnification from "normal" view.

2. The form factor is great, too. It's not the most compact camera out there by any means, but given the other features, it's very slim and small. It fits into a pants or jacket pocket very easily. I looked at models like the Canon S3/S5 and others like it, but the size was not ideal for a camera you want to take along everywhere.

3. The LCD screen -- a whopping 3-inch screen that is very readable in bright sunlight. Very nice for composing and reviewing photos.

This is not the best camera for a diehard photo enthusiast, and most negative reviews are going to be from that class of user. However, for casual photographers or travelers, I don't think you'll find a better camera on the market right now. The build quality is first-rate, it's a nice looking and feeling camera, and it comes at a very reasonable price.


->Best Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I jumped into digital photography way before it was cool, spent far to much money, and soon after bought a nice 35mm slr and a scanner. I refused to spend more money on new digital until I could pack nearly all of the quality features of my slr into a small carryable digital. Sure the TZ3 does not have manual mode but as many times as I actually use manual mode I figure I don't need it. How many times do Hummer drivers actualy take them off road any way? Dont get me started (: The over all quality and feel of the case, battery compartment door and latch, buttons and mechanisms is top notch as far as I can tell. I bought it after reading the reviews here at amazon and did not go to a brick and mortor store and handle several others to compare so that is only my gadget guru experienced oppinion. The massive for the case size screen is exceptional(is it me or have lcd's made a major leep lately? my garmin nuvi 660 screen is down right impresive). The picture quality is fantastic. I have yet to see any artifacts shooting in bright sun with high zoom, not even any lense flares which I truly expected, or in candle lit birthday with flash. It has fast write times and very short power up wait. If I had to find something to complain about I would say it feels a little dainty in my hands and I find myself handling it like a newborn baby. That may be just because it is new but I wanted a small powerfull pocket camera I could keep on me at all times so I am loving it. It seemed like it was the best bang for the buck camera in its category. This review is just a drop in the bucket here I know, and thanks to all the pros and semi pros for the detailed reviews, but for what its worth I highly recomend it to anyone shopping in this price range.


->Best Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I have the previous model TZ1 and it's a great camera, but one big annoyance with it is that like on many of the higher-zoom cameras, you have to manually attach the lens cover. So when TZ2/TZ3 came out with the automatic lens cover, I thought perhaps it's great enough an improvement to be worth trading up to. Well, the automatic lens cover is great, the slightly smaller size (comparing to TZ1) is nice, and the larger 3-inch LCD screen (again, comparing to TZ1's 2.5-inch) is wonderful, especially with the nifty new feature to display any 2 pictures of your choosing at once. HOWEVER, since the optical zoom now starts at 28mm wideangle, the highest zoom is only 280mm instead of 350mm! 280mm is the equivalent of 8X zoom on any camera that does not start at wideangle, so the "10X" claim is very misleading. Sure the little bit of wideangle is nice to have, but in my opinion, it's not worth sacrificing this much zoom-in ability for, especially since the main attraction about this camera model is the HIGH ZOOM in a relatively small package!

Added 5/3:
Not that I care, but I feel a little amused by the number of negative feedbacks and comments I got on this particular review. Apparently I've touched a nerve since this is a very likable camera. I profess that I like the TZ3 very much too and it was a hard decision to return it. But folks, face the facts and the hard numbers. 280mm is less zoom than 350mm. I am not accounting TZ1's or TZ3's ability to do "higher zoom" by reducing the resolution (I'd rather take the full resolution picture and crop it myself later), but only accounting for each camera's full optical zoom at each camera's maximum resolution. Whether or not wideangle is more important to you than higher zoom is a matter of preference - I'm just pointing out (as the manufacturer fails to), that even though it's nice that TZ3 now has wideangle, there IS a trade off, which is the LESSER ZOOM capability.

To illustrate, I have uploaded 4 pictures. They are the 280mm (TZ3 at maximum zoom in) vs. the 350mm (TZ1 at maximum zoom in), and the 28mm (TZ3 at maximum zoom out) vs. the 35mm (TZ1 at maximum zoom out).


->Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I opened the box and couldn't found the power cable. In fact, there isn't one. The cheapest power cable available online for this camera costs $60 on the internet. Unless you buy it, you will have to take the battery out every time you store the camera to charge it. The included battery charger lacks a cord, so it cannot be placed conveniently.

Battery life is due to the huge screen and lack of an optical view finder. If money is no object, Panasonic will sell you an extra battery for about $45. You can also buy a car charger or a charger with a cord from third parties for more $$$.

A related problem is that the image on the screen is delayed a fraction of a second. You see what was happening, not what is happening. That, combined with the excessive shutter delay, makes taking a picture at just the right moment impossible.

The camera boasts an Auto Stabilizer feature. Unfortunately, if you pan the camera while taking a video, the results are very jerky unless you remember to disable the Auto Stabilizer feature. What good is an Auto Stabilizer feature you can't use? Incidently, you can't use the Zoom feature while taking videos either, because the zoom buttons don't work during vido capture.

The last straw was when I took a bunch of pictures of my family. Fully 1/3 of the pictures turned out blurry. That is a much greater failure rate than with other cameras I have used and owned.

This thing is going back to Costco tomorrow.




->Prices Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

This is my first digital camera, although I borrowed a Nikon Coolpix for vacation last summer. While I will probably also buy a D-SLR compatible with my collection of Nikon lenses for serious photography, this is a super little camera to use every day and when you don't want to haul around a lot of heavy equipment. It fits neatly in my purse and hand, it has a solid feel (yes, it's heavier than some others, but I find that reassuring), the controls are logical, the zoom is great, and the picture quality is quite good. The screen is also large and relatively easy to read except in very bright direct sun, especially compared to the Nikon. As with any other camera, you have to experiment a bit to find what settings work best. In the week that I've had it, I've taken pictures of buildings, children, flowers, pets, and scenery and been pleased with my results. One interesting result of the experimentation: I found that the "food" setting works better with close-ups of flowers than the "macro" setting and I also found that the "soft skin" setting for portraits is great - my husband has rosacea and this setting really helped to create a flattering portrait with no Photoshop editing required (probably the best picture that he's had in years, including several taken by professionals).


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Yes, it is a great buy, only depending who you are.
This camera is perfect for someone who doesn't want to do anything, just take the picture. It has many settings for many different situations: from indoor parties to hikes with cluody skies.

The only bad thing I found is the weight. It's very compact, but you feel you have it in your pocket (the leica lenses inside are quite heavy). That happens because you have an amazing 10X zoom.

Picture quality is beautiful. Colors in pictures are almost better than real (kinda scary...). Very fast processor, good battery life. Screen is very big.

Great buy!


->Best Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

There isn't much more to say here. This is a superb little camera, definately worth a 10 on Cnet, not the 7.0 that their review gave it! They completely got it wrong with their rating because this camera definitely deserves at least an 8.0! On here, it also gets my 5 stars!

As far as the Pros go on this camera (28mm Wide Angle, 10x Optical Zoom, 3'' LCD, IS, Built-in Lens Cover), it's exactly as good as it sounds! Real life needs for real life situations for real people that loves superb photos and having the right camera to capture those moments.

On the Cons side (No manual controls, No zoom in Video Mode, Average Battery Life), those are practically the only things a more ADVANCED user would care about. Manual controls are mostly for expert photographers as white balance and exposure settings are already in this camera, so I don't know what else you need. Zooming in video mode isn't important to me since I don't particularly take much video footage. And I only say average battery life because I tend to look through the photos I already shot pretty often without using the power save on the LCD, therefore, that's particularly what drains the battery. However, you usually get @ 250-270 shots per charge, without frequent previewing.

Panasonic has basically taken the original TZ1 and made it even better. There's not much missing from this camera. As I've said, 28mm Wide Angle LEICA Lens, 10X Optical Zoom, 3" High Resolution Screen, Excellent Image Stabilization, etc. All this in a fairly compact camera. Panasonic has also improved the "noise" on higher ISO's. Low light performance is much better than on previous Panasonic models. The most important this is, the camera takes fantastic pictures.

Another thing I'm extremely impressed with is the construction and finish alone. Just holding it in your hands it screams quality and feels like a tank. I love it. It seriously feels like a $700 camera. No exaggeration. I was a little worried about it not being able to fit in my jean pockets before buying it. Women may have issues with really tight jeans but for us guys no problem. It fits fine. I seriously can't believe I can carry around a camera with a 10x zoom inside my jean pockets. Truly remarkable. The 3" screen is amazing. You can practically enjoy your pics right on screen without even printing them with the high resolution output. Image quality is great, and if you need extra sharpness and want that "Canon-like look," you could always use the camera on "Vivid Mode."

It's also not much bigger or heavier than your overpriced Sony's. Plus, on here, I found it for three hundred, with a high speed 1GB Panasonic card included. What's better than that?! The only accessory I have to buy now is just the DMW-CT3-K, the leather case specifically for this camera.

You really can't find the perfect digital camera, but this comes as close as you can get. Overall, I am extremely pleased. If you are looking for a great zoom camera in a small enough form factor, you should seriously consider the DMC-TZ3. This is the best compact camera I've ever owned.


->Best Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I really like this camera. It has 10x optical, image stabilization, a 3.0inch lcd with 230,000 pixels, and more. The size is great for a 10x zoom camera. Image stabilization and is great for getting shots that would come out blurry with my Canon Powershot A620. My other favorite feature besides the zoom and image stabilization, is the wide angle. It is great to finally get cityscapes and have the whole skyline in one shot!! And with the camera set to 16X9, I can get a 24mm shot!

What I don't like about this camera is it's short battery life. Even with the1300mAh battery I bought, I get less shots than with my Canon. And the colors of the photos from this camera are a lot less colorful than on the Canon. That is something I will have to get used to. I was very disappointed to find out that this camera has no zoom in movie mode, unlike its predecessor, the TZ1. Luckily, that did not stop me from buying this camera. Overall, this camera is a great buy, especially if you want i.s. wide angle, and long zoom.


->Best Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I jumped on the bandwagon myself, although I am returning this item. I take pictures indoors and outdoors of my children. Not so much landscapes and/or stationary things

First issue - Indoors, if not lit well, will adjust your ISO setting resulting too much noise. Iso can be limited but then the shot will still be underexposed and with noise. There is a huge thread in regards to this at dpreview.com. The conclusion of the review there even states, "It's not best suited to snapping the kids running around the house in dim light, but then it is, after all, designed as a travel companion, something it does very well indeed."

My example is ... I took pictures of the kids in the bathtub (8 x 6 room with 2 40 watt bulbs with a 5x4 mirror reflecting that light as well). Now these shots were not underexposed (the camera even upped the Iso and I thought it was a well enough lit room) and once the pictures were printed their hair was "clumped" together (this is also on that same review at dpreview, it states "At ISO 100 only the very finest detail is being blurred away by the Venus III noise reduction, but at ISO 200 (and increasingly as you go up the range) the characteristic 'smearing' of tones reduces the individual hairs to a single lump."

I have seen on the internet MANY MANY an MANY great shots taken with this camera outdoors and in well lit rooms (not so much personal homes). It is a great camera for traveling and scenery. It has the wide angle and 10x zoom as well as many other great reviews (just google "tz3 reviews"). This is a very likable camera, but not the best for indoor shots.

My other issue was the video, I took some videos and some played and others didn't. Some would start but then stop (the audio kept playing the actual video stopped liked I had paused it). This was after I had downloaded to my computer, I did not try to play it back on the camera itself.

So based I the info I wrote perhaps I should not have bought this camera, I was forewarned per dpreview.com's review but I saw such other great reviews that I thought I would just try it. But in the end, the photographer there was right.

I do believe this would be an excellent camera for outdoor scenery (with lots of daylight ). I do know about tripods, but then again that would be taking pictures of stationary things, so the question is, how often do your kids sit still?


->Buy Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I have to get on the bandwagon here. This is a superb little camera, definately five stars! I also have the TZ1, which showed promise, but has limitations. In my review of the TZ1, I noted it had lots of "noise" and pictures shouldn't be printed much beyond 4x6 inches if they were to be sharp. I also wanted more manual controls.

The TZ3 fixes and improves almost everything about the TZ1 and adds some new, very useful features. The noise has been drastically reduced, the lens is better, the sensor is bigger, and the processor is not only faster, but produces better pictures. The TZ3 adds a very handy "function" button - or I should say function capability - the number of buttons is the same - which gives immediate access to five or so "most used" settings without having to go into the menues - of which there are several.

The TZ3 keeps the Mega Optical Image Stabilization and adds Intelligent ISO, increases the sensitivity without adding noise,(I have not tried the 3200 setting yet.), increases the size of the viewing screen, etc., etc.

The TZ3 is a "well-rounded," and very capable camera. There is simply no comparison between the TZ1 and the TZ3 as far as the quality of the pictures. The TZ3 wins hands down. In my opinion it also beats some big name, higher priced digicams - a couple of which I own - rather handily.

Of course, the big selling point for the TZ3 is still the 10X lens - now with wide angle capability - on a pocket-sized point and shoot camera. This lens is SHARP, and combined with larger sensor and the new processor yields some excellent results.

While there are no manual controls, per se, the camera seems to do very well without them. Pictures are sharp, exposures seem nicely done (haven't tried it at night yet, but low light forrest shots were excellent), colors were accurate, appropriately saturated, and vivid (OK. I like the vivid setting.), good contrast, etc. There are a variety of AF settings, settable focal points, and focus modes. There is also exposure compensation, and exposure bracketing available - and they work well! The live histogram is a welcome bonus. The TZ3 focuses down to about 2 inches in macro mode - again with excellent, sharp results. The TZ3 is very well speced out.

One nice thing that is gone is the lens cap on the TZ1. It was really not to inconvenient, but seemed always to be swinging in the wind to add yet another source of camera shake. The TZ3 lens includes an built in lens cover. Very welcome.

I currently own five top flight digicams (including this one), and have owned about that many others, I am most impressed with this one - for combined convenience and results. It is a quantum step forward.

I also have a couple of quite nice, and fairly complete DSLR kits. They are wonderful, and in a class by themselves, but when I want very nice pictures and the convenience of a pocketable point and shoot with a 10X, wide angle lens, or a back up for the DSLRs, the TZ3 is now my camera of choice.


->Sale Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Extremely impressed with the TZ3. This gem should get 5 stars on construction and finish alone. Just holding it in your hands it screams quality and feels like a tank. Love it. It seriously feels like a $700 camera. No exaggeration. I was a little worried about it not being able to fit in my jean pockets before buying it. Women may have issues with really tight jeans but for us guys no problem. It fits fine. I seriously cant believe I can carry around a camera with a 10x zoom inside my jean pockets. Truly remarkable. The 3" screen is amazing. You can practically enjoy your pics right on screen w/o even printing them with the High Res output. Navigation is so easy on this camera. Something not surprising though if your already coming from another panny (FZ7 here). Picture quality is great. I tested it out today on standard and I would say its just as good as my FZ7 in daylight and better in lowlight (indoors). Image quality is great, and if you need extra sharpness you could always use the camera on "Vivid mode" or add a little with some post processing. The pics in Standard and natural mode PP very well. The wide angle is something new to me. Took some neat shots that looked very nice with the extra viewing angle. Very distinctive and after having this i'm not sure if I could go back.

If your looking for a do it all camera this may very well be your tool of choice. Combine it's extreme versatility coupled with excellent image quality, superb lens, build, and finish you have yourself a winner.


->Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Upgrading to the TZ3 from a 4yr old Canon 3.2 megapixel. Waited a few months to purchase when I heard the TZ1 was being updated. With the TZ3, Panasonic has fixed the main complaints about the TZ1 which were: No build in lens cover, noisy images at higher ISO speeds. IMO, the build in lens cover alone is wirth the price permium over the TZ1.

As others have said, this camera has a great build quality, easy operation, and a high-quality look. I ordered the black model and was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box. It has the look of a retro 35mm cartridge camera, which is cool. The chrome (or polished stainless steel, cant tell), is first rate and looks great with the matte black case. The LCD is huge and bright. The camera's "Simple Mode" does a great job the the other modes are fully customizable. The zoom is fantastic, but you need a really steady hand at full zoom, even with Optical Stabilization turned on. I did take some surprisingly sharp shots zoomed way in from my car as I came across a herd of deer. Shot to shot speed is really great, unless you are using the flash. The red-eye reduction works better than any other digital camera I have used. Overall, I am extremely pleased. If you are looking for a great zoom camera in a small form factor, you should seriously consider the DMC-TZ3.


->Prices Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I went to Ritz Camera today and took a good look at the TZ3. I'll tell you, its pretty nice. The build quality is really good, as a previous person mentioned. The body is metal. The dials and buttons click with precision, and have a nice resistance. It has a nice weight to it.

I took some nice shots in the store. I must have clicked off 100 pics. I'm impressed with it. If you want something relatively small, powerful and tough, this camera is for you. The 10x zoom is great, but on such a small camera it is difficult to hold it steady enough(at least for me) to use the zoom too much.

I love the build quality and style, so I may be biased. It's a nice piece of equipment. I cannot speak to the photo quality only having seen pics on the camera's LCD.


->Price Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I came off a Canon PowerShot S40, a little 4-megapixel brick of a camera that gave me 4 years of excellent results. That was my first digital camera after a closet-full of film Nikons.

Many buffs claim that 4 megapixels is all you need, and I made a number of nice looking A3 prints. Now that I have 7 megapixels to work with, I see that I was wrong: Four is not enough. Seven is wonderful.

[...]points out strongly that above ISO 200 noise is a real problem--but you always wonder just how picky they are. Well not too picky in this case. Using a higher than 200 setting (i.e., most indoor flash shots) resulted in a lot of noise, making the camera almost unusable except for the simplest 4 X 6 snapshots.

But I take almost entirely outdoor shots--scenics and candids. I set the ISO at 100 and get gorgeous results. It has taken some getting used to the different color rendition of the TZ3 from my Canon. The Canon seems more balanced while the TZ3 caused reddish orange to really pop out. There is something cool (color temperature-wise, not "fashionable") about the color that is not entirely fixed in PhotoShop. Sometimes the results are marvelous, especially shots of cloudy or rainy days. Other times they are not so great--too desaturated for my taste. So I have been playing around with the various settings--"Natural" and "Vivid." "Vivid" is closer to what I want right out of the camera, but is less easy to spruce up. "Natural" is easier to modify, so that is the setting I am using now. I also set the exposure compensation to one stop under.

I was pleasantly surprised at how small the TZ3 is: it slips easily into pants pocket (but not shirt pocket). The zoom lens starting at a decent wide-angle (28mm) is utterly fantastic and really makes the camera stand out head & shoulders from the pack.

Thus, I am delighted with the choice. However, to answer my question "What more could I want?", here it is:

1. The selection disk ALWAYS moves when I pocket the camera, so I ALWAYS have to check, when I pull it out, to reset it to the desired setting. Its detents need to be strengthened.
2. The back-side controls are too easy to activate accidentally when shooting one-handed with the fleshy part of the thumb. A headache because you then need to press "select" to get back in operation.
3. DPreview is right when they moan about the Venus III sensor. It's good but, for an otherwise sensational camera like this one, not good enough.


->Prices Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I just received the DMC-TZ3A. I love this camera. This is my first camera ever. I love the features, build quality, and menu system. I am still getting used to learning how to take quality pictures. For example, I have trouble getting it to focus at times. I am certain this is just the learning curve for me. One feature I am disappointed that it lacks is - auto retraction of the lens when in playback mode. Most other cameras automatically retract the lens to protect it when viewing pictures from the camera. This one does not do this and you have to turn the camera off to get it to retract. I really wish they would update the firmware to support this important safety feature. All-in-all I definitely recommend this camera!


->Compare Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

I owned the first generation DMC-TZ1. The DMC-TZ3 has some welcome improvements; wider angle, automatic lens cover, maybe 25% faster shot-to-shot. In particular, the wider angle is a really useful feature.

The camera's strength is in its versatile, outdoor shooting. It does best with lots of light. Indoors, the flash coverage is just ok. Shot-to-shot flash recycle time is sometimes a pokey 4 seconds. Digital picture noise is noticeable with lesser light.

Setup Tips:
1. Use 3x2 ratio if you primarily print 6x4 photos.
2. Use vivid mode as normal mode looks washed out.

Update: 28-May-2007 The flimsy automatic shutter cover is broken. I'm able to keep it stuck in the open position. Rather disappointing. The rest of the camera seems pretty durable though.



->Deal Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3A 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)

Panasonic has taken the original TZ1 and made it even better. There's not much missing from this camera. 28mm wide angle lens. 10X optical zoom. 3" high resolution screen, excellent Image Stabilization, etc. All this in a fairly compact camera. Panasonic has also improved the "noise" on higher ISO's. Low light performance is much better than on previous Panasonic models. The most important this is, the camera takes great pictures. Panasonic did take one step back in video mode on the TZ3. Unlike on the TZ1, you can not "zoom" while taking video. You can zoom before you start taking the video. This doesn't bother me, but some people find it important. Overall, this is the best compact camera I've ever owned.