Panasonic Lumix TZ4
- 4.0 out of 5
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Editors' Comments
The Panasonic TZ4 is a small step down from the more advanced TZ5, losing the HD video recording and a single megapixel. Otherwise, it's functionally identical, including the same 10x optical zoom lens and the new Venus IV image processing engine, which aims to significantly reduce image noise. A 28mm wide-angle lens means it's easy to get good shots of landscapes and large groups of people, and a big 3.0-inch LCD screen that adjusts to various lighting conditions makes it easy to review them. The camera does not feature any manual controls, meaning it's strictly a point and shoot affair, but Panasonic's Intelligent Auto mode makes the best of this.
Specifications
- 8.1 megapixels
- 10x optical zoom / 4x digital zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 30fps movie mode with sound
- Auto exposure
- Auto focus
- 3.0-inch self-adjusting LCD screen
- Secure Digital storage (with 50mb internal memory)
- Lithium-ion battery
Comments on the Panasonic TZ4
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Panasonic Lumix TZ4 Reviews
- 4.05387323943662 out of 5
Panasonic Lumix TZ4 Reviews by Digital Camera-HQ Users
- 5.0 out of 5
I graduated from my Canon point n shoot to this after much research. The Canon's quality was excellent but its zoom was 3X and the lense was not 28mm. The Lumix can do almost everything very well. Picture quality is usually excellent and the zoom allows close ups otherwise impossible. I'm still working on good night shots, but I have hopes. Close ups are extremely clear. Framing is very easy. My only complaints are speed and clarity of shots at full telephoto. The shake control could be a little more sensitive though I try to brace the camera in those situations. It's a lot of fun to use and the results are usually spectacular.
- 5.0 out of 5
Takes great photos, a little chunky. Bought mine as a refurb in a bundle package for $149.95. Wish that it used AA batteries. One item to note camera supports SDHC memory, I have a computer less than a year old running Vista, and my card rader will not work with this SDHC memory card. So I have ordered a new regular SD Transflash card that will work on my computer. The camera supports both types of memory cards, but my Vista does not. I tried a hot-fix and still did not read the SDHC card. The camera is great. Panasonic does have a new firmware version 1.2 available, I went ahead and installed it. They say it improves an issue with the auto focus. Just beware of the SDHC memory card. Just use a regular SD or Mini SD with an adapter. Thats what I am doing with very good results.
- 4.0 out of 5
I needed a compact camera that could take magazine quality photos if needed. The slow syncro or the night portrait settings work well for backstage warm light photos. The red eye reduction works well. The camera is fast, easy to hold and operate, and and I found it pretty intuitive as far as learning the menu and buttons.
I have been a Sony Cybershot fan and dearly miss my first Sony, the DSC-S90, now THAT was a camera, I broke mine and they don't make them anymore so I got another Sony, lost it, got another Sony DSC-W150 and had to take it back due to the extreme grainy photo quality. No matter what setting I used it was horrible.
I decided to abandon Sony and go with this Lumix and I am glad I did. I suggest experimenting with all of the settings, using a paper with what setting you used written on it placed in the shot. You will see a big difference and learn what scenes or flash options work best for the look you are going for. The candlelight setting is very nice for low light.
Video quality is excellent. Video sound volume is very low, it could be much higher. If the sound quality was better then I would have rated this one 5 stars.
The 10x optical zoom is fantastic. The wide angle lens allows for tight shots. This camera is not as small as some, but it is not too heavy or too big to pack around either. I got the black one and it has a nice classic look to it.
Panasonic Lumix TZ4 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
Where did you read that the TZ3 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) does not photo well in low lighting? If you use a higher ISO (which the camera has the capability of), the photos will not come out as blurred as with a lower setting. Given, this may cause more "noise" (a grainy look to the photo), that is the case with any camera on a higher ISO. A better way to combat this is the use of a wider aperture on the camera's lens, but that is not adjustable on a point-and-shoot camera (only on more expensive dSLR cameras). With the right settings, the TZ3 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) will perform just fine in lower lighting situations, and I suspect the TZ4 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) would also.
Andrew
Thank you so much for your response! I read a review by someone that said the TZ3 did not do well indoors and that is one of the reasons I am looking for a new camera. I have a point and shot, sony cybershot that is a few years old. It takes nice pictures as long as there is plenty of light but, indoors , it does a terrible job. I love to take pictures (and video with the camera) of family, friends, pets and action shots. I'm looking for a new camera, small with a good zoom lens but, simple to use for someone who knows little about cameras. I have been doinga little research and I think the Lumix TZ4 would be a good one for me. The shop where I am buying the camera offers classes so, that will be helpful. I'm just wwant to make sure I am making the right choice! Any suggestions? I thought the Sony H7 or there was a Lumix with 12x lens would be neat to have, but it might be too much camera for me and maybe too bulky. THank you for your help!
One more thing. I notice that the TZ4 does not rank very high compared to the other cameras. Is that because it is new of should I be looking at another camera?
THank you,Suzie
You might also want to consider the Canon SD800is which has about the same low light function as the TZ3 plus adds a viewfinder and keeps the wide angle lens same as the TZ3 and 4 and about the same small size.
Really any of the point and shoot cameras are going to be less than ideal in low light conditions simply because they all have the small size CCD light sensors and lots of pixels crammed onto them. Any more than about 5-6 megapixels and the light sensitivity starts going down.
Solutions for the low light situation includes -- Use the flash (some do better than others); add an external flash unit (generics are available which fire when they see the built in flash fire); increase the ISO setting and put up with the graininess of the pictures; get a camera with manual control and learn how to use the aperture setting for maximum light input; get a camera with manual control and a tripod and learn how to use the shutter time setting; Wait a few years and hope they come out with small cameras with larger CCD's; get a digital SLR (already has the larger CCD's) but they are much larger cameras than what you are considering.
If you like everything else about the TZ4 except the low light problem, then I would suggest giving it a try hopefully buying it someplace you can return/exchange it within 60 or 90 days.
Best Wishes
Andrew
THank you so much for your response. I really appreciate your response and the detailed instructions you gave me. That was very helpful (you deserve a best response too but, it only let me add that once!). I am going to study your email so t hat when i make my purchase, I will know what to do in low light situations. The salesman said Panasonic no longer makes the TZ3 but, I see that there are still some available for sale online. I was thinking about going with the TZ4 simply because it is the latest model and it sounds like it is pretty much the same (right?!) with a little extra, to it. But then again, maybe I should go with the TZ5?! I don't know if the 4 & 5 came out at teh same time or if the TZ5 is newer than the TZ4?
THAnk you, Suzie
Thanks for your suggestion on the TZ3. I just posted the following on the response from Hal: The salesman said Panasonic no longer makes the TZ3 but, I see that there are still some available for sale online. I was thinking about going with the TZ4 simply because it is the latest model and it sounds like it is pretty much the same (right?!) with a little extra, to it. But then again, maybe I should go with the TZ5?! I don't know if the 4 & 5 came out at teh same time or if the TZ5 is newer than the TZ4? Buying a new camera can be overwhelming for someone like me who does not know much about cameras!
THanks,Suzie
there are two aspects of this project
1. still pictures
the panasonic tz5 has a great wide angle facility and a great 10 x zoom
this will be great for landscape shots of your child;s birth country
it is small ,light and has leica top quallity lens.
2. video
still images can give an vivid impression of a foreign land.
high quality video footage can give that extra sense of place of being there.
the future of video is high Definition
the tz5 records at 848 x 480 pixels at 30 frames per second
these high quality videos will enable you to record a unique record of your trip
You should have no issues hooking the camera up to view the pictures on your television. Good luck.
Andrew
the tz4 has a 2.5 in screen the tz5 has a 3.0 inch screen
No need to lose the moment because you relied on one card one when several can solve that problem. At the very least, you want to get more than one of whatever size you settle on.
One last thing. Cards have different speeds. The faster a card is, the quicker it'll save the photo and cycle to be ready for another shot. In the end, your camera is only going to be as fast as it's slowest link in the chain. So check for speed when you purchase a card.
As for what to stitch it together with, I haven't seen a better stitcher than Photoshop.