Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1... according to dpreview

[Kelly Grannell]

Pros

Unique compact with 10x image stabilized zoom
Good resolution, surprisingly sharp folded optics lens
Bright, breezy punchy results out of camera
High quality construction
Highly versatile 35-350mm zoom range
Good shot-to-shot speed
Reliable white balance with fine tuning
Generally feels fast and responsive (though see below)
High speed (and accurate) focus; near class-leading performance
Big, bright, high resolution screen
Decent movie mode with 848 x 480 pixel 30fps widescreen option
Zooming during movie clips
Image stabilization works well
Histogram in record and playback mode, full on-screen exposure information
Excellent on-screen menus and control system
Easy - and fun - to use

Cons

Noise - and heavy noise reduction - make ISO 200+ usable only for small prints
Noise visible in shadow areas even at ISO 80
No manual control of shutter speed or aperture
Some metering issues, particularly in backlit scenes
Default contrast and saturation quite high
Occasional exposure problems and blown highlights when shooting in very bright light
Longer than average shutter lag - up to 0.3 seconds.

 

[pisco]

I was pretty dissapointed to see how the camera fared in this review. I am really looking for a small 10X P&S for when I don't want to carry the DSLR. This one looked pretty good on paper but in the end the image quality is just too poor.

 

[TigerLaw]

Pisco, I have had the camera for a couple months now and LOVE it. Yes, it will porbably not do justice to spectromagic on my upcoming trip, but then again, few pocket digitals do. Additionally, if you check out the forum on dpreview you will see many people love the camera. (also, the camera got a positive review on DCresource.com http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_tz1-review/
so don't let one "bad" review sway you (and more to the point, in the review, the camera still got a recommend rating.

 

[Anewman]

I was pretty dissapointed to see how the camera fared in this review. I am really looking for a small 10X P&S for when I don't want to carry the DSLR. This one looked pretty good on paper but in the end the image quality is just too poor.

???????

I too was a little dissapointed, but not with overall IQ.

Some persons put too heavy an emphasis on higher ISO noise, but I understand this camera did do poorly in what is considered low ISO(200). On the panasonic LZ series it helps to put the camera in natural mode(instead of the default "standard" or "vivid"), I have not used the TZ1 so I do not know if it would help. Pansonic P&Ss do not have independent parameters(sharpness, contrast, saturation) instead they give you the "Picture Adjust setting that controls the 3, with "standard" and "vivid" sharpness is so high that the noise gets sharpened along with the detail.

How often would one use ISO 200 or higher on a pocket camera with a capable IS system?

Would I buy the TZ1? No I would not, but then again I would not spend $300 on a pocket camera. But if I wanted a pocket camera with IS it would be between this and the Canon SD700 which costs well over $400.

 

[pisco]

Pisco, I have had the camera for a couple months now and LOVE it. Yes, it will porbably not do justice to spectromagic on my upcoming trip, but then again, few pocket digitals do. Additionally, if you check out the forum on dpreview you will see many people love the camera. (also, the camera got a positive review on DCresource.com http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_tz1-review/
so don't let one "bad" review sway you (and more to the point, in the review, the camera still got a recommend rating.

More than what the reviewer had to say it was the image quality that really did it in for me. Especially after seeing the Fuji F30 image quality. That thing is absolutely amazing for something that can fit in your pocket! It even stood up well to the Nikon D50 at ISO 800. If only they would put something better than a 3x zoom in it, it would be the perfect backup camera.

Maybe if the Panasonic allowed you to turn off their overly agressive noise reduction I would buy it. But as it stands it just doesn't do it for me. Great idea though.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I strongly second Fuji F30. I had the F10 and now upgraded it to F30. The ISO 1600 on that teeny little thing is just absolutely amazing. Actually better than D70, and on par with Rebel XT and D50.

If there is seldom need for high ISO, then why more manufacturers put at least ISO 800 on their cameras? It's for night snapshot (just like night-mode, but you don't need tripod for it).

 

[Anewman]

If there is seldom need for high ISO, then why more manufacturers put at least ISO 800 on their cameras? It's for night snapshot (just like night-mode, but you don't need tripod for it).

I think that was addressed to me, since I asked. "How often would one use ISO 200 or higher on a pocket camera with a capable IS system?"

But the question was in refrence to a camera that has IS that gives a 3 stop advantage(according to review you quoted), so ISO 200 would equate to ISO 1600 on non IS cameras. Agreed it is still far from great but you get the point.

I agree the FUJI F30 is a great low light/high ISO camera, but it lacks IS. And if you notice the max Aperture ranges it loses at least another 1.5 stops vs the TZ1(at 106mm, 3x). So on some images where the Fuji F30 requires ISO 1600 the TZ1 maybe able to shoot ISO 100.

Fuji F30 is a great camera with better High(and low) ISO noise levels, smaller, more megapixels.
But the TZ1 has a Better daytime images straight out of camera, better lens, longer zoom(10x), OIS system, better metering modes, faster focus/shooting, better video(and zooming during shooting), Lower price, and uses SD cards vs XD cards.

 

[manning]

I like my Tizzy. It does everything I bought the camera for.

________________

My needs aren't your needs!!!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Don't forget IS does NOT stop movement. High ISO stops movement.

I'd rather have 3-stop advantage on high ISO then 3-stop advantage on OIS.

Of course, at the end of the day I want them both