Panasonic TZ3, TZ4 or TZ5

I have just given away my Panasonic FZ18 to my son as I was not taking it
out with me. So am looking at the TZ range, which will go in my pocket, but
am confused as all three are on sale and the TZ3 seems very good but should
I pay more and go for the TZ5. Why is it significantly more expensive? Then
there is the TZ4????????????

Ken

Ken wrote:
I have just given away my Panasonic FZ18 to my son as I was not taking it
out with me. So am looking at the TZ range, which will go in my pocket, but
am confused as all three are on sale and the TZ3 seems very good but should
I pay more and go for the TZ5. Why is it significantly more expensive? Then
there is the TZ4????????????

Ken


In that size I would take a look at the various Canons, Reviews say the
color quality and basic image quality is better. Panasonic either has
more noise or does more processing and that spoils the end result.

If you do not need an optical viewfinder take a look at the SD990. It
has been claimed to have the best 3" LCD that is viewable in bright
daylight. I have not seen this but it was claimed in the reviews.

"measekite" wrote in message ...


Ken wrote:
I have just given away my Panasonic FZ18 to my son as I was not taking it
out with me. So am looking at the TZ range, which will go in my pocket, but
am confused as all three are on sale and the TZ3 seems very good but should
I pay more and go for the TZ5. Why is it significantly more expensive? Then
there is the TZ4????????????

Ken


In that size I would take a look at the various Canons, Reviews say the
color quality and basic image quality is better. Panasonic either has
more noise or does more processing and that spoils the end result.

If you do not need an optical viewfinder take a look at the SD990. It
has been claimed to have the best 3" LCD that is viewable in bright
daylight. I have not seen this but it was claimed in the reviews.

Well done for completely ignoring the OP's question and suggesting a camera that doesn't even come anywhere close to having the features of the Pana TZ range.

Ken, the TZ3 is the older model. Apart from the extra megapixels of the TZ5 over the TZ4 the only other difference I'm aware of is the screen, which I think is almost twice the resolution on the TZ5. How any of these compare to each other for picture quality i'm unsure and i'm in the same boat as you - wondering if its worth spending the extra on the TZ5.

Ken wrote:
I have just given away my Panasonic FZ18 to my son as I was not
taking it out with me. So am looking at the TZ range, which will go
in my pocket, but am confused as all three are on sale and the TZ3
seems very good but should I pay more and go for the TZ5. Why is it
significantly more expensive? Then there is the TZ4????????????

Ken

I have the TZ3 and have been very pleased with it. My wife likes the
larger LCD on the back for composition (compared to earlier cameras she
has used). I see no need to upgrade to the TZ4 or TZ5 right now. Jack
has compared the cameras, so there's no need to repeat that.

I guess that were I buying from new, I would look at the TZ3 and TZ5 as
being the better featured of the TZ2/TZ3 or TZ4/TZ5 pairs. I sometimes
get the impression that the cheaper of the pair is cut-down, and the
dearer of the pair is the better value. As the older camera, the TZ3 is
probably the best value for money today.

Cheers,
David

"Jack Torrence" room217[at]overlook.freeserve.co.uk wrote in message
...
"measekite" wrote in message
...


Ken wrote:
I have just given away my Panasonic FZ18 to my son as I was not taking it
out with me. So am looking at the TZ range, which will go in my pocket,
but
am confused as all three are on sale and the TZ3 seems very good but
should
I pay more and go for the TZ5. Why is it significantly more expensive?
Then
there is the TZ4????????????

Ken


In that size I would take a look at the various Canons, Reviews say the
color quality and basic image quality is better. Panasonic either has
more noise or does more processing and that spoils the end result.

If you do not need an optical viewfinder take a look at the SD990. It
has been claimed to have the best 3" LCD that is viewable in bright
daylight. I have not seen this but it was claimed in the reviews.

Well done for completely ignoring the OP's question and suggesting a camera
that doesn't even come anywhere close to having the features of the Pana TZ
range.

Ken, the TZ3 is the older model. Apart from the extra megapixels of the TZ5
over the TZ4 the only other difference I'm aware of is the screen, which I
think is almost twice the resolution on the TZ5. How any of these compare to
each other for picture quality i'm unsure and i'm in the same boat as you -
wondering if its worth spending the extra on the TZ5.


I wonder will the double resolution on the LCD (TZ5 over TZ3) improve seeing
the screen in sunlight or just give a clearer picture when reviewing???
Also just spotted the TZ4 has a 2.5" screen and the other two a 3" screen???

"David J Taylor"
wrote in
message om...
Ken wrote:
I have just given away my Panasonic FZ18 to my son as I was not
taking it out with me. So am looking at the TZ range, which will go
in my pocket, but am confused as all three are on sale and the TZ3
seems very good but should I pay more and go for the TZ5. Why is it
significantly more expensive? Then there is the TZ4????????????

Ken

I have the TZ3 and have been very pleased with it. My wife likes the
larger LCD on the back for composition (compared to earlier cameras she
has used). I see no need to upgrade to the TZ4 or TZ5 right now. Jack
has compared the cameras, so there's no need to repeat that.

I guess that were I buying from new, I would look at the TZ3 and TZ5 as
being the better featured of the TZ2/TZ3 or TZ4/TZ5 pairs. I sometimes
get the impression that the cheaper of the pair is cut-down, and the
dearer of the pair is the better value. As the older camera, the TZ3 is
probably the best value for money today.

Cheers,
David

When I bought my FZ18 the TZ3 was a very close second choice but I felt I
wanted a viewfinder. Do you find the absence of the viewfinder is a problem?
A friend who has a cheap Fuji went to a boating event and said sun was to
his back and he couldn't see the screen so just guessed and every shot was
either aimed too high or too low!

I was in a shop earlier and the lens cover was broken, on the TZ5, which
worried me about its flimsiness or may of been a case of some yob
deliberately breaking it?

Ken
Ken

Ken wrote:
[]
When I bought my FZ18 the TZ3 was a very close second choice but I
felt I wanted a viewfinder. Do you find the absence of the viewfinder
is a problem? A friend who has a cheap Fuji went to a boating event
and said sun was to his back and he couldn't see the screen so just
guessed and every shot was either aimed too high or too low!

I was in a shop earlier and the lens cover was broken, on the TZ5, which
worried me about its flimsiness or may of been a case of some
yob deliberately breaking it?

Ken

Ken,

An true optical viewfinder for a 10:1 zoom lens in a camera this size
might double its bulk, so I took it for granted that there would not be
one. An EVF would be nice, but again increase the camera's bulk and cost.
You can make the LCD brighter, and it has a special mode for overhead
shots, but I think that almost inevitably you might need to shield it a
little with your hand in /some/ circumstances. You could use one of the
old hand slide-viewers to make a little viewing hood, but it's not
something I've done. Try the camera just outside the shop, and see for
yourself.

Inevitably, in a small camera like this, some parts may not have the
protection of a bulkier and heavier model. I haven't had problems myself,
but a friend did manage to get the cover stuck on a Canon model.
Fortunately, a simple application of "slight" force unstuck the cover, and
normal operation was restored. I don't have any reason to suppose that
the lens cover is any more or any less robust than another make. I would
keep the camera in a small case, though.

Cheers,
David

"David J Taylor"
wrote in
message om...
Ken wrote:
[]
When I bought my FZ18 the TZ3 was a very close second choice but I
felt I wanted a viewfinder. Do you find the absence of the viewfinder
is a problem? A friend who has a cheap Fuji went to a boating event
and said sun was to his back and he couldn't see the screen so just
guessed and every shot was either aimed too high or too low!

I was in a shop earlier and the lens cover was broken, on the TZ5, which
worried me about its flimsiness or may of been a case of some
yob deliberately breaking it?

Ken

Ken,

An true optical viewfinder for a 10:1 zoom lens in a camera this size
might double its bulk, so I took it for granted that there would not be
one. An EVF would be nice, but again increase the camera's bulk and cost.
You can make the LCD brighter, and it has a special mode for overhead
shots, but I think that almost inevitably you might need to shield it a
little with your hand in /some/ circumstances. You could use one of the
old hand slide-viewers to make a little viewing hood, but it's not
something I've done. Try the camera just outside the shop, and see for
yourself.

Inevitably, in a small camera like this, some parts may not have the
protection of a bulkier and heavier model. I haven't had problems myself,
but a friend did manage to get the cover stuck on a Canon model.
Fortunately, a simple application of "slight" force unstuck the cover, and
normal operation was restored. I don't have any reason to suppose that
the lens cover is any more or any less robust than another make. I would
keep the camera in a small case, though.

Cheers,
David

The LCD has the same options as my FZ18 with brighten and high level
shooting. I did a comparison, in the sun, last week with an assortment of
friends cameras and my FZ18 won against every other one and by a long long
way.

Hopefully the lens cover will be OK as I am not known for being heavy handed
with such things and will get a case.

Thanks

Ken

Jack Torrence wrote:
"measekite" wrote in message ...

Ken wrote:

I have just given away my Panasonic FZ18 to my son as I was not taking it
out with me. So am looking at the TZ range, which will go in my pocket, but
am confused as all three are on sale and the TZ3 seems very good but should
I pay more and go for the TZ5. Why is it significantly more expensive? Then
there is the TZ4????????????

Ken


In that size I would take a look at the various Canons, Reviews say the
color quality and basic image quality is better. Panasonic either has
more noise or does more processing and that spoils the end result.

If you do not need an optical viewfinder take a look at the SD990. It
has been claimed to have the best 3" LCD that is viewable in bright
daylight. I have not seen this but it was claimed in the reviews.


Well done for completely ignoring the OP's question and suggesting a camera that doesn't even come anywhere close to having the features of the Pana TZ range.


Features are nice but they take a back seat to the ultimate reason for
purchasing a camera. And that is picture quality. That is really where
it is at. If you want the best picture quality you may have to give up
some features unless without those features you would not get any photo
at all.
Ken, the TZ3 is the older model. Apart from the extra megapixels of the TZ5 over the TZ4 the only other difference I'm aware of is the screen, which I think is almost twice the resolution on the TZ5. How any of these compare to each other for picture quality i'm unsure and i'm in the same boat as you - wondering if its worth spending the extra on the TZ5.

David J Taylor wrote:

An true optical viewfinder for a 10:1 zoom lens in a camera this size
might double its bulk, so I took it for granted that there would not be
one. An EVF would be nice, but again increase the camera's bulk and cost.
You can make the LCD brighter, and it has a special mode for overhead
shots, but I think that almost inevitably you might need to shield it a
little with your hand in /some/ circumstances. You could use one of the

How does the special mode for overhead shots work?


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