First point-and-shoot: Lumix DMC-TZ5

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

08/24/2008 10:43:21 AM · #1

I needed a point-and-shoot for road trip, hiking, and holiday snapshots, and decided on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5. I've never had a P&S before, and had no idea what I was buying, but went with it due to some positive reviews about its wide angle and zoom. Nice little camera. The noise is bad even on ISO100, so next time I'll probably do more reading.

Here's a shot with it. Any comments appreciated, will return them!

[thumb]713415[/thumb]

MattO

Nikon D4

08/24/2008 11:36:06 AM · #2

HI Louis,

The problem with P&S cameras, even the high end ones), is the fact that the consumer crowd is MP crazy, and they keep shoving more and more into the same size sensor. They dont care about noise, as most consumers dont look at the technical aspects of an image, just how slim, cool, colorful, whatever the camera looks, and that they can fit it in their pocket, purse, glovebox whatever.

The only people who really scrutinize P&S cameras are photographers who dont like them. In good light they are great, and if you love that flash right in your face look, with dark background they are amazing in low light!

On a side note, dont bombard me with my P&S is awesome comments, this is only the opinion of a person who likes his dSLR camera. I even recently sold a P&S that I loved but couldnt keep because I'm too picky on the technicals of higher ISO.

Matt

tpbremer

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

08/24/2008 11:45:50 AM · #3

I have some friends that have that camera--they have been really happy w/ it.

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

08/24/2008 11:46:12 AM · #4

Yeah, it was actually hard to pick one because the only defining factor from the marketing lit is the megapixels I guess. I was really quite surprised at the amount of noise in ideal light conditions. Pretty awful. Also, it's somewhat non-intuitive getting to those non-auto settings. The do-everything-for-you settings seem erratic to me.

It's just for day trips and so on (because I'm usually in all the snaps and I'm tired of it), so it's no big deal really. I doubt any of the pictures from this camera will be printed. It's quite a different experience using a P&S, so it's also interesting from that point of view.

Message edited by author 2008-08-24 11:46:34.

hazelmay

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3

08/24/2008 11:48:24 AM · #5

Hi. I have the Lumix DMC-TZ3. I don't know much about digital photography, but I have learned that my camera and my laptop are probably not the right equipment to help me reach my potential! I have taken hundreds of pics that I really like, but many of them do look grainy. I learned on this image ( Overwhelmed ) that a low ISO is better than a high one! //www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=703856 Sorry - I don't know how to do this!
Your "Tews Falls" looks great to me! You should get some awesome pictures with the Lumix since you already know how to use the settings!

Jessi

Mamiya 645Pro TL

Mamiya 80mm f/2.8

08/24/2008 12:04:46 PM · #6

Originally posted by hazelmay:

Yeah my sis has that camera, I was impressed with the colors.

JuliBoc

Apple iPhone 6s+

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/24/2008 12:06:12 PM · #7

I have a Panny FZ30 and love everything about it except the noise and the sluggish response time. However, it's not a pocket camera; it's the same size as my Rebel XTi. The noise and response time are the reason I bought the dSLR. Even so, I still use the FZ30 frequently when I need versatility and don't want to carry multiple lenses. It captures wonderful detail and the image stabilization really works. I deal with the noise in PS. Most of my top rated photos here on DPC were taken with the Panny.

Check your manual; there may be a setting for noise reduction.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

08/24/2008 12:37:46 PM · #8

Pretty much what everybody said. My FZ10 not so good as Julianne's FZ30, with same drawbacks, BUT it is no slouch in the right conditions. Your landscape picture (no exif info? - should include) might be a challenge. The FZ5 is much more responsive and more intelligently organized, smaller and lighter and sweeter to carry and work with, BUT even the slighter pixel density difference is telling: in the end you are getting less detail - not much less, but less all the same. I generally use spot focus, underexpose a tad, and have all the settings on low (contrast, saturation/neutral colour) and tweak up as desired in pp, and try never to shoot above 50 ISO (FZ10) or 80 (FZ80). Lunch is not free, but you knew that. So I forgo lunch(es) because of a great lens.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/24/2008 12:41:19 PM · #9

I have and still use a P&S, a Powershot S5. It has some capabilities my SLR is lacking without additional Â£â�¬n$â�¬$ and is also less hassle to carry with me everywhere I go. I love my SLR, but both cameras have their place. Even 8 months after getting the SLR, I have still not beaten my highest scoring shot that was taken with my S5. You can do some good stuff with that camera, You just need to learn it's limitations and how to work within or around them.

BTW, I don't like calling that class of cameras a "Point and shoot". I prefer to reserve that nomenclature for the less capable pocket sized models that are normally used in point and shoot manner. In the U.K. they are referred to as bridge cameras, as they bridge the gap between a P&S an an SLR. I like my own term though. I call it an "advanced compact".

Your waterfall looks nice. I can see what you mean about the noise, though. Not sure if that is really noise or just the result of a very detailed shot scaled down very small. What resizing method are you using in your software? (Bilinear, bicubic, weighted average, etc.)

Truegsht

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/24/2008 01:00:50 PM · #10

Here are a couple of images taken in super-macro mode on my new PS camera... Canon A470. Noise is not so bad, DOF needs work, but these are just snapshots straight from camera, no editing..this little camera will get you up close and personal..very nice IMO for a PS camera.

this is super-macro of window shear/curtain
//i97.photobucket.com/albums/l208/bigdphoto/003.jpg

this is super-macro of fennel seeds
//i97.photobucket.com/albums/l208/bigdphoto/009.jpg

Message edited by author 2008-08-24 13:02:17.

K3Master

Pentax K-3

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

08/24/2008 01:05:34 PM · #11

Originally posted by yospiff:

Advanced Compact. I like that.

I need an Advanced Compact to take with me to those pesky family outings and pub trips and similar activities where lugging around the DSLR is a right pain in the royal patootie.

The Lumix series is always one I've rather liked, but I'd probably get one that is in the 6MP range, and I'd go on ebay if I have to. The LX-1 is one that I really would like to have, if I could find one in mint condition. (and yes, the LX1 is 8mp, but it's a trade off to get a 16x9 sensor)

and I just realized I'm hijacking the thread. Congrats on your new cam OP!

Message edited by author 2008-08-24 13:09:34.

DarkRider

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/24/2008 01:09:45 PM · #12

I picked up a DMC-LS75 for my parents this past January. Its not so bad with the noise.
I wonder if it only being a 7.1MP makes the differance.
It was a nice and easy camera for them to use as they are total technophobes. I think their last camera was a Brownie!!!

K3Master

Pentax K-3

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

08/24/2008 01:14:07 PM · #13

Originally posted by DarkRider:

Noise with the compact cameras really started becoming a problem from 8MP up. It's kind of like DPC in that way. The masses demand something, you better darn well deliver, whether it's good for them or not ;)

08/24/2008 01:59:23 PM · #14

Originally posted by tnun:

The camera I used is actually the TZ5.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

08/24/2008 02:14:52 PM · #15

Originally posted by yospiff:

Your waterfall looks nice. I can see what you mean about the noise, though. Not sure if that is really noise or just the result of a very detailed shot scaled down very small. What resizing method are you using in your software? (Bilinear, bicubic, weighted average, etc.)

Resampling method was bicubic (CS3's default on Image/Resize). There's some noise evident in the photo above, but check out the 100% crop below of a different picture, with no Lightroom futzing, taken at 1/50 and f/3.3, at ISO 100. Lots of noise under daytime light conditions, not in direct sunlight but slightly overcast, although bright. I kept the JPG quality to 100% so there wouldn't be much added artefacting.

[thumb]713489[/thumb]

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/24/2008 02:52:25 PM · #16

Probably about normal for a camera like that. Unless you are doing severe cropping it won't show, and some low levels of noise reduction could reduce it without killing detail.

Message edited by author 2008-08-24 14:52:37.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

08/24/2008 03:54:58 PM · #17

For the record [user]Louis[/user], I was aware it was the TZ5. Just sharing Panny info: emphasizing how seriously they have ruined a good thing by packing in the megapixels.

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

08/24/2008 06:02:04 PM · #18

Originally posted by tnun:

For the record [user]Louis[/user], I was aware it was the TZ5. Just sharing Panny info: emphasizing how seriously they have ruined a good thing by packing in the megapixels.

Yeah.. it's a shame, because it really is a great little camera otherwise. And like I said, it's a whole new experience "snapshotting" for me, so it's kind of cool. If that's normal for a P&S, I accept it. They're snaps after all I guess. :-) Thanks for the info.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

08/24/2008 06:57:42 PM · #19

Actually I just checked the specs on your TZ5 and the range, starting at 28mm IS very attractive. And yeah, a neat stealthy size. I am sure that you'll have a lot of fun with it. A shame also you cannot tweak some of the camera processing. I do advise underexposing and or exposure bracketing to get the best out of the limited dynamic range. IQ isn't always everything.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/24/2008 07:02:34 PM · #20

Yeah, I think underexposing is the way to go. I haven't adjusted exposure steps or anything, so I'm going to do that next.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

08/26/2008 11:37:35 PM · #21

I bought a TZ5 when it first came out in April as an emergency backup to my DSLR on a trip to Europe (a wise move given that my camera bag was stolen with most of my lenses in it). There's a fair amount of noise on the Lumix, but it's certainly capable of producing some decent photos...

Message edited by author 2008-08-26 23:37:54.