Jan 31: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 is a 7.2 megapixel digital camera with a lovely long 10x optical zoom lens.

It features a lens with the equivilent of 28-200mm and comes with a large 3.0 inch LCD screen. It allows shooting in a variety of aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2 or 16:9) and has an ISO range of up to 1250. This camera features the LSI Venus Engine III processor.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 will have a retail price of $349.95 when it is released in March.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 News Release
Panasonic Unveils Travel Friendly Compact 10x Optical Zoom Lumix Digital Camera

7.2 Megapixel DMC-TZ3 Features 28mm Wide Angle Lens and Intelligent Image Stabilization

Panasonic today announced the 10x Optical Zoom Lumix DMC-TZ3 digital camera, the compact zoom model for its 2007 digital camera line. The new 7.2 Megapixel entry to the popular TZ family packages a 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens, Intelligent Image Stabilization, with the industry's most advanced countermeasures against blurring, a 3.0-inch LCD, and a compact, stylish, Stainless Steel body.

The entire 2007 Lumix spring digital still camera line incorporates the industry's most advanced countermeasures against blurring with the introduction of Intelligent Image Stabilization. This system comprises two features -- MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO Control. Together the features make it easy to capture beautiful photos every time users shoot by compensating for the effects of hand-shake and image movement, making it possible to capture clear, crisp photos anytime, in any mode.

"The Lumix DMC-TZ3 is the successor to the extremely popular DMC-TZ1, and the perfect camera for anyone with an active lifestyle. It combines a host of must-have features into a compact, stylish body ideal for slipping into your coat pocket or travel bag," said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Corporation of North America. "With 10x Optical Zoom, a powerful 28mm wide-angle LEICA lens and Intelligent Image Stabilization, the DMC-TZ3 is destined to be a leader and innovator in the compact zoom space."

The camera is also able to shoot from 28mm at the wide end and 280mm in telephoto, making it is fully equipped for any photo shooting situation. The 10x Optical zoom lets users take close-up shots even when users cannot move closer to the subject, and the wide-angle lens is helpful in situations where users cannot step back or move away.

Conventional cameras generally use almost the entire CCD area when recording an image and the angle of view may be altered regardless of the photographer's intention. The DMC-TZ3 CCD area is larger than those in conventional 7-megapixel class cameras, and can reproduce images shot with the lens set in any of three aspect ratios -- 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 -- so users can always capture dynamic, richly expressive shots with a wide perspective.

The DMC-TZ3 also features the Panasonic Venus Engine III, its most advanced image-processing engine. The engine helps to improve noise reduction and can record at a sensitivity setting as high as ISO 1250 with full resolution. With its multi-task image-processing capability, the Venus Engine III also boasts outstanding response time, shutter release time lag as short as 0.006 second, and shutter interval as short as 0.5 seconds*. This fast response makes it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment shots. Additionally in burst shooting mode, the DMC-TZ3 can fire off three shots per second at full resolution** and allows unlimited consecutive shooting until the SDHC/SD memory card is full***.

The effective pixels in the DMC-TZ3 have also been increased to 7.2 Megapixels to support enhanced zoom functions. For example, Panasonic's Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification to 15x, when taking photos with 3-megapixel resolution by using the center part of the CCD. Using this feature in combination with the 4x digital zoom the camera provides a total zoom factor of up to 60-times.

Other features of the DMC-TZ3 that improve usability and convenience include:

* Clipboard Function: Holds and retrieves useful information on a trip --
perfect for quick and easy shots of a map or train schedule.

* Dual Image Playback: Displays two images at the same time, one above
the other, and offers photographers the chance to compare images.

* Added Modes: Pet and Sunset Modes have been added to make it easier to
take beautiful photos in a range of photographic situations.

* Direct Print Mode: Brings immediate printing to users with one turn of
the mode dial and quick USB cable and a Pictbridge-compatible printer
connection.

* Built in Lens Cap: Offers added lens protection and convenience.

* Large-Capacity SDHC memory card compatibility.

* Extended Battery Life and Memory: Results in around 270 shots on a
single battery charge and contains 12.7 MB of built-in memory.

* Slide Change Effect Feature: Offers photographers and easier way to
view your images, replacing the classic frame-by-frame advance.

* Power LCD Function: Boosts the LCD backlighting by 40 percent, making
shooting outdoors and viewing your photos in bright sunshine easy.

* High-Angle Mode: Accessed quickly and easily via a dedicated button,
makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held
high, such as to shoot over a crowd.

* Wide-Aspect VGA Motion Images: Records standard VGA (640 x 480) motion
images at 30 frames per second, and each camera records stunning
wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second.

* Travel Date and World Time Setting: Offers the option of setting a
trip's the departure date and displaying images in chronological order,
as well as setting the camera's time and date for up to 74 locations
around the world.

* Optional Underwater Case: Available as an add on to maximize Underwater
Shooting Mode

* The Lumix DMC-TZ3 will be available in March 2007 with an MSRP of
$349.95.

* Not including auto focusing time

** Max. seven images in standard mode / five images in fine mode.

*** The consecutive shooting speed varies with the memory card, image
size, and image compression mode. The number of shots depends on the
memory card size, battery life, image size and image compression
mode.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Reviews

PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 is just a simple point and shoot camera in terms of creativity, with no control over aperture or shutter speeds, which is surely to prevent the TZ3 from treading on the toes of its bigger brothers, the FZ series of ultra-zoom cameras. Once you've tried the TZ3 though, you may find that the combination of focal range and compact dimensions is simply too liberating to ignore. This camera should definitely be at the top of your short list if you only require a point and shoot model. Panasonic have made some great improvements to an already effective design, which means that the DMC-TZ3 is highly recommended."

PopPhoto does a camera test on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "There's still no full manual mode, but it's not the end of the world -- scene modes can be used to cheat shutter or aperture priority, and there's +/-2 exposure compensation to give the creative shooter a degree of manual-like controls. Again, we'll take the much-improved image quality and bigger sensor, and be happy that two of our three big requests were addressed. ... All in all, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 has a great feature set, easy-to navigate menus, and great optics combined with true image stabilization in a compact, affordable package that is ready for just about any adventure. Toss it in the optional underwater housing, and this digicam is a capable world traveler, on land and at sea."

DPReview has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "the image quality has not come on in leaps and bounds; resolution is a bit higher (for those of you that shoot res charts all day), but the output with the default settings looks softer and flatter, and really needs a little post-processing to get the best results. Whether this is a good thing or not depends on your workflow; I'd much rather do a little PP than be stuck with the camera's idea of pleasing output. The new image parameters give you a little more control in-camera, and to my eyes the 'vivid' setting looks a lot like the output from the TZ1. Otherwise the main issues we worried about with the TZ1 are still here, and they're all related to noise, or more importantly the suppression of it using Panasonic's unmistakable Venus III chroma smearing. ... It's well priced and easy to use, and - as long as you accept that there are always going to be compromises with a camera like this - capable of producing excellent results for normal print sizes or viewing at normal magnifications on-screen."

Megapixel has a review of the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 and writes, "The Panasonic DMC-TZ3 is a relatively compact camera that manages to squeeze in a powerful 10X optical zoom that one would normally expect to see in a much larger body. Moreover, its controls are responsive and easy to use, and the effective optical stabilization makes it possible to take full advantage of the 10X zoom. The DMC-TZ3 offers a good image quality when photos are captured under good light, but is lower when the light is poor, making it well-suited to bright and sunny environments."

CNET has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 puts a lot of lens into a small package. The wide-angle, high-zoom camera performs well and takes acceptable shots, though it's hardly perfect. Its higher resolution, wider lens, and larger screen make it better than its predecessor in nearly all categories. Unfortunately, it misses one of the TZ1's most fun shooting modes, and it keeps some minor image issues that, while improved over the TZ1, still cause problems. All that said, the DMC-TZ3 offers a lot of value for the money and easily trumps most other super zooms on size."

DCResource has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "Photo quality results are generally favorable. Straight out of the box, the TZ3 tended to produce photos that are a tad overexposed and dull in color. If you notice the same thing, you can handle both of those by adjusting exposure compensation and color mode, respectively. The camera captures plenty of detail, though the Venus III's heavy-handed noise reduction system tends to smudge it away once you leave the base ISO setting. The heavy noise reduction does mean that there's not much in the line of noise, though. Purple fringing, rarely a problem on Panasonic cameras, is not an issue here. Redeye was minimal. ... I can take both wide-angle and super telephoto shots with one camera. I get a huge LCD, but it doesn't suck up battery life like on most cameras. And so on. Yeah, it has its share of flaws, but it's a heck of a travel camera, and its annoyances won't affect the majority of TZ3 buyers. If you want an ultra zoom camera that can go almost anywhere, then the DMC-TZ3 should be high on your list."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "I was pretty pleased overall with image quality. Colors are pleasing and accurate. With the default “standard” color mode, colors are strong, but not too strong. Details are good across the entire frame. Chromatic aberration was very well controlled. Default exposure did tend to overexpose by just a bit under some admittedly tough conditions and it’s not something that I’d worry too much about. ... The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 is a welcome improvement from its predecessor, the TZ1. The 10x optical zoom lens provides excellent performance in a compact 7.2 megapixel digital camera. The 3 inch LCD provides a nice big screen for previewing and reviewing your images. Good image quality, good battery performance, and quick operation make this camera a good choice for someone looking for an ultra-zoom camera that doesn’t need manual exposure modes like shutter priority, aperture priority and so on."

PCMag has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and gives it an Editor's Choice rating: "I was impressed with the quality of both my lab test shots and my real-world photos. In my lab shots, there was very little noise, and I thought the color saturation and accuracy were excellent. I found very little fringing in the images, too. Also evident was the camera's excellent dynamic range, although some indoor shots were a tad too contrasty. Flash shots were also pleasing, with strong, even illumination throughout the scene and no blown-out highlights. Resolution averaged 1,750 lines, which is fantastic for a 7.2MP camera. The bootup time was 2.7 seconds, which is quite good. The 2.8-second recycle time isn't the fastest I've seen, but it's still pretty speedy. There was very little shutter lag, as well."

Camera Labs has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "While the TZ3 boasts a couple of new modes though, it remains, like its predecessor, pretty much automatic only. Exposure compensation along with a wide variety of scene presets allow you to get reasonably creative, but if you want manual control over the aperture and shutter, then look elsewhere. Like other Panasonic compacts, noise also becomes an issue at lower sensitivities than we’d like and you should really stick at 100 or 200 ISO for the best quality. As our results pages show though, it arguably performs better than the higher-end Lumix FZ8 in some noise tests, so it’s not all bad news."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Panasonic DMC TZ3 and writes, "I am happy with the levels of sharpness the DMC TZ3 manages to achieve. The picture is a good one, although there is a small loss of detail from sun glare. I have also noticed that some of the blue lines on the boats have a purple tinge to them. ... If you would like a super zoom digital camera, but have always been put off by their bulk and complexity then the Panasonic DMC TZ3 could be just what you are looking for. Picture quality is good, usability is excellent and the camera also offers a wide angle lens."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "I was pleased with the overall image quality of our 7M Fine image. The majority of our samples photos sharp, well exposure and show rich color saturation. Noise levels are average for a camera in this class, just remember, as you increase the sensitivity, you also increase imager noise. When shooting indoors or outside at night, Panasonic claims the TZ3's built-in flash unit can cover up to 13.8 feet at wide angle, using ISO Auto. This is a typical range for a consumer models, and I found works well when shooting close-up macro photography as well as portraits. I achieved the best close-up portrait shots when shooting from about 5-6 feet away using the mid telephoto end of the zoom range. Doing so produced images that show good flash exposure, sharp facial detail and natural skin tones."

LaptopMag has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "Under normal shooting conditions, the camera excelled with the MEGA O.I.S. and sharp Leica lens, producing crisp pictures with accurate color. The camera's large LCD had ample resolution (230,000 pixels), so we could easily tell whether we got the shot, without having to transfer photos to our laptop. ... With a versatile wide-angle lens and helpful automatic controls, the TZ3 is definitely a camera that takes photography seriously. The best part is that you don't need to be a serious pro to capture great pictures with it."

ePhotozine has a review of the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 and writes, "The Panasonic is a very capable camera that will be able to cope with all but the most unusual situations it will have thrown at it. In some ways the camera has too many features on it referring of course to the array of scene modes. Whilst these are handy, ask yourself if you will remember that you have a Starry night or Underwater mode on your camera. It is not the smallest camera in its class, but considering the size of the zoom, it is very small. None of the other cameras in the price range can match the zoom."

Imaging Resource has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "Closer to home, I shot some flower close-ups and other garden/nature scenes. Macro isn't this camera's strong suit, and my flower shots were soft and often overexposed. But the Panasonic TZ3 is fun to shoot with, and given its strong lens, I had no problems leaving the flowers for another day and another camera. ... Despite some image quality issues, the Panasonic TZ3 has many strengths, most notably its 10x optical zoom lens and its MEGA O.I.S. Add good performance, an above average feature set, a compact body, and an affordable price, and it's easy to see why this camera is so appealing regardless of the type of shooting you like to do."

PCAuthority has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "Our main gripe is battery life. It will take some 250 shots without OIS turned on, but you must use it judiciously as, on heavy usage days, the small battery frequently ran out well shy of this figure. But these are foibles you can live with. It takes great pictures, and while it’s bulkier than an IXUS 65 the superior lens, magnification and image stabiliser make it a great alternative."

DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, "As the follow-up camera to the TZ1, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 offers many improvements. Panasonic added an Intelligent ISO Control system, Clipboard function, wider focal length and higher ISO sensitivity. The Panasonic TZ3 fills a niche market of travelers who long for a high zoom that is still compact. This 10x zoom camera with optical image stabilization meets the need of advanced point-and-shooters who are looking for an upgrade to their first digital camera. With the option to purchase an underwater casing, the travel-friendly TZ3 is ideal for capturing photos in a variety of conditions. In terms of image quality, the TZ3 is far superior to its predecessor, displaying impressive color reproduction, wide dynamic range, and solid video performance. For consumers looking for a portable, automatic camera with a long, optically-stabilized lens, the TZ3 is one of the best values on the market."

Lets Go Digital reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ3 and writes - 'For myself I must say that I enjoyed using the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 in practice. The improvements compared with its predecessor are obvious. The most striking feature being the 28mm wide angle of course. The compact size, the MEGA O.I.S. image stabilizer and the large optical range together form an ideal combination for this camera carrying the title of Traveler Zoom. The Panasonic TZ3 offers a lot of ease and adds to effortless picture taking which is just what you expect and want from a handy compact camera. The camera is not perfect; the high ISO is still an obstacle for many manufactures and Panasonic is one of them. But in general there are so many plusses that the high ISO may be considered a minor detail. The Panasonic Lumix TZ3 is a winner among the Megazoom cameras and obviously entitled to carry the name of Traveler Zoom! '

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