Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3PL-K 7.2 Megapixel

I decided to buy this camera because after a full day of reviewing different web sites and reviews it looks like the best value for money camera for my needs (a compact camera that has great photo-taking abilities and a long zoom). I've now had a few weeks to digest the huge instruction manual and to play with taking photos under different conditions.

My biggest dislike is that this camera doesn't take standard AA batteries, which means that unless I keep my battery charged all the time, I can't decide at the last second that I want to take the camera somewhere, I have to plan it in advance. I'd also have liked to have an optical viewfinder in addition to the LCD display, but that's just me. Most of the photos I've taken so far have been indoors, and so it's not entirely fair perhaps to compare the results to my previous Olympus camera, but the colors don't seem to be quite as vivid, nor the pictures as sharp, as what I'm used to.

However, all that being said, this camera works great. The flash is powerful, the anti-red-eye works better than anything else I've used, the zoom and image stabilization is incredibly good, and the video mode astonished me to the point where I might just get rid of my old digital camcorder, because the results are way better.

Having the lens cover automatically close when not in use saves worrying about popping a lens cap on and off, the menus are sensibly laid out, the features are great, and the 'quick function' buttons really well thought out.

All in all, I love this camera and I hope to keep it a long time. Nice job, Panasonic!

everything was perfect. price - quality - delivery - purchase features - shipping price. excellent! It was easy to learn how to use camera. It was pleasant to communicate with seller.

I have been using a TZ1 for 3 years & love it but always wished it had a wider angle lens. Now the TZ-3 comes along with my wider angle & a larger display screen, perfect. Quality of the pictures is excellent, shutter lag is very good, supplied software is excellent.
This is not a drop it in your shirt pocket compact camera but does fit in a pants pocket although I use a belt pouch.
Size & weight put this camera in the very top end of the compact point & shoot camera range but with all the features you get especialy that lens & 10 TIMES optical zoom it's as close as you can get to an SLR with out having to switch lenses, lug around cases of accessories.

Other camera is a Casio Exilim EX-Z7 Very cool, very compact, 7 Times optical zoom. Perfect to drop in your shirt pocket or purse & always be prepared for that unexpected shot, Casio is a great bang for your buck but if I have to choose which one to take to an event I usually take the TZ3, it just feels more solid & the extra zoom is always nice. My old TZ1 has seen a few drops, rainfalls, beaches, sticky fingers etc & has never let me down, hope my new TZ3 performs as well.

AFTER BUYING THE NEWER TZ5 FOR MYSELF IN A LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT ENCOUNTER AT CIRCUIT CITY, WHEN I BROUGHT IT HOME, MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS THE SAME TASTE IN CAMERAS AS ME EXPRESSED HER DESIRE FOR ONE HERSELF.
AT CIRCUIT CITY THEY ALSO HAD A LEFTOVER, OLDER TZ3 MODEL FOR 120 BUCKS LESS. MY DAUGHTER ACTUALLY LIKED IT BETTER THAN THE TZ5 BECAUSE THE REVIEW SWITCH ON THE LATER IS ON A RING AT THE TOP OF THE CAMERA INSTEAD OF ON THE BACK, ALONG WITH THE VIDEO, SCENES AND AUTO SELECT, LEAVING ROOM FOR THE THUMB TO GAIN A MORE SECURE GRASP ON THE CAMERA THEN IS ALLOWED BY THE DEMINISHED SURFACE SPACE ON THE BACK OF TZ5.
I REALLY DON'T SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN THE PERFORMANCE BETWEEN THESE TWO CAMERAS. THE 5 HAS 460,000 PIXTELS TO THE 230,000 OF THE 3.
THERE ARE TWO OTHER, SIMILIAR MODELS BY PANASONIC WITH RESPECTIVELY, 5 OR 6 TIMES OPTICAL ZOOM INSTEAD OF 10, THE LZ8, AND THE EARLIER LZ7 WHICH USE AA BATERIES AND ARE BETWEEN $99-179 ON EBAY. THEY HAVE 2.5' LCD'S THOUGH.

Una macchinetta semplicemente fantastica, consigliata per chi se ne intende di foto altamente indiscutibile per la sua magnificenza e legerezza

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 is an all round great camera, i love the 10x optical zoom, the large LCD screen the krisp pictures/clips is takes and all the little features aswell. Perfect size and weight and looks very stylish.
10/10
a must have camera.

There were some marks around the metal part of the lens,which make it look like it is lightly used and not new-reconditioned.

It's a good digital camera and has many functions but I thought that is better in the panoramic photos .

Très content !

D'excellentes performances dans un boîtier optimisé.
Zoom X10 optique LEICA + X4 numérique : Très rares pour ce type d'appareil !...
La qualité de fabrication est très bonne.
Il est très intuitif et est pratique à l'utilisation.
Les menu sont fluides, de nombreuses options sont disponibles tel que le réglage des dates anniversaires ce qui permet d'horodater les photos de façon intelligente...
Le Logiciel fournis de création de Panoramique est très performant (Celui-ci tiens compte de l'objectif et corrige les déformations de l'image).
Celui-ci permet aussi de prendre d'excellentes vidéos 30img/s en 640x480(sans trop de limite de duré : >20mn consécutives).
Avantage également pour son objectif grand angle 28mm... Après y avoir goûter, on ne peut plus s'en passer!
Son grand écran permet également de visionner les photos directement sur l'appareil.

Les + : Le PRIX / Performances / Compact

Les - : Enregistrement video en format '.mov' (Mais possibilité de conversion avec des logiciels en freeware)
Chargeur de batterie avec prise US intégré, il faut acheter un adaptateur prise
Française/US 3Euros (Attention lors de l'achat de chargeurs de remplacement 'pas cher' made in Hong Kong qui ne possède pas le contrôle de température batterie, ceux-ci détruisent les batteries plus rapidement : Préférer les chargeurs d'origine avec polarités '+' '-' et 'T')
Les caissons étanches pour photos sous-marines restent très cher!

Excellent pocket size camera with large screen and terrific lens : wide angle to 10X. Ideal for travelling.