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Photo samples: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5

Sample images and a discussion of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5's photo quality.

CNET Reviews staff
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1 of 6 CNET Labs
The TZ5's noise profile is a bit hard to pin down. On one hand, there's noise at all ISOs that obscures detail; even at ISO 100, you can't read the text in the book, and the smaller numbers on the tape measure are fuzzy. More typically, at ISO 400 you can start to see the aggressive blur kick in, which is common in snapshot cameras.
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2 of 6 Lori Grunin
The TZ5 produces some of the sharper photos we've seen from a megazoom lens.
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3 of 6 Lori Grunin
Overall, the TZ5 rendered very nice colors, just this side of oversaturated, but still subtly distinguishable (note the different shades of yellow) and relatively accurate.
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4 of 6 Lori Grunin
For a relatively wide angle (28mm-equivalent), 10x zoom lens, the TZ5 exhibits minimal distortion. However, it's not typical symmetical barrel distortion, so there's a bit of a funhouse-mirror sensation looking at a photo like this; it looks askew, or shot from a low angle.
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5 of 6 Lori Grunin
Also a testament to the quality of the TZ5's lens, there's very little fringing, except on high-contrast, blown-out edges on the sides of the frame, which is quite common.
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6 of 6 CNET Networks
This was shot into a dark restaurant from the sidewalk using Panasonic's Intelligent Auto mode, which does automatic scene detection to set a variety of shooting parameters (in this case, it chose ISO 640, f4.4, 1/30 sec). You can see the smeariness resulting from the high ISO setting, but overall the shot was still quite usable, because it's not that detailed.

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