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February 12, 2009

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 review

The 10.1Mp Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7, equipped with a 10-element LEICA DC 25mm lens, is a hybrid camera capable of taking 720p-resolution videos using the AVCHD Lite codec, with a 12x optical zoom capable of reaching up to 300mm.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 series will welcome two new models in April, the Lumix DMC-TZ7 and the Lumix DMC-TZ6 - also known as 'travel zoom' cameras. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 will be available in the UK from March 2009.

In a hands-on test session with a pre-production model at the launch in Singapore, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 captured vibrant and clear images in challenging lighting conditions. It doesn't have a manual mode, so the majority of the exposure settings will be set by the intelligent auto mode, but it is one of the best automatic modes you could want in a compact camera.

Visit Photo Advisor for the latest reviews of digital photography and video hardware and software, cameras and accessories. PLUS: get tips and tricks to improve your photos

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7: auto focus tracking

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 incorporates auto focus tracking as well as face detection, both features are a little more advanced than we've seen on other cameras we've tested.

The face detection feature allows users to tag familiar faces and give them priority, with the hope of automatically detecting them and focusing on them when they are in the frame (The intelligent auto mode can detect up to 15 faces in the same frame).

This feature worked more often than not, and it could end up being a handy feature for parents taking group photos featuring their children - their kids will always be in focus.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7's tracking feature can be set to focus on moving objects, such as players on a basketball court, or cars on a race track, but it requires a little practice to master, as the zoom lever needs to be manipulated to make sure the object you are tracking is always in range.

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Independent customer reviews from

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 scored:
9.2 out of 10 100% real reviews

The 2 most helpful reviews based on 309 reviews:

05 Jun 2009 K

10

Good Points

I am not a technical person, and therefore my view is based on looking for a camera that creates great pictures with very little effort. This camera definitely exceeded my expectations. The picture quality on the display an in the final photograph are AMAZING. The quality of the zoom was also impressive, from up a small mountain in Canada and taking pictures of the village below, was very clear. It also compensated very well for shaking hands, the pictures were crystal clear.

Bad Points

I'm not sure it is a bad point necessarily, but the dial which changes the picture-taking mode quite often moved out of place when taking out of my camera case. It was only an inconvenience, not a problem, and the display tells you if you are not in a mode. Secondly, just watch out for the video mode. I don't think it was automatically in HD mode, but rather a lower spec, and we didn't find out until after we had taken them, which was a disappointment. I guess if we had read the instructions - that wouldn't have been a problem!

27 Apr 2009 Anonymous verified purchaser

10

Good Points

There are some really nice features and the pictures are excellent. The user interface is well designed and the "intelligent auto" feature is generally very intelligent.

Bad Points

The zoom and mode switches are a bit flimsy, but not too bad. Whilst the HD video is excellent, the accompanying software is, quite frankly, a dog.

See more Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 reviews on Reevoo.com

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