Lumix TZ5 Image Quality

[Tomdale]

I have had the TZ5 for a few weeks.

I like the camera, the size etc but one thing that concerns me slightly is the image quality.

When I compare (mainly faces) with my other camera which is a Casio Z1080 the images never seem as sharp. Even when there is a shadow on a bright day it seems to be noisy compared to the part of the image that is in better light.

I do click 'edit' and blow them up to full size to compare - should I do that and am I being too picky? Should I just be insoecting the image at the size I would print?

Any tips with this camera to get the best out of it would be useful if anyone can chip in with some!

[Keiron]

Panasonic cameras are acknowledged as being noisy I'm afraid. I had a FZ something or other a couple of years ago and sold it on because I just didn't like the noise. Then I got an LX3 just a couple of weeks ago - beautiful gadget with a fantastic spec but again, even at low ISO, there was just too much noise for me, especially when comparing to my budget Fuji (probably at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to noise). I returned that to Jessops.

Some people can live with the noise, others can't. I'm definitely in the latter group.

[Tomdale]

Thanks for the reply.

So why does the camera get such rave reviews if the noise there is a issue?

If my Casio Z1080 a far cheaper camera is clear and sharp surely Panasonic could follow.

Some pictures are great, others not so much. Ill give it a couple of weeks as I really enjoy using it.

[Keiron]

Originally Posted by Tomdale

So why does the camera get such rave reviews if the noise there is a issue?

I really don't know...as I say, it bothers some people more than others. I think some people live with the noise because they think it's a fair trade off for the facilities, long zoom etc. Having tried twice with Panasonic cameras now, it's not a compromise I can live with.

Interestingly over the last couple of weeks I've been looking a lot at reviews of old cameras on DPReview. The image quality of some of those old 3mp cameras, even from the likes of unfashionable names like Kodak, is quite excellent. Really, in terms of image quality, I think digital compacts have gone backwards in many respects.

[Fozzybear]

Haven't seen pics from the TZ5 but the noise on my FX07 (7mp) is pretty high and you can get funny coloured patches in (for example) tarmac roads on dull days when the ISO ramps a little. Mostly it's not too bad though, something I've got used to, and on bright days the results are ok - certainly for my point-and-shoot needs. At times I actually quite like the noise, it gives a nice textured look. It doesn't prevent you from getting good shots from the camera in difficult light though - I was quite surprised by how well this came out considering it was backlit and had lots of dark areas:

Not bad for a little compact camera without manual controls really, I thought!

[Tomdale]

Fozzy

Cheers. That is exactly what I mean. Textured.

I also get small very small patches (like a bubble if you know what I mean!)

So am I being unfair when comparing pictures by enlarging to see all the defects?

[Fozzybear]

Well the images from a compact probably aren't intended to be submitted to that kind of close scrutiny, although we do anyway! I rethink my expectations for quality to fit what I'm shooting really and I don't expect SLR quality results for shots I take with my compact. Sometimes the results exceed my expectations though and that's great, you get a little buoyant moment - "wow, I didn't think it would come out that well!".