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Home » Cameras » Digital Camera » Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 » Video

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 video review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 front angle
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Panasonic has done it again with the TZ7, producing a well-designed and exceptionally versatile camera ideal for travel, but also well suited to just about any type of general snapshot photography. Build quality, design, performance and image quality are all excellent, it has a useful range of easy-to-use features, and of course it also has a superb HD video option with stereo sound. Read full review

Overall

9/10

Write your own review

By Cliff Smith
Reviewed 21 March 2009
Updated 26 May 2011

Price as reviewed

£290.00

  • Review
    • 1: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7
    • 2: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7
    • 3: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7
    • 4: Features Table
    • 5: Test Shots - ISO Performance
    • 6: Test Shots - Detail and Lens...
    • 7: Test Shots - Exposure Evaluation
  • Video Review
  • User Reviews
  • Comments
  • Specs
  • 26 Photos
  • Reviewed by Cliff Smith
  • 21 March 2009
Read the full Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 review
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Awards

  • Recommended by TR

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 details

Value
7/10
Image Quality
9/10
Build Quality
9/10
Overall
9/10

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Long, 12x zoom
  • Well built
  • HD video with stereo sound
  • Versatile
  • Good image quality for a compact

Cons

  • Smallish battery
  • Video clips limited to 15mins
  • Still only 'compact quality' images

Price as reviewed

£290.00

Manufacturer

Panasonic

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bobsta

8:16 PM on 21 March, 2009

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If only Panasonic had released this back in December last year...I have the TZ5 which in itself is a fabulous camera but the sound quality for the video mode is poor. What is the sound quality like on the TZ7?

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Rok Krznar

10:19 PM on 21 March, 2009

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I was wondering, does the video still suffer from vertical banding when the sensor is subjected to extreme contrasts in scenes like sunsets? That's about the only thing that's keeping me from buying this camera. Thanks!

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Kanu

2:50 AM on 22 March, 2009

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How does this camera manage to get a "9/10" for image quality? Two things are very obvious in these pics.





First, even at base ISO there is a lot of specking in dark areas of the pics. It only gets worse as the ISO goes up. This is plain to see in your ISO tests.





Second, and this is most obvious on the large picture of the beached boat, the JPEG compression or noise reduction are awful creating a watercolr type of effect even in full daylight picture.





And this is a 9/10 on image quality?





Wow...........

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ralph

9:28 AM on 22 March, 2009

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It may take great pictures with plenty of light, but I agree with the previous comment: you can see noise even at base ISO.





I completely disagree with the review when it said that "Dynamic range is very good considering the small size of the sensor". You cannot judge dynamic range in way way or another depending the size of the sensor: There is only one reality: the dynamic range of the picture shown is truly awful. Dynamic range is supposed to combine details of BOTH dark and highlighted areas, not only of one or the other. And that picture clearly shows that the highlight details are simply non-existent.





In my opinion, a camera with such a mediocre dynamic range, and that shows noise even at base ISO shouldn't deserve a 9 in image quality. That without mentioning the noise levels at higher ISO.... (yes; not much worse than most compacts, but still so bad...)

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SpiderJacek

10:15 AM on 22 March, 2009

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@Kanu





You must bear in mind, that there are several types of cameras and you should compare them with models from within the same group. So if you compare any p&s camera with a DSLR, p&s will be beaten for sure. The same applies when comparing budget DSLRs and semi-pro ones.





I own TZ5, which is by no means a perfect camera. But I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in a good, all-round, fully automated p&s. And I'm sure that TZ7 is also worth such a recommendation (unless someone comes up with a camera similar to Fuji F31fd).

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DVDM

10:21 AM on 22 March, 2009

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Absolutely agree with Kanu ! Also if you look at full size picture you will see how washed out are all the colors...

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Williamn

12:02 PM on 22 March, 2009

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Please remember this is a compact camera...

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Kanu

1:30 PM on 22 March, 2009

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If the camera is deficient image quality, then well it is deficient. There is no point "recommending" it. Nothing here is better than compact cameras we had 3-4 years ago.





How on earth will consumers know what the real deal is - and more important, how will manufacturers get the message if review websites keep giving a free pass to flawed garbage?

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dev

4:18 PM on 22 March, 2009

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Can i ask, those of you who are complaining about the image quality, what are you comparing it agianst? The price is extortionate, but will go down within a couple of months of release. The TZ5 can be picked up for £170 now which is very reasonable for what it is.





The TZ5 is most definitely pocketable by the way, happily slipping into a jeans/trouser pocket. The ruggedness of the camera means it can stand up to being dropped from reasonable doubt without trashing it. Isn't this why it is considered a travel camera, rather than one to combat DSLR's?



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Freddie

7:17 PM on 22 March, 2009

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@ ZenerEffect: sensor size is not (only) a matter of cost, for a small pocketable cam it's much more a matter of lens size. The bigger the sensor the longer the lens has to be (with equal focal length). Thats why DSLR-teles are that big. With a larger sensor a 25-300 wasn't feasible in s small cam.

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