Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ2 Review

I bought this camera on a runout deal early in 2008 via the net for only £99.99. A real bargain. I had earlier taken a serious look at a TZ3 and like its intuitive menu. It felt good to handle and reassuringly solid but was considerably more expensive. having used the TZ2 thoughout 2008 I have found it to be exceptional. It takes blindly good macro shots and is equally impressive are the telephoto end. I took a great one of Big Ben clockface from ground level about 200 feet away using the full 280mm. The photo fills an A4 sheet of photo paper and the detail is absolutely stunning. A very underated camera that I'm so glad I bought. It replaces a much loved Fuji Finepix F700 that for me, after 4 years good service did not have a good enough range being only 3X optical. I briefly flirted with a Finepix S6500fd but couldn't get on with it - to bulky slow to focus and those awful AA rechargeable batteries, what a faff. Give me compact and a Li-ino battery everytime.