They really are! I think people are starting to notice…MAYBE. Back in 2023 this same camera sold on eBay for like $15. Everything has gone up $$…but that’s quite a jump. Either way, definitely sleeper digis!!!
Also those product shots are astonishing! You don’t expect such amazing quality from a lil 2000s digicam. It really goes to show you how gear is only one part of the equation.
I have the TZ4! It was my mom’s camera so it’s extra special to me. It was the first camera I found during the digicam craze when I went to my parent’s house to see what they had. I’ve of course drooled over other camera models reviewed on YouTube, but the TZ4 has helped me keep my cool because it’s such a great camera. I love using it as a travel camera or daily carry because it’s so compact. I actually love the way the jpgs are rendered and don’t miss raw capabilities at all. Once you familiarize yourself with the different shooting modes and exposure comp, you have more control than you’d think! I love that the selection dial has two programmable favorites and that the quick menu gives me access to (almost) everything I need. And! It has live histogram! Score! And you’re right, the macro capabilities are shockingly good!
Yeah, we had that cam in 2009-2010. Snapped on a lot parties with it. The only Leica lens I own today is in my Huawei Mate 20 Pro Smartphone - and the photos still kill.
I don’t own any digicams, well that’s not true, my wife has a Sony somewhere but I remember the photo quality not being great. That said, you make a great case for them and I think I might have to pull the Sony out of its box!
Right?!?! They truly are little gems in the digicam world. I tried getting my gen-z customers on the bandwagon—but most of them didn’t like how “uncool” they look. I don’t care much for aesthetics myself, I just love any camera that helps me create the pics I want! And this TZ5 does just that
Trying to find more info on this camera but most videos on YT are 15 years old! 😂 Do you appen to know where I can find newer material, or someone who uses this camera more regularly? Great read!
It’s a sleeper camera that’s why not much can be found. A lot of the lumix cameras are sorely underrated and not used as frequent as the Sony, Canon, or even Olympus digicams. It’s such a shame because the Leica lenses on these beauties are far better than any other digicam lens. I don’t know any YouTuber or social influencer that uses one either. I only learned of them in 2022 when I had an Etsy shop. But out of the 400+ cameras I sold, this one took the best pictures 😍
This was a very interesting read, thanks for sharing, and the photo examples of what it can do are really good. I rarely consider compact digis at all, but this is intriguing for bringing something very small along! Have you done any video with it?
Thanks for reading along, Rania! I like bringing at least one digicam on each adventure. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don’t. But it’s a good backup that isn’t as clinical as a modern digital—which is why I love them.
I have done video with it and the footage reminds me of something similar to an old Handycam. Not as intelligent…but still super fun to play around with. I almost added video footage on here but I just have random videos of boring subjects 🤣
The lumix compact digis from that era (07-12) are so slept on. Still use LUMIX today.
They really are! I think people are starting to notice…MAYBE. Back in 2023 this same camera sold on eBay for like $15. Everything has gone up $$…but that’s quite a jump. Either way, definitely sleeper digis!!!
One of the things that I love most about digicams, is how they can just astound the user with the images they produce from such a small sensor.
Exactly this!!!!!! They typically exceed my expectations every time. Especially this one 😍
Also those product shots are astonishing! You don’t expect such amazing quality from a lil 2000s digicam. It really goes to show you how gear is only one part of the equation.
I couldn’t agree more!!! I’ve been SHOCKED by the results of this beautiful camera!!
I have the TZ4! It was my mom’s camera so it’s extra special to me. It was the first camera I found during the digicam craze when I went to my parent’s house to see what they had. I’ve of course drooled over other camera models reviewed on YouTube, but the TZ4 has helped me keep my cool because it’s such a great camera. I love using it as a travel camera or daily carry because it’s so compact. I actually love the way the jpgs are rendered and don’t miss raw capabilities at all. Once you familiarize yourself with the different shooting modes and exposure comp, you have more control than you’d think! I love that the selection dial has two programmable favorites and that the quick menu gives me access to (almost) everything I need. And! It has live histogram! Score! And you’re right, the macro capabilities are shockingly good!
Yeah, we had that cam in 2009-2010. Snapped on a lot parties with it. The only Leica lens I own today is in my Huawei Mate 20 Pro Smartphone - and the photos still kill.
Thanks for the reminder. Great product pics 🙌🏼
I don’t own any digicams, well that’s not true, my wife has a Sony somewhere but I remember the photo quality not being great. That said, you make a great case for them and I think I might have to pull the Sony out of its box!
I had several TZ models back in the day and all were excellent and also well built.
Right?!?! They truly are little gems in the digicam world. I tried getting my gen-z customers on the bandwagon—but most of them didn’t like how “uncool” they look. I don’t care much for aesthetics myself, I just love any camera that helps me create the pics I want! And this TZ5 does just that
I had the TZ3 and later the TZ7, I'm in the UK though and I think model numbers were different over here.
I’ve noticed the model numbers are usually different from here to there—visa versa. Do the ones you had look similar to the one in my post?
Yes they look the same. Panasonic often changes models numbers which causes confusion.
Way to pull out some solid images out of an old digital camera! I love this! I also love that it's Lumix. I'm a huge MFT fan!
Trying to find more info on this camera but most videos on YT are 15 years old! 😂 Do you appen to know where I can find newer material, or someone who uses this camera more regularly? Great read!
It’s a sleeper camera that’s why not much can be found. A lot of the lumix cameras are sorely underrated and not used as frequent as the Sony, Canon, or even Olympus digicams. It’s such a shame because the Leica lenses on these beauties are far better than any other digicam lens. I don’t know any YouTuber or social influencer that uses one either. I only learned of them in 2022 when I had an Etsy shop. But out of the 400+ cameras I sold, this one took the best pictures 😍
This was a very interesting read, thanks for sharing, and the photo examples of what it can do are really good. I rarely consider compact digis at all, but this is intriguing for bringing something very small along! Have you done any video with it?
Thanks for reading along, Rania! I like bringing at least one digicam on each adventure. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don’t. But it’s a good backup that isn’t as clinical as a modern digital—which is why I love them.
I have done video with it and the footage reminds me of something similar to an old Handycam. Not as intelligent…but still super fun to play around with. I almost added video footage on here but I just have random videos of boring subjects 🤣