Overview
The Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ8 is an excellent digital camera. Panasonic have included plenty of features and picture quality compares very well with all other cameras of this type. I could not find any real weaknesses and if I was looking to buy this type of camera the Lumix DMC TZ8 would feature prominently on my short list.
The big attraction is the combination of plenty of features and a relatively compact body. With the smaller body size it's not surprising that this type of camera is popular with people who travel. Key features include 12 megapixels and a 12x wide angle lens. Panasonic have introduced manual exposure controls with this model to increase the attraction to hobby photographers.
Also included are High Definition movies. Optical zoom can be applied during movie recording. As you would expect with this length of lens image stabilisation has been built in too.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
12x
2.7 inches
103.3 x 59.6 x 32.6 mm
191g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
3cm
Yes
Yes
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD / SDHC / SDXC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Looking at my outdoor scenic shots I can see the Lumix DMC TZ8 is capable of producing sharply focused photographs with plenty of brightness and well balanced colours. The level of details showing in shady areas around the names of the boats is impressive.
My photo of a building shows how focusing is retained right up to the edges. This is highlighted by my first test shot as well. The larger lens size compared to smaller pocket cameras helps here.
Sharpness remains good when zoom is not being used. There is a small amount of purple fringing showing when the zoom is fully extended, but this is not a significant problem.
Portraits
I consider the outdoor portrait shot to be the most straightforward of my tests. Lighting is good and the subject is close to the camera. Even so I think the Lumix DMC TZ8 does better than a lot of the cameras I test. This is based on the colours it brings out in the shot. There is a warm feel to the picture that some other digital cameras struggle to match.
When I look at pictures taken with flash, I like to see an even spread of light. I also like to see plenty of colour retained in the shot. The camera does well on both counts here. There is colour showing in the skin tones and the shot works well in general.
This is another pleasing effort. Noise is kept under control. This allows lots of definition to show in the shot.
Macro, Colours and Noise
There is plenty of detail showing in the macro shot. This camera will not let you down if you are looking to take the occasional close in photo.
Panasonic have toned down the vividness of the colours their digital cameras produce. This gives a more natural look to the photos.
Panasonic digital cameras come out on top when it comes to reducing noise and increasing detail in more shady areas of photos. This is an area where the Lumix DMC TZ8 does very well indeed.
Summary
The quality of photographs the Lumix DMC TZ8 is able to produce is very good indeed for a compact digital camera. I found nothing at all that would put me off buying the camera and plenty of plus points to be enthusiastic about.
Style
Panasonic has taken the design of a simple pocket camera and made it bigger. There is also a raised area on the front of the camera to help you get a good grip.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.34 seconds
10.35 seconds
0.4 seconds
17.48 seconds
2.25 seconds
Ease of Use
Owing to the amount of features Panasonic has packed into the Lumix DMC TZ8 there is plenty to learn. You can use the camera in fully automatic mode, but to get the most out of this camera you will need to spend time to find your way around.
Points I Like
Picture quality - Features - High Definition movies - Handy Size
Where it Could Improve
There is nothing that stands out
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Nikon Coolpix S9300 Rating 86/100
For a camera that is small enough to take anywhere the Nikon Coolpix S9300 has a lot of features packed into it. If you are planning to take a holiday GPS tracking will tell you where you were when a picture was taken. The length of the zoom lens also gives you plenty of scope when it comes to picture opportunities. Although there is plenty of completion in this category the picture quality on offer here combined with the features makes this camera very attractive indeed. Recommended.
Read Review: Nikon Coolpix S9300 Review
Canon Powershot SX260 HS Rating 86/100
The Canon Powershot SX260 HS is one of the very best digital cameras in this category. In fact if you are happy to miss out on features such as 3D photography and 360 degree panoramas it is very hard to beat. It has a great set of features packed into its relatively compact body size and picture quality helps to make it stand out from the competition. Although it is one of the more expensive cameras in this field it still offers good value for money.
Read Review: Canon Powershot SX260 HS Review
Sony DSC HX20V Rating 85/100
There is a lot to like about the Sony Cybershot DSC HX20V. As well as being crammed with features it is a very reliable when it comes to taking pictures. It can handle most photo opportunities without breaking sweat. The amount of zoom power and other features available gives you a great deal of flexibility. Competition between similar cameras is very tough, but this model performs very well when put up against its main rivals. I would happily own this camera.
Read Review: Sony DSC HX20V Review
Related Pages
Panasonic DMC TZ8 Review Panasonic DMC TZ8 Specification Panasonic DMC TZ8 Sample Images Panasonic DMC TZ8 Features Panasonic Digital Cameras
Review Date
April 2010
