Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Digital Camera Review

by Karen M. Cheung
Published on July 20, 2007

Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance
Components	Design / Layout
Modes	Control Options
Image Parameters	Connectivity / Extras
Overall Impressions	Conclusion
Sample Photos	Photo Gallery
Specs / Ratings

Auto Mode (8.0)
Panasonic’s auto mode is called Simple mode, represented by a heart shape on the mode dial. As the name implies, the basic auto mode limits manual control so that users can shoot spontaneously without having to consider exposure details or the like. Simple mode uses fixed settings: auto white balance, Intelligent ISO , multi-pattern metering, and one-area AF.

Pict. Mode	Enlarge, 4x6/10x15cm, Email
Auto Review	Off, On
Beep	Off, Low, High
Clock	Select, Set, Cancel, Exit

Movie Mode (7.0)
The Panasonic Lumix TZ3 offers a good amount of control for recording videos. The camera captures QuickTime Motion movie files with sound in standard 4:3 aspect ratio or at wide 16:9. Users have the option to change file size and record at a standard 640x480, email resolution of 320x240, or a wide 848x480 resolution at either 10fps or 30fps, up to 2GB.

The TZ3’s movie mode provides smooth video recording with the option to change white balance setting and metering modes. Unfortunately, users cannot change the zoom or the focus once recording has started. Users can, however, set zoom and focus before video capture begins. There are no built-in editing movie functions like splicing, but users can record videos in black-and-white or sepia.

Drive / Burst Mode (7.5)
For those times when you spontaneously spot Bon Jovi at the library, a fast drive mode is necessary to catch as many pictures as possible. The Panasonic TZ3 offers three types of drive modes to take photos in succession. Users can access High speed, Low speed, and Free shooting (as Panasonic calls it), through the Record menu, Intelligent ISO, Macro, or Scene 1 and 2 menus.

With the exception of zoom, users can change most of the control options (such as image quality, white balance, and metering) in the drive modes. Burst speed is reliant on image size/quality and ISO sensitivity settings. ISO 400 or higher slows down the consecutive shooting - most likely due to the application of additional high ISO noise reduction. The camera’s High and Low speed shooting allows for full resolution shooting at 3fps or 2fps, respectively, at Fine or Standard quality. The Free mode allows for unlimited consecutive shooting at 2fps until the memory is full. A counter is displayed on the monitor, indicating the remaining storage space.

Playback Mode (7.5)
The benefit of the Panasonic TZ3’s updated 3-inch screen is that users can check out their photos on the spot. The playback mode can be accessed in two ways. First, users can view photos using the “Rev” (Review) button on the four-way controller, which accesses a limited playback mode, but offers quick access to view a photo while still in Record mode. Second, when the mode dial is set to Play, a full range of editing tools is available.

Users can view their images as 9 thumbnails, 25-thumbnail, calendar view, or as singles. As single photos, users can magnify images up to 16x, so they can check for focus and blinking eyes. Playback mode also includes built-in editing functions such as trim, rotate, and dual display, which gives a preview of two photos side-by-side.

There are also a good amount of options for the built-in slideshow feature. Users can alter duration, transition effects, and audio clips attached to individual photos. The TZ3, overall, acts as a nice photo viewer.

Dual Display	Off, On
Slide Show	Start, Duration, Effect, Audio
Favorite	Off, On, Cancel
Rotate Display	Off, On
Rotate	Select, Set, Exit
Date Stamp	Single, Multi
DPOF Print	Single, Multi, Cancel
Protect	Single, Multi, Cancel
Audio Dub.	Select, Start, Exit
Resize	Select, Set, Exit
Trimming	Select, Set, Exit
Aspect Conv.	3:2, 4:3
Copy
Format	Yes, No

Custom Image Presets (8.0)
With a healthy dose of 21 scene modes, the Panasonic TZ3 covers the basics with presets like Portrait and Landscape and then adds some interesting modes, including Aerial Photo and Underwater modes (to be used with an optional underwater housing case).

Panasonic also updated the scene modes with the addition of Sunset and Pet modes. The Pet mode is an interesting feature. Like the Baby1 and Baby2 scene presets, the camera documents the age of the child or animal after setting the subject’s birthday to the camera’s built-in clock/calendar. While EXIF data with time stamp information is already attached to every image, the pictures in Pet and Baby modes spell out the exact month and day of the subject’s age, such as “2 month, 19 days.” 

Users can access scene modes through Scn1 and Scn2 positions on the mode dial. Each preset mode is represented with an icon. Additional text descriptions of the modes - and even reminders - appear when necessary. The camera defaults to the last selected shooting mode before the user turned off the camera. The extensive list of presets is dispersed between two scene modes (Scn1 and Scn2). It’s not really necessary to have two scene modes, but the duo of settings reduces the number of buttons users need to push before getting the easy preset button mode that has their preferred combination of camera settings.

Portrait	Impressive portrait with rich flesh tone. Use at maximum tele setting for best results.
Soft Skin	Detect the flesh tone area like human face and add soft effect on it to show the skin detail more smooth.
Self Portrait	We recommend using the zooms wide-end and 2 sec self time when taking a self portrait picture.
Scenery	For taking pictures of distant and vast landscapes. Auto focus priority is set to infinity.
Sports	Faster shutter is selected to help freeze the action. Recommend taking pictures in bright daylight.
Night Portrait	Portrait with night scenery. Hold the camera firmly and the subject should keep still for at least 1 sec.
Night Scenery	For taking a picture with night scenery, shutter will be set to max. 8 sec. Be sure to use a tripod.
Food	For taking pictures of food. Take a picture without the flash for the best result.
Party	For taking a picture indoors you can get more natural color under the indoor light source.
Candle Light	For taking pictures expressing the atmosphere of the candle lit subjects. Recommend using a tripod.
Baby 1	Suitable for taking pictures of you baby. Age can be displayed with pictures if you set the birthday.
Baby 2	Suitable for taking pictures of you baby. Age can be displayed with pictures if you set the birthday.
Pet	Suitable for taking pictures of your pet. Age can be displayed with pictures if you set the birthday.
Sunset	For taking pictures of sunset glow. Sunset color can be reproduced vividly.
High Sens.	Higher ISO sensitivity is set to reduce blurry images of moving subjects especially when shooting indoors.
Starry Sky	For taking pictures of extremely dark subjects like a sky with many stars. Please be sure to always use a tripod.
Fireworks	For taking a picture of fireworks. Press the shutter when the fireworks fully spread. Recommend using a tripod.
Beach	For taking pictures on a beach. Prevents under exposure of the subject under strong sunlight.
Snow	For taking pictures of snow. Exposure and WB are set for reproducing the snow as white as it actually looks.
Aerial Photo	For taking pictures through an airplane window. Please turn off the camera when taking off or landing.
Underwater	For taking pictures using the optional marine case. Color is reproduced more naturally suppressing the strong blue.