List Price: $299.95
Price: $206.95

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Big VALUE Inc

29 new or used available from $149.95

Average customer review:

Customer Electronic Best Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerhouse performance dmc lumix,

I have a dmc lumix that I really, really like, but there are times when I want to travel with a minimum of gear. And then, of course, it’s absolutely true that the panasonic best camera is the one you actually have with you when you see that once-in-a-lifetime shot. I’ve not been a Panasonic user before this and was actually quite leery of the brand based on professional reviews that complained about other dmc panasonic models suffering from a watercolor effect and heavy handed noise reduction artifacts. So I went with Fuji first and then Canon, but couldn’t “get happy” with any of their offerings.

So far, neither noise reduction artifacting nor watercolor effects are apparent in this iteration, the dmc lumix TZ-4. It is a gorgeous metal camera that is easy to hold by a guy with even fairly large hands, despite the fact that it’s very compact. The menu system is quite straightforward and there are plenty of scene modes that at least approximate what a manual control camera might offer you. ISO, AF area, metering area, exposure compensation and bracketing, and white balance can all be manually set. There is no shutter or aperture priority, although you can specify the absolute minimum shutter speed the camera will choose, down to a full second. The custom white balance set feature is very well implemented, and I had no problem getting beautifully lit, correctly exposed existing light shots indoors using the image stabilization feature and low ISO. The LCD monitor is not as sharp as the TZ5’s but plenty good for checking pictures, and the battery lasts longer in this dmc panasonic than the TZ5 if that matters to you. The AF assist light is very, very helpful and focus lock is almost always very quick and on the money. The macro feature is astounding. The controls are well placed and give good feedback. I have three gripes: the power switch and the scene wheel can both be inadvertently activated; there need to be way firmer detents or they both have to be recesed. AF seems to struggle a bit with the movie mode, but being able to zoom during the actual video shooting is a godsend. And finally, the USB out port is irritating. It pops open very easily. I may use a piece of black electrical tape to cover it. All in all a superb little performer for what you get for your money; chock full of features and of course the lovely 28 - 280 zoom. WOW. I highly recommend this camera as an ideal all around travel camera you might actually take with you !!