Why would you buy a digital camera that doesn't work? Actually allow me to rephrase that slightly. Why would you buy a digital camera that doesn't work FOR YOU? The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K does of course work, and works quite well for some people. But, how do you know your one of those people? You find out, not just by asking what the DMC-TZ3K does, but by asking what it doesn't do. While I'm sure you've had no problem finding reviews telling you why you should buy a Panasonic Lumix, let's take a look at why you shouldn't buy a Panasonic Lumix.
The noise reduction feature in the Lumnix is there to remove image distortion (noise) from your photographs. Noise is often introduced into images, because the manufacturer designed the camera with too many megapixels for the image sensor. Since perspective buyers know megapixels, it's an easy marketing ploy to add more to a camera, and sell more units. Unfortunately, manufacturers (not just Panasonic), don't plaster image size all over their packaging like they do megapixels. In this case the noise reduction feature softens or slightly blurs the images to remove the noise. As a result, image definition and clarity are lost. If you try to blow your pictures up or do extensive cropping, you'll be disappointed with the results from the DMC-TZ3K digital.
The Lumix seems to have a real problem with taking accurate skin and hair tones. So, if you don't mind seeing your kids turn purple, or your blond friends with a touch of red hair, then this is probably not an issue. Playing with the color settings and the white balance may help, but I've heard from several customers that it won't make any difference. The fact that this is a point and shoot implies that customers shouldn't have to fiddle with settings to get good basic skin tones. The Lumix DMC-TZ3K default settings should take care of it.
While this Panasonic Lumix does come with IS (image stabilization), it just seems to make matters worse. Colors often blur together, lighter colored subjects seem to pick up a blue tinge, and ghosting becomes apparent on images where no flash is used. Image stabilization is still not an exact science on many digital cameras, but on this Lumix combined with an over bearing noise reduction softening effect, it seems to make things worse.
Hang on now, were not done yet. There are number of other issues with the Lumix DMC-TZ3K you should be aware of, including:
- the shutter makes no allowance for manual control
- camera is over sized for most pockets
- zoom is uneven and hard to control
- battery cover is prone to damage
- fragile lens cover
- any work done under warranty takes too long
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