Panasonic - the company that is more than any other responsible for the renaissance and continuing success of the 'big zoom' bridge camera - launched the original 'Travel Zoom' TZ1 back in February 2006. The formula - a big zoom on a small camera - isn't exactly new, but the combination of Leica's lens design expertise and Panasonic's technology (image stabilization, fast performance) made the TZ1 the first serious alternative to bigger 'SLR-style' super zooms. And now the TZ1 has been superceded by two models with a new 28-280mm equiv. lens, the TZ2 (6MP, slightly lower spec) and the camera on test here, the TZ3. As well as the new wide lens the TZ3 also ups the sensor resolution to 7 megapixels, increases the screen size and throws in a few new features. The big question is, has Panasonic managed to improve some of the image quality issues that dogged the otherwise superbly capable TZ1? Let's find out, starting as usual with the headline specification:
- 7.2 million effective pixel / 8.5 million pixels total 1/2.35" CCD
- 10x (28-280mm equiv.) Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom
- MEGA OIS image stabilization
- Larger sensor for 28mm equiv. angle of view at 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios
- Venus III Engine processor
- Fast Linear autofocus system
- High Resolution (230,000 pixel) 3.0-inch LCD
- Movies up to 840 x 480 pixels (WVGA) @ 30 fps
- 20 scene modes plus Intelligent ISO mode
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