| | |  | Point-and-shoot Digital Cameras | Home » » » » Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1K Compact Digital Camera 5MP 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) | | | | | | | Description: | | The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1K 5MP Compact Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom features a refractive prism lens unit that allows zooming to occur horizontally within the camera. This makes it possible to pack a powerful 10x optical zoom -- equivalent to a big 35 to 350 millimeter lens on a 35mm camera -- into a compact camera. The Extended Optical Zoom function, which magnifies the image with minimal deterioration by using the center part of the high-resolution CCD, boosts the zoom power of up to 12.5x. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1K produces crisp, clear shots of moving subjects with the ISO 800 setting and high sensitivity mode, thanks to the camera's Venus Engine III. The higher ISO setting lets you use higher shutter speeds to minimize the motion blur that can occur when you're shooting a moving subject, particularly in dim lighting. Even indoors, you can get crisp, clear, beautiful shots of children, pets and other subjects that won't hold still. You can also help avoid motion blur automatically by using high sensitivity mode. Choose from several auto focus modes -- spot, 1-point (normal or high-speed), 3-point high-speed, and 9-point -- to suit the scene you're shooting. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1K also introduces a unique linear AF system. Using a linear motor to drive the zooming, this system makes it possible to shift the 10x optical zoom from wide angle to full telephoto in a few seconds. You get the kind of quick zooming and fast focusing that lets you catch every shooting opportunity. Plus, the AF Assist Lamp helps when focusing in dimly lit places. Thanks to the Venus Engine III, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1K takes just 0.5 second to start up after the power is switched on and has a release time lag as low as 0.006 seconds. The camera can also fire off consecutive shots at a swift three frames per second and offers unlimited consecutive shooting, so you can keep shooting until the SD memory card or built-in memory is full. With its 2.5-inch diagonal size and 207,000 pixels, the high-resolution LCD monitor makes it easy to see text and small thumbnail images. Even bright sunlight isn't a problem. If it's difficult to see the display on a sunny day, simply press the power LCD button and the display becomes about 40 percent brighter. The world's first developed high-angle LCD mode also provides easier viewing when you're holding the camera high to shoot over the heads of people in front of you. With a convenient built-in 14 megabytes of memory, you can take photos even when you don't have an SD memory card on hand. A travel date stamp function lets you input the time and date of your departure before you leave home, then you can use the camera to capture all the best moments of your trip. When you view the photos later, the camera will display them according to the day of the trip each photo was taken. You can even set the date and time for both your present location and your destination, choosing from 162 cities around the world in 32 time zones. A calendar view lets you arrange images you've shot by the day on which you shot them. This can be a big help when you have a large number of images to organize. What's in the Box
DMC-TZ1K digital camera, battery charger, battery pack, lens cap, AV cable, USB cable, and strap. | | | Features: | |
• 5-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 2.5-inch high-angle LCD display with Power LCD function; 10x image-stabilized optical zoom
• High-sensitivity mode (up to ISO 1600) reduces motion blur; Unlimited Consecutive Shooting at 3 frames per second
• The Venus Engine III reduces release time lag to as little as 0.006 seconds
• Powered by Lithium-ion battery pack (included); stores images on SD memory cards
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Width:
| 4.4 inches | | Product Height:
| 2.3 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.0 pounds | | Package Length:
| 7.5 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.6 inches | | Package Height:
| 3.4 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.75 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 163 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 Years Later, Still Works WellJul 11, 2010
I bought this camera a few years back, back when it was still being produced. Through heavy research I decided it looked like the one for me, and haven't ever, not to this day after thousands of pictures, been disappointed much by it. Still viable as a point-and-shoot for day-to-day applications; it takes pictures that look quite good on a computer screen, even as a desktop on a modern monitor, though that is near its resolution limit and noise becomes visible but not prevalent. I don't print my pictures so I cannot tell how they come out.
Though 5 megapixels never looked outstanding, it's plenty for almost all applications, and with the lower resolution it can store upwards of 700 pictures on a 2 GB memory card. The screen is good-sized and adequately bright even for direct sunshine, and it looks good too. Menus are simple and fairly intuitive as are most controls. Burst mode seems to work well enough, and the self-timer takes three shots rapid-fire, so at least one will turn out well. The Starry Sky mode is useful for its intended purpose but also works much better for night time landscapes than the Night Landscape mode which tops out at 8-sec. exposure; Starry Sky can be set to a 15-, 30-, or 60-second exposure. Video can only be recorded in VGA or the smaller QVGA sizes, but at 30 fps it looks good given its size. Battery life is pretty good and the battery holds out well over the years.
On the down side, it's got flaws. Macro mode can't seem to focus very close at all, though that could be due to my camera's age. Though manual settings exist, they are very limited and do not include a manual focus. Also, the low light performance isn't impressive, and the flash has a short range inside of which everything is washed out and outside of which everything is dark. Though 10x zoom is nice, it is useless for distant scenery, but that's the result of haze and I see no way that could be avoided. The image stabilization may be inferior to most modern cameras but works well for my purposes. If your lens cap isn't tethered, it's easy to lose and expensive to replace.
All and all, it's a good camera that has served me well over the years and still shows little sign of wear. Though I have been looking at replacing it, I haven't yet, and likely won't for a while yet, and even when I do it will be because of the newer features and my increasing demand for a very high quality shot, but to be honest, I will have to spend quite a lot to get a device capable of producing a better picture than this one. So, If you buy it, you will like it, and it will serve you well for years to come. Just don't lose the lens cap!
An excellent value in digital camerasApr 05, 2010
I bought a TZ1S in 2007 and used it for three years. For no obviouos reason it quit working. So I replaced it with a $68 used version. My local camera repairman doesn't think much of these cameras, but I've made excellent photographs with them.
 EasyFeb 02, 2010
Have had this camera for several years and have not had any problems. I definately enjoy having it and would definately buy again. It has lasted through things I thought would definately destroy electronics.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Fits prefectly into a needed nicheSep 30, 2009
I bought my 1st TZ1 2 years ago, and have made sure I have at least 1 near me at all times.
I have bought, used, gifted and had stolen 6 of these cameras to date.
This camera filled a void in my camera world perfectly, as I have 2 Canon G-Series for anticipated shooting, and had a few smaller digitals that I would use for everyday work/misc pictures. This camera has been great.
Pros:
When I received my first TZ1, the first thing I did was extend the full zoom and shoot some stabilized pics. They were great and I was amazed. Zoom blur was gone even at 10x!!
Then I shot a stablized video, and while its was not perfect, it was better than my non-stabilized 12x video camera!! Unlike other "picture" camras, you can use the zoom while you are taking a video, and the was a compact camera 1/4 the size!! Out went my video camera.
This camera will fit into my pocket when on a work site, and take every picture I need. I use it almost daily.
Colors are good and saturation is above what I expected from a compact super-zoom.
I was able to buy an underwater case from Panasonic reasonably for this camera as well. It works perfectly, and due to the cameras small initial size, even with the case it is not too big to haul around the Ocean. The underwater pics it took are excellent, and the flash works pretty well too!! A great bonus!!
This is a very very versatile picture and video camera.
Cons:
The battery life is only fair, and the small S007 batteries seem to fail totally in too short of a period of time.
Replacements of both Lumix brand and aftermarkets have been no better. There is a limited expectation for such a small camera/mega-zoom/battery combo, but this should be better.
Flash effectiveness and dependability has been spotty, especially with the last 2 cameras. While I did not expect an amazing flash, the overall flash results are a bit weak. The first 2 I owned flashed well and about as expected, however lately I have had a couple of flash-sync issues that are bothersome. Could be the used/refurb purchases.
Summary:
I rated the camera 5 stars because its issues do not outweigh its advantages at all. There is no perfect camera or woman out there, or everyone would own or want only that one.
This camera fills my compact camera need wonderfully, and even gets used as our primary video camera.
I was a little sad when the newer models went to a wider angle 10x and gave up light efficiency (f2.8 to f3.3) for it. I prefer this f2.8 lens much better, with clearer low light pictures indoor.
This would be a perfect entry camera for a novice, or a student, or a grandparent.
I am glad to see other Mfg's following Panasonics lead in this arena. This is a wonderful little camera.
Amazing camera!Jan 19, 2009
This camera is capable of such amazing quality photos! For a camera that only has 5megapixals (?), the photos come out with such clarity and accurate color and shadows. I can take professional quality pictures that are sometimes up to par with my friends' $1000 professional cameras! My mom is an artist and bought this camera to take pictures of her artwork and art subjects because it takes "true color" photographs, meaning the color that comes out in the pictures was the actual color she saw with her own eyes. Many other cameras at similar price wash out the color a lot or make the picture look very grainy. I love this camera!!
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