25-300 mm! ... And tips for MAC

Actually, a transition had not been necessary. But I was attracted by a unit for both applications to have. So then I have allowed myself the TZ7.

Short Prefer the result go and try not to repeat everything that others have already commented:

- Photos in low light (indoors, for example, at home or party lights) are ok, but not necessarily the strength of the camera. The photos, however, are under these conditions at least as good as with the Ixus 400th

- Impressive are the wide angle characteristics (25mm). Ideally Wide recordings in their own homes.

- Also positively the zoom range 300mm! Tripod is recommended. (The TZ7 is still one of the few models on the market that also for filming a 12x optical zoom has!)

- Movies can be tried and tested in the movie jpg mode (compatible with all) or with the AVCHD Lite, which offers better sound recordings and much less memory.

AVCHD can very well import with MAC and continue working. The filming is qualitatively much better than the old MV20 (miniDV). The format (MTS) is also suitable for long-term backup.

In some forums is of stuttering etc. talk. Can not find the like. To convert the footage I recommend Mac users iMovie 09 or VoltaicHD.

With the new version of VoltaicHD (from 2.0), you can now before converting to cut the films. So one must not convert the entire movie (time).

With Toast 10 I unfortunately asynchronous sound recordings!

A friend has the small new Canon Ixus 100 fetched. The small camera makes relatively good footage, but is far from being ran to the Panasonic TZ7.

- Photo and video camera are always with good to very good properties. The camera is very handy (unegefaehr Zigarettenschachtelgroesse).

- Even though there is almost no manual settings (except white balance), the camera offers a lot of scene modes (eg, beach, snow, sunset, portraits, party and much more.), Allow the optimal images in all conditions

-. The camera compensates optional strong differences in contrast (light and dark areas of the subject) and shake to 1/4 sec exposure time belong to the past

- Up to ISO 400, the images are very good. After disturbances can be recognized ("noise") when significantly enlarged. But for shooting in poor lighting are still possible.

- Vignetierungen and Randunschaerfen are not an issue (who studied with a magnifying glass, will certainly find something in the way)

- Original spare batteries are still too expensive. There is also in the bay "low battery" that work with firmware version 1.2! Play Definitely the update from 1.0 to 1.1, as it, inter alia Zoomgeraeusche greatly reduced.

- For switching to shooting movies there is an extra switch. Pressing him, the (excellent) Display short dark (less than one second) remains. Only then start recording. (Can I live with.)

- Quality and workmanship is very valuable. Only the cover for the connectors of seems bruchgefaehrdet scale of accident and the zoom lever and the selector could be a bit schwergaengiger. But even that is not a real problem.

- Focus and commitment is fast enough to not interfere with attention.

- Very good is also that you can take either 3 shots in parallel with different exposures and different Groessenverhaeltnissen (16: 9, 4: 3 and 3: 2)

- Only with the US models (ZS3) can make the piece of film shooting until the memory card is full. The available cameras go here max. 15 minutes at a stretch for some unworldly regulations. Then stop the movie recording, and you can continue by pressing a button until the card is full. (But scenes for one minute at a stretch are mostly extremely boring!) So this is no more than one disadvantage if you want to film a concert.

- Markroaufnahmen: who will gladly take insects or flowers close up, is amazed at what details we later see in outstanding clarity on the MAC / PC.

-. As a camera bag, I recommend "Lolly Dolly 95" from Crumpler (also here at Amazon Fits very well, gets a little room for accessories (memory card, battery, etc.) and looks "different" from when the usual boring storage pockets.

Conclusion: 4.5 stars, so Panasonic still the raw mode and a few more manual settings in future models hinzufuegt. Moving from Canon on Panasonic has been worthwhile.

After 6 months, more than 2000 images and Urlaubseinsaetzen I can emphasize my buy recommendation! 99% of the images and films can be described as successful camera technically. However: if the subjects are boring, the camera can not help it :-). Since the problem is behind the camera.

And here a forum where you can find a lot of useful camera comparisons and tips: [...]

Have fun with the camera!