What a pity. This really could be a super genius camera. While I can recommend them clearly as it offers the best overall package at the moment, but the small, completely unnecessary shortcomings would not really need to be. This is the First, the mode dial, which is located outside now and lets also adjust too easily and secondly the outrageously expensive replacement battery that is not checked as Panasonic's own via a fourth contact of the camera and then accepted. The dial could have been lowered to the height of the upper edge and the microphones can easily install the front. Luckily you catch only the first time from and to keep the wheel of time the shutter button. As also already addressed in other reviews, is "Instant Video button" not necessarily a better solution, especially as pass 2 seconds remaining until the actual recording. Then set up better and we know that the video mode starts when triggered immediately. Fortunately, of course, there is some good news. The picture and video quality especially the beating of its competitors in this segment. The annoying noise and sometimes low-contrast images of the TZ5, especially in telephoto or in scattered light, a thing of the past. Those were for me the reasons, the re-sending back TZ5. One sees clearly that here are the algorithms on pottering that already the LX3 (which I also have), have helped to fame and glory. Only the smaller sensor and certainly not quite as expensive lens prevent an equivalent image quality. Overall, the images are but in the sunshine weather so good that for the LX3 even in 100% view in direct 1: 1 comparison can hardly find differences. However, the TZ goes more into the warm, almost too much, but thanks to a manual white balance, which unfortunately sometimes beside it, can be very good and easy to correct. The menu and the whole operation are, as always, not least because of the ingenious Quick menu, kept very clearly. Only that the white balance and exposure bracketing setting on the Bel.Korr.Taste (press 2 / 3x -. Select only Man.WAbgl) are, opens up a manual without by accident. The new video format AVCHD Lite brings many unfortunately still problems, since most (software) player can not play this or that computers are either too weak or not properly configured. I myself take therefore only with the usual MOV, and then change the movies with the easy-to-use freeware "Format Factory" in the format you want to. Even with 5x compression are then delivers still better than most other compact cameras at the moment. One I almost forgot: Why are the 3 image formats in all resolutions only in A and not in the iA mode to disposal remains a mystery. Although the hotline provides an answer, but even that is incomprehensible because impractical. We can only hope that a FW update this still changes ?!
