TechRadar Verdict
Although this camera is great for a compact, we can't help feeling that for an extra bit more cash, you could get a fully fledged D-SLR
Pros
- +
Lens
- +
Intelligent Exposure and AF functions
- +
Metering system
- +
Noise o.k. until ISO 800
- +
720p movie recording
Cons
- -
Not as good as D-SLR although price quite similar
- -
Fiddly controls for aperture etc
- -
Some Intelligent functions have little effect
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Pitched at family snappers and travellers looking for a lot of power in a compact body, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8 is the follow-up to the popular DMC-TZ6.
The svelte Lumix DMC-TZ8 offers a 12.1 megapixel sensor with a proper 12x optical zoom, along with the clever widgets we've come to expect from Panasonic.
As well as the latest iteration of Panasonic's image stabilisation technology, the Lumix DMC-TZ8 has intelligent exposure and AF modes, along with a flexible 25-300mm lens and HD movie mode.
At the same time, the Lumix DMC-TZ8 enables you to tweak exposure via a PASM dial on the top, but as we'll see later, this is not always as straightforward as it sounds.
Now priced at around £250, the Lumix DMC-TZ8 sits at the higher end of the compact range, and is going up against superzoom compacts such as the Canon SX20 IS (£300), the stylish Sony DSC-TX1 and the Nikon Coolpix S8000 – the latter also offering a quality wide-angle lens and 720p HD movie mode.
It's a fiercely fought-over end of the market, so the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8 will need to offer something special to stand out from the herd.
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