Introduction: A Super zoom camera from the Panasonic, Lumix DMC-TZ5K is absolutely an enticer that would prove to be a worthy travel companion for the photo enthusiasts. The device doesn’t score much on its looks; it appears boxy and rugged and deviates greatly from the uber cool sleek cameras entering the market. With this device functionality is the key. Every button and every control on the camera has a specific function to perform and doesn’t look cluttered at all.

Features: Time and again, comparisons are drawn between the products and their earlier versions to clearly demarcate the new features that have been incorporated into them. Following the tradition we can say that, DMC-TZ5K bears strong resemblance to its predecessor TZ4 which costs relatively less and does contain many of its main features. On-screen display menus are available in various languages like English, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, and French & German.

Pros:

• The 3” Diagonal Intelligent LCD with 460k dot resolution makes you enjoy life-like pictures like never before.
• Zoom in and zoom out the lens whenever you want; even while shooting a video. This is one of the rare features to be found in mid-range cameras.
• Lock, click and shoot up to 300 pictures as per the CIPA standard with its Lithium-ion batteries.
 
Cons:

• Shooting at low ISO sensitivity doesn’t offer much comfort with this device. If you are after a smooth, toned look then you should sacrifice the details of your picture.
• Placing the microphone on the top left corner of the device is one of the biggest goof-ups of this model. Often, while shooting, our fingers tend to block the microphone-an irksome situation for many.
• This camera is accused of being tad slower than its rivals and the video capture doesn’t adequately support shooting sports events.
• There is no viewfinder and external flash available with this product. Even some essential modes like advanced scene mode, color mode etc. went missing in this model.

Pricing Range: Spend 329$-389$ and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K is all yours to explore & enjoy!

Final Verdict: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K exhibits several flaws that are common to any mid-range camcorder. If shooting pictures and still images is your sole need then this camera is more than adequate. As the video capture feature is just a consolation do not dwell much on it!