The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ2 is a 6.0 megapixel version of the TZ3 - also released today.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ2 features largely the same feature set as the TZ3 including the 10x optical zoom but in addition to the smaller megapixel image sensor it has a smaller LCD screen (2.5 inches).

The Ultimate Companion for All Your Photographic Needs

Panasonic Lumix cameras go from strength to strength with technological advancements designed to offer the ultimate in picture performance and convenience. Panasonic’s new DMC-TZ2 and DMC-TZ3 are the latest members of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to their appeal, the TZ2 and TZ3 go one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.

The 28mm wide-angle lens opens up a plethera of photographic opportunities, allowing photographers to easily capture a large group of people, or expansive architectural structures and landscapes with dynamic width and rich perspective. The wide-angle lens is particularly helpful in situations where you cannot step back or move away from a subject - ideal for shooting group portraits in a small room for example.

The diminutive size of the 7.2 megapixel DMC-TZ3 and 6.0 megapixel DMC-TZ2 belies the wealth of technological features. Incorporating a powerful 10x optical zoom in such a slim and stylish body is impressive in itself. Add to this the incorporation of Panasonic’s Mega O.I.S that prevents blurring from shaky hands, Intelligent ISO to prevent motion blur, and the high quality, high performance image-processing Venus Engine III to name but a few – and the calibre of these new additions becomes apparent.

The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens comprises 11 elements in nine groups, including an ED (extra-low dispersion) lens and three aspherical lenses. This advanced lens unit passes Leica’s stringent standards and delivers an exceptional optical performance. To further add to their appeal, the zoom ratio can be extended up to 15x in 3megapixel resolution mode (13.8x for the DMC-TZ2) with minimal deterioration thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom. By using the central part of the CCD, this powerful zooming function allows you to easily capture and magnify distant subjects. Furthermore, in combination with the 4x digital zoom, a zoom factor of up to 60x can be achieved (55x for the DMC-TZ2).

28mm wide angle lens with a difference

Conventional cameras generally use almost the entire CCD area when recording an image, and the angle of view may be altered regardless of the photographer’s intention. The TZ3 and TZ2 however, incorporate a 1/2.35” CCD (1/ 2.33” for TZ2) with a total of 8.50 megapixels (7.39 megapixels for the TZ2). This CCD, which is larger than those in conventional 7 megapixel and 6 megapixel class cameras, can reproduce images shot with the lens set 28mm to 280mm in any of three aspect ratios – 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 – so you can always capture dynamic, richly expressed shots with wide perspective.

Special moments deserve special attention

Capturing those special moments – whether it’s your child’s first birthday, a family Christmas, spectacular sceneries on holiday or simply a picture of your loved one – are priceless. Panasonic understands this and is committed to ensuring that whatever your shooting situation, your image will be beautifully captured. Having successfully incorporated Mega Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) into its entire line-up, Panasonic has gone one step further with the 2007 models with the introduction of Intelligent ISO. A common cause of blurry images is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being taken – particularly common when taking pictures of sports or young children for example. This is where Intelligent ISO Control comes in to its own. This system detects whether the subject is moving and, as necessary raises the ISO setting and shutter speed according to how fast the subject is moving and the light conditions. This happens automatically, so you can effortlessly shoot without the need to adjust the settings every time the conditions change.

Panasonic Lumix offers solutions for both major causes of blurred images – O.I.S when you are moving, and Intelligent ISO Control when the subject is moving. Thanks to Panasonic, you can now take clear and beautiful images in almost all situations.

The power of the Venus Engine III engine

The DMC-TZ2 and DMC-TZ3 boast Panasonic’s advance image processing Venus Engine III, offering the ability to take 300 pictures (270 for the DMC-TZ3) on a single charge. The TZ3 allows unlimited consecutive shooting up to the capacity of the 12.7MB built-in memory or the SD memory card. This engine, the brain of a digital camera, boasts outstanding response time with a 0.006 second shutter release time (the time taken between pressing the button on the camera and the photo being taken) and a shutter interval of approximately 0.5 seconds , thus enabling easy capture of spur-of-the- moment shots. In the burst shooting mode, it is possible to shoot at three frames per second in full resolution . Both models also allow unlimited consecutive shooting - so you can continue taking shots until the SDHC/SD memory card is full.

Noise reduction is also greatly improved, with picture noise removed in stages during image processing. Critical noise is analysed, and chromatic and luminance noise are reduced separately. The chromatic noise, which has greater effect on picture quality, is then selectively suppressed, resulting in clearer images.

Bright and beautiful motion pictures

Not only can you capture beautiful still images – these new models also record stunning wide aspect VGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second. This enables you to view them on a widescreen television in a true widescreen aspect ratio. Perfect for skiing holidays for example you can showcase your skiing talents in full 16:9 glory on your widescreen television to your family and friends.

The DMC-TZ3 also offers an exceptional function that lets you select and display thumbnails of nine sequential frames from a motion image. This would be useful, for example, to analyse the way you swing a golf club or tennis racquet.

The perfect travel companion boasting 20 scene modes

The Lumix TZ2 and TZ3’s 20 scene modes allow you to effectively capture your travelling experience, wherever you go. The ‘aerial’ mode assists with shooting through aeroplane windows, and once you reach your destination, the new ‘beach’ mode is ideal for taking photos in strong sunlight. Used with a separately available marine case boasting a water-resistance of up to 40m deep, the ‘underwater’ mode helps produce spectacular underwater shots, even at depths where there is no sunlight.

Travellers further benefit from the useful ‘Travel Date Setting’ which, once you have preset the date of your departure, records and displays the images in chronological order of your trip. The ‘World Time Setting’ is also useful as it allows you to set the time and date of 74 locations across the world. In addition, the new ‘Clipboard’ function lets you use the camera to hold an retrieve useful information on the trip. For example, you can quickly and easily take pictures of a map or train schedule, and view them when needed. In addition, the DMC-TZ3 benefits from a 3inch LCD screen (2.5inch for the TZ2) – so you can playback two photos at the same time and compare them.

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ2 and writes, "It’s the first time I’ve seen a compact super-zoom lens with a 28mm-equivalnet wide-angle that also has no barrel distortion whatsoever at wide angle. Not only that but it has excellent corner-to-corner sharpness with no trace of chromatic aberration. In fact I’d go as far as to say that it may be the best long-zoom lens I’ve ever seen on a compact camera, and one that lives up to its Leica badge. ... High ISO noise control has also previously been a problem for some Panasonic models, but the TZ2 is limited to only 1250 ISO, and at this level noise is very well controlled. ... Panasonic’s claim that the TZ2 is the ideal travel camera has plenty to back it up. Build quality, handling and design are all first rate, and overall performance is well up to scratch, including in low light conditions. The superb quality and useful zoom range of the lens and the good high-ISO noise control should produce excellent picture quality too, but they are slightly let down by harsh file compression."