Camera Labs

Hi everybody I'm new on this forum (and I first want to apology for my grammary or vocabulary mistakes)!

I'd like to buy a new camera but I really can't choose one between the Panasonic LX2 and the TZ3. You see I used to take a lot of pictures with my old Fujifilm Finepix F810 that I actually "lost" last summer in China. I particulary enjoyed the 16:9 pictures and all the features around that specific format. At the time I didn't really used manual options except ten to twenty photos maximum but I'd like to go on photography.

So I ask you guys If the TZ3 is better for me or the LX2, is the noise so disturbing on both cameras? Before I have never managed to see noise, which is regarding all the reviews a major issue.


Do the screen of the TZ3, in 16:9 mode shows more things than in the 4:3 mode. By that I just mean , is the 16:9 mode more than a 4:3 mode from which you just add 2 large black "bands"(don't really know how to translate it) on the top and the bottom of the screen?


Thanks

Iria

Sorry I forgot to tell you that I love taking pictures of landscapes. and that the Fuji took 16:9 pictures at 6M pixels.

Hi Iria, welcome to the Cameralabs forums!

We have the answer to your question in our TZ3 review:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panas ... ge3c.shtml

Have a look at those 3 images taken with the TZ3's different modes. The wider ones don't just crop the top and bottom like most cameras, they do actually capture a bit more at the sides...

But the screen is still square shaped, so if you choose the 3:2 or 16:9 image shape, you'll have to compose with black bars at the top and bottom. It is a very big screen though, so it's not much of an issue.

The noise is similar on both cameras - ie not great!

See: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panas ... e4ca.shtml

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panas ... e4ca.shtml

Unless you really want full manual control, I'd probably go for the TZ3 myself...

Gordon

Thanks Gordon!

I was wondering, on most reviews the 10M pixel is considered as nothing more than a marketing tool. In fact it wouldn't change a lot of things if a picture is taken with less resolution (like the TZ3)? Do you agree with that?

Is the O.I.S equivalent on both cameras? (any evolution?)

And thanks for the links I see the difference now by the way both video tour were great!

Hi Iria, I wouldn't worry about the difference between, say, 7, 8 and 10 mpixels - doesn't make a huge difference in most situations - and if the sensor is physically the same size, the higher resolution versions can actually suffer from greater noise - so yes, it's mostly marketing, especially on non-DSLRs.

As for the OIS, I'm impressed by it on all of Panasonic's models, but it's hard to categorically tell if they're getting better at it. I did think the TZ3 was very effective though...

Gordon