Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7

CB07 August 2009

£109.99 price is wrong web site is £250 when you click the link, thought it was too good to be true

daymond710 August 2009

Exellent camera, the only draw back is it does not come with a SDHC memory card (more expense) and also the record button is is right where my thumb goes, but all in all, class.

john12 August 2009

Going to Chile S America Feb 2010. Which is cheapest option to buy this camera for holiday abroad? At heathrow airport duty free or in Chile?

Conrad12 August 2009

If you don't need Stereo HD video from your camera then the TZ6 has all the other features for a much lower price.

Christopher Tsangari17 August 2009

I own it after years of messing with mobile phone cameras. The HD video recording has replaced (yes, REPLACED!) my mini-DV video camera as my choice for video recording. Never dreamed that so soon could I have an HD video recorder ON THE MOVE... I mean a broadcast quality (ish!) picture quality in my pocket! Worth investing in a camera pouch to secure onto your trouser belt, like I did. Normal pictures have to be seen to be believed. It's something else!

Bladerunner92918 August 2009

So here's my question... how does this compare to say the Fuji F200EXD? The Fuji might only have x5 zoom but the mutifunction CCD must have some pro's?

Chris Winter20 August 2009

I have one. Fabulous lens. Can video zoom. Usefull - can record a ca 10 second voice clip with each still shot. Interesting - the screen gives out polarised light - turn the screen sideways when wearing polaroid glasses - and the picture dissapears!

busybody27 August 2009

How is this a 'Budget' camera?

aidey6829 August 2009

I've just bought this camera and will be taking it with me to Chester Zoo very soon, I'm in agreement with busybody a camera with a rrp of £299 is hardly budget! A brand name camera between say between £80 to £170 is what I'd call a budget range.....

GadgetFreak200901 September 2009

Wow what a camera!,excellent lens (You cannot beat a Leica lens!) Only downsize is size but compromised with quality of pictures,wide angle lens,Hd recording (I know its not full Hd but very good compared with normal camcorder) software supplied is excellent,Battery life is very good,3 inch display,worth it aftyer having owned,pentax s10,Buy it!

carl.armaniFONE08 September 2009

hey looks nice, but i love my fuji j150w with 10 megapixals and face reconition, but the main reason why i'd prefer my fujifilm is because i love real badboy zooms what rearly stick out , yeah baby!

rogattwell19 September 2009

I am looking for a camera to replace the one i've got at the moment, but to be perfectly honest I don't really want to spend that type of money on a pocket camera

bettymc12 October 2009

I don't consider it a budget camera either - although it does sound great

Robski20 October 2009

Unfortunatly I bought this camera 2 months ago and although it takes great pictures the rear screen is now broken on the inside.No outside damage at all. Panasonics line is that it must have been crushed and a cost of £150 to repair.There are many stories of broken rear screens on this model without dropping or bashing them. The screens are very delicate and you cannot put it in a handbag or coat pocket or you are likley to have a large bill for repair. Everything else great!

steven26 October 2009

Great picture quality and very versatile. I have a problem though in getting my computer's memory card reader to detect the 16GB HC memory card that I fit to the camera. Is there something I can do with the camera to format the card so my computer can read it? Please help. Thanks. PS the card is set at unlock position.

Rosivrepus28 October 2009

I've just bought one of these and am pleased with the quality, so far. The 3" screen is the best I've seen, but I note (with thanks) the warnings about it's inner frailty. My main gripe is the spare battery cost. I've no real objection to "chipped" batteries if it helps control the quality and save the product from leaking cheapos - but £40 for a camera battery is excessive when other decent batteries (Nokia 6300 for example) can be bought for a fiver! The cheapest chipped Panasonic compatible I've seen is from UK company Inov8 (from photoglossy.com) for £19.99 incl. vat and P&P. As for the operating instructions: "Before use, please read these instructions completely" - I tried ZZzzzzzzzz.

Ben13 November 2009

Good camera, if you discount the fact my screen broke after only weeks while in a padded Gorilla case. I would avoid this at all costs! What good is a pocket camera if its so fragile???!!!! My previous camera lasted over 3 years and took a lot more abuse! Going back to Fujifilm and staying there thanks.

doktored21 December 2009

Great camera at taking pictures... I have two though with identically cracked inside LCD screens. After no accidents or incidents with either. RUBBISH CAMERA! AVOID! or insure with patient bits between replacements.

Robski23 December 2009

Follow up to my previous entry. As TZ7 owners are going to get broken rear screens until Panasonic takes the hint and replaces them with a stronger item. If you want to avoid the £150 repair cost you can get proper TZ7 screens from E-bay. I got one for £38 pounds including postage from Hong Kong and even had the tools with it to fit the camera. Also found a movie on You tube to show you exactly how to replace it! All done and works wonderfully. I wonder how long this one will last!! I don't suppose The Gadget Show would have a word with Panasonic they might listen to you!!! I only bought it because you guys gave it such glowing reviews!!!!

Nellie10 January 2010

£220 and less than 48 hours (ordered on a Sunday) from BuyACamera.

jammie-dodger01 February 2010

camerabox.co.uk is where i got mine for £214. they do different bundles but, i went for the one with 4gb card and case for £240 but the samsonite case is not that great and the memory card is a cheap type. i would go for the camera on its own if i was to do it again. seems great so far, don't have too long yet. it is really well built

Alan Stanley16 March 2010

Daughter brought us one of these from Comet for Christmas after seeing your review. Very good results and easy to use. BUT in February the LCD screen went down. Took it back to comet to be told LCD screen must be cracked by us. Pointed out no sign of damage or crack on camera. "Oh It'll be on the inside" This camera has only been treated with kid gloves and transported in Panasonics own case. Then told us Panasonic will probably not approve repair. Camera is with them for assessment but check the net it's full of similar stories. There is obviously a design fault. Panasonic are saying don't put it in your pocket or a bag !! It's so bad there are kits and even a video on the net on how to to repair them. This item should be the subject of further review and testing.

doktored25 March 2010

Robski thanks for the follow up on the ebay tip... Going to try it with one of them and the other is off with the insurance people. Lets see what is easier. Really annoyed that such an expensive point and shoot is so delicate. the 8010 Tough apparently has a better lense and can be dropped from 6 foot. Same price... I am very tempted for something liek this next time.

Blingthing05 April 2010

Yep.. same problem with me, camera purchased in Nov 2009, very little use (just 30 shots on the memory card) and the screen is down, no sign of any break and always looked after carefully. Rather annoying when on 1st day of holiday, could have gotten around the problem with my older cameras as they still have a veiw finder, however when the screen goes down on this camera its a total loss... Unfortunatley I am searching for my reciept now for the warrenty but will be looking into ebay for the replacement item as with such a known problem I am not confident on a manufacturer fix. Disappointing!!!

Robski11 April 2010

Ebay is now selling the screens for £29 with kit so just search e-bay for TZ7 Screen - the guy in Hong Kong was very quick and has a very good rating. fitting the screen is a little fidly so if your ham fisted or impatient get someone else to do it. I have now got an armour plated case and so far it has been really good for movies and great pictures. I am however really concerned that Panasonic has just launched the TZ8 and TZ10 which from what I can see use exactly the same Screen. Do they never learn or do they just like ruining their reputation. My next camera won't be Panasonic!!!

Stuart.W12 April 2010

Thank you all for your experience/comments, was going to buy 3 of these for myself and family members BUT.............too many damaged screens means NO WAY, probably sticking with my not too old Sony that i've dropped more times than i've taken pictures, it still works & has a perfect screen!

nickw06 July 2010

As the many comments above - took camera out of pocket - just walking around - and screen broken. Anyone anything further relating to any Panasonic response? Not holding my breath though...

doktored19 August 2010

Follow up on trying to fix the screen. They haven't used load baring scewdrivers, so some of them are nailed in there... now having to drill them out. Bad construction from start to finish. Totally put me off panasonic forever, now a happy Olympus EP owner. Check it out it is bitchin'

David Grinter14 October 2010

DON'T BUY THIS CAMERA! It has a known fault whereby the LED screen cracks internally. Mine went 5 days short of the 12 month expiry. I sent it back to where I bought it and they claimed it was impact damage, which is rubbish as there isn't a mark on it. Called Panansonic and they referred me to a company they use to fix their cameras - they want £150 to fix it!!!!

Mikey10 November 2010

I got this camera 11 months ago, and the rear screen went bust and found repair people wanted at least £120 to repair it, so it is now a £290 scrap item. I cannot see where they get their repair cost from as the screen only cost around £38 from china. I have had cameras lasting 20 years, dropped, kicked, banged etc. and they are still working! If you cannot keep this camera in your pocket or handbag without it going bust, 'it is not fit for purpose' and therefore my advise is DO NOT BUY ONE.

Glenn03 February 2011

Broken screen - twice (2 different cameras) - once in wifes handbag and once on a ski trip, camera in a case in a day sack - and no I didn't have a fall! I did have a spare battery in the outside pocket of the camera case and guess this pressed against the screen and caused it to fail, very disappointing - end of my relationship with panasonic cameras.