Panasonic TZ40

[anonymous-user]

Hi guys.

Does anyone own the above camera and have any thoughts?

I was all set to buy a Compact System Camera but the OH who takes all the photos doesn't fancy them or an SLR. So I have been tasked with finding a good compact.

Had a look at this and the Sony WX300. The Lumix gets better reviews but I wondered if anyone had any experience?

We currently have an older Lumix which she likes but she has 2 issues with.

1) Frame shot, press button....wait....wait.....wait...ah picture
2) When the photos are on a large computer screen the quality isn't great

Would this camera be an improvement on these 2 aspects?

Also any recommendations on decent other compacts? Trying to keep the budget to £400 max.

[9.3]

In your issue 1, is it a shutter time lag issue or a write-to-card issue? I have a TZ30 and shutter lag is not in evidence.

[anonymous-user]

9.3 said:

In your issue 1, is it a shutter time lag issue or a write-to-card issue? I have a TZ30 and shutter lag is not in evidence.

It's a shutter time lag issue.

The time writing to card isn't as big an issue if the shot can be taken. Good to know about the TZ30 our current Lumix is appx 4 years old so I assume things have come on a bit since then.

[Simpo Two]

As far as I know all compacts suffer from 'shutter lag' - it's not the shutter, it's the crap AF system. You can obviate some of it by semi-depressing first, thus allowing the camera to go 'der...' and then taking the shot when you actually want to.

As for 'quality', that means nothing without more info/examples so can't progress it.

[anonymous-user]

Simpo Two said:

As far as I know all compacts suffer from 'shutter lag' - it's not the shutter, it's the crap AF system. You can obviate some of it by semi-depressing first, thus allowing the camera to go 'der...' and then taking the shot when you actually want to.

As for 'quality', that means nothing without more info/examples so can't progress it.

Ok that makes some sense. Would I be right in assuming that things will have improved considerably in the last few years though?

This is our current camera

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/DMC...

I know we won't ever get SLR or CSC quality and speed but as I know she simply won't enjoy one of those I want to get the best compact I can get her (then get myself a nice toy later in the year)

[anonymous-user]

My brother has just txt me and told me he has an RX100 and that's what I should get....

[PRTVR]

Might it be an idea to go to a shop and give one a try? I have a TZ 15 and has been said the only delay is in it sorting out the things like focus and exposure and these are common to all cameras, as for quality I can't fault it ,the zoom on it always amazes me and from what I've read the TZ 40 is even better, I just wish the thing would break so I could have an excuse to buy a TZ40.

[Simpo Two]

Sell it on eBay.

[PRTVR]

Simpo Two said:

Sell it on eBay.

Sorry forgot to mention that its my wife's camera, and I have already upgraded it from a 10 to a 15 and she couldn't understand why, so I will give eBay a miss this time

[einsign]

I have an older TZ and it has been good, I was looking through various reviews and it seems the TZ40 will be the one I get. Any suggestions on where to buy?

[anonymous-user]

einsign said:

I have an older TZ and it has been good, I was looking through various reviews and it seems the TZ40 will be the one I get. Any suggestions on where to buy?

Funnily enough the one I saw was in Currys at £269 thought that was an ok price.

I'm now going for the RX100 at £449.........oops.

[einsign]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Why though, I was going to go for a Sony but changed my mind!

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/LUM...

[anonymous-user]

einsign said:

Why though, I was going to go for a Sony but changed my mind!

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/LUM...

A lot of it is personal recommendation from my brother, he's had his since it came out and loves it snd he's had some very high end dslr in the past.

The sensor is meant to be amazing and larger than some CSC ones

I was prepared to spend £400 on a CSC if I can get a compact that the OH and I are more likely to use and by all the reviews I have seen and some threads on here is quite an astonishing little camera then I'm willing to spend the extra we are likely to keep it for 4-5 years as we did with our last one so it's a worthwhile investment

[chris.mapey]

I've got a TZ40 & there's no problem with shutter lag, assuming that you've half pressed the button to sort the focus & metering before you take the shot.

If you 'point & press' then there's a slight delay when set to iAuto, but it's workable in most conditions.

Hope that helps

[Simpo Two]

chris.mapey said:

Hope that helps

Did you get my message re August Chris? Need to make plans you see... ta.

[chris.mapey]

Simpo Two said:

Did you get my message re August Chris? Need to make plans you see... ta.

YHM John - sorry for the thread hijack OP ;-)

[Simpo Two]

Wilco 10:4 nom nom, out.

[anonymous-user]

Just to bring this to a close I got the TZ40 today, very happy indeed so far having a good play, it will get a good workout at Glastonbury

[einsign]

Odd question probably, can you use a separate sound microphone for filming people, ie if you was interviewing someone and speech quality was poor.

Or would sound have to be recorded and edited in separately?

Thanks

[chr15b]

i've got a tz20, and had the original tz1, the tz5, 7 and 9 - i'm a bit of a fan..

i remember reading reviews etc that suggested the picture quality on the newer ones is not as good as the older cameras.. i'm not convinced the tz20 is as sharp as the tz9


what about the tz40, have they resolved this?