Compared to... Panasonic TZ3

Below you will find a studio comparison between the Panasonic DMC-TZ5 and its predecessor, the TZ3, at ISO 400

Studio scene comparison (@ ISO 400)

• Panasonic DMC-TZ5: Program AE mode, ISO 400, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.66 EV compensation
  
  
• Panasonic DMC-TZ3: Program AE mode, ISO 400, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.33 EV compensation

• Lighting: Daylight simulation, >98% CRI

Panasonic DMC-TZ5	Panasonic DMC-TZ3
ISO 400, 1/320 sec, F4.4	ISO 400, 1/320 sec, F4.4
3,438 KB JPEG	2,188 KB JPEG

Although noise is obviously a challenge the TZ5 manages to retain more fine detail than its predecessor. The good news is that the new processor (Venus IV) does a far, far better job with color, with none of the smearing and blurring of color that produce the characteristic the 'watercolor left in the rain' look of the TZ3. You're not going to want to print ISO 400 pictures too large, but there's no doubt the TZ5 rights many of the TZ3's wrongs.