New Zs3/TZ7 review is out on DCResource

DCResource has posted a new review on ZS3/TZ7 today.
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_zs3-review/index.shtml .

Can't wait to get one. Don't know when it will be available in US. On Ebay you can find it from a HK seller.

Generally good review. I disagree about the AVCHD format though, it's easy to play the native MTS on media player once you have the correct codec installed ... this has been discussed at length on the forum:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1033&thread=31438895

Right.
I've downloaded several test video MTS files.

My KMPlayer can play them without any problem.

But editing is another story.

A very detailed review so prospective buyers should have enough information to decide.

There should be no problem playing AVCHD files as previous poster pointed out.
He is a MAC user so dislike AVCHD.
Most Window users (like myself) hate Motion JPEG and Quicktime particularly.

The included PhtotFunStudio HD should make it easy for Window users to edit video to burn to DVD into DVD video or BD format.
But I have yet to make it work.

ron2000 said:

The included PhtotFunStudio HD should make it easy for Window users
to edit video to burn to DVD into DVD video or BD format.
But I have yet to make it work.

Click to expand...

If your familiar with Avisynth and VirtualDub you can edit the files. I just succesfully loaded an MTS file into VirtualDub so it will work. I realise these packages are not everyones 'cup of tea' as they require you to write some scripts. But I've had great success with Avisynth in the past... you can do some incredibly complex editing and it runs very fast ... it renders the video on the fly.

I have found the GUI type video editing packages very frustrating, restrictive and slow. Whatever works for you I guess ... but I thoroughly recommend giving VirtualDub and Avisynth a look.

camchat said:

camchat said:

The included PhtotFunStudio HD should make it easy for Window users
to edit video to burn to DVD into DVD video or BD format.
But I have yet to make it work.

Click to expand...

If your familiar with Avisynth and VirtualDub you can edit the files.
I just succesfully loaded an MTS file into VirtualDub so it will
work. I realise these packages are not everyones 'cup of tea' as
they require you to write some scripts. But I've had great success
with Avisynth in the past... you can do some incredibly complex
editing and it runs very fast ... it renders the video on the fly.

I have found the GUI type video editing packages very frustrating,
restrictive and slow. Whatever works for you I guess ... but I
thoroughly recommend giving VirtualDub and Avisynth a look.

Click to expand...

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As you said, that was not everyone's cup of tea. I have been using H264TS_cutter and TsRemux and they worked OK.

I want a simple (GUI), one pass editing software which can output to DVD video and HD video (BD) and PhotoFunStudio HD sounds ideal.
I have made an appointment with Panasonic to find out what is the issue.

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As for the still pictures, I have compared to the review of the TZ5 and cannot see a difference. Venus HD and Venus IV seem the same. Any thoughts?

LennyM said:

--
As for the still pictures, I have compared to the review of the TZ5
and cannot see a difference. Venus HD and Venus IV seem the same.
Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

I guess the Venus HD only improves the quality of HD video?

LennyM said:

--
As for the still pictures, I have compared to the review of the TZ5
and cannot see a difference. Venus HD and Venus IV seem the same.
Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

I can see a huge difference between the TZ5 and TZ7 from these 100% crops...especially with regard to Luma noise...

TZ3-vs-TZ5-vs-TZ7



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Cheers

Rik

Kiwi Rik said:

I can see a huge difference between the TZ5 and TZ7 from these 100%
crops...especially with regard to Luma noise...

Click to expand...

yes the TZ7 is doing a better job controlling noise... doesn't seem to be a loss of detail either.

camchat said:

camchat said:

I can see a huge difference between the TZ5 and TZ7 from these 100%
crops...especially with regard to Luma noise...

Click to expand...

yes the TZ7 is doing a better job controlling noise... doesn't seem
to be a loss of detail either.

Click to expand...

Watch closely and you can see a loss of detail defenitely! Hopefully DPR will review this cam and will deliver the proof.
So do we want worse photos with the TZ7?

I was very eager to compare this review with the Canon SX200 review, and it appears Jeff Keller anticipated my (and others) interest as he invites comparison several times in the review. I must say Jeff's review is compelling, but I have the following reservations, and I hope some of you can speak to them:

(1) Jpegs out of the Panny do appear sharper that the Canon, as Jeff noted, but I think I like the colors out of the Canon a bit better. Question of taste, probably; Jeff even says "not as saturated as some would like". Could this properly be adjusted in persistent settings? I realize there is a vivid color mode, but on Canon models I've used, vivid is over-the-top.

(2) How much of a pain in the butt is the movie format? I'm a Windows guy and have no problem using alternative players (The KM Player is awesome) or installing a codec, but I'm concerned about sharing videos with friends and family and do not care for writing scripts in case I need to edit. Admittedly, I don't see editing often.

(3) Also regarding the movie format, may I assume that it can be run through a converter like Super to change the codec and/or container to improve sharing and archival prospects? (I might be out of my depth here...)

At the risk of being a pain in the butt myself...

Question (4) Anyone share Jeff's slight irritation over the white balance controls? The gallery he posted fetures a church interior appearing a bit too warm. I'm wondering if he didn't correct WB before taking the shot because (a) it would complicate comparisions to other cameras , or (2) WB was too difficult to nail within the options offered.

Im a total point and click/scene mode man.

I'm after a Digi Cam that can do HD movies though, (I basically want to get rid of my Mini DV camcorder and only have one device)

So is the TZ7, a worthy Camcorder replacement?
whats battery life like? on HD recording?

I'm a Mac (but also have a PC) user, Ive heard the new AVCLite format is a bit picky on programs.

i can imagine that Panasonic supply a CD with some kind of editing on, but imagine this is PC only?

What about Mac users? is there anything native we can use, or do I have to convert it in Windows 1st to something Mac will recognise?

cheers

Optigrab said:

At the risk of being a pain in the butt myself...

Question (4) Anyone share Jeff's slight irritation over the white
balance controls? The gallery he posted fetures a church interior
appearing a bit too warm. I'm wondering if he didn't correct WB
before taking the shot because (a) it would complicate comparisions
to other cameras , or (2) WB was too difficult to nail within the
options offered.

Click to expand...

--

It's also difficult to comprehend no fluorescent WB. Panny does know people take shots indoors at functions, and more of the world is going to fl compact lights anyway.

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Oh my! Just looked at the videos. I may have to get the camera just for that alone!

chipped battery, meaning one must use the very pricey Panny battery only, BCG-10.

Jeff's review didn't mention this, or at least I couldn't find any reference to it.

Thanks....Larry

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Olympus E-510 DSLR with 14-42 mm & 40-150 mm Lens

Lumix FZ 50, FZ 20,TZ3, FX 07, TCON 17, MCON 35, RDS, Sunpak 383.

Fuji F-20.

Wow, the movies do indeed look very very nice. This makes me look forward to the GH1 even more, but the ZS3 seems to do very well too.

I always felt that the FZ50 could have been an excellent movie camera with its manual zoom and IS, and if Panasonic made a FZ50 successor with that kind of movie quality that would be good, but I guess the GH1 will be the one to take that spot.