Strengths: Build quality, 10x Zoom, "iA" feature, HD recording

Weaknesses: Weight, bulk, no carrying case

Summary: Taking the camera out of the box you can immediately feel the sturdy build quality. However, it definitely felt heavier than I expected. Overall, the extra weight is still worth it for the 10x Leica lens. My only major grip is that a carrying case for the camera is not included in the box.

Strengths: 9 megapixels, ten times zoom

Weaknesses: bigger than most point and shoot cameras

Summary: My last camera only had three times zoom and images were always blurred. This camera keeps pictures in focus even at ten times zoom and the zoom even works in video mode, which most still cameras do not let you do. I took pictures of a bicycle race and both videos and stills cames out perfect, even with ten times zoom.

Strengths: Lots of capabilities

Weaknesses: Large for a point shoot, not the best picture quality

Summary: This camera is very capable, 28mm wide angle, to 10x optical zoom. The IA feature makes shooting very easy.I love the wide angle, you know when you have things you want to capture all in one picture and no matter how far you back up, it still won't fit? What wouldn't fit on my Sony Cybershot's viewfinder I can capture it perfectly on this camera.Picture's not brilliant, and the absolute WORST thing about this camera is where the flash is - take a look at the picture, you would see that it is right next to the hand grip. You have to be very careful not to block it when you're holding it.

Strengths: The 28mm lens. The idea of a 28-280mm effective zoom in a compact camera. Camera size and weight wonderful. Image stabilization worked well.

Weaknesses: The reality of a 28-280mm effective zoom in a compact camera. Photographs suffer from edge focus softness and digital noise. Macro mode was pretty wimpy.

Summary: I wanted to love this camera, I tried to love this camera, but found it kept coming up short. I found the left edges of my horizontal photographs to be soft. There was too much digital noise in shaded areas of even 4x6s taken at ISO 100. The auto-exposure modes are programmed to go to ridiculously high shutter speeds before stopping the lens down at all, and there was no way to influence the aperture setting. The camera would go to a 1/1000th second and still have a wide open lens, even in a scenery mode. Macro mode was more of a close focus mode. I could have dealt with and expected some shortcomings, because it is a very ambitious design to try a 28-280 zoom in such a compact package, but the photo quality was continually unacceptable or marginally acceptable. My other digital compact is a Fuji E550 6 megapixal camera. There is no comparison in photo quality, the Fuji's photos are very much better than the Panasonic's. I have a Canon 5D, 40D, and 10D, and wanted a pocket-sized, image stabilized camera to walk around with. I so wanted this one to be it, but I sent it back for a refund today. If the photos are going to be soft on the edges and noisy at the lowest ISO, why bother taking them?

Strengths: 10x with 28mm wide angle, 1280 x 720 video

Weaknesses: Position of microphone

Summary: I have studied a lot of brands and models before deciding on this one. The major features that captured me are the wide angle and HD video. But the position of the microphone is in a awkward position, the left finger can only touch the upper edge slightly. If the finger is resting on the top too far in, the microphone is blocked and the recorded sound is muffled.

Strengths: all of them

Weaknesses: nothing

Summary: The TZ5 is in a class of its own, offering both a wide angle lens and an excellent zoom. In addition, the specs show an excellent 3" LCD screen and HD video recording. The TZ3 (the predecessor of the TZ5) is one of the top recommended compact cameras on many camera review sites. The other camera that consistently tops the charts is the canon sd870is. Because the canon sd870is and the TZ5 are among the few compact cameras that have a wide angle (28mm) lens, I will reference the sd870is at times during this review as a comparison. Again, please keep in mind that these cameras aren't necessarily in the same class (the canon has a 28-105mm zoom lens and the Panasonic TZ5 has a 28-280mm zoom lens). Also, while I have used a TZ3, I don't actually own one.

Strengths: 28 MM/280 MM Wide to Tel ZoomEasy mode setting for sports, portrait and othersMacro and Tele Macro capabilitiesOptical image stabilization

Weaknesses: Shutter cap is a little flimsy. Should have been metal instead of plastic. Expensive accessories

Summary: I no longer have the desire to carry a larger, full featured DSLR and was looking for the perfect pocket camera. Within reason this Lumix fits the bill. The wide angle feature allows for more composition in many landscape shots while the 280 MM tele offers the ability to capture distant subjects with ease. The multi-mode optical image stabization works very well. Auto bracketing and a decent burst mode adds additional capability. The photos that I have taken have been crisp with good,accurate color reproduction. The JPEG only format is good enough for my use. It would have been a better design if the shutter cover were a little more rugged. Care has to be taken as to not touch the soft plastic shield. I am only using genuine factory batteries and chargers, but these are too expensive as compared to the competition. Other than these accessory costs, this is a terrific camera.

Strengths: 28-280mm Leica Lens; Intelligent Auto Mode; Excellent quality LCD; Image stabalization.

Weaknesses: Position of the flash.

Summary: Like some other D-SLR owners, I was looking for a point and shoot that I could take on hikes or while traveling when I didn't want to carry the heavier and bulkier SLR. This camera is idea because it has a wide angle lens which makes a big difference vs. a 35 or 36 mm lens. The fact that the lens also goes out to 280 mm is unique among point and shoot, compact cameras. They say the best camera is the one you take with you and use the most. This camera is small in size and big on features. It's fun to use!

Strengths: HD video recording, great picture quality

Weaknesses: low light outcome is not too good

Summary: Love this camera, always been Panny's fan. awesome anti-shaking mechnism, great 720p video recording. Camera in good size with sturdy build. 10x zoom is pretty handy esecially in the video mode.

Strengths: Pocket size but a great X10 optical zoom

Weaknesses: none identified at this point

Summary: Exactly what I nneded to travel with my back pack. Always close to my hand and a great zoom and wide angle for all my pictures