TZ series question

[canon450D]

Hello. I am interested in Panasonic TZ5. When I called up a local shop, I was told that TZ5 was obsolete and that TZ11 and TZ15 were the current models. This puzzled me as these two models do not appear in dpreview's camera database. Are TZ11 and TZ15 exclusive to the Asian market? How is TZ15 different from TZ5? Thank you.

[teebs]

Originally Posted by canon450D Hello. I am interested in Panasonic TZ5. When I called up a local shop, I was told that TZ5 was obsolete and that TZ11 and TZ15 were the current models. This puzzled me as these two models do not appear in dpreview's camera database. Are TZ11 and TZ15 exclusive to the Asian market? How is TZ15 different from TZ5? Thank you.

TZ5 is the model name used in the America market only, TZ15 is the name used outside of America. So both are actually the same model.

[canon450D]

Originally Posted by teebs TZ5 is the model name used in the America market only, TZ15 is the name used outside of America. So both are actually the same model.

Thank you for info. So there was never a TZ5 in Singapore and the camera shop was wrong? Btw how is the TZ15's image quality esp rendition of low contrast detail when flash is used and ISO is at 400? Is the LX3 better in this area? Thanks again

[teebs]

Originally Posted by canon450D Thank you for info. So there was never a TZ5 in Singapore and the camera shop was wrong? Btw how is the TZ15's image quality esp rendition of low contrast detail when flash is used and ISO is at 400? Is the LX3 better in this area? Thanks again

They are not totally wrong actually. TZ15 is actually going to be discontinued very soon as the new model ZS3/TZ7 is already out in some markets.

I just got my TZ15 2nd hand tonight from a CSer...so I can't really answer your question. But off hand I would say that the quality is pretty reasonable based on the few test pics I took... You could do a search for reviews on the TZ5 and you will probably get quite a lot of hits.

But I think it would be safe to say that the pic quality of the LX3 will be better than the TZ15. At the end of the day, both are totally different cameras. The LX3 is a prosumer with very limited zoom range while the TZ15 is a compact super zoom camera that does not offer any manual controls.

[Anson]

The TZ15 make a great PnS for traveling... but it is not for pixel-peeping...

[phantasmal]

Originally Posted by canon450D Thank you for info. So there was never a TZ5 in Singapore and the camera shop was wrong? Btw how is the TZ15's image quality esp rendition of low contrast detail when flash is used and ISO is at 400? Is the LX3 better in this area? Thanks again

Both are quite different cams. One for travel (Travel Zoom i.e. TZ) and one for shorter ranges.
Lx3's pic will be btr esp iso 800 and above from what i read.
If you do not need the optical zoom and video function, Lx3 would suit u btr.