Camera Comparison - Video Recordings TZ1 vs. TZ5

In 2006, we bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1.  At the time, it was only one of two compact cameras on the market with a 10x optical zoom.  The other camera we looked at was a Kodak, but that one was so shaky at high zoom it was hardly worth it, plus that one used multiple lenses to gain the great zoom.

Basic Facts TZ1 (black left photo)-

5MP

10x optical zoom

3x digital zoom

2GB SD Card max

Motion Stabilizer

Recordings at any zoom or duration in four quality levels

I used that camera ALL the time, and probably recorded 20 concerts with it.  However, at the beginning of 2008, I started to notice that when I took pictures, the auto flash would not always work and I'd have to take the picture twice.  Later the flash would either over expose the photo or be completely black.  Eventually, I could only take pictures in non-flash situations.  Yet, during all of this, the video recordings remained good.

August 2008, I received the upgraded version of the TZ1 for my birthday.  I got the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5. 

Basic Facts TZ5 (blue left photo) -

9.1MP

10x optical zoom

3x digital zoom

4GB SD Card (that's the biggest I have to test with)

Motion Stabilizer

Recordings at any zoom or duration in four quality levels

It's also a little bit smaller than the TZ1.  Bad thing...the speaker hole is exactly where your left index finger would rest.  It's very easy to cover it accidentally.

All the music reviews I have posted on this blog up till now were recorded using the new camera (TZ5).  I noticed the sound distortion on the first concert for DIOY, Y?.  I assumed it was the venue.  But, after many shows, the audio was bad on all of them and at different venues. 

We came up with a test...

I recorded the TV on the Radio at the Tabernacle concert using both cameras.  This way, there was a side by side comparison to see if it was just me, or actually the camera.  (Yes, my husband and I looked strange both recording the same show).

Here are the results:

TZ3 -

TZ5 -



So what do you think?

Don't look at the video quality for this test...this is about the audio quality only.

TZ1 is crisper and you can hear the vocals much easier, whereas on the TZ5, it sounds distorted. On some songs the difference was really great.

In the end, the TZ1 performs much better than the TZ5 in regards to audio video quality. I don't know why, nor can I find any information about the microphones for each camera. I do know the TZ1 had 5 small holes and the TZ5 only has one hole.

My only regret is not figuring this out sooner. I wonder how much better my videos would have been for DIOY,Y?, TSMMR, Black Kids, Presets, and Ra Ra Riot.

FYI - The other TZ cameras are similar, but on some you can't zoom while recording. You can set the zoom before starting your recording, but not adjust during. This was a big deal for me because who wants a video stuck at the same zoom. TZ1 or TZ5 both allow zooming while video recording