TZ3 - Canadian Rockies Panoramas

[Paulmj]

A gallery of images taken on a recent tour of the Canadian Rockies can be found at:

http://www.pbase.com/paulmj/tauck_canada

Enjoy.

[sjseto]

Great photos, Paul. I really liked the panoramas.

I live in Vancouver and I've been to all of the places you visited but you got to stay in far nicer digs than I did :) I also never got to take a raft trip or go on the SnoCoach. They sound like fun. Beautiful pics from the Athabasca Glacier with the blue skies...every time I've been there, it's overcast and/or raining!

I always enjoy seeing photos from the Canadain Rockies. Some year I'll go again.

Stephanie

[Paulmj]

Thanks for your comments. Vancouver remains one of our favorite cities (the only principal place we enjoy better is Sydney). You're fortunate to live where you do.

I’m very satisfied with the results I got using this new camera on the trip to Canada.

Besides the 10X optical zoom (350mm equivalent telephoto), two things stand out for me. The first is the wide angle capability (28mm equivalent) and also the optical image stabilization system. Admittedly, the OIS is useful to avoid camera shake on long telephoto shots. However, more importantly it allows you to take photos in low light using a relatively long exposure without the use of a tripod.

Take a look at this picture, especially the EXIF data shown below the image. You can see the blur of the person walking on the left, but the background is clear and sharp.

http://www.pbase.com/paulmj/image/83187384

This photo was taken at maximum wide angle, and note the 1/8 second exposure time. There’s no way you can get any kind of acceptable results at that shutter speed while the camera is hand-held unless you have OIS working. The interesting thing is that now you really don’t need flash for interior shooting. Everything looks more natural without flash. I mainly use the flash for fill in bright sunlight.

The camera is also small enough, without being tiny, so I could keep it in a holster-type case on my belt and have it always ready.

One final thing is the availability of a brightness-boost to the LCD screen. Outdoors in the bright sunlight it’s often hard to see the screen well enough to compose the picture properly. With the temporary brightness-boost, it really helped.

[Mike63]

Very nice, my wife and I want to take the train ride through the the Canadian Rockies someday. Hard part is putting back enough money to do so. She sees these pictures and we may be going sooner than later.:)

Thanks for sharing!

[John_Reed]

You really went WILD on panoramas, nice job on those. Thanks for the armchair journey, I'll have to do that myself someday. Looks like the TZ3 carried the burden pretty well, I'd say?

[toolhandee]

I love your pictures! I've been doing a lot of research and have decided on a TZ3. It was nice to see how well it did for you on your trip.

I have a small question about this camera and wasn't sure where to put it on the board. I just want to know if it came in a Tan color too? I've seen a few advertised from some online stores I'm not familiar with but most reviews say that it only came in black, silver and blue. pronto.com is one site I saw it on.
I know it's a bit off-topic but hoping someone knows.
TIA!

[Paulmj]

I just want to know if it came in a Tan color too? I've seen a few advertised from some online stores I'm not familiar with but most reviews say that it only came in black, silver and blue.
TIA!

My understanding is that it comes only in black, silver and blue. Mine is black. I bought it at Amazon, and considering savings on sales tax and free shipping, it was a very good buy.

I'm glad you liked my pictures.

[toolhandee]

Thanks for answering so quickly.
I'm confused why some offbeat sites are offering it in Tan. I'm afraid to order from them but like the color. (since it doesn't come in pink!) My husband thinks it's nuts to worry about the color but that's part of the fun. :-)

[rschofield]

I just want to know if it came in a Tan color too? I've seen a few advertised from some online stores I'm not familiar with but most reviews say that it only came in black, silver and blue.

Back in the beginning of June I posted this message on the DPReview Panasonic forum:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1033&message=23498224

I point you to the entire thread because the news was not received well at all. I happen to agree with the responders but you are welcome to your opinions. ;)

I'm not sure where you can get, though.

[toolhandee]

Thank-you Dick.
So that color is made for the Japan market? Would it be different in any way from the ones marketed to the US?
I must like it because it looks more of a pink blush color than brown!
Or I'm just a girl with bad taste.. :-)

[John_Reed]

Back in the beginning of June I posted this message on the DPReview Panasonic forum:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1033&message=23498224

I point you to the entire thread because the news was not received well at all. I happen to agree with the responders but you are welcome to your opinions. ;)

I'm not sure where you can get, though.It looks like you reported the news, and various responders commented, just like any normal dpreview thread. No hostility there that I could see? In fact, one responder chipped in that Panasonic was planning on producing 10,000 tan TZ3s (DMC-TZ3T) per month, which seems like an ample supply.

[rschofield]

So that color is made for the Japan market? Would it be different in any way from the ones marketed to the US? I must like it because it looks more of a pink blush color than brown!

I'm not sure if it is only for the Japan market. It does show up on some Google searches but from sources that I am unfamiliar with.

The referenced web link does not display any of the TZ3 colors well, so I would not base my decision on it alone.

No hostility there that I could see?

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that there was hostility -- only Yucks and Yuks.

[toolhandee]

Thank-you again for your replies.
I understood what you meant about the 'yuck' and the yuks too Dick!
I didn't mean to hi-jack Paul's thread so I've started a new message on the forum about Japanase market vs. US differences.
Have a good day!