DSC T500 and Panasonic TZ5/TZ15 different style.. T500 is ulta compact, TZ5 is enthusiast compact (determises the size and thereby capabilities)
for that reason.. TZ5 has 10x optical zoom, and T500 only 5x
TZ5/TZ15 has better image stablization (clear out the hand camera shake at full zoom) at 5x t500 doesnt need the optical stablization persae/
Panasonic’s Lumix TZ5 is the successor to the enormously popular TZ3, and like its predecessor, it may not be the slimmest compact on the market, but uniquely packs in a 10x optical zoom lens complete with image stabilisation and a 28mm wide angle coverage. The TZ5 also features 9.1 Megapixel resolution, a detailed 3in screen with 460k dots, Panasonic's Intelligent Auto with scene recognition and even HD movie recording in the 720p format, along with an optional component output to HDTVs. They’re all nice extras, but it’s the core features which still impresses: a highly flexible zoom range in a pocketable form factor. The best travel compact just got even better.
Pros: 10x stabilised zoom with 28mm; HD video; great auto mode.
Cons: Relatively chunky. HD mode no match for a camcorder.
Overall: The best travel compact just got better.
@rollcage: dude, you are passionate about cameras .....great to see someone as enthusiastic as you
.. it wil benefit only if you get the right thing at the right price.
how is the camera (size, can it fit into your jeans pocket,) features (what are the things you can change in the fully manual mode, aperture, exposure time, what all can you change in the starry sky mode-one having a minutes exposure time- does it have manual focus et all) what are the things being given with the camera ....charger, memory card etc and what are the optional attachments that you can get for it (lenses, underwater kit etc)
i am answering these to tz5
size> TZ5/TZ15 fits into pocket fine.. (lowers, cargos, pants) though if you wear a normal jeans i mean straight fit.. but if ur pocket it small like its hard even to put car keys then ofcourse not, but if you can put ur phone into that then you can put the camera too. moreover these are compact meant to be carry around easily in backpacks and handbags for the ladies.. not pockets since now the models have a 3" screen.. so dont want to bump that too often you get what i mean right. some compacts have a screen that double up as the mirror in ladies handbag tool kit.
for the features just read them over at official page.. that will clear out the doubts then you can ask us if thats better or the other one.. or the other model from the other co. like that ways
optional accesories like what? .. for a point and shoot what you can buy. hmm no tripod, no extra lens, oh yes you can buy camera case.. you can find good ones.. just try fist hand .. many local makes available or try bigbazzer or something like that store..
and for manual control:
buddy you are too much worried about the features.. these stuff are standard these days/ point and shoot have their limitation but they are what they are.. it all depends on what you want to buy.. I have got FZ28 and its amazing its not small.. but allows me to do more.
are you confused.. dont have budget thats why buying compact?
or you want the camera to easy to fit into pockets and anywhere to carry?
clear out doubts
for battery: the compact these days are going slimer and slimer thats why they cant take AA size cells, now most of them carries li-ion batteries that also allows them to be smaller and lighter.
settings control:
different cos, have different settings for at different model. one model may work better at f2.4 or the other at f4.2 something like that. the one that you are looking at are point and shoot compacts .. these are going closer towards the DSLR but they still have many restrictions. compacts are designed to work for particular aspect and area of working. still some work better than others. the panasonic new auto mode is pretty good. i had tried this new iA mode.. works too gr8. I could not find a better manual setting to capture some images in that same time from the same camera. still you can go to manual mode.. i know you are eager to capture the night shots at far end with slower shutter speed, you can experiment that but dont expect to get good results.. bcoz DSLR are going way ahead in this category and why not they are meant to do that. born in that exeriment labs. 110 has a more manul control but once you get used to the interface of tz5 it works the same. also as per my experience i say .. once you get used to that camera.. you wont be going back to setting very often. go for 300 or 400 shots you will be sticking to iA mode.
*a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/images/panasonictz5_top.jpg..*a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/images/panasonictz5_card-001.jpg..*a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/images/captures/quickmenu.gif*a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/images/captures/recmenu.gif..*a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/images/allroundview-001.jpg..*a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/images/panasonictz5_inhand-001.jpg
source: dpreview
Pic-1 Dial to change to auto mode
Pic-2 shows you battery and memory card
Pic-3 quick settings drop down
Pic-4 setting interface
Pic-5 the size.. to show you the exact size.. if it fits in ur pocket well
..
next i am posting the specifications for you..
read more you can find plenty of stuff.. pannasonic score more here over cannon x110is
so advised the compact camera. 