Panasonic's award-winning 2007 travel zoom — 7.2MP CCD, 28-280mm equiv 10x stabilised lens, 3in LCD.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 was a compact Travel Zoom camera announced on 31 January 2007, succeeding the original TZ1 and launched in parallel with the TZ2. It won both the TIPA Best Superzoom Digital Camera and EISA European Compact Camera awards in 2007, cementing the TZ line's reputation.
It carries a 7.2-megapixel 1/2.35in CCD and a 10x optical zoom equivalent to 28-280mm with Mega O.I.S. stabilisation — notably wider at the short end than the TZ1's 35mm. Framing is on a large 3.0in 230k-dot LCD, shutter speeds run 1/60 to 1/2000s in normal use, ISO reaches 1250 (3200 in high-sensitivity mode), and storage is SD/SDHC with a 3.7V 1000mAh lithium-ion pack.
A fully automatic compact without aperture or shutter control, the TZ3 suits travellers and casual shooters who want real wide-to-tele reach in a coat pocket. The 28mm-equivalent wide end makes it more useful for landscapes and interiors than most 2007 rivals.
On used examples, check the proprietary battery still holds charge and a charger is included, that the extending zoom is free of grinding or misalignment, and that the large LCD — the only framing option — is unmarked. CCD hot pixels can appear with age; test a dark long exposure. SD/SDHC cards are easy to find.