Digital Home Thoughts: CNet Reviews the 10x Zoom Panasonic TZ5

"Many might find the attractions of the 9-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 irresistible: it's compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket, yet packs a 10x zoom lens, complete with 28mm-equivalent wide-angle view and optical image stabilizer. It also has a 3-inch LCD and some very interesting shooting features. Extremely similar to its less-expensive sibling, the DMC-TZ4, the TZ5 offers higher 9-megapixel resolution (compared with 8 megapixels for the TZ4), a 1,270x720-pixel resolution movie-capture mode and a larger LCD (2.5 inches for the TZ4). Because of the higher resolution, the TZ5's performance is also rated a bit slower, with fewer photos fitting in its memory buffer, than the TZ4. Finally, it's about 0.01 inch fatter and at 8.4 ounces, 2 ounces heavier."

The lack of manual control, or even semi-manual controls, and the image quality do this camera in for me. Otherwise I can see this camera being one of the better options in the mid-range point and shoot category. Although for a around $275, I don't know what other camera offers the features that the Lumix TZ5 does.