Help on buying new Panasonic Camera

Mrs_PI

I am wanting to buy a new point and shoot camera and have got it down to 2 models.

Panasonic TZ7 and the newer Panasonic TZ8

I have heard alot of good things about the TZ7 but need help choosing, is the TZ8 worth getting as I have heard the screen on the newer TZ8 is not as good

The price is about the same, zoom etc same so it comes down to which would be the best

Please help me choose

Stompa

Panasonic tend to release these cameras in pairs. So there's the lower spec TZ6 and the higher spec TZ7. They've now brought out the TZ8 (a replacement for the TZ6) and the TZ10 (a replacement for the TZ7).

Personally I'd go for the TZ7, since it's just been superceded they're being sold off pretty cheaply now:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/645892/panasonic-lumix-tz7-digital-camera-

Mrs_PI

Anyone else?

buglawton

I have 2 Pannys (great cameras) one large one one small, luckily on old firmware as a firmware upgrade on these, or any Panny bought on the last 2 years means the batteries are chipped to the cameras and authorized ones cost £50-ish. If you plan on intensive use, budget on that spare battery cost if set on a Panasonic. Can be that other manfrs are doing the same trick nowadays, it's another thing to research when you buy.

Inactive

buglawton wrote: »

I have 2 Pannys (great cameras) one large one one small, luckily on old firmware as a firmware upgrade on these, or any Panny bought on the last 2 years means the batteries are chipped to the cameras and authorized ones cost £50-ish. If you plan on intensive use, budget on that spare battery cost if set on a Panasonic. Can be that other manfrs are doing the same trick nowadays, it's another thing to research when you buy.

Non - Panasonic batteries can now be purchased that work OK with the new software.

Cost around a tenner each.

buglawton

Did you mean genuine Pannasonic batteries or 3rd party ones? Here's a statement from Pnasonic for example::

[ Warning ]
For our customers safety, after this firmware update your Panasonic Digital Camera cannot be operated by unauthorised 3rd party batteries.
(Currently there is no authorised 3rd party battery available in the market.)
Date/Version Description 2009/6/15

...if you are sure that ones that work for the Lumix range with updated firmware can still be had for £10, do you have any links to that effect?

fwor

"For our customers safety" = for our company profits

All of the past "exploding battery" stories have related to original batteries, not copies. They just want to create a nice little monopoly for themselves.

I was going to buy a £280 Panasonic camera until recently, when I discovered the battery trick. I'll buy a Canon instead now.

buglawton

here is a list of older Panasonic cameras where the firmware version decides if your replacement/spare battery is going to cost a lot more:
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/info/dsc_battery.html << hint - don't download and install any of those firmware revisions on your camera without thinking!

As I understand it, all Panasonic cameras launched after middle of 2009 are chip-locked to Panasonic batteries, or 'authorised' ones anyway, regardless of firmware release.

Inactive

buglawton wrote: »

...if you are sure that ones that work for the Lumix range with updated firmware can still be had for £10, do you have any links to that effect?

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_3&products_id=106838

There you go, £9.99 delivered.

buglawton

Ah yes 7dayshop, I use them from time to time. That item claims to be compatible up to firmware 1.3 on TZ6 and TZ7. Meanwhile the reviews on play.com hint that actually, you have to downgrade the firmware to 1.1, for example here:
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/10416733/Inov8-BCG10E-Replacement-Camera-Battery-For-Panasonic-TZ6-TZ7/Product.html?ptsl=1&ob=Price&fb=0

Inactive

I have read reports that the 7dayshop battery seems to work fine, and it is almost half of the price of the Play.com one.

7dayshop have an excellent returns policy if it doesn't.