When the PC Magazine chose its budget super zoom last time, they selected the Panasonic Lumix Digital Camera which has a 12X optical zoom lens. It does not have a true angle view but the advanced features are quite handy for getting real quality photographs. The 7.2 mega pixel camera is one of the choicest cameras of the Gadget Addicts globally.

The 4.6 mm to 46 mm range and corresponding maximum f stops of f/3.3 to f/4.9 are extremely handy. The big news here is that this very compact super zoom gives you a real wide-angle view. In my book, that’s more important than zooming in, since you can always crop your photos later. Even better, the lens has very little distortion. Easily the camera has come in to list itself among the Best Digital Camera Reviews.

In terms of price too the camera is quite convenient for the end user. The price ranges around $350 which is less than the price of the contemporary Nikon D80 though it is more than the Canon PowerShot A560 and few such other models. The camera is nicely designed, too, and available in three colors—blue, black, and silver. Of course, if the TZ3 had an articulating LCD, the end users would have been happier. But when you look at the advantages you get at the comparatively low price of $350, the disadvantages look insignificant.