Panasonic has announced six new digital still cameras ranging from $329 to $769rrp.
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February 16, 2006: Panasonic has announced six new digital still cameras ranging from $329 to $769rrp. Like other models in the LUMIX series, the DMC-TZ1 features MEGA OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser). Panasonic says the DMC-TZ1’s the Venus Engine III image processor detects both chromatic and luminance noise separately and suppresses only the chromatic noise levels, that drastically reduce image quality. As a result, it claims to be able to shoot at ISO 800 in full resolution and at high shutter speeds. The DMC-TZ1 has a 2.5″ large, high resolution (207k pixels) LCD, a recording capacity of 250 pictures (CIPA) on a single charge, release time lag of 0.006 sec. minimum and the shutter interval is approx. 0.5sec (not including time for AF), and a start up time of 0.95 sec. MEGA BURST shooting mode can shoot at three frames per second in full resolution, and unlimited consecutive shooting is possible up to the capacity of the built-in memory or the SD memory card. In addition to standard VGA motion image recording (640×480) at 30fps, the DMC-TZ1 can record full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848×480) at 30 fps. The DMC-TZ1 also features 18 scene modes including ‘Beach’ for strong sunlight and ‘Aerial’ which assists shooting through the windows of an aeroplane. The ‘Travel Date’ setting records and displays images in chronological order of your travels, and ‘World Time Setting’ can set the time and date of 74 locations across the world.? The DMC-TZ1 will be sold from April at $659 rrp. Included accessories: Battery charger, battery pack, battery carrying case, 16MB SD Memory Card, AC cable, A/V cable, USB connection cable, strap and CD-ROM. (CD-ROM includes LUMIX Simple Viewer, Arcsoft Photobase, Arcsoft Photoimpression, Arcsoft Panorama Maker and USB driver). LUMIX DMC-FX01 The slim, 6-megapixel DMC-FX01 features a 28mm (35mm film camera equivalent) wide-angle LEICA DC lens – while still maintaining the compact profile of the DMC-FX9. DMC-FX01 has a ‘High Sensitivity’ mode, which allows shooting at a maximum ISO 1600 setting, and also features motion picture recording of wide aspect VGA (848 x 480) at 30fps, a 2.5-inch LCD, 16 scene modes, 3.6x Optical Zoom. The zoom ratio can be extended up to 5x in 3-megapixel mode using ‘Extra Optical Zoom’. Shutter release time lag is a minimum of 0.005 seconds (not including autofocusing time) and the shutter interval is 0.7 seconds. Start-up time is 1.6sec, and like the DMC-TZ1, the MEGA BURST shooting mode can shoot at three frames per second in full resolution, and unlimited consecutive shooting is possible up to the capacity of the built-in memory or the SD memory card. The DMC-FX01 is $659rrp and will be available in late March in silver. Included accessories: Battery charger, battery pack, battery carrying case, 16MB SD Memory Card, AC cable, A/V cable, USB connection cable, strap and CD-ROM. (CD-ROM includes LUMIX Simple Viewer, Arcsoft Photobase, Arcsoft Photoimpression, Arcsoft Panorama Maker and USB driver). LUMIX DMC-FZ7 The six-megapixel DMC-FZ7 – successor to the DMC-FZ5 – features a Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens system, 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 36mm to 432mm on a 35mm film camera lens) with aperture of F2.8 to 3.3, 6-megapixel CCD and Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS). The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is now located in a vertical line with the lens barrel to allow more comfortable monitoring when shooting through the viewfinder. An omni-directional joystick that controls manual focus and exposure and a new, 710 mAh battery that extends shooting time, allowing up to 320 images to be captured on a single charge. DMC-FZ7 has ISO settings up to 1600, weighs a total of 357g with battery installed, release time lag of minimum 0.008 seconds, shutter interval of approximately minimum 0.5 seconds (not including time for AF), consecutive shooting up to three frames per second at full resolution. The camera has a 9-point, 3-point high speed, 1-point normal speed and Spot autofocus and can be set to 1-point high-speed autofocus. An AF Assist Lamp provides extra lighting when needed. Focus and exposure and are adjustable via joystick, with shortcuts to variables such as white balance adjustment, ISO setting, image size setting and compression format by pressing and holding down the joystick, even while monitoring a subject on the LCD. In Manual Focus mode, both the focus distance and DOF (depth of field) according to the zoom range and aperture is displayed. An MF assist function enlarges the centre of the image to make focusing easier. Shutter speed extends up to 60 seconds at slowest in Manual Exposure mode and is adjustable from 1/2000 to 60 seconds for a wide range of shooting opportunities. Optional accessories now available for the DMC-FZ7 allow more creative shooting. They include a 1.7x tele conversion lens (734mm on a 35mm film camera) and a 0.7x wide conversion lens (25.2mm on a 35mm film camera). Other optional accessories include ND filters, AC adaptor, MC protector, and close-up lens. Movies can be recorded in Wide VGA (848 x 480) at 30fps, and Normal VGA recording (640 x 480) is also available. The DMC-FZ7 has a 2.5″ LCD monitor and ‘Power LCD’ boosts the backlighting of the LCD by 40 per cent for shooting in bright outdoors locations. Up to 25 ‘thumbnails’ of stored images can be displayed on the LCD screen and images can also be date-searched using the ‘Calendar Display’ mode. The DMC-FZ7 has 16 scene modes, including ‘Tele Macro’ allows shooting as close as 100cm from the subject with the zoom set to maximum telephoto. $769rrp, available mid March in silver and black. Included accessories: Battery charger/battery pack, 16MB SD Memory Card, lens cap, lens hood, lens hood adapter, A/V cable, AC cable, USB connection cable, strap and CD-ROM. (This includes SD viewer for DSC, Arcsoft Photobase, Arcsoft Photoimpression, Arcsoft Panorama maker and USB Driver). LUMIX DMC-LS2 The Panasonic DMC-LS2 features a 5-megapixel CCD, MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) and a 3x optical zoom lens. The LS2 comes packaged with Panasonic’s own Oxyride AA batteries. With 2x Oxyride batteries, the LS2 can take up to 250 pictures (CIPA). The camera can also use regular AA batteries. Like the cameras above, the MEGA BURST shooting mode can shoot at three frames per second in full resolution, and unlimited consecutive shooting is possible up to the capacity of the built-in memory or the SD memory card. The LS2 has a 2-inch LCD with a high-angle function, and it allows playback of 1, 9, 16 and 25 pictures at a time in a multi-split screen. The LS series has a mode dial for shortcuts to scene modes and Simple Mode. The LS2 contains 5 new scene modes compared to the previous model (LS1), bringing the total to 13. Other features include Motion image mode at 30 or 10fps (320 x 240 pixels QuickTime Motion JPEG), image slideshow, auto angle detection, composition guidelines, real-time histograms, selection of 3 aspect ratios, white balance, auto bracketing, colour effect mode, picture adjustment, zoom auto review, flash, self-timer, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity settings and trimming and resizing. $329rrp, available late March. Included accessories: 2x AA Panasonic Oxyride batteries, AC cable, video cable, USB connection cable, strap and CD-ROM. (This includes SD viewer for DSC, Arcsoft Photobase, Arcsoft Photoimpression, Arcsoft Panorama maker and USB Driver). LUMIX DMC-LZ5 and DMC-LZ3 The 6-megapixel DMC-LZ5 and the 5-megapixel DMC-LZ3 incorporate Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS), 6x optical zoom, MEGA BURST consecutive shooting function, and a 1-point high-speed autofocus feature that is new to the LZ product line. The LZ5’s 2.5-inch LCD and the LZ3’s 2.0-inch LCD are improved over the previous cameras in the LZ Series, with higher sensitivity for viewing in low-light situations and ‘High-angle LCD’ allows viewing when holding the camera overhead for a high-angle shot. There are now an additional 6 scene modes, bringing the total to 14. Moving images can now be captured in VGA size (640 x 480 pixels) at 30fps. The DMC-LZ5’s built-in microphone also allows an audio track to be recorded at the same time. Other features include thumbnail display of images (9, 16 or 25) on the LCD, image slideshow, auto angle detection, composition guidelines, real-time histograms, selection of 3 aspect ratios, white balance, auto bracketing, colour effect mode, picture adjustment, zoom auto review, flash, self-timer, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity settings and trimming and resizing. DMC-LZ5 $549rrp, available mid March DMC-LZ3 $439rrp, available mid March Included accessories: 2x AA Panasonic Oxyride batteries, A/V cable (LZ5), video cable (LZ3), USB connection cable, strap and CD-ROM. (This includes SD viewer for DSC, Arcsoft Photobase, Arcsoft Photoimpression, Arcsoft Panorama maker and USB Driver).
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