Panasonic will release the Lumix DMC-FX520, the company’s first digital camera with a 3-inch touch-screen LCD, in Australia next month at an RRP of $769.

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April 2, 2008: Panasonic will release the Lumix DMC-FX520, the company’s first digital camera with a 3-inch touch-screen LCD, in Australia next month at an RRP of $769.
The DMC-FX520 joins the DMC-FX36 in offering an ultra-wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with a focal length equivalent to 25mm in 35mm format. Featuring 10.1-megapixel resolution and a 5x optical zoom range, the FX520 has an intuitive dual control system using both touch-screen and joystick operation. Panasonic’s advanced Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies are designed for snapshooters and include Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection, Continuous Auto-focus, Intelligent Exposure, Touch-screen AF/AE Control, Digital Red-Eye Correction and Intelligent Image Stabilisation.

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Also new to the DMC-FX520 is Auto Focus (AF) tracking, a feature that tracks the photo subject even if it moves after the AF is set. Users can now go a step further and easily set auto focus and exposure by simply touching the screen. A stylus-pen is supplied for making fine adjustments.

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Rear view of the FX520, showing the stylus-pen that can be used for makign fine adjustments o nthe touch-screen.

To activate the menu, users simply touch the mode they want after pressing the mode button. In the recording mode, autofocus and exposure can be set at the desired part of the frame by simply touching the subject at that part to activate AF/AE.

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In manual exposure mode, adjustments can be made using an on-screen slider to adjust aperture and shutter speeds. Users can also set the auto focus and exposure in the desired part of the frame by simply touching the subject while recording. In playback mode, a new ‘Easy Organisation’ menu allows photos to be selected and viewed by scrolling through the thumbnails located below the main window. Titles can be edited via the same touch menu interface.
All Lumix cameras can take 1920 x 1080 pixel HD (high-definition) photos that perfectly fit a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV for full-screen viewing. Users can create slideshows with a variety of change effects and matching music. The DMC-FX520 also records HD video in 1280 x 720p at a smooth 30 fps, in addition to WVGA (848 x 480) and VGA (640 x 480). The camera offers long battery life, with up to 280 images on a single charge. 50MB of internal memory complements SD/SDHC card compatibility.

The FX520 will be available in silver or black. For more information, visit www.panasonic.com.au.