Digital Camera Review

See larger image Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7K 7.2MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) (Electronics) List Price: $179.95 USD Release date March 1, 2007.

Product Features

• 7.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
• 6x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display
• Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) reduces image blur from subject movement and low light
• Records full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) at 30 frames per second
• Stores images on SD/SDHC/MMC memory cards; 27MB internal memory

The DMC-LZ7 boasts 7.2-megapixel recording, a powerful 6x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 37-222mm on a 35mm film camera) and convenient AA battery operation. plus a bright, easy-to-see 2.5-inch LCD. Thanks to Panasonic’s careful redesign inside and out, the LZ7 has a more stylish and higher-quality appearance than previous models, and is smaller and lighter despite using AA batteries.

The new Venus Engine III image processing engine gives them even higher image quality and speedier processing. The LZ7 also incorporates the Intelligent Image Stabilization system, which which comprises two features — Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO Control — that together make it easy to capture beautiful photos every time you shoot. Mega O.I.S. compensates for the effects of hand-shake, making it possible to capture clear, crisp photos indoors, at night, when taking macro close-ups, or using high powered zooming — situations in which hand-shake is most likely to be a problem. Even Mega O.I.S., however, cannot suppress the motion blur caused by a subject moving as the photo is being snapped. That’s where Intelligent ISO Control comes in. In this system, the camera’s Venus Engine III image-processing engine detects whether the subject is moving and, as necessary, raises the ISO setting and shutter speed according to the degree of movement and light conditions. This happens automatically, so you can shoot without the bother of adjusting settings every time conditions change. Lumix and its powerful Intelligent Image Stabilization system do all the work for you. You enjoy easy, trouble-free shooting in any situation and get the satisfaction that comes with capturing clear, beautiful images.

The LZ7 offers a range of features that enhance usability and add convenience. The new Quick Setting function lets you quickly and easily access and set the functions used most often. The Easy Zoom feature shifts the lens instantly to full 6x zoom power at the touch of a dedicated button. With the new Date Stamp function, you can simply stamp the date on photos or you can take advantage of two new, original Lumix features. When travelling, you can stamp the day of the trip on the photos you take. Or, if you have a baby, you can stamp his or her age in months on your photos. The stamped information appears on photos that you print yourself at home or have printed at a photo shop.

Effective resolution has been increased to 7.2 megapixels in the LZ7, supporting enhanced functions. It features approximately 27MB of built-in memory and accepts large-capacity SDHC memory cards for extra shooting convenience and flexibility. Powered by two of Panasonic’s original, extended-life Oxyride dry cell batteries, the LZ7 can take around 250 shots (CIPA). The menu and its graphical user interface have also been redesigned, with the colors brightened for easier viewability.

Combining a powerful 6x optical zoom with Panasonic’s blur-fighting Intelligent Image Stabilization, the DMC-LZ7 makes it easy for even digital camera beginners to take clear, crisp, beautiful photos every time they shoot.

With the DMC-LZ7, the enjoyment of photography doesn’t end when you’re done shooting for the day. One additional function that broadens the fun of photography is Direct Print mode. To select it, simply turn the mode dial on the camera top. Then use the USB cable provided to connect the camera to a Pictbridge-compatible printer, and you’re ready to print beautiful photos. Print all the images you shot or only your favourites, and make one copy or multiple copies as you wish. When you turn the mode dial, the mode selected is indicated on the LCD. This lets you change the mode to recording, playback or direct printing without taking your eyes off the subject.Also interesting is the new Date Stamp function. In addition to showing the date a photo was taken, the LZ7 can show on which day of the trip a photo was taken. They can also stamp your baby’s age in months on a photo, after you’ve taken the shots. These dates, which can be helpful when making a photo album, can be stamped on photos whether you print them yourself at home or have a photo shop do them.

With the optional Panasonic DMW-SDP1 HDTV Photo Player, it’s easy to have a slide show of Lumix images in 1080i high-definition quality. By simply connecting the SDP1, via a component cable, to a high-definition TV such as a Panasonic Viera, and inserting the SDHC/SD memory card into its slot, users can view their photos on a large display together with family or friends. Like Lumix cameras, the DMW-SDP1 incorporates the Venus Engine III imaging engine. This provides extremely quick advancing from one slide to the next. It also allows playback of wide-aspect VGA (848x 480) motion images that fit an HDTV’s 16:9 screen.

Tags: Compact Camera, Panasonic Lumix, Uncategorized by deshot
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The LUMIX G1 is as easy to use as a compact digital camera, with the stunning photo quality of a digital SLR camera. It’s a new-generation digital interchangeable lens camera that does away with the mirror box and complies with the new Micro Four Thirds System standard. In short, the G1 writes an entirely new chapter in the evolution of the digital interchangeable lens camera.  Click here for more info!

3.0-inch free-angle LCD
The large 3.0-inch LCD rotates 180 horizontally and 270 vertically, making it easy for you to capture dynamic shots from extreme angles without getting into an awkward position. And when the lighting around you changes, the LCD backlighting level automatically changes too, so you get comfortable, easy-on-the-eyes viewing at all times.  Click here for more info!

1920 x 1080-pixel HD (high-definition) photo recording
The G1 shoots wide-screen, 16:9, and full-HD images. These images are simply breathtaking when displayed on an HDTV, which handles about four times the data of a standard-definition TV. Enjoy a whole new style of HDTV viewing with family and friends.  Click here for more info!

Full-time Live View
Full-time Live View shows you before you shoot how the settings change the photo. The G1’s Full-time Live View is revolutionary. It lets you see in the LCD how adjusting the exposure, white balance, aperture and even the shutter speed will affect the photo. This kind of super-easy live view shooting has never before been possible with a conventional digital SLR camera.  Click here for more info!

Micro Four Thirds System standard
Micro Four Thirds: The open standard that led to the mirror-less body. The G1 adopts the Micro Four Thirds System standard, developed as an extended version of the Four Thirds System standard for digital camera systems. Using this standard, and developing a camera body that eliminates the mirror box and optical viewfinder unit, we managed to reduce the lens mount diameter by about 6 mm (compared with the conventional Four Thirds camera) and shorten the flange-back distance* by about half. The result is a digital interchangeable lens camera that’s both extremely compact and highly mobile.  Click here for more info!

IA Mode
IA Mode automatically adjusts settings to fit the shooting condition. If you’ve hesitated to buy a digital SLR camera because you think they’re hard to use, your wait is over. Intelligent Auto mode activates 6 detection and compensation functions that work automatically, leaving you free to just aim and shoot.  Click here for more info!

Features included:

• 3.0-inch free-angle LCD
• 1920 x 1080-pixel HD (high-definition) photo recording
• Full-time Live View
• Micro Four Thirds System standard
• IA Mode
• Shake detection (MEGA O.I.S) – Helps prevent blurring when the camera shakes
• Motion detection (Intelligent ISO Control) – Helps prevent blur caused by subject motion
• Light detection (Intelligent Exposure) – Adjusts the brightness of dark areas in the image
• Advanced Face (Detection Face Detection AF/AE) – Helps deliver clear portraits
• Scene detection (Intelligent Scene Selector) – Selects the optimal scene mode for the situation
• Subject detection (AF Tracking) – AF Tracking follows moving subjects and adjusts accordingly
• My Color mode – color control
• Film mode – To capture photos with a special mood or expressiveness
• HD output-ready for the HDTV age
• Standard Accessories: Battery Charger/AC Adapter, Battery Pack, Body Cap, Video Cable, USB Connection Cable, AC Cable, Shoulder Strap, CD-ROM
• Dimensions(WxHxD): 3.29” x 4.88” x 1.78”
• Weight: .85 LBS
• Click here for more info!

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Tags: DSLR Camera, Panasonic Lumix by deshot
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Panasonic today announced the launch of the new LUMIX FS-Series of digital cameras, debuting a pair of 10.1-megapixel models, the DMC-FS20 and DMC-FS5, both which feature 30mm wide-angle Leica DC lens with 4x optical zoom. The FS models, a stylish sister-line of the highly-acclaimed LUMIX FX-Series, combines easy operation with a slim and sleek look, enabling both beginner and advanced users to take beautiful digital photos with a model they can slip in their pocket. Both cameras also have Intelligent Auto Mode, an advanced intuitive system of technologies that help users take better photos more easily.

“Panasonic added the FS-Series to our LUMIX line of digital cameras to address the needs of consumers who want a point-and-shoot camera that is not only affordable, intuitive and easy-to-use, but also stylish and small enough that they slip it in their pocket or into a small purse,” said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “The FS-line packages Leica lenses, Intelligent Auto Mode, powerful image processing and superior memory power in a small, sleek design. We want our LUMIX digital cameras to have features that enable great digital photos regardless of the level of the photographer.”

The FS20 and FS5 feature Intelligent Auto Mode, comprised of five functions: Mega O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection and Quick AF (auto focus).
MEGA O.I.S. – Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and the lens system shifts to compensate, helping to prevent hand-shake from creating a blurry image.

Intelligent ISO – With Intelligent ISO, the FS20 and FS5 can determine if the photo subject is moving and change the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus giving a blur-free photo.

Intelligent Scene Selector – Intelligent Scene Selector senses the ambient conditions, recognizes the shooting environment and will automatically select the appropriate scene mode from: Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode. This intuitive technology, helps the consumer use the most common scene modes that are built into the camera, but often go unused, without making any manual adjustments.

Face Detection – Panasonic’s Face Detection detects faces anywhere in the frame and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure settings so portraits come out clear and crisp. Detecting up to 15 faces, Panasonic’s Face Detection can even track a face if the subject is moving.

Quick AF – The Quick AF (auto focus) system starts focus on the subject by just pointing the camera to the subject, thus minimizing the AF time.

In addition to powerful the Intelligent Auto Mode, the fourth generation high-performance image-processing Venus Engine IV LSI helps produce higher-quality pictures with an advanced signal processing system. It adds a new high-performance noise reduction system that helps reproduce even the most delicate parts of images naturally and without color bleeding. The Venus Engine IV reduces shutter release time lag while still enabling high-resolution picture taking, making it easier to capture spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities.

Other features of the DMC-FS20 and the DMC-FS5 include approximately 50 MB of internal memory and a 3.0-inch LCD for the FS20 and a 2.5-inch LCD for the FS5 – perfect for easy-to-see viewing of images. Furthermore, these models feature Intelligent LCD, which detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level of the LCD to offer optimal clarity in any situation, whether dark or light; indoors or outdoors.

The LUMIX DMC-FS20, with a manufacturer’s retail price (MSRP) of: $299.95 will be available in pink, black and silver models, and the DMC-FS5 (MSRP: $249.95) will be available in red, black and silver models. Both will be available in February 2008.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In its commitment to provide consumers with extensive imaging resources, Panasonic LUMIX established the Digital Photo Academy, a series of nationwide workshops designed to instruct consumers how to optimize the features on their digital cameras and produce high-quality photos. Panasonic is honored to support OUR PLACE – The World’s Heritage, a project that will create the world’s largest photographic collection of UNESCO World Heritage sites, with acclaimed photographers exclusively using LUMIX digital cameras to capture all images. Information about Panasonic LUMIX digital still cameras and its affiliated programs is available at www.panasonic.com/dsc.

Tags: Compact Camera, Panasonic Lumix by deshot
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Panasonic today announced the newest addition to its popular line of super-slim LUMIX FX-Series digital cameras, with the introduction of the DMC-FX35, complete with Panasonic’s first-ever 25mm ultra-wide-lens. The FX35, with 10.1 megapixels, also features a 4x optical zoom, Panasonic’s Advanced Intelligent Auto mode, a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens offering f2.8 brightness and the new fourth-generation new fourth-generation Venus Engine image processor.

“With the Panasonic LUMIX FX35’s 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens, we are providing consumers with a camera that captures remarkable and unprecedented width and depth – all available in a slim camera that is small enough to carry in a pocket or small purse,” said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Consumers are gradually beginning to understand the value of wide-angle lenses. When they fully understand that the FX35 can help them capture almost double the frame, meaning they can squeeze twice as many friends into the group shot, we’re confident we’ll have some happy digital photographers.”

To achieve a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens in the slim design of the FX35, Panasonic developed a new unevenly thick concave meniscus EA (Extra high refractive index Aspherical) lens. Working closely with Leica to meet their strict standards on lenses, the LUMIX FX35’s lens compromises of seven elements in six groups, including four aspherical lenses with six aspherical surfaces.

Panasonic’s Advanced Intelligent Auto mode expands Panasonic’s system of intuitive technologies with the addition of Intelligent Exposure and Digital Red-eye Correction. Consisting of seven advanced and intuitive technologies, with Advanced Intelligent Auto mode, the consumer is able to rely on the advanced technologies happening automatically, without them changing any settings, thus taking high-quality photos is easy and effortless. Advanced Intelligent Auto mode includes:
Intelligent Exposure – With this new feature, photos will no longer be under- or over-exposed. Instead, the FX35, instantly analyze the framed image and adjusts the brightness in areas that are too dark because of dim lighting, backlighting or the use of the flash. The camera will automatically adjust the brightness accordingly.

Digital Red-eye Correction– This feature helps to eliminate the red-eye problem that sometimes results when taking flash shots at the night. Incorporated into the camera, the built-in flash emits a small preliminary flash before the main flash, detects red-eye and will digitally correct it.

MEGA O.I.S. – Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and the lens system shifts to compensate, helping to prevent hand-shake from creating a blurry image.

Intelligent ISO – With Intelligent ISO, the FX35 can determine if the photo subject is moving and change the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus giving a blur-free photo.

Intelligent Scene Selector – Intelligent Scene Selector senses the ambient conditions, recognizes the shooting environment and will automatically select the appropriate scene mode from: Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode. This intuitive technology, helps the consumer use the most common scene modes that are built into the camera, but often go unused, without making any manual adjustments.

Face Detection – Face Detection detects faces anywhere in the frame, even if they are moving, and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure settings so portraits come out clear and crisp. Panasonic’s Face Detection detects up to 15 faces.

Quick AF – The Quick AF (auto focus) system starts focus on the subject by just pointing the camera to the subject, thus minimizing the AF time.
The FX35 features a fourth-generation high-performance image processing LSI, the Venus Engine IV. The Venus Engine IV produces higher-quality digital photos, as compared to the Venus Engine III predecessor, with an advanced signal processing system that produces a quick response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second, making it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. In burst shooting mode, the DMC-FX35 can snap 2.5 shots per second at full resolution**. Also, in High-Speed Burst shooting mode***, it fires an incredible 6 shots-per-second, plus unlimited consecutive shooting****, which lets the consumer snap photos until the memory card is full.

Consumers can view slideshows on the FX35’s 2.5-inch LCD, and new this year, can also add mood-appropriate music, choosing from natural, slow, urban or swing tunes. The LUMIX FX35 incorporates an Intelligent LCD, which detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level of the LCD in 11 fine steps, to offer a display with the most appropriate clarity in any situation. Users can also enjoy slideshows of captured images with music effects to match the mood of the images. Furthermore, the High Angle mode makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as when shooting over a crowd.

The LUMIX FX35 is capable of recording 720p High Definition motion pictures and 1920 x 1080 pixel High Definition-ready photos that perfectly fit a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV. Panasonic VIERA Plasma or LCD HDTVs that have an integrated SD Memory Card slot, so viewing still images is simple as inserting the SD card. In addition, with the newly added HD component output capability, consumers can enjoy watching still and motion images in stunning HD quality taken by simply taking the DMC-FX35 and connecting the camera via an optional component cable (DMW-HDC2).

The DMC-FX35 will be available in March 2008 in silver, black and blue, models with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $349.95.

*Comparison to 35mm film camera

** Maximum 5 images in standard mode/ 3 images in fine mode.

*** In 2-megapixel (4:3), 2.5-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) recording.

**** The consecutive shooting speed varies with the memory card, image size, and image compression mode. The number of shots depends on the memory card size, battery life, image size and image compression mode.

Tags: Compact Camera, Panasonic Lumix by deshot
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PhotographyBLOG reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes:

This is an 8 megapixel bridge-style compact with a lens that covers a focal range of 28-504mm, perfect for everything from wide-angle landscapes to close-up sports photography. …

The defining feature of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 digital camera is its massive 18x zoom lens, equivalent to a very versatile 28-504mm focal length, which should cover virtually every imaginable photographic situation. The FZ18 is a bridge-style compact camera, looking just like a true DSLR at first glance, but featuring a non-interchangeable lens instead.  …

As the debate rages on as to whether, with DSLR prices falling well within reach of the consumer, there is still a market for bridge cameras and so-called ’super zooms’, Panasonic releases its own big hitting 18x optical zoom offering in the 8 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18. Olympus was the first to offer an zoom on its SP-550 UZ, now replaced by the 560, and Fujifilm counter attacked with the FinePix S8000fd, so it seems that at least someone is still after a big zoom on a small-ish body.  …

Though the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 requires some degree of familiarization and patience to fully get to grips with the range of features on offer – simply because you don’t find all of them located where you might expect, and, yes, that joystick is rather fiddly to operate – that won’t prevent you from taking photographs from the get go; largely because the Intelligent Auto Mode is so reliable.

Detail review about  Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

Tags: Panasonic Lumix, Prosumer Camera by deshot
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