For most of us, holidaying
in the sun means dusting off the trusty old camera and snapping some memorable
moments around the pool or bar. But if your ancient photographic box is
starting to become an embarrassment then a flurry of Lumix releases from
Panasonic might be just what you need. There's a rugged model, a couple with
touchscreen displays, a couple ultra-wide angle lenses and some capable of full
high definition video too. All are storage-friendly SDXC card compatible and
include a host of automated settings to help get the best from any situation.
The Lumix DMC-LX5
The LX5 has received an
external sprucing up that includes a thicker grip and an incorporated
turn-and-push jog dial. It features a newly designed, ultra-bright, F2.0
ultra-wide-angle 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens with 3.8x optical and 4x
digital zoom. Due to the shallow depth of field provided by the extra light
through the lens, Panasonic says it's able to produce beautiful photos with a
soft-focused background with relative ease.
Like the LX3 before it, the
new camera features a 10.1 megapixel CCD but Panasonic has taken the
opportunity to improve the sensitivity and saturation. As well as power optical
image stabilization to help reduce image blur, the threesome of CPUs in the new
Venus Engine FHD image processor offer improved processing speed and noise
reduction. Naturally, you'll also find the company's Intelligent Resolution
technology too.
Its 3-inch, 460,000 dot
wide-angle LCD now has LED backlighting and there's the option of attaching a
Live View Finder via the hot-shoe on top. The LX5 has a new 1:1 aspect setting
and a battery which has been boosted to provide some 400 photos per charge. And
finishing off the summary of specs, it also records AVCHD Lite high definition
video in Motion JPEG format for double the recording time.
Black and white models will
be available from August at a suggested retail price of US$499.95.
The Lumix DMC-TS10
For outdoorsy types, the
company brings the TS10 to the picnic table. It's waterproof to about 10 feet,
should withstand a drop from five feet and is dustproof and freezeproof,
continuing to operate in temperatures as low as -10ºC/14ºF. And if that's not enough,
further protection is afforded by a special silicone jacket.
The TS10 sports a 14.1
megapixel CCD sensor with sensitivity from ISO80 right up to ISO6400 in the
high sensitivity setting, a LUMIX DC VARIO lens with 4x optical and 4x digital
zoom, and benefits from a dedicated Intelligent Auto button that makes it easy
to engage this useful setting. Hand shake and motion blur is offered in the
slightly less powerful form of mega optical image stabilization and 720p high
definition video in Motion JPEG format is featured at 30 frames per second.
The 2.7-inch 230,000-dot
LCD display has auto-light boosting technology to help users see clear images
whatever the external light conditions and, rather than jeopardize the
water-tight sealed frame by including a swivel display, Panasonic has included
a High-Angle mode which is said to make crowd-topping snapshots a little easier
to frame. Its battery should offer around 300 snaps per charge and it will be
available in blue, red, black and silver from mid-September for a suggested
US$249.95.
The Lumix DMC-FZ40
The FZ40 hybrid digital
camera has a 25mm ultra-wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with 24x optical
zoom and a 14.1 megapixel CCD sensor with sensitivity ranging from ISO80 to
ISO6400 in the high sensitivity setting. Having such a powerful zoom, it's
important to keep the effects of hand shake to a minimum so Panasonic has
included enhanced optical image stabilization technology to help eliminate
blur.
The FZ40 benefits from both
Intelligent Resolution and Intelligent Auto technology and is claimed to have
the industry's fastest high speed startup and auto-focus, the latter supplied
by the company's Sonic Speed Auto Focus. Like the LX5, it benefits from a range
of creative controls including My Color, which may be familiar to users of the
Lumix G Micro System and gives users access to such things as Pin Hole, Film
Grain, High Dynamic and High Dynamic B&W.
It records video in AVCHD
Lite high definition format and sports a dedicated instant record button atop
the camera's body. The useful in-camera Video Divide is featured, where users
can perform limited edits using a split screen, and noise-reducing Wind Cut
functionality. The 3-inch, 230,000-dot touchscreen LCD display provides users
with a 100 percent field of view and the battery should be good for 580 shots
between charges.
The FZ40 will be available
towards the end of August for a suggested US$399.95.
The Lumix DMC-FX700
Full 1080p high definition
movie recording in the storage-friendly AVCHD format is offered by the FX700,
which also features a new Venus Engine FHD image processor, Intelligent
Resolution's pixel-by-pixel image enhancement and Intelligent Auto with Motion
Deblur functionality, to help capture sharp focus moving images.
Enhanced optical image
stabilization should help capture clear images through the 24mm ultra
wide-angle F2.2 super bright LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens with a 5x optical
and 4x digital zoom and in addition to 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 aspect images, the
FX700 also offers 1:1. There's a 14.1 megapixel high resolution MOS sensor with
sensitivity from ISO100 to ISO6400 in the high sensitivity setting and a
3-inch, 230,000-dot touchscreen LCD display which allows users to lock focus
and track a subject by touching the image on the screen
Users should get 300 shots
between charges and the camera will be available towards the end of August for
a suggested retail price of US$399.95.
The Lumix DMC-FZ100
There's a free-angle,
tilting, fold-out 3-inch, 460,000 dot LCD display and 0.2-inch viewfinder on
the FZ100 and a newly developed LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with 24x optical
zoom. The hybrid compact camera also features a 14.1 megapixel MOS sensor with
sensitivity ranging from ISO100 up to ISO6400 in the high sensitivity setting.
Intelligent Auto with
Motion Deblur and power image stabilization should help users get sharp, clear
images every time and the mechanical shutter offers a burst shooting speed of
11 frames per second at full resolution or up to 60 frames per second at 3.5 megapixels.
And in case the very thought of having to choose burst frame rates gives you
clammy hands then fear not, the camera features Intelligent Burst shooting to
automatically choose for you. Like the FX700, this camera can record full 1080p
high definition video in AVCHD format and as well as Dolby Digital Stereo
Creator and Wind Cut, the FZ100 also features a newly-created port for an
optional stereo microphone.
The battery should be good
for 410 images on a single charge and the FZ100 should be available towards the
end of August for about US$499.95.
Comments (0 posted):