Today, Panasonic introduced the new LUMIX DMC-ZR1 digital camera, featuring the world?s first 0.3mm thin aspherical lens, the LUMIX FP8 equipped with a 28mm wide-angle lens and 4.6x optical zoom as well as the DMC-FZ35 with HD recording capabilities.
LUMIX DMC-ZR1
Panasonic's new LUMIX DMC-ZR1 digital camera features the world?s first 0.3mm thin aspherical lens, allowing for a compact body that still features a powerful, 25mm-ultra-wide-angle, 8x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens.
With a zoom range of 25-200mm, the ZR1 allows for both expansive scenery photos as well as close-ups. This zoom also works during video recording. The 12.1-megapixel resolution allows photos to be greatly enlarged while still retaining increased detail.
Another key feature of the ZR1 is its fast Auto Focus (AF). This, combined with a high-speed start-up of only 1.1 second, helps the ZR1 to catch even the quick action shots. The ZR1 has also a 2.7-inch Intelligent LCD, and a powerful battery life with the highly energy-efficient image processing LSI ? Venus Engine V ? which takes approximately 330 pictures during a single charge. As found in all Panasonic LUMIX cameras, the ZR1 features Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode, now with POWER Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.), which features double the repression power, compared to MEGA O.I.S., the previous image stabilization system, to help capture blur-free images.
Other features of the DMC-ZR1 include:
- Additional Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode Features
- Hand-Shake Component ? Answers the problem of natural hand-shaking that goes along with pressing the shutter button.
- Face Recognition ? Up to six faces can be registered, and up to three can be simultaneously recognized to show their names once registered.
- Travel Mode ? Users can quickly organize information related to travel, including destination, date and time. Playback of these photos is just as easy, by designating the date or period of travel on the calendar menu interface.
- High Dynamic Mode ? Helps to capture a scene with moderate exposure even when the scene may contain both bright and dark areas.
- PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 ? Included software allows the user to view, edit and archive captured photos and videos. It features dramatic speed-up of operation and also allows users to store and sort photos by a specific, recognized face in the image.
The LUMIX DMC-ZR1 will have a suggested retail price of $279.95 and will be available in September 2009 in black, red, blue, and silver.
LUMIX FP8
12.1 megapixels, an 28mm wide-angle, 4.6x Leica DC lens with folding optics and a futuristic design are the main characteristics of the new LUMIX DMC-FP8 digital camera.
The FP8 also features advanced functions including high-speed Auto Focus (AF) and Panasonic?s Intelligent Auto (iA) suite of technologies. With a fast AF, combined with a high-speed start-up of only 0.95 seconds, the FP8?s fast response catches even the most fleeting shots. Panasonic?s iA, a popular feature on LUMIX cameras, now includes POWER Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.). The hand-shake generated when pressing the shutter button, or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed, is significantly minimized by the improved POWER O.I.S. to help reduce blurry photos.
The FP8?s design has intricate detailing which features blue LED cursor buttons that glow when pressed, and its centered back panel gives it an overall modern look. Additionally, the 2.7-inch Intelligent LCD offers a dynamic and clear view of the scenes and subjects being photographed. In the Face Recognition mode, up to three people can be simultaneously recognized to show their names on the monitor once registered. Additionally, the powerful battery life of the highly energy-efficient image processing LSI, Venus Engine V, allows users to take approximately 380 pictures.
Other features of the DMC-FP8 include:
- HD Movies with VIERA Link Networking ? Records dynamic HD motion pictures in 1280 x 720p at a smooth 30 fps, in addition to WVGA (848 x 480) and normal VGA (640 x 480).
- Scene Modes ? Twenty-seven scene modes are available with the FP8, including the High Dynamic mode which helps to capture a scene with moderate exposure, even though the scene may contain both bright and dark areas together.
- PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 ? Included with the FP8, this software allows users to view, edit and archive captured photos and videos with greater ease.
The LUMIX DMC-FP8 will have a suggested retail price of $299.95 and will be available in September 2009 in black, red and silver.
LUMIX DMC-FZ35
The new LUMIX DMC-FZ35 is a digital camera featuring AVCHD Lite, High Definition (HD) video recording capability, combined with a 27mm wide-angle, 18x optical zoom LEICA DC lens.
A successor to the FZ28, the FZ35 packs enhanced creative features combined with the power to shoot HD videos, including motion zoom capabilities to take full advantage of the 18x zoom. The operational layout of the FZ35 includes a dedicated video record button, making it a hybrid ? a single model that performs seamlessly at capturing both still and motion images.
New manual controls and creative options, include:
- Creative Movie Mode ? Allows the user to set the shutter speed and aperture manually to make even more impressive movies. Changing the shutter speed brings special effects to movies, which is especially suitable for shooting fast-moving subjects. The ability to control the aperture is convenient when there are several subjects at different distances.
- My Color Mode ? This special option gives free reign to the user?s creativity. The color, brightness and saturation parameters can be freely adjusted while seeing how the adjustments affect the picture, live on the monitor.
- High Dynamic Mode ? Helps to capture a scene with moderate exposure even though the scene may contain both bright and dark areas.
The 12.1 mega pixel-FZ35 features the upgraded POWER Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) and ultra high-speed Auto Focus (AF) for capturing action scenes as they happen. Additionally, with the super-powerful 18x optical zoom lens, it is easy to capture subjects that are far away or take dramatic close-ups.
With the enhanced energy-efficient image processing LSI ? the Venus Engine HD ? the FZ35 has an extended battery life of approximately 470 pictures. As with all Panasonic LUMIX cameras, the FZ35 features Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode, a Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Exposure and Face Recognition.
The LUMIX DMC-FZ35 will have a suggested retail price of $399.99 and will be available in September 2009 in black.