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| Panasonic Lumix LZ10. Click photo for more images of the LZ8 and LZ10. |
Panasonic has added two new models to its Lumix LZ line of advanced compact cameras in the lead-up to the 2008 PMA trade show in Las Vegas, NV. The 8.1-megapixel DMC-LZ8 and 10.1-megapixel DMC-LZ10 both feature an optically stabilized f/3.3-5.9 Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 5x zoom lens -- with a 30-150mm range for the LZ10 and a 32-160mm range for the LZ8 (35mm equivalents). The LZ8 and LZ10 both sport a 230,000-dot, 2.5-inch LCD that automatically adjusts its brightness level as ambient light changes, and offer Panasonic's High Angle mode for making the screen viewable when held above the head. Both cameras run on AA batteries and use Panasonic's fourth-generation high-performance image processing LSI, the Venus Engine IV, which Panasonic says improves both image quality and operational speed over previous generations.
The LZ8 and LZ10 offer nearly identical sets of features, providing manual and priority exposure modes in addition to 24 automatic shooting modes. The cameras' Advanced Scene options let the photographer fine-tune the Portrait Sports, Landscape, and Night Portrait modes for more specific shooting conditions. Their Intelligent Auto Mode combines optical image stabilization; face detection; Panasonic's Intelligent ISO, which uses motion detection to track subject motion and adjust ISO and shutter speed settings accordingly; Intelligent Scene Selector, which evaluates a scene and selects an appropriate scene mode; and Quick AF continuous autofocus. The LZ-series cameras provide a top light-sensitivity setting of ISO 6400 and shutter speed range of 1/2000 to 60 seconds. Other notable features include auto exposure bracketing, a live histogram, voice annotation, slow-sync flash, and a wide selection of autofocus modes, including spot AF. White balance, contrast, sharpness, saturation, and noise reduction can all be adjusted in fine increments on the new LZ models. In review mode, they provide tools for creating slideshows with music and tagging images with text.
In continuous-shooting mode, both cameras can capture a brief series of full-resolution photos at 2.5fps or an unlimited series of 2-megapixel shots at 5fps for the LZ10 and 5.5fps for the LZ8. Both models also offer 848x480 widescreen video capture.
The $249.95 LZ10 and the $179.95 LZ8 will be available in February 2008 with black and silver finishes.
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