Lumix DMC-FZ20 Combines 12x Zoom With An Optical Image Stabiliser

DMC-FZ20 Black

Panasonic's 5-megapixel LUMIX DMC-FZ20 digital still camera combines a 12x zoom with the company's MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) for close-up action without the jitter associated with hand shake.

The camera features a high performance LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with 12x zoom (equal to a 36-432mm zoom lens on a conventional 35mm film camera) and F2.8 brightness throughout the entire zoom range. The zoom range can be combined with 4x digital zooming for 48x zoom power. The wide lens aperture enhances performance when shooting at night or in dimly lit environments.

The DMC-FZ20 also incorporates the Venus Engine II LSI, which provides a fast camera response when the shutter button is pressed and a reduced shutter interval time so the camera is always ready to shoot.

The Venus Engine II LSI is the "brain" of the camera that also converts the optical data into digital information. It handles all image processing functions simultaneously - from displaying the image on the LCD display to writing data to Panasonic's Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card - as soon as the CCD captures the image signal. This simultaneous parallel processing results in quick start-up and reduced lag time in addition to the increased shutter speed.

DMC-FZ20 Top View

Panasonic has added to this model its MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS), allowing clear images of close-up action without the jitter associated with hand shake, which is especially important for a high zoom camera. With its extraordinary telephoto features and this precision image stabiliser, the camera is engineered to capture every detail of distant or fast-moving subjects with superb brightness and clarity.

Adam Roberts, product marketing, digital still cameras, Panasonic, said: "LUMIX cameras with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser technology help solve the problem of blurry images caused by unsteady hands.

"The DMC-FZ20 has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movements and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabiliser lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD - all the user sees are the outstanding results."

DMC-FZ20 Back view with LCD Panel

Mr Roberts added: "If you like doing things for yourself, take control of your pictures with the DMC-FZ20's Manual Focus Ring. Simply flick the focus button on the side of the lens to MF and you're ready to go.

"If you need to check the focus, our Manual Focus Assist function enlarges the centre part of the image in the viewfinder or LCD monitor by 3x for easy viewing. The Manual Exposure mode allows you to select the aperture and shutter speed of your choice. You can even see how much your setting differs from the setting the camera considers optimal with the Manual Exposure Assist function."

The DMC-FZ20 also features extra-low dispersion (ED) glass in its lens system to minimise chromatic aberration and reduce the refraction differences among light of different wavelengths. This helps to suppress the colour bleeding that may occur in telephoto shots, giving you crisp, vivid images.

Key features

LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens: The DMC-FZ20 offers the superb image rendering of the LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens. The 12x optical zoom comprises 13 lenses in 8 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses, and offers F2.8 brightness across the entire zoom range. This model also provides 4x digital zooming which, combined with the 12x optical zoom, gives up to 48x zoom power for ultralong distance telephoto shots.

Venus Engine II LSI: Panasonic's Venus Engine II has further accelerated response speed, with a shutter release time lag of around 0.008 seconds and a shutter interval of around 0.4 seconds ⁱ. The MEGA BURST consecutive shooting feature captures up to seven images at three frames per second at full resolution ⁱⁱ.

Unlimited consecutive shooting ⁱⁱⁱ is also possible up to the capacity of the SD Card in the digital camera - ideal for capturing fast-moving objects in high resolution. The camera can also record moving images (320 x 240 pixel) at 30 or 10 frames per second (QuickTime Motion JPEG), complete with audio.^iv

The Venus Engine II LSI in this new LUMIX range has raised horizontal and vertical resolution by 10 per cent (compared to the original Venus Engine), while preserving the superb diagonal resolution. The result is fine, detailed image rendering that minimises colour bleeding. The system also uses a low-pass filter to accurately handle the borders between colours and a noise-reduction circuit to help boost image sharpness and clarity.

The advantages of the Venus Engine II extend into the optical area to enhance lens performance. The digital correction capability of the enhanced LSI corrects colour aberration in telephoto shots and vignetting, which are inherent in every optical lens. This combines with the high optical precision of the Leica DC lens to achieve even higher image quality. In addition, the Soft Skin Detail function detects skin areas and activates a low-pass filter and digital toning process to improve complexions when shooting portraits.

MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser: Panasonic's advanced MEGA OIS enhances the camera's telephoto zoom capabilities, helping to suppress the jitter that occurs when zooming in on distant subjects. MEGA OIS also helps to achieve high-quality images in a wide range of shooting conditions such as telephoto, panning, macro close-ups, slow shutter speed, self-portraits and indoor and outdoor shots in low illumination.

Mode Settings: Mode settings can be accessed using the Mode Dial on the camera, or the Scene Mode, accessed via the LCD's on-screen menu.

The Mode Dial includes Program AE mode, Aperture Priority AE mode, Shutter Priority AE mode, Manual Exposure mode, Macro mode, Moving-Image mode and Playback Mode. Scene Modes include Sports, Panning, Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery, Fireworks, Party and Snow.

The on-screen display and other shooting aids are easy to see and use. Menu items appear to stand out from the background in distinctively coloured blocks, created using a total of 126 colours, making them easy to see and select with the cursor key.

The LCD and viewfinder can be conveniently switched to any of five display styles by pressing the DISPLAY button. You can now choose to keep the information display completely outside the shooting area, so it isn't superimposed over the image.

Horizontal and vertical composition guide lines displayed in the viewfinder and LCD make it easy to compose shots or hold the camera level. Real-time histograms, which can be displayed as you line up the shot, show the status of exposure and contrast in real-time.

Auto Focus: The auto focus (AF) system in the DMC-FZ20 provides spot metering, 3-point metering that prevents the system from mistakenly focusing on the area between two subjects, and 9-point metering that helps assure proper focusing no matter how the subject is framed. The 3-point metering mode also focuses more quickly, making it easier to get clear, sharp shots of a subject moving horizontally.

Additional features: Other settings and features that add flexibility include AF assist lamp for low-light situations, 3 light metering modes, continuous AF, highlight display, flash, white balance adjustment, auto bracketing, picture adjustment, colour effect mode, ISO sensitivity settings, and zoom auto review.

DMC-FZ20 with flash open

The DMC-FZ20 is equipped with a built-in multifunctional flash that features Auto, Auto/Red Eye Reduction, Slow Sync/Red Eye Reduction, and Forced On/Off. The flash intensity can be adjusted within a range of ±2 EV. If desired, you can also mount the optional DMW-FL28 external flash onto the FZ20.

The self-timer allows either a 10-second or a 2-second setting. The optional remote shutter lets you shoot by remote control, so you don't have to press the camera's shutter button - which is useful when shooting using a tripod. Other optional accessories include wide and tele conversion lenses.

The DMC-FZ20 is TIFF format compatible, meaning image data can be saved without compression so there is almost no quality degradation; and is PictBridge compatible for direct PC-free printing. Digital images can be viewed on the camera's LCD monitor (2-inch, 130,000 pixels), captured on a SD Memory Card, downloaded to a PC, transferred to CD-Rs, printed out, viewed on a TV or computer screen, or attached to an e-mail message.

Included accessories: Battery charger/battery pack, lens cap, lens hood, lens hood adapter, A/V cable, AC cable, USB connection cable, strap and CD-ROM. (This includes SD viewer for DSC, Arcsoft Photobase, Arcsoft Photoimpression, Arcsoft Panorama maker and USB Driver).

Pricing and availability:

DMC-FZ20 Available: black $1099rrp

RELEASED BY PANASONIC AUSTRALIA