From the Manufacturer
The Panasonic DMC-FX12 Lumix digital camera features a superb optical 3x zoom (35-105mm, on a 35mm film camera equivalent) Leica DC lens with f/2.8 brightness, a 7.2-megapixel CCD and a large, 2.5-inch LCD. all within a compact, stylish profile.
An Intelligent Image Stabilization system comprises two features, Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO Control, that together make it easy to capture beautiful photos every time you shoot. Now recognized as a must-have feature for digital cameras, Mega O.I.S. compensates for the effects of hand-shake, making it possible to capture clear, crisp photos indoors, at night, or when taking macro close-ups -- those 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 how fast the subject is moving and the 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 automatically. You enjoy easy, trouble-free shooting in any situation and get the satisfaction that comes with capturing clear, beautiful images.
In addition, the FX12 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. With the new Date Stamp function, you can simply stamp the date on photos or you can take advantage of two 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.
It also boasts an internal 27MB memory (approximate) and accepts large-capacity SDHC memory cards, giving users more flexibility in shooting and recording. The menu and its graphical user interface have also been redesigned, with the colors brightened for easier viewability.
DMC-FX12 Highlights
Bright f/2.8 Leica DC lens in a compact body The 7.2-megapixel DMC-FX12 packages a bright f/2.8 Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with 3x optical zoom into a stylish, compact body. Comprising seven elements in six groups, including three lenses with three aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit passes Leica's stringent standards and delivers an exceptional optical performance. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power from 3x to 4.1x by using the center part of the CCD.
Intelligent Image Stabilization: Mega O.I.S. for hand-shake plus Intelligent ISO Control for motion blur Panasonic drew on its cutting-edge lens technology to invent Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), an optical image stabilization system that prevents blurring from shaky hands -- the leading cause of blurry images. With Mega O.I.S., it is easier than ever to capture clear, sharp, beautiful images when shooting indoor portraits, illuminated night scenes or even the scenery you see from a train window.
While hand-shake is the single biggest cause of blurry images, it is not the only one. Another problem is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being snapped. Incorporating Panasonic's Intelligent ISO Control, Lumix cameras are the first in the world to fight motion blur by themselves. This system detects whether or not the subject is moving. If it is, the system automatically raises the ISO setting accordingly, allowing the camera to shoot at a higher shutter speed. If the subject is not moving, the camera shoots at a low ISO setting and captures beautiful, natural-looking images. Intelligent ISO Control is included as one of the corrections in certain scene modes used to shoot subjects that are often moving, such as Sports, Baby and the newly added Pet mode. Simply select the mode that best suits the subject, and Intelligent ISO Control provides the optimal corrections, making it easy to capture crisp, clear photos.
With Intelligent Image Stabilization -- Mega O.I.S. to compensate for hand-shake plus Intelligent ISO Control to prevent motion blur -- Panasonic has taken image stabilization a leap forward and equipped the new Lumix DMC-FX12 with the industry's most advanced countermeasures against blurring.
High-quality, high-performance image-processing LSI: The Venus Engine III The DMC-FX12 features Panasonic's Venus Engine III, an advanced image processing engine which in the past was offered only in the upper-level Lumix models. It can record at a sensitivity setting as high as ISO 1250 with full resolution. With its multi-task image-processing capability, the Venus Engine III also boasts outstanding response time. Shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second. This fast response makes it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment shots. It also allows unlimited consecutive shooting -- you can continue snapping shots until the SDHC/SD memory card is full.
Bright LCD for easier shooting and more enjoyable playback The FX12 has a large, 2.5-inch LCD for comfortable viewing both while monitoring shots and while playing back the results. The pixel-mixed readout method used by the CCD automatically increases the brightness of the live image on the LCD, making it much easier to shoot in low lighting. Thanks to the Power LCD function, which boosts the LCD backlighting by 40 percent, even shooting outdoors in bright sunshine is no longer a problem. The High Angle mode, which can be accessed quickly and easily via a dedicated button, makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as to shoot over a crowd.
Record clear, bright, wide-aspect VGA motion images -- ideal for widescreen viewing In addition to recording standard VGA (640 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second, the DMC-FX12 can record stunning wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second. These 16:9 motion pictures look extremely impressive on a wide-screen TV. The pixel-mixed readout method used by the CCD enhances image brightness, so the pictures you see are clear, bright and beautiful.
Other advanced features The compact and stylish FX12 features 27 MB (approximate) of built-in memory, which can save the day should you happen to fill up or forget to take along a memory card. The functions and settings used most often, such as white balance adjustment, ISO level, image size, image quality (compression format), and consecutive shooting are quickly and easily accessed via the Quick Setting function. There's no need to open menus to adjust them. The FX12 also accommodates large-capacity SDHC memory cards. A wide variety of scene modes, including the new Pet and Sunset modes, make it easy to get beautiful photos in a range of photographic situations. Above them, Sports, Baby and the Pet mode take advantage of the Intelligent ISO Control as previously described, to let you get great results even if the subjects have unexpected motion. When used with the optional marine case housing, Underwater mode allows underwater shooting with optimal automatic settings that capture subjects and the surrounding water in beautifully natural colors.
The fun continues even when the shooting is done With the DMC-FX12, 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 a USB cable 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 favorites, 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 FX12 can show on which day of the trip a photo was taken. It 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.
And 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 HDTVs 16:9 screen.
