Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX10, FX12 - anti-blur compacts launched

Press release:
Panasonic’s new DMC-FX10 and DMC-FX12 digital still cameras offer a wealth of features disproportionate to their ultra slim and stylish size.  Featuring a superb optical 3x zoom (35-105mm, on a 35mm film camera equivalent) Leica DC lens with f/2.8 brightness, Panasonic’s ingenious anti blur systems – MEGA O.I.S and Intelligent ISO control – you have to look twice to believe these really are Panasonic’s entry level stylish compact models.

The 7.2 megapixel DMC-FX12 and 6.0 megapixel DMC-FX10 feature a bright f/2.8 LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with 3x optical zoom.  The high quality Leica DC lens carries on the proud tradition of its famous Leica brand, the German camera maker renowned for lenses that combine superb performance with compact size.  Comprising seven elements in six groups, including three lenses with three aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit matches Leica’s stringent standards and delivers an exceptional optical performance.

The zoom ratio can be extended up to 4.5x (4.1x for the FX10) in 3 megapixel resolution mode with minimal deterioration thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom.  By using the central part of the CCD, this powerful zooming function allows you to easily capture and magnify distant subjects.

Keeps your shots steady, even if you’re not
Jitter from handshake is far and away the biggest single cause of blurry shots. Lumix cameras help solve this problems with an advanced optical image stabilising system – Panasonic’s ingenious MEGA Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS). This system uses built-in gyrosensors to detect even tiny camera movement and then shifts a lens in the opposite direction to compensate, giving you sharp, clear images without deterioration.

Detects movement, prevents blurring
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 taken – particularly common when taking pictures of sports or young children for example.  In these conditions Intelligent ISO Control comes into its own.  This system actually 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 effortlessly shoot without the need to adjust the settings every time the conditions change.

Panasonic Lumix now offers solutions for both major causes of blurred images – O.I.S when you are moving, and Intelligent ISO Control when the subject is moving. Thanks to Panasonic, you can now take clear and beautiful images in even the trickiest situations.

Lightning speed, superb performance
The DMC-FX12 and DMC-FX10 feature the Venus Engine III, Panasonic’s advancedimage-processing engine that can record at a sensitivity setting as a high as ISO 1250 at full resolution.  This engine features the type of technology you expect to find in a higher end camera, providing an exceptional level of functionality for cameras in this class.

Passionate about pictures
Boasting an impressive 2.5inch large LCD monitor for comfortable viewing both while monitoring shots and playing back the results, these new additions to the Lumix range are designed with flexibility in mind.  Panasonic is the first manufacturer to offer the High Angle function on a digital still camera LCD. This new mode makes the FX12 and FX10’s LCD display extremely easy to view from below, for example, when holding the camera up high to take pictures over a crowd.  The difficulties faced when shooting in bright outdoors situations are also overcome by the Power LCD function, which boosts the backlighting of the LCD by 40%.  The DMC-FX12 and DMC-FX10 are also perfect for underwater photography, for use with the Marine case (available separately), thanks to the new underwater mode.

The slim and stylish new additions features approximately 27MB of built-in memory, which can save the day should you happen to fill up or forget your memory card.  They also accept large-capacity SDHC memory cards, giving more flexibility in shooting and recording.