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Panasonic Introduces New Lumix DMC-LS80 Digital Camera

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Panasonic Introduces New Lumix DMC-LS80 Digital Camera 

A Slim, Compact AA-Battery Compact Digital Still Camera 8.1-Megapixel DMC-LS80 Makes Every User a Photographer with Intelligent Mode

January 21, 2008 -- (Cameratown) -- Panasonic is pleased to introduce a new Lumix digital camera DMC-LS80 that combines easy-to-use advanced functions and AA-battery operation convenience. Newly developed superb Lumix DC VARIO lens system with 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 33-100mm on a 35mm film camera) fits in its compact body and renders clear image to edges. The CCD has been upgraded to 8.1-megapixel high resolution to correspond to trimming or prints in larger size. Both external and internal design is reexamined throughout to enhance the ease of operation.

  • 8.1 Megapixels
  • Bright 3x Optical f/2.8 DC Vario Lens
  • 33-100mm (35mm equivalen)
  • Extra Optical Zoom (4.8x) at 3-Megapixel Resolution
  • Mega O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer)
  • 2.5" Intelligent LCD (230k Pixels)
  • HD Wide Screen Mode (1920x1080)
  • Uses Standard AA Batteries
  • 24MB Internal Memory
  • SD/SDHC Memory Card Support

At the heart of the DMC-LS80's super-easy operation is a comprehensive Intelligent mode that combines four distinct features aimed at making it easy to capture perfect images.

Mega Optical Image Stabilization 

First is Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), a system that helps eliminate blurring due to hand-shake.

Intelligent ISO Control

Second is Intelligent ISO Control, a system that fights motion blur by detecting if the subject moves and adjusting the ISO sensitivity and shutter speed setting according to the degree of motion and light conditions.

Auto Macro Mode

Last but not least is the Auto Macro mode, the camera automatically switches to the Macro mode according to its shooting distance with the subject.

Quick AF System 

The Quick AF system allows the camera to start focusing on the subject even without pressing a shutter button halfway, to get best result out of a shutter chance by minimizing the AF time.

All these functions act automatically, so you don't have to think about them each time conditions change. You enjoy effortless, trouble-free shooting in any situation, as well as the satisfaction that comes with capturing beautiful photos.

Intelligent LCD Function 

DMC-LS80 further offers a range of features that enhance usability and add convenience. The Intelligent LCD function which comes with the 230,000-dot high resolution monitor, detects lighting condition and controls brightness level of the LCD in 12 fine steps, to offer the display with best appropriate clarity in any situations.

Easy Zoom Feature 

The Easy Zoom feature shifts the lens instantly to full zoom at the touch of a dedicated button. The High Sensitivity mode offers recording at max. ISO 6400* thanks to the Venus Engine III. It also carries an internal memory of 24 MB (approx.) and is compatible with large-capacity SDHC memory cards, giving users more flexibility in recording.

DMC-LS80 surely offers entry-level users an ultimate ease and convenience to let them enjoy shooting beautiful pictures and will be available in silver, black and pink**.
 
*In 3-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording
**Availability of models and colours may vary depending on the sales area.
 

1. Bright, superb f2.8 Lumix DC VARIO lens with Extra Optical Zoom function

The 8.1-megapixel DMC-LS80 packages a superb LUMIX DC VARIO lens with 3x optical zoom(35mm film camera equivalent: 33-100mm) into a compact body. A crystallization of Panasonic’s advanced lens technologies, the LUMIX DC VARIO lens comprises 6 elements in 5 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 4 aspherical surfaces, delivering outstanding optical performance. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 4.8x by using the centre part of the CCD.

The Easy Zoom feature shifts the lens instantly to full 3x optical zoom power at a touch of a dedicated button, and with a second touch, the zoom ratio is further extended to 4.8x by activating the Extra Optical Zoom function*.
*When the picture size is set to 3-megapixel or larger, the photo is automatically resized to 3-megapixel. When the lens is shifted back to the wide-end, the picture size is set to the original size automatically. The original size is maintained for photos smaller than 3-megapixel.

2. Making every user a photographer with Intelligent mode

Panasonic incorporates both MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) to compensate for hand-shake and Intelligent ISO Control system to detect and suppress motion blur into all Lumix cameras, which are the industry’s most advanced countermeasures against 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 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 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.
One more convenient function is the Auto Macro mode which automatically switches the camera in and out of macro mode by measuring the focusing distance.
The Quick AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject even without pressing a shutter button halfway, to get best result out of a shutter chance by minimizing the AF time.
All these intelligent functions act automatically, requiring no additional setting so the photographer can concentrate on taking the spur-of-the-moment.

3. High-quality, high-performance image processing LSI: the Venus Engine III

With its multi-task image processing capability, the Venus Engine III boasts outstanding response time. Shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second*. In the consecutive shooting mode, it is possible to shoot at 2.5 frames per second in full resolution**. And in High-Speed Burst shooting mode***, it fires off an incredible 5.5 shots per second. You also get unlimited consecutive shooting which lets you keep snapping until the memory card is full ****.
The Venus Engine III also supports a new High Sensitivity mode that lets the DMC-LS80 record at a setting of up to ISO 6400, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash*****
*Not including the time for AF.
**Max. 7 images in standard mode / 4 images in fine mode.
*** In 2-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording
**** The speed of the consecutive shooting varies depending on the memory card. The number of recordable pictures depends on the memory card size, battery life, picture size and image compression.
***** In 3-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording

4. 2.5-inch large, 230,000-dot high-resolution Intelligent LCD for easy shooting and playback

The DMC-LS80 incorporates an easy-to-see 2.5-inch large Intelligent LCD for comfortable viewing during both shooting and playback. The resolution has been doubled compared to the predecessor DMC-LS75, to boast 230,000-dot high resolution. The Intelligent LCD function detects the light condition and automatically boosts the LCD backlighting by max. 40% when shooting outdoors under bright sunlight, and boosts signals by the pixel-mixed readout method when shooting under low-lit conditions. Detecting the lighting condition precisely and automatically controls the brightness at a total of 12 fine steps, this function offers the display with best appropriate clarity in any situations without using extra energy.
The High Angle mode, which can be accessed quickly and easily in Quick Menu, makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as to shoot over a crowd.

5. Viewing in various styles; HD photo and wide-aspect motion pictures

With TV screens getting bigger and picture definition getting higher, consumers want to be able to view higher-quality still images and motion pictures. Panasonic has long focused on making photography more enjoyable, such as by letting people view their images easily on Panasonic’s Viera TV, with its internal SD card slot. With the DMC-LS80, you can shoot high-definition 1920 x 1080 pixel photos that are ideal for full-screen viewing on a wide-screen (16:9) TV. Panasonic also offers the DMW-SDP1 HDTV Photo Player, which makes it easy to view a slideshow of Lumix photos in 1080i high-definition quality.
In addition to recording standard VGA (640 x 480), the DMC-LS80 can record WVGA (848 x 480) motion pictures at 30 frames per second. Fitting a wide-screen TV perfectly, these wide–aspect motion images make for extremely impressive viewing. A microphone has been added to allow recording motion picture with voice. *
*Connect the camera to TV using AV cable (supplied) to playback audio on TV. You can also playback the motion picture with audio on PC.

6. Other features

The DMC-LS80 runs on two AA[LR6] batteries, which are easily available anywhere so that you don't have to worry about battery life wherever you go. The DMC-LS80 shoots 180 images with included Alkaline batteries and 470 images with optional Ni-MH rechargeable batteries (Typical capacity:2600mAh / Minimum capacity:2450mAh)*.
All new Lumix cameras incorporate a REC/PLAYBACK mode switch. This helps photographer to instantly switch between recording mode and playback mode, knowing which mode the camera is now in. The GUI(Graphic User Interface) has been upgraded to look more futuristic in terms of design and color. The view screen also looks wider and clearer because all icons have been relocated to the sides.
A total of 20 scene modes assist you to take more beautiful picture in wide range of situations. Around 24 MB of internal memory is built-in to back up the SDHC/SD Memory Card recording and copying.
*Based on a CIPA standard.
 

DMC-LS80 Specifications

Color : S-Sliver, K-Black
  DMC-LS80
Dimensions (W x H x D) 95.7 x 62.0 x 31.2 mm (3.77 x 2.44 x 1.23 in)
Weight Approx. 129g (0.28Ib)
Approx. 177g with Battery and SD Memory Card (0.39 lb)
Camera Effective Pixels 8.1 Mega pixels
Image Sensor 1/2.5", 8.32 Mega Total Pixels CCD Primary Color Filter
Optical Zoom 3x
Extra Optical Zoom 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 3.8x for 5Mega, 4.8x for 3Mega, 2Mega, 0.3Mega
3:2 Aspect Ratio: 3.8x for 4.5Mega, 4.8x for 2.5Mega
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 3.8x for 3.5Mega, 4.8x for 2Mega
Digital Zoom 4x
(Max. 12.0 x combined with Optical Zoom without Extra Optical Zoom)
(Max. 19.1x combined with Extra Optical Zoom)
Focal Length f=5.5-16.5mm (35mm Equiv.: 33-100mm)
Lens LUMIX DC VARIO
6 elements in 5 groups (3 Aspherical Lenses / 4 Aspherical surfaces)
Aperture Wide: F2.8 / F8 (2 steps) Tele: F5.1 / F14 (2 steps)
Optical Image Stabilizer MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1/ Mode2)
Focusing Area Normal: 50cm - infinity
Macro / Intelligent : Wide 5cm / Tele 30cm - infinity
AF Metering 1-area/ 1-area high speed/ 5-area
Focus Normal / Macro, Quick AF On/Off
AF Assist Lamp Yes
ISO Sensitivity Auto /100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode : Auto(1600 - 6400) )
White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set
Exposure Program AE
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV step, +/-2 EV
Backlight Compensation Yes (at Intelligent mode)
Auto (AE) Bracketing +/- 1/3 EV ~1EV step, 3 frames
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple
Rec Mode (Mode Dial) Intelligent, Normal Picture, Motion Picture, Scene Mode
Scene Mode Portrait, Soft Skin, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial photo
Shutter Speed 8-1/2000 sec
Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec.
Self Timer 2sec / 10sec
Auto Review 1sec, 2sec, Zoom, Hold
Color Mode Standard, Natural, Vivid, Black & White, Sepia, Cool, Warm
Recording Format Still Image: JPEG(Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.21 standard), DPOF corresponding
Motion picture: QuickTime Motion JPEG
Recording Image Size Still Image:
4:3 Aspect Ratio: 3264 x 2448 pixels, 2560 x 1920pixels, 2048 x 1536 pixels, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 640 x 480 pixels
3:2 Aspect Ratio: 3264 x 2176 pixels, 2560 x 1712 pixels, 2048 x 1360 pixels
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 3264 x 1840 pixels, 2560 x 1440 pixels,1920 x 1080 pixels
Image Quality Fine / Standard
Motion Picture 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps, 10 fps
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps, 10 fps
Burst Shooting Mode Full-Resolution Image, 2.5 frames/sec
Max. 7 images (Standard mode), Max. 4 images (Fine Mode)
High-speed Burst Mode: approx. 5.5 frames/sec (recorded in 2M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)
Unlimited consecutive shooting Yes
Intelligent Exposure No
Digital Red Eye Correction No
Easy Zoom Yes
Still Image Rec. with Audio No
Audio Dubbing No
Real-time histogram No
Composition Guide line Yes (2 patterns)
Built-in-Memory approx. 24MB
Scene Mode Help Screen Yes
Auto Angle Detection Yes
Flip Animation No
Travel Date / World Time Yes / Yes
Title Edit Yes
Text Stamp Yes
Built-in-Flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off, (Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction only in Night Portrait/Party/Candle Light mode only)
0.3 - 5.9m (Wide/ISO Auto), 0.3 - 3.2m (Tele/ISO Auto)
LCD Monitor 2.5" TFT LCD Display (230K dots)
Field of View : approx. 100%
AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode, High angle mode
Playback mode [REC]/[Play] Selector switch
30-thumbnail display, 12-thumbnail display, calendar display, zoomed playback (16x max.), playback of favorite pictures, image rotation, Resizing (selectable number of pixels), trimming, protection, aspect conv. DPOF print setting
Slideshow Mode Yes (duration & effect adjustable)
Category Playback Yes (in slideshow mode and normal playback)
OSD language English,German,French,Italian,Spanish,Polish,Czech,Hungarian,Russian, Chinese(Traditional),Chinese(Simplified), Netherlandic, Thai, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian, Japanese, Swedish, Danish, Finnish *Varies depending on the sales area
Recording Media Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card,
SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard(Still image only)
Microphone Yes
Speaker No
Interface DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), USB2.0 Full Speed
Direct Print PictBridge
Power 2 x AA Batteries
Battery life (approx.) 180 images with Alkaline Batteries (included)*1
270 images with Oxyride Batteries (optional)*1
470 images with Ni-MH (optional) (Capacity:Typical2600mAh/
Minimum2450mAh)*1
Included Software PHOTOfunSTUDIO -viewer-
ArcSoft (MediaImpression / PanoramaMaker)
USB Driver
Standard Accessories AV Cable, USB Connection Cable, Strap, CD-ROM, 2x Alkaline AA Batteries
*1. Shooting conditions: 23°C with 50% humidity; LCD on*; using a Panasonic SD Memory Card (16MB); Using the supplied battery; Using the supplied lens; Starting recording 30 seconds after the camera is turned on (When the optical image stabilizer is set to [Mode1]); Recording once every 30 seconds with full flash every second recording; Turn the camera off every 10 recordings.

*The number of recordable pictures decreases in Auto Power LCD mode or Power LCD mode.
CIPA is an abbreviation of “Camera & Imaging Products Association?
*Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

*Some accessories are not available in some countries.

*The use of recorded or printed materials that are protected by copyright for any purpose other than personal enjoyment is prohibited, as it would infringe upon the rights of the copyright holder.

*This unit is compatible with both SD Memory cards and SDHC Memory cards. You can only use SDHC Memory cards on devices that are compatible with them. You cannot use SDHC Memory cards on devices that are only compatible with SD Memory cards. (When using a SDHC Memory card on another device, be sure to read the operating instructions for that device.)

 

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