Panasonic's latest digicams: The Lumix DMC-FZ5, DMC-FZ4, DMC-LZ2, DMC-LZ1, and DMC-LS1
posted Feb 8th 2005 10:51AM
Not to be out done by the likes of
FujiFilm, Panasonic also announced a bunch of
new cameras today:
The five megapixel DMC-FZ5 and four megapixel DMC-FZ4 — These are the latest additions to their line of prosumer FZ
cameras. Each sports a 12x optical zoom lens (made by Leica, no less), though only the FZ5 (which is pictured above)
gets its LCD bumped up to 1.8-inches.
Read - DMC-FZ5 and DMC-FZ4
The five megapixel DMC-LZ2 (pictured above) and four megapixel DMC-LZ1 — Two new compact cameras, each of which has a
6x optical zoom lens, a 2-inch LCD screen, and Panasonic's Mega O.I.S. optical image stabilizer technology. They're
also making a lot of noise about how rare it is to have a 6x optical zoom lens on a camera of this size, which is sorta
true. Runs on two AA batteries.
Read - DMC-LZ1 and
DMC-LZ2
The four megapixel DMC-LS1 — An entry-level digital camera that has a 3x optical zoom lens, a 2-inch LCD, and
Panasonic's Mega O.I.S. optical image stabilizer technology. Runs on two AA batteries.
Read - DMC-LS1
Strange think about the Panasonic Lumix series is how little press they get for such a great camera. It takes AA batteries instead of the more expensive proprietary ones, takes SD cards, and has a Lumix lens. They also retail for a few hundred bucks and can be picked up on the cheap at many electronic retailers. I spent a good deal of time researching a camera for my father and picked up this one on the strength of those points above. A year later and I bought one for myself. Takes great pics too: http://www.shimone.org/gallery/wallpaper/res37926
My FZ20 takes a propeitary battery, but I also got a free one with purchase. It's just like the FZ5. Best camera on the market.