Panasonic's DMC-FZ8 shoots 7.2 megapixels with a 12x zoom

Panasonic is kicking out their new 2007 Lumix camera lineup this morning. We'll brings you all of 'em later but let's get busy with the biggest news of the bunch first, the DMC-FZ8 -- heir apparent to the hotly reviewed DMC-FZ7. Positioned right in that gap between high-end compacts and DSLRs, the new FZ8 features Panny's Venus Engine III image processor and delivers a 7.2 megapixel CCD sensor, 12x LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization, RAW file format support, ISO 1250 sensitivity, an SDHC memory card slot, and the ability to shoot 848 x 480 video at 30fps. It's at the ready with a 1.8 second startup time, 0.005 second shutter release lag, and a burst mode that shoots at a rate of 3 frames per second at full resolution until your memory card is full or the 380-shot battery gives up the ghost. Available in March for a righteous $349.

[Via LetsGoDigital, Thanks David]

[Tony C Posted Jan 31st 2007 10:02AM]

A whole slew of cameras announced (TZ2, TZ3, FX10, FX 12, FX30, LZ6, LZ7, LS60, LS75) and no replacement for the FZ50? What's up with that?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 31st 2007 10:15AM]

The upgrade to FZ50 is what I'm waiting for too... hoping for a drop back to 6~8 MP with good sensitivity (less noise). Everything else about FZ50 is already perfect! Well... I wouldn't mind having a faster or wider lens. (28mm? f2.8 throughout zoom range?)

[manoz Posted Jan 31st 2007 11:48AM]

I've had an FZ5 for quite a while and the only flaw imo is the inability to zoom while filming video, if this fixes that problem then I just may be tempted to get this one.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 31st 2007 10:45PM]

Finally a Panasonic camera with RAW support.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2007 4:01AM]

so whats new? lol...