Panasonic releases two super zoom LUMIX FZ Series cameras with Full HD video recording, fast response and creative manual control

Panasonic Australia has announced two high-performance LUMIX cameras in its FZ Series – the DMC-FZ150 and the DMC-FZ47- offering all the landmark features that make this Series so popular, including outstanding Full HD AVCHD recording1 a 25mm LEICA2 lens with powerful 24x optical zoom as well as extensive manual and creative control when shooting both still and video images.

The LUMIX DMC-FZ150 is empowered with amazing capabilities in both sensitivity and speed, thanks to the combination of its 12.1 megapixel MOS sensor and Venus Engine. It excels in capturing high speed movie footage with 1920 x 1080 50p Full HD AVCHD video recording and high speed continuous shooting at 12 frames per second in full resolution. The ‘Light Speed’ Auto Focus (AF) of around 0.1 second means you never miss a photo opportunity.

Powered by a 12.1 megapixel CCD sensor and the Venus Engine processor, the LUMIX DMC-FZ47 offers 1920 x 1080 full HD 50i AVCHD video recording (sensor output 25p) for superb image quality in both photo and video recording. Thanks to Panasonic’s Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus), the DMC-FZ47 has a start-up time approximately 35% faster than its predecessor, the DMC-FZ40, with a fast response time and accurate AF Tracking to ensure you capture those spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities.

For stunning image clarity, the high-quality LEICA lens on both cameras features Panasonic’s Nano Surface Coating technology to help minimise the light reflection that causes ghosting and flare. Creative Control and Photo modes offer greater creative freedom, allowing photographers to apply a variety of artistic effects to their images. In addition, for even more advanced shooting, the LUMIX DMC-FZ150 has a zoom and focus lever as well as a hot shoe.

Alistair Robins, Group Marketing Manager LUMIX, Panasonic Australia said: “These models are a step up from the successful FZ100 and FZ40.  They offer popular features such as Full HD AVCHD recording and a LEICA lens as well as excellent creative control modes in both still and movie recording, and with a faster response time you will never miss that photo opportunity.”

Both cameras also offer the full suite of iA (Intelligent Auto) features for intuitive control, including Power OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser) with Active and Motion Deblur modes, Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent D-range Control. The DMC-FZ150 incorporates ‘Intelligent Handheld Nightshot’ which combines a series of consecutive shots so that beautiful atmospheric night shots can be created without the use of a tripod.

The LUMIX Image Uploader offers easy, instant image and video sharing via social networking sites Facebook®3 and YouTube™ with any PC. Users can enjoy viewing 3D images, created in the 3D Photo Mode, on a VIERA 3D HDTV or on other MPO-compatible equipment. Both models also offer the convenience of recording video in MP4 as well as AVCHD.

Pricing and availability:
LUMIX DMC-FZ150   Black              TBC                Mid-October
LUMIX DMC-FZ47     Black              $649RRP        Mid-September

Key features

Powerful LEICA lens
Both cameras feature a high quality LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 25mm ultra wide-angle lens with a 24x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 25-600mm). The Nano Surface Coating technology used on the lens surface dramatically reduces ghosts and flare across the entire visual light range (380nm-780nm). This new Panasonic Black Box technology works with the Leica optics to deliver excellent optical performance and stunning clarity.

Comprising 14 elements in 10 groups, including 3 ED lenses and two aspherical lenses with three aspherical surfaces, this compact and advanced lens unit effectively suppresses the chromatic aberration that can occur in telephoto shooting.

AVCHD Full-HD Video Recording
The LUMIX DMC-FZ150 is an advanced photographic tool for recording not only great photos but also amazing Full HD videos. This model can record Full HD 1920 x 1080 50p videos in AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4 / H.264) format. By upgrading the Full HD recording capability from interlaced to progressive, subjects with fast motion or fine detail are reproduced with even greater clarity. The DMC-FZ47 offers Full HD 1920 x 1080 50i (sensor output 50p) videos in AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4 / H.264) format.

Both cameras also use the powerful 24x optical zoom when video recording. The popular iA is also available in video recording. Power OIS, Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent D-range Control support shooting impressive video with ease.

In addition to Power OIS, Active Mode effectively suppresses blur in video recording, in particular at wide angle while walking. Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the shooting situation. Intelligent D-range Control optimises the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights and ensuring outstanding reproduction of gradation and detail.

Video recording in AVCHD features Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator4 for highly realistic stereo sound. The mechanical noise caused by the zooming operation is suppressed for greater clarity while the Wind Cut function helps to block out wind noise. The DMC-FZ150 also includes a stereo zoom microphone.

It is also possible to take still images while recording movies (3.5 megapixel). With the Video Divide function, users can divide the video into two sections to instantly shorten or delete the unwanted section. Intelligent Resolution technology also allows users to select a still image from a video.

Photos or videos recorded in AVCHD on SD Memory Cards5 can also be viewed on a Panasonic VIERA TV or Blu-ray Disc Player – simply insert the card into the device’s SD Memory Card slot. Alternatively, users can use an optional mini HDMI™6 cable to output still images and movies directly to the TV via VIERA Link.

In addition, it is easy to view and edit recorded content using the included software. Users may also choose to upload videos to YouTube™7 or burn them to a DVD disc for archiving.

12-Megapixel MOS Sensor – DMC-FZ150
The 12-megapixel MOS sensor and the Venus Engine excel in image processing for both sensitivity and speed. The combination of these powerful components results in a S/N ratio improvement by 3.9dB (ISO 100) to 4.7dB (ISO1600) compared with its predecessor, the DMC-FZ100. Newly developed Multi-process Noise Reduction technology effectively reduces noise for the best possible picture, even in low-lit conditions. The clever technology works to effectively suppress both high frequency noise in the darker areas of an image and low frequency noise in the lighter areas, resulting in dramatically clear images.

The Venus Engine image processor has a quad-circuit system for processing large amounts of progressive Full HD data at high speed. This not only allows smooth Full HD video recording, but also allows the DMC-FZ150 to shoot super fast consecutive shots at 12 fps (without auto focusing) at and 5.5 fps (with auto focusing) in full resolution. The camera’s impressive responsiveness offers 50% faster autofocus speed than the DMC-FZ100, achieving Light Speed AF of around 0.1 second and fast AF Tracking.

Advanced signal processing with High-Speed CCD and High-Performance Venus Engine: DMC-FZ47
The 12.1-megapixel CCD with two channel signal output has a high signal transfer speed for high-performance operations such as 1920 x 1080 Full HD video recording and fast, continuous shooting.

The Venus Engine separates chromatic noise from luminance noise and applies optimal noise reduction to each for clear images even when shooting at high ISO sensitivity levels. With the Intelligent Resolution technology, three areas - outlines, detailed texture and soft gradation - are automatically detected. Each area is enhanced effectively for greater definition, fine detail and superior noise reduction.  As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and video recording.

The Venus Engine allows the DMC-FZ47 to shoot high resolution consecutive shots at 3.7 fps in 12.1 megapixel full resolution and at a maximum of 10 fps at 3 megapixel recording. The Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus) is around 35% faster in telephoto shooting compared with the DMC-FZ40 thanks to upgrades in algorithm and software processing. AF Tracking speed is also increased.

Creative photography
The DMC-FZ150 offers enhanced manual control with a lever on the left side of the lens barrel, making it easier to control zoom with the left hand while operating the shutter with the right hand. Focus can also be controlled using this lever, which is convenient for video recording.

For shooting video, both LUMIX models offer ‘Creative Video’ mode, which lets the user set the shutter speed and aperture manually. Changing the shutter speed allows greater versatility when shooting fast moving subjects, and the ability to control the aperture is useful when there are several subjects at different distances and it is desired to have each of them stand out.

Panasonic’s popular ‘My Colour’ mode is now enhanced with ‘Creative Control’. When selected, Creative Control adjusts exposure compensation in the frequently-used colour modes of Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, High Dynamic, Film Grain and Pin Hole, as well as the new ‘Miniature Effect’ mode.

In ‘Miniature Effect’ mode, the peripherals are defocused, while saturation and contrast is emphasised to create the look of a diorama. The range and location of the area to defocus is adjustable according to the composition of the picture either in horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait). Video recorded in this mode can also be played back in 10x fast forwarding for full effect.

‘Photo Style’ is a new effect control function that offers finer adjustment of contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction for the Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery and Portrait presets. Custom mode allows manual control of colour effects in these settings.

For more advanced creative freedom, the DMC-FZ150 is equipped with a hot shoe allowing attachment of optional accessories8 including a stereo microphone (DMW-MS1) or external flash (DMW-FL220 / FL360 / FL500), and is compatible with an optional remote shutter (DMW-RSL1).

Included Software: DMC-FZ150: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.5 BD Edition/ DMC-FZ47: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.3 HD Lite Edition
The included software makes it easy and enjoyable to view, edit and archive your photo library. The software also features an independent Face Recognition function that detects the faces in the pictures stored on your PC, so you can sort pictures by person.

Recorded videos can be edited with the Short Movie Story function and saved as MPEG2 to burn on a DVD disc. Users can also enjoy making photo and movie slideshows with a variety of effects and use their iTunes music library as background music. A title or comments can be added to a scene using the information from people’s names registered in Face Recognition.

Included accessories: Battery charger, battery pack, AV cable, USB cable, shoulder strap, lens hood and cap, instruction manual and CD-ROM.

The new DMC-FZ150 and DMC-FZ47 will be available from consumer electronics retailers and photographic specialists.  For more information call Panasonic on 132 600 or visit www.panasonic.com.au/lumix