Panasonic zooms in on quality images and sleek style with LUMIX DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25

Panasonic Australia continues to offer Australians of every photography level superior quality digital still cameras with the LUMIX DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25. These models feature a powerful 8x Optical Zoom1, high quality 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC Lens and 16.1-megapixels for clear, beautiful images - all in a compact and slim form factor ideal for everyday use.

The latest additions to the stylish FH Series also feature iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode for ease of operation and the reduction of misshots. The DMC-FH27 features a Smart Touch Screen on its 3.0-inch LCD with intuitive touch controls including Touch AF, Touch Zoom and Touch Shutter for easy operation.

For outstandingly natural clarity and fine detail, the DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25 incorporate the Venus Engine VI featuring Intelligent Resolution technology. The 8x optical zoom can be increased to 10x equivalent with the Intelligent Zoom function.

According to Richard Phillips, Product Marketing Manager – LUMIX, Panasonic Australia: “These new models offer a stylish and easy-to-use option for Australian families who need a camera small enough to take on-the-move but still want to capture exceptional images.”

“With the LEICA lens newly included in this Series, impressive zoom capacity and of course Panasonic’s popular iA function, the FH27 and FH25 are ideal for any Australian wanting a versatile camera that offers quality shots.”

“Furthermore, both models offer High Definition movie recording, and users can easily share their images and movies instantly via Facebook© or YouTube™2 with the new LUMIX Image Uploader,” he added.

For blur-free images with flawless detail, the DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25 now feature AF Tracking and Intelligent Exposure in iA mode. MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabiliser) to suppress hand-shake, Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, and Intelligent ISO Control for preventing moving subjects from being blurred are also available in iA mode.

With a stylish metallic panel and hairline-curved finish for a slim profile, the FH Series features a redesigned and easy-to-hold grip for greater convenience and comfort.

Pricing and Availability

LUMIX DMC-FH27                            $349 RRP      Available March 2011
Black
LUMIX DMC-FH25                           $299 RRP       Available March 2011
Black, Silver, Red, Blue

Product Features

28mm wide-angle, 8x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens

The 16.1-megapixel DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25 package a newly developed 28mm wide-angle, high quality LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with a powerful 8x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 28-224mm) into a slim, stylish body. Comprising nine elements in seven groups, including three aspherical lenses with six aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit is housed in an outstandingly compact body yet achieves exceptional optical performance.

Thanks to the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology, Intelligent Zoom extends the zoom ratio by approximately 1.3x, maintaining picture quality even when using a digital zoom. This means the 8x optical zoom can virtually extend to 10x equivalent. The cameras have an ‘Easy Zoom’ button to activate the zoom.

Smart Touch Screen for intuitive touch-control shooting

The DMC-FH27 adopts full touch-screen operation with the new 3.0-inch, 230,000-dot Smart Touch LCD Screen3. Auto Focus is immediately set to the subject by simply touching it on the screen, and users can also release the shutter. The large screen shows fine details, making it easy to check the focus before shooting, and also serves as a small photo and video viewer.

Once the subject is locked on at a touch, the camera tracks the subject using AF Tracking as it moves. With Intelligent Scene Selector in iA mode, the camera automatically switches to the scene mode best suited to the subject touched. For example, a touch on a human face switches to Portrait mode, a touch on the background or scenery switches to scenery mode, and a touch on a subject close to the camera switches to macro mode. All menu settings are now available with touch control, so users can touch the icons to change settings quickly.

The touch-screen operation also allows users to play back the image desired by touching the thumbnails. To play back images one by one in order, drag the image over the screen with a finger to browse a collection of photos like flipping over the pages of a book. Users can also touch to enlarge images by up to 16x.

Both the DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25 feature an Intelligent LCD which automatically adjusts the screen brightness in 11 steps as the surrounding brightness level changes, ensuring easy visibility at all times.

New 16.1-megapixel high resolution CCD and high performance Venus Engine VI

The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine VI is newly incorporated in the DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25 for beautiful image recording with higher quality signal processing achieved through Intelligent Resolution technology.

With Intelligent Resolution Technology, three areas – outlines, detailed texture and soft gradation areas – 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.

The Venus Engine VI image-processing engine supports a super-fast response time with a shutter release time lag as short as approximately 0.005 seconds. This quick response time, together with the Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus), makes it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. The Venus Engine VI also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets both models record at a setting of up to ISO 6400, sensitive enough to capture subjects in very low light without using a flash4.

iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode makes it easy for anyone to capture beautiful images

Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto mode is designed to offer users the ultimate ease of operation. The DMC-FH27 and DMC-FH25 feature two functions new to the Series - AF Tracking and Intelligent Exposure.

With AF Tracking, the camera can lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves - making it easy to capture beautiful, clear shots when a great photo opportunity suddenly arises.

Intelligent Exposure optimises the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights and helps ensure that gradation and details are reproduced beautifully. The automatic backlight compensation function activates whenever the camera detects the subject is in backlight.

The Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects from six Scene Modes - Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Night Scenery and Sunset – to best suit the shooting situation. MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabiliser) suppresses hand-shake and Intelligent ISO Control prevents moving subjects becoming blurred by optimising the shutter speed and ISO sensitivity setting, to render sharp, clear images in any situation. Human faces are captured in focus and with the appropriate exposure with the Face Detection mode, which also digitally corrects unwanted red-eye. 

Enjoy instant image sharing with the LUMIX Image Uploader

It’s easy for users to share photos on Facebook© or movies on YouTube™. Simply by checkmarking the photos they wish to share, users can connect their camera to a PC and uploading will start automatically. Users can also add comments and advise friends of album updates via e-mail.

Other features

The new cameras record dynamic HD movies in 1280 x 720p at 24 fps, in addition to normal VGA (640 x 480) in Motion JPEG. Recorded movies can be directly uploaded to YouTube™, or enjoyed on a wide-screen High Definition TV for full-screen viewing together with HD (High Definition) 16:9 photos.5

A total of 28 scene modes, such as the popular Baby or Pet, make it easy to ensure the cameras have the right setting for any shooting situation. The built-in memory has been increased to 70MB.

The included PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0 software makes it easy and fast to sort and organise thousands of photos and movies. For portraits, the Face Recognition function automatically sorts the photos by the registered faces. Panorama Stitch allows users to make a panoramic composite in MOV by combining photos taken in Panorama Assist mode. Users can also make a slideshow with selected photos and background music.

In addition to the LUMIX Image Uploader, a direct uploading function of the camera, users can upload photos to Facebook© and movies to YouTube™ via this software.

Included accessories: Battery charger, battery pack, AV cable, USB cable, hand strap, software CD-ROM. Optional Battery (DMW-BCK7E: $89 RRP) also available.

The new LUMIX FH Series will be available from consumer electronics retailers and photographic specialists.  For more information about the LUMIX camera range, visit www.panasonic.com.au/LUMIX  or phone 132 600.