Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX50

Panasonic DMC-FX50 incorporates 7.2-megapixel, 28mm wide angle f/2.8 LEICA DC lens with 3.6x optical zoom (equivalent to 28mm to 102mm on a 35mm film camera). Featuring an Intelligent Image Stabilizer by MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO control. The DMC-FX50 also newly incorporates a 3-inch large LCD.

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FEATURES

28mm Wide Angle 3.6x Optical Zoom f/2.8 LEICA DC lens in a Compact Body

The 7.2-megapixel LUMIX DMC-FX50/FX07 cameras both have a 28mm * wide angle 3.6x optical zoom f/2.8 LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens housed in a compact and slim body, achieved thanks to the incorporation of a EA (Extra High Refractive Index Aspherical) lens. This wide angle lens enables easy capture of large indoor group subjects or expansive architectural structures and sceneries with dynamic width and a rich perspective. The lens unit comprises of a LEICA DC lens of seven elements in six groups, incorporating four aspherical lenses to generate high optical performance while preserving the compactness of the unit. The zoom ratio can be extended up to 5.5x in 3-megapixel resolution mode thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom function which gives extra magnification (and minimal image deterioration) by intentionally using the centre part of the CCD.

* On a 35mm film camera.

More than just a MEGA O.I.S., LUMIX's image stabilizing system further evolves

Taking advantage of its superior lens technology, Panasonic invented the MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) system to fight against the major cause of blurred images. It compensates for handshake and is now featured on the entire LUMIX range and has been highly evaluated and appreciated by the users across the world. Every slight hand-shake movement is detected accurately with the sampling frequency at 4,000 times per second and will be compensated to render clear, sharp images. In addition, movement of the subject, the other major cause of blurred images, is suppressed by the advanced image processing LSI Venus Engine III with the Intelligent ISO Control (hereafter I.I.C.) and max.ISO1250 high sensitivity recording capabilities. The world's first incorporation * of this I.I.C. allows the automatic adjustment of the suitable ISO setting and shutter speed that best suits the situation by analyzing the speed of subject movement. If the subject is moving, the ISO setting would automatically rise to allow a higher shutter speed. On the other hand, if the subject is still and no movement is detected, you can take beautiful natural images with a low ISO setting.

Accordingly the new LUMIX automatically takes the best countermeasures against any causes of blurred images with MEGA O.I.S. compensating for hand-shake and the I.I.C. compensating for movement of the subject. Thus Image stabilizing systems are further evolving with LUMIX.

* For a digital still camera, as of July 19, 2006.

High Picture Quality, Quick Response Image Processing LSI: The Venus Engine III

The DMC-FX50/FX07 cameras both adopt the Venus Engine III to realize high sensitivity recording at max. ISO 1250 at full resolution. The noise reduction system is greatly improved by removing noise at the processing stages in series. First, critical noise is roughly undraped and the chromatic noise and the luminance noise are separated to respectively go through the supplemental noise reduction process so that the remaining noise is appropriately minimised.

With its multi-task image processing capability, the Venus Engine III also boasts outstanding response time with a shutter release time lag of as short as 0.005 sec. minimum and the shutter interval of 0.5 sec. Together with the fast startup time of approx. 1.3 sec., the quick response of DMC-FX50/FX07 enable easy capture of those spur-of-the-moment shots. In the burst shooting mode, it is possible to shoot at three frames per second in full resolution ** . The DMC-FX50/FX07 cameras also allow unlimited consecutive shooting up to the capacity of the SD/SDHC memory card *** .

Despite the large, bright LCD, the DMC-FX50/FX07 cameras achieve long battery life to shoot approx. 300(FX50) / 320(FX07) pictures (CIPA) on a single charge thanks to the energy-efficient Venus Engine III.

* Not including the time for AF.
** Max. eight images in standard mode/ six images in fine mode.
*** 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.

Advanced 3-inch (FX50) / 2.5-inch (FX07) Large LCD for Easy Shooting and Playback

The FX50 newly incorporates an easy-to-see 3-inch large 230 k high resolution LCD (2.5-inch 207k pixels high resolution LCD for FX07). Taking advantage of this large, high resolution LCD, the FX50 enables dual image playback to display any 2 images vertically in the LCD and compare them as well as the 9-frame cutouts from a motion image. Furthermore, it becomes possible. Also, the pixel-mixed readout method performed by the CCD automatically increases the brightness level of the live image on the LCD, which greatly facilitates shooting in low light situations. With the help of the Power LCD function, which boosts the backlighting of the LCD by 40%, even shooting in bright outdoors situations is no longer a problem. The High Angle mode makes the display extremely easy to view from low angles, for example, when holding the camera up high to take pictures over a crowd and can be accessed easily and quickly by using the dedicated button.

Clear, bright, wide VGA motion image recording for viewing on wide screen TV

In addition to standard VGA (640x480) at 30 fps motion image recording, the DMC-FX50/FX07 cameras can also record stunning full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848x480) at 30 fps. Shooting is one thing but viewing is another, and users will be suitably impressed by the 16:9 moving image when it is displayed on a wide screen TV. The brightness level of these motion images is also enhanced as a result of the pixel mixed readout method performed by the CCD.

An exceptional function is that it is possible to select and display as thumbnails 9 sequential frames from a motion image, which would be helpful to see the how you swing a racket or golf club.

Unimpeded, high speed AF

The various AF mode can be selected according to the shooting environment and the position of the subject: 9-point, 3-point high speed, 1-point high-speed, 1-point normal-speed and spot. In the 1-point normal speed AF, the AF time is reduced by one third of the time compared to the predecessor, to provide a quick and smooth AF without screen-freeze. The inclusion of an AF assist lamp provides further assistance in low light situations when focusing is difficult. The result is stress free photography with never a moment missed.

A Variety of Scene Modes and Other Features to Enrich Your Photography

An even greater variety of scene modes are included: seventeen scene modes for FX50 and eighteen for FX07 to assist the user in a wide range of photographic situations. The newly incorporated “Beach” mode is perfect for shooting in strong sunlight and the “Aerial” mode assists with shooting through the windows of an aeroplane. “High Sensitivity ** ” mode, made possible by the pixel-mixed readout method by the CCD, is ideal for shooting moving subjects clearly without blurring at a sensitivity as high as ISO 3200. On the other hand, in the “Simple” mode, almost all adjustments can be automatically set even including the backlight compensation, allowing even entry-level users to take beautiful images easily.

An additional improvement is the addition of a print mode onto the mode dial for the FX50 so that users can make prints by just connecting the camera to the Pictbridge-corresponding printer via an included USB cable. Of course users can get plural prints of a image or print only those they have selected as favourites.
The FX07 is compatible with a marine case *** with which users can shoot underwater while scuba diving etc. Both DMC-FX50/FX07 cameras include “World Time Setting”, which was featured on other recently released LUMIX models and much appreciated, allowing users to set the time and date of 74 locations across the world.

* Not including Macro Mode.
** Resolution significantly decreases in high sensitivity mode.
*** Optional

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PICTURES

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SPECIFICATION

Sensor • 1/2.5 " Type CCD
• 7.38 million pixels total
• 7.2 million effective pixels

Image sizes 4:3 Aspect Ratio
• 3072 x 2304
• 2560 x 1920
• 2048 x 1536
• 1600 x 1200
• 1280 x 960
• 640 x 480
3:2 Aspect Ratio
• 3072 x 2048
• 2048 x 1360

16:9 Aspect Ratio
• 3072 x 1728
• 1920 x 1080

Movie clips 4:3 Aspect Ratio
• 640 x 480 @ 30fps / 10fps
• 320 x 240 @ 30fps / 10fps
16:9 Aspect Ratio
• 848 x 480 @ 30fps / 10fps

File formats • Still: JPEG (Exif 2.2)
• DPOF
• Movie: QuickTime Motion JPEG

Lens • 28-102mm (35mm equiv)
• LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT
• F2.8 / F8.0 (w) F5.6 / F16 (t)
• 3.6x optical zoom
• Extra Optical Zoom 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 4.4x for 5Mega, 5.5x for 3Mega, 2Mega, 1Mega, 0.3Mega / 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 5.5x for 2.5Mega / 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 5.5x for 2Mega

Image stabilization MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1/ Mode2)

Digital zoom up to 4x

Focus Autofocus

AF area modes • 1-point
• 1-point high speed
• 3 point high speed
• 9 point
• Spot

AF assist lamp Yes

Focus distance • Normal: 50cm - infinity
• Macro /Simple:wide 5cm/Tele 30cm - infinity

Metering Intelligent multiple

ISO sensitivity • Auto
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
• ISO 800
• ISO 1250
• High Sensitivity Mode: 3200

Exposure compensation • +/- 2EV
• 1/3 EV steps

Exposure bracketing +/- 1/3 EV -1EV step, 3 frames

Shuttter speed • 8-1/2000 sec
• Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec

Aperture F2.8 / F8.0 (w) F5.6 / F16 (t)

Scene modes • Portrait
• Soft Skin
• Scenery
• Sports
• Night Portrait
• Night Scenery
• Self-portrait
• Food
• Party
• Candle
• Fireworks
• Starry Sky
• Baby1/2
• Snow
• High Sensitivity
• Aerial photo
• Beach

White balance • Auto
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Shade
• Halogen
• White Set

White balance fine tune 150K step, -1500 - +1500 K) (except for auto set

Self timer 2 or 10sec

Continuous shooting 3fps or 2fps, max 8 images (standard) max 6 images (fine)

Image parameters Natural, Standard, Vivid, Color Effect Mode, Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia

Flash • Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced On/Off
• Range: 0.6 - 4.0m (Wide/ISO Auto), 0.3 - 2.0m (Tele/ISO Auto)

Viewfinder No

LCD monitor • 3-inch Polycrystalline TFT
• 230,000 pixels

Connectivity • USB
• DC in
• AV out

Print compliance • PictBridge
• DPOF

Storage SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible

Power • Li-ion battery
• Optional AC adapter

Weight (no batt) 151 g (0.33lb)

Dimensions 97.7 x 57.1 x 25.1 mm (3.85 x 2.25 x 0.99 in)