Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ6

The power of a telephoto lens, the convenience of a compact camera. The LZ7 and LZ6 come equipped with a 6x optical zoom lens and the Extended Optical Zoom feature, which extends zooming to as high as 9x. The camera switches instantly from 1x to 6x to 9x (full Extended Optical Zoom) power, each time you press the Easy Zoom button on the camera top so you're always ready when the perfect photo opportunity comes along.

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FEATURES

Zoom in with the 6x Optical Zoom

The DMC-LZ6 is equipped with a 7.2 megapixel CCD and a Lumix DC VARIO lens featuring a 6x optical zoom (equivalent to 37mm to 222mm on a 35mm film camera) – among the most powerful available in this class. This 6x zoom captures and magnifies subjects located in the distance that cannot be captured by the standard 3x zoom featured in most compact cameras. To capture those special shots even further in the distance, the 6x zoom ratio can also be extended up to 9x in 3.0 Megapixel image recording mode thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom function with minimal deterioration. By using the central part of the CCD, this zooming function extends to a remarkable 36x, when combined with digital zoom, allowing you to easily capture and magnify subjects in distant locations. The Easy Zoom feature shifts the lens instantly to full 6x zoom power at the touch of a dedicated button, with a second touch, the lens is shifted to 9x by activating the Extra Optical Zoom funtion .

Intelligent ISO Control and Mega O.I.S for Clear, Beautiful, Blur-Free Images

Panasonic is the first manufacturer to have successfully incorporated Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) into its compact cameras – a feature strongly appreciated worldwide and now considered to be a standard requirement of photography. O.I.S minimizes the jitter from shaky hands that causes many photos to look blurred by shifting the O.I.S lens unit to keep the optical axis aligned straight against the CCD, ensuring images are captured with supreme clarity and sharpness.

While hand-shake is the single biggest cause of blurry images, it is not the only one. Another problem is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being taken – particularly common when taking pictures of sports or young children for example. This is where Intelligent ISO Control comes into its own. This system detects whether the subject is moving and, as necessary raises the ISO setting and shutter speed according to how fast the subject is moving and the light conditions. This happens automatically, so you can effortlessly shoot without the need to adjust the settings every time the conditions change.

Panasonic Lumix offers solutions for both major causes of blurred images – O.I.S when you are moving, and Intelligent ISO Control when the subject is moving. Thanks to Panasonic, you can now take clear and beautiful images in even the trickiest situations.

High Performance Venus Engine III

The DMC-LZ6 features Panasonic's Venus Engine III, an advanced image processing engine that can record at a sensitivity setting as high as ISO 1250 at full resolution. This engine brings the type of technology you find in a higher end camera to beginners. Noise reduction is also greatly improved, with picture noise removed in stages during image processing. Critical noise is analysed, and chromatic and luminance noise are reduced separately. The chromatic noise, which has greater effect on picture quality, is then selectively suppressed, resulting in clearer images.

This new Lumix model features an outstanding release time lag of just 0.005 seconds – so the time taken between you pressing the button on the camera and the picture being taken is super fast – helping you to capture spontaneous moments. In addition, the unlimited consecutive shooting function allows you to take photos in succession up to the capacity of the memory card or built-in memory.

LCD ensures effortless playback

To further add to their appeal, the LZ7 and LZ6 feature the High Angle LCD function, which makes the LCD display extremely easy to view from below, for example, when holding the camera up high to take pictures over a crowd.

Cameras that also record wide aspect motion images

Not only can you capture beautiful images – this new addition to the Lumix range also enables you to record stunning wide aspect VGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second. Perfect for skiing holidays for example you can showcase your skiing talents in full 16:9 glory on your widescreen TV to your family and friends.

Other features

Taking Hand-Shake Out of the Picture — MEGA O.I.S. helps keep your shots steady, even if you're not
It's hard to hold a small camera steady. That's why the LZ7 and LZ6 feature MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization), which automatically detects and compensates for hand-shake. You get clear, beautiful shots even when zooming, shooting macro close-ups or taking night scenery.
Detects Movement, Helps Prevent Blurring — Intelligent ISO Control helps eliminate blurring caused by subject motion
The camera senses if your subject is moving and raises the ISO and shutter speed settings accordingly, preventing motion blur. You get clear, crisp shots even if your subject moves. Also, you can set the sensitivity to as high as ISO 1250.

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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 • 3072 x 2304
• 2560 x 1920
• 2048 x 1536
•1600 x 1200
• 1280 x 960
• 640 x 480
• 3072 x 2048 (3:2)
• 2048 x 1360 (3:2)
• 3072 x 1728 (16:9)
• 1920 x 1080 (16:9)

Movie clips • 640 x 480 @ 30 / 10fps
• 320 x 240 @ 30 / 10fps
• 848 x 480 @ 30 / 10fps (16:9)

File formats • JPEG Exif v2.21
• DPOF
• QuickTime Motion JPEG

Lens • 37-222mm (35mm equiv)
• LUMIX DC VARIO
• 6x optical zoom
• Extra optical zoom (4:3: 7.2x for 5MP, 9.0x for 3, 2, 1, 0.3MP, 3:2: 9.0x for 2.5MP, 16:9: 9.0x for 2MP)

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

Conversion lenses No

Digital zoom up to 4x

AF area modes 1-point/1-point high speed/3-point high speed/5-point/Spot

AF assist lamp Yes

Focus distance • Normal: 50cm - infinity (wide) 120cm - infinity (tele)
• Macro / Simple mode / Intelligent ISO / Motion image: 5cm - infinity (wide) 30cm - infinity (tele)

Metering Intelligent Multiple

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

Exposure compensation +/- 2EV in 1/3EV step

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

Aperture F2.8 /8.0 (wide: 2 steps) F4.5 / 12.7 (tele: 2 steps)

Modes • Program AE
• Simple
• Normal Picture
• Macro
• Scene
• Intelligent ISO

Scene modes • Portrait
• Soft Skin
• Scenery
• Sports
• Night Portrait
• Night Scenery
• Food
• Party
• Candle
• Fireworks
• Starry Sky
• Beach
• Aerial photo
• Snow
• High Sensitivity
• Baby 1 & 2
• Sunset
• Pet

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

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

Self timer 2 or 10 sec

Continuous shooting n/a

Image parameters Black & White, Sepia, Natural, Standard, Vivid

Flash • Auto
• Auto / Red-eye reduction
• Forced On
• Forced Off
• Range: 0.5 - 5.4m (wide) 0.5 - 3.3m (tele)

Viewfinder No

LCD monitor • 2.0-inch Polycrystalline TFT
• 86,000 pixels

Connectivity • Video out
• USB
• DC in

Print compliance PictBridge

Storage • SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible
• 27 MB built-in memory

Power • AA Oxyride battery included
• Optional AA Ni-MH rechargeable / AA alkaline
• Optional AC adapter

Weight (no batt) 180 g (0.39lb)

Dimensions 98.5 x 62.3 x 33.1 mm (3.88 x 2.45 x 1.30 in)