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Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Panasonic: Two new TZ-series successor digicams
By Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - 09:00 EST)

Rounding out its announcements for the day, Panasonic has unveiled its new Lumix ZS series - launched with two models that follow in the footsteps of its popular TZ-series.

The Panasonic Lumix ZS1 and Panasonic Lumix ZS3 are closely related, but with a few key differences to justify a $100 higher pricetag for the latter camera. The Panasonic ZS1 has a 10.1 megapixel image sensor and 12x optical zoom lens, while the Panasonic ZS3 boosts the resolution to 12.1 megapixels. For framing and reviewing images, the ZS1 offers a 2.7" LCD display with 230,000 dot resolution, where the ZS3 boosts the size to 3.0" and doubles the resolution to 460,000 dots. While the Panasonic DMC-ZS1 includes face detection, the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 upgrades the feature to include face recognition - literally, the ability to recognize a specific individual among detected faces and prioritize exposure for that person. Also, where the Lumix ZS1 can record 720p HD movies, it does so with the rather inefficient QuickTime MotionJPEG codec - but the Lumix ZS3 can use the new AVCHD Lite format which is based around the more efficient MPEG-4 / H.264 AVC video compression standard.

The Panasonic ZS1 and Panasonic ZS3 will both be available from April, priced at $300 and $400 respectively. For more details, read our Panasonic ZS1 preview or Panasonic ZS3 preview as your feature preferences dictate.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS1 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeCompact
ManufacturerPanasonic
Model Number DMC-ZS1
Dimensions4.1 x 2.3 x 1.3"
103.3 x 59.6 x 32.8mm
Weight229.0 g
8.0 oz
Planned Price$299.95
Planned Availability 2009
Image Capture
Sensor Type1/2.5" CCD
10.30 megapixels (total)
10.10 megapixels (effective)
Filter TypeRGBG
Aspect Ratio4:3, 16:9
Image Dimensions3648 x 2736 (10.0 megapixels)
3648 x 2432 (8.9 megapixels)
3648 x 2056 (7.5 megapixels)
3072 x 2304 (7.1 megapixels)
3072 x 2048 (6.3 megapixels)
3072 x 1728 (5.3 megapixels)
2560 x 1920 (4.9 megapixels)
2560 x 1712 (4.4 megapixels)
2560 x 1440 (3.7 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
2048 x 1360 (2.8 megapixels)
1920 x 1080 (2.1 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Quality2 levels
Image Preview / Review
ViewfinderNo
LCD2.7", 230,000 pixels
Playback Zoom16.0x max
Lens
Lens TypeLeica DC Vario-Elmar, 10 elements in 8 groups
12x optical zoom
Image StabilizationYes
Focal Length4.1 - 49.2mm (actual)
25 - 300mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/3.3 (wide) / f/4.9 (tele) - f/6.3
Focusing System11-point or 1-point with tracking with AF assist lamp
Focusing RangeNormal: 20" - infinity (50 cm - infinity)
Macro: 1.2" - 82" (3 cm - 200 cm)
Exposure
ISO SensitivityAuto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, High Sensitivity (1600 - 6400)
Shutter Speed60 - 1/2000 second
Exposure ModesProgram
Metering ModesIntelligent Multiple
Exposure Compensation+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White BalanceImage Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, White Set, Manual
Internal FlashModes: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Range: Wide: 0.6 - 5.3m; Tele: 1.0 - 3.6m at ISO Auto
Creative
Scene ModesIntelligent Auto, Clipboard, Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby1/2, Pet, Sunset, High sensitivity, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pinhole, Film Grain, Underwater
Digital Zoom4x
Self TimerYes, 2 or 10 seconds
Movie FormatQuickTime MotionJPEG, AVCHD with audio
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC, Built-in
File SystemComplies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File FormatJPEG (EXIF 2.21)
Connectivity
VideoYes, NTSC / PAL switchable
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
OtherDC Input
Power
Battery TypeLithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form FactorProprietary
Product Bundle
SoftwarePHOTOfunSTUDIO v3.0, ArcSoft MediaImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker
Battery / Charger1 x Proprietary Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory40.0MB built-in memory
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliantYes
PictBridge CompliantYes
Internal MicrophoneYes
Internal SpeakerYes
Tripod MountYes
Remote ControlNo
More Photos
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS1 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeCompact
ManufacturerPanasonic
Model Number DMC-ZS3
Dimensions4.1 x 2.3 x 1.3"
103.3 x 59.6 x 32.8mm
Weight229.0 g
8.0 oz
Planned Price$399.95
Planned Availability 2009
Image Capture
Sensor Type1/2.33" CCD
12.70 megapixels (total)
12.10 megapixels (effective)
Filter TypeRGBG
Aspect Ratio4:3, 16:9
Image Dimensions4000 x 3000 (12.0 megapixels)
4000 x 2672 (10.7 megapixels)
4000 x 2248 (9.0 megapixels)
3264 x 2448 (8.0 megapixels)
3264 x 2176 (7.1 megapixels)
3264 x 1840 (6.0 megapixels)
2560 x 1920 (4.9 megapixels)
2560 x 1712 (4.4 megapixels)
2560 x 1440 (3.7 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
2048 x 1360 (2.8 megapixels)
1920 x 1080 (2.1 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Quality2 levels
Image Preview / Review
ViewfinderNo
LCD3.0", 460,000 pixels
Playback Zoom16.0x max
Lens
Lens TypeLeica DC Vario-Elmar, 10 elements in 8 groups
12x optical zoom
Image StabilizationYes
Focal Length4.1 - 49.2mm (actual)
25 - 300mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/3.3 (wide) / f/4.9 (tele) - f/6.3
Focusing System11-point or 1-point with tracking and face detection with AF assist lamp
Focusing RangeNormal: 20" - infinity (50 cm - infinity)
Macro: 1.2" - 82" (3 cm - 200 cm)
Exposure
ISO SensitivityAuto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, High Sensitivity (1600 - 6400)
Shutter Speed60 - 1/2000 second
Exposure ModesProgram
Metering ModesIntellige nt Multiple
Exposure Compensation+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White BalanceImage Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, White Set, Manual
Internal FlashModes: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Range: Wide: 0.6 - 5.3m; Tele: 1.0 - 3.6m at ISO Auto
Creative
Scene ModesIntelligent Auto, Clipboard, Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby1/2, Pet, Sunset, High sensitivity, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pinhole, Film Grain, Underwater
Digital Zoom4x
Self TimerYes, 2 or 10 seconds
Movie FormatQuickTime MotionJPEG, AVCHD with audio
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC, Built-in
File SystemComplies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File FormatJPEG (EXIF 2.21)
Connectivity
VideoYes, NTSC / PAL switchable
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
OtherDC Input, Viera Link
Power
Battery TypeLithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form FactorProprietary
Product Bundle
SoftwarePHOTOfunSTUDIO v3.0 HD, ArcSoft MediaImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker
Battery / Charger1 x Proprietary Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory40.0MB built-in memory
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliantYes
PictBridge CompliantYes
Internal MicrophoneYes
Internal SpeakerYes
Tripod MountYes
Remote ControlNo
More Photos
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. Photo provided by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. Click for a bigger picture!
 

Original Source Press Release:

Panasonic's New Lumix ZS-Series, The Ultimate Compact Digital Cameras, Succeeds Popular TZ-Series

New LUMIX ZS3, With Impressive 12x Optical Zoom is Slimmer Than Predecessor and Adds AVCHD Lite High Definition Video Recording Capability

MIAMI, FL (January 27, 2009) – Panasonic today introduced the LUMIX DMC-ZS3 and DMC-ZS1, both members of the new ZS-Series, the successor to the acclaimed LUMIX TZ-Series and Panasonic’s newest ultimate compact and powerful digital cameras. The LUMIX ZS3 features 10.1-megapixels, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens and 12x optical zoom, meaning it has added 2x optical zoom to the award-winning TZ-Series camera, yet reduced its size. The ZS3 also features a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens and High Definition (HD) video recording ability, known as AVCHD Lite.

“The LUMIX ZS3 is a powerhouse performer with enormous versatility. Compared with the TZ-Series, it extends the power of the optical zoom from 10x to 12x and expands the wide-angle lens from 28mm to an ultra-wide 25mm, giving it the range for virtually any shooting situations,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Despite its superior lens specifications and functionality, the ZS3 is remarkably smaller and lighter than its predecessors, making it easier to carry on travels and everyday shooting opportunities.”

The ZS3 is the world’s first digital camera to feature HD video recording in “AVCHD Lite*2”. Compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format, AVCHD Lite allows longer recordings with breathtaking HD visual and audio quality. This combined with a well-considered control interface, which includes a dedicated movie recording button on the camera’s back panel, makes the ZS3 a hybrid model that performs admirably for both still and motion image capture. 

The ZS3 also expands Panasonic’s popular Intelligent Auto (iA) mode with the addition of Face Recognition – a feature that “remembers” faces from previous shots*1. When a registered face appears in the frame, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure to capture it beautifully. With Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt the users to register the face. Once registered, if the face appears into the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and sharply focused.

New this year to the ZS-Series, iA mode is also available in Movie Mode. It automatically selects the most suitable Scene mode and helps to correct handshake, focus and brightness problems - making iA mode your one-stop solution to capture beautiful still and motion images. In Movie Mode, the ZS3, Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using the high-powered zoom. Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion so it turns out perfectly. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality.

The imaging power of LUMIX has further evolved with the Venus Engine HD, which boasts two CPUs to provide approx. 2.4x processing capability and support for AVCHD Lite and HDMI output. It integrates all the advanced functions and camera operations with high performance and low-power consumption. In image processing, luminance noise and chromatic noise are reduced separately before and after signal processing. This is further refined by separating noise two-dimensionally into high-frequency and low-frequency noise. The circuits then effectively reduce only the low-frequency noise to minimize the unwanted noise and help produce beautiful, sharp still and motion images.

Playback with the ZS-Series is also easy.  Simply insert the camera’s SD Memory Card into the VIERA® HDTV’s Image Viewer SD Card slot for a photo slideshow*3. Alternatively, connect the camera via an optional HDMI mini cable, the DMW-HDC2, to a VIERA Link™-equipped Panasonic VIERA HDTV and use the television’s remote control to run mixed slideshows of photos and videos. The ZS3 features a 3-inch, high resolution 460,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle, improving visibility during recording and playback.

Other features of the LUMIX ZS3 include:

  • Increased Scene modes for both still and motion image shooting – optimized for a variety of situations. There are 26 scene modes for still image and 17 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, High sensitivity, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pin hole, Film grain and Underwater)

  • Two new My Scene settings let users assign their two most frequently used Scene modes to the setting, and with a simple switch, allow access to either scene instantly.

  • New Panorama Assist scene mode allows users to shoot a number of consistent photos, either vertically or horizontally, by aligning them according to a guide that overlaps the screen.  Then using those photos and the bundled PanoramaMaker software, users can create dramatic panoramic images.

  • High-Speed Burst (Speed Priority) that fires off approx. 10 shots per second*4.

  • Menus are clearer and easier to navigate with the Display Size option.

  • Macro Zoom function lets users pull subjects even closer to capture dramatic close-up shots by using the 3x digital zoom in the wide-angle.

  • Bundled Software: The latest version of PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition allows users to view, edit and archive captured content with greater ease and fun. Still and motion images can be transferred to the computer via a USB cable for viewing and archiving. Using PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition, users can edit and remove unwanted portions of video clips recorded in AVCHD Lite. Contents recorded in AVCHD Lite can be burned directly onto a DVD disc or the software can convert contents to MPEG2 format.  The software also incorporates the Face Recognition function, which recognizes registered faces in photos stored on the computer, making organizing and archiving photos with a specific person much easier.  Additionally, motion pictures can be uploaded directly to YouTube.

The ZS1, like the ZS3, features a 25mm ultra-wide angle, 12x powerful optical zoom.  Distinguishing it, the ZS1 features a 10.1 megapixel CCD, a standard iA mode (no Face Recognition) for still image recording and a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD. 

The DMC-ZS3 will be available in silver, black, blue and red for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $399.95, while the DMC-ZS1 will be available in black and silver for an SRP of $299.95.  Both models will be available in April 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.panasonic.com/lumix

  • AVCHD Lite motion images recorded onto an SD Memory Card or a DVD disc cannot be played from a device that does not support the AVCHD standard.

  • 3-megapixel (4:3), 2.5-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) recording. (10fps in Speed Priority mode / 6fps in Picture Priority mode)

    • Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.

    • The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lenses are manufactured using measurement instruments and quality assurance systems that have been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company’s quality standards.

    • YouTube is a trademark of Google Inc.

    • The “AVCHD Lite” and the “AVCHD Lite” logo are trademarks of Panasonic Corporation and Sony Corporation.

    • HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

    • All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective corporations.

    • This unit is compatible with both SD Memory cards and SDHC Memory cards. You can only use SDHC Memory cards on devices that are compatible with them. You cannot use SDHC Memory cards on devices that are only compatible with SD Memory cards. (When using an SDHC Memory card on another device, be sure to read the operating instructions for that device.)

    • When you set the picture quality to HD, WVGA or VGA, we recommend using a high-speed card with “10MB/s” or greater displayed on the package.

    • €Continuous recording exceeding 2GB is not possible when recording motion JPEG. Remaining time for continuous recording is displayed on the screen.

    • The use of recorded or printed materials that are protected by copyright for any purpose other than personal enjoyment is prohibited, as it would infringe upon the rights of the copyright holder.

    • Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
    Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic, known for innovative imaging technology that enables high-quality digital photos, introduced the world’s first Micro Four Thirds digital camera. In its commitment to provide consumers with extensive imaging resources, Panasonic LUMIX established the Digital Photo Academy, a series of nationwide workshops designed to instruct consumers how to optimize the features on their digital cameras.

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