Panasonic Unveils Company's First Full Hybrid Digital Camera With MOS Sensor and High-Speed Capability

SECAUCUS, N.J., July 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Panasonic announced today the new LUMIX DMC-FZ100, a top-of-the-line model in the popular FZ-Series of LUMIX digital cameras with a newly developed LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens that features a powerful 24x optical zoom(*1). As the company's first hybrid compact digital camera with a MOS sensor, the LUMIX FZ100 can record full 1080 High Definition (HD) video – giving consumers a powerful hybrid that can shoot video and still photos with ease and professional-like quality.

"Panasonic is excited to be introducing its first full hybrid camera with MOS sensor – pursuing a higher level in resolution, sensitivity and speed," said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.  "This new highly-functioning MOS sensor can record high-quality 1080 full AVCHD video, making it the ideal hybrid camera for both the casual shooter and the seasoned professional."

The LUMIX FZ100 has an incredibly fast burst shooting in 14.1-megapixel full resolution at 11 frames per second with a mechanical shutter, and increases the frames per second to 60 in 3.5-megapixel recording.  Additionally, the LUMIX FZ100 features continuous Auto Focus up to five frames per second at full resolution for great action shots.  It also features Intelligent Burst shooting. The digital camera judges the appropriate shutter speed to suppress the motion blur according to the movement of the subject, rising as high as possible, activating the high sensitivity recording.

Panasonic's Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, a hallmark on all LUMIX digital cameras, now includes Motion Deblur mode*(2). By updating the motion detection (Intelligent ISO Control) and brightness control (Intelligent Exposure) users can gain the highest shutter speed possible.  Combined with the outstanding brightness of the lens and the POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), the LUMIX FZ100 prevents any blur created from a handshake or a moving subject. The iA suite of technologies include: POWER O.I.S., Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure.  Panasonic's iA is also available while shooting video.

Featuring a free-angle 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD, the LUMIX FZ100 features wide-angle viewing with Face Recognition functions that automatically remembers registered faces for future recording.  The Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects one of 6 Scene modes to best suit the shooting situation.  

The LUMIX FZ100 also features Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator. This high-quality stereo sound offers realistic sounds and effects to any movie.  For greater sound quality, the LUMIX FZ100 has a newly-created port for an optional stereo microphone (DMW-MS1) and a Wind Cut function is available to drastically reduce background wind noise.

The LUMIX FZ100 can record photos and HD video in AVCHD format on SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards. Additionally, My Color mode, first introduced in the LUMIX G Micro Systems cameras, is a special option that gives freedom to the user's creativity.  With a variety of options including new Pin Hole, Film Grain, High Dynamic and High Dynamic B&W, the My Color mode makes it easy to create innovative images and videos using new intensive color, brightness and saturation levels.

Other features of the LUMIX FZ100 include:

• Bundled Software – PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.2 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos.  Videos can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader, while also letting the user create a 360-degree rotation panorama file in .MOV files. The software is compatible with the Windows 7.
• Happy Mode – An option in iA that optimizes color, saturation and brightness to make both photos and movies more vivid and true to the color of the scene you memorized.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ100 will be available in black in late-August for a suggested retail price of $499.95. For more information on Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras, please visit: www.panasonic.com/lumix.

*(1) Equivalent to 35mm camera:25-600mm

*(2) In the high speed burst shooting at 60fps, the picture size in max. 3.5-megapixel (16:9), 3-megapixel (3:2), 2.5-megapixel (4:3) or 2-megapixel (1:1)

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

*The LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 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.

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

*Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

*This unit is compatible with both SD/SDHC/SDXC 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.)

*Some accessories are not available in some countries.

*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 (PCEC), 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. 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 and produce high-quality photos. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

For more than 20 years, Panasonic has been proud to support the Olympic Movement as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category and, beginning in 2009, in the Digital Imaging category as well. Panasonic has also renewed its partnership with the International Olympic Committee for an additional eight years through the 2016 Summer Games. For more information, visit http://panasonic.net/olympic/.

SOURCE Panasonic