PRESS RELEASE
PANASONIC UNVEILS COMPANY’S FIRST FULL HYBRID DIGITAL CAMERA WITH MOS SENSOR AND HIGH-SPEED CAPABILITY
New LUMIX FZ100 has powerful 24x optical zoom1 and 14.1-megapixel MOS sensor, allowing for 1920 x 1080 Full HD video capabilities
MISSISSAUGA, ON (July 21, 2010 – Panasonic Canada Inc. 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 zoom1. As the company’s first hybrid compact digital camera with a MOS sensor, the LUMIX FZ100 can record 1920 x 1080 Full HD video – giving consumers a powerful hybrid that can shoot video and still photos with ease and professional-like quality.
Panasonic LUMIX FZ100
“We are excited to introduce our first full hybrid camera with MOS sensor – pursuing a higher level in resolution, sensitivity and speed,” said Doug Borbath, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Canada Inc. “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 mode2. 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.
Panasonic LUMIX FZ100 Back View
Panasonic LUMIX FZ100 Top View
The LUMIX FZ100 can record photos and HD video in AVCHD format on SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards. Additionally, My Colour mode, first introduced in the LUMIX G Micro System 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 Colour mode makes it easy to create innovative images and videos using new intensive colour, 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 colour, saturation and brightness to make both photos and movies more vivid and true to the colour of the scene you memorized.
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ100 will be available in black in mid-August for a suggested
retail price of CAD $549.95.
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-ELMARIT 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.
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.
Panasonic and LUMIX are registered trademarks of Panasonic Corporation. All other trademarks are property of the respective owners.
Panasonic products are marketed in Canada by Panasonic Canada Inc. (PCI). PCI is an affiliate of Panasonic Corporation (PC) of Japan, one of the world’s largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business, and industrial use. Consumers seeking more information on the company’s products can call Panasonic’s Customer Care Centre at 1-800-561-5505 or access Panasonic’s home page at www.panasonic.ca.
I’ve used the FZ 20 and the FZ50, and this seems to be a worthy upgrade which I look forward to using. But why has Panasonic reverted to the amateurish finger-lever zoom when they could give us the professional zoom ring on the lens itself in the FZ50? Let the baby range (FZ40 or FZ45) cater to amateurs who prefer such ‘simple’ devices, and please retain pro features for so-called ‘flagship’ models.
Yes, I love a manual zoom ring. 24x zooming with the finger-lever can’t be much fun. However, Panasonic is known to give many zoom steps in between so it might work well. Will have to try it and see. But yes, a manual zoom ring would be ideal.
One thing about the Panasonic finger – lever, is its very smooth and zooms slow.
One thing that is hard to achieve with a manual zoom
I have ordered it – not yet released
The DMC – Fz100 is missing the feature that was present in every and all dmc-fz models thus far.
There s no ability for recording 5 or 10 seconds of audio on a still frame. No ability for photographer notes. It’s not much good taking scores of pictures if you can’t add audio voice messages to identify the who, what, where of the event or vacation trip. It’s an absolute shame the dmc-fz100 doesn’t have this vital feature. the DMC-fz5 through the dmc-fz50 had it and it was my favorite , so as to make imovies with the audio text easy and identifying key points of interest