NewsJanuary 2011

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Panasonic announces Lumix DMC-FP7 and DMC-FP5

Pre-CES 2011: Panasonic has released the Lumix DMC-FP7 and DMC-FP3 card-style digital compacts. With large 3.5" and 3.0" touch screen LCDs and periscopic 4x optical zoom lenses starting at a less useful 35mm, the cameras feature 720p HD recording, image stabilization and SDXC compatibility. The 16Mp FP7 comes with a mirror-finish while the 14Mp FP5 comes with a standard finish.

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Press Release:

PANASONIC INTRODUCES ULTRA-SLIM LUMIX FP-SERIES DIGITAL CAMERAS WITH LARGE TOUCH-CONTROL LCD

LUMIX FP7 and LUMIX FP5 – With a Folded Optics Design, Mirror Finish* and Advanced Features like HD Video – are the Ultimate Digital Camera Choices for Style and Performance

LAS VEGAS, NV (January 5, 2011) – Panasonic today introduced two ultra-slim LUMIX models to its 2011 line, perfect for consumers seeking a fashionable camera with loads of advanced photo and video features. The LUMIX DMC-FP7 (16.1 megapixel) and LUMIX DMC-FP5 (14.1 megapixel) maintain their slim profiles by incorporating an ultra-thin 4x optical zoom lens** with folded optics. Complete with a sleek mirror finish on the LUMIX FP7 and a matte finish on the FP5, both cameras have high-performing features that complement the design, such as 720p High Definition (HD) video recording, large touch-control LCDs and easy-to-use settings like Intelligent Auto (iA).

“Panasonic’s LUMIX FP-Series is perfect for the style-conscious consumer who cares about the look of the digital camera as much as the stunning images it captures,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Panasonic is committed to incorporating user-friendly features that make taking high-quality photos easy. For example, by incorporating the popular iA setting, allowing users to have confidence that the right setting is engaged, without having to change it themselves.  And we are always adding creative, interesting options like the new Beauty Retouch mode on the LUMIX FP7 which takes advantage of the popular and easy-to-use touch-control operation to retouch faces in photographs.”

The LUMIX FP7 takes Panasonic’s touch-control LCD to the next level with a new 3.5-inch 16:9 LCD that offers not only a larger view of images, but also increased usability. The LUMIX FP5 features a 3.0-inch 3:2 LCD and both models include Smart Touch Screens allowing users to enable Touch Auto Focus (AF), Touch Zoom, Touch Shutter and Intelligent Scene Selector simply by touching the screen. All menu setting options are now available with touch control and in playback mode users can drag the image across the screen with their finger to browse the collection of photos, as though it is a page in a book. Additionally, the LUMIX FP7 features three new modes that let users get creative by manually (with the touch of a finger) editing their photos. These new modes include:

• Beauty Retouch mode allows users to retouch faces
• Esthetic mode creates effects on faces such as clearing skin texture and whitening teeth
• Make-up mode gives color options such as foundation, eye-shadow or coloring for the lips and cheeks

The LUMIX FP7 and LUMIX FP5 are stylish, yet still full with substance thanks to the Venus Engine VI image processor with Intelligent Resolution technology. The digital cameras are fast, with shutter release lag times as short as 0.006(FP7) / 0.005 (FP5) per second and by adding Sonic Speed AF users can capture high quality spur-of-the-moment images even faster.

Using a folded optics design allows the LUMIX FP7 and FP5 to remain ultra-thin, yet still have a high-quality 4x optical zoom.  In addition, the new zoom button makes the LUMIX cameras look even more sleek. Also taking advantage of Intelligent Resolution, the Intelligent Zoom function on the LUMIX FP7 and LUMIX FP5 allows the powerful 4x optical zoom to increase to 5x equivalent without compromising picture quality.

Panasonic’s popular iA mode, a suite of technologies that engage automatically – with no setting changes needed by the user – makes it easy for anyone to take beautiful photos. The LUMIX FP7 and LUMIX FP5 feature two new iA functions – AF Tracking and Intelligent Exposure. AF Tracking locks onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves, while the Intelligent Exposure optimizes the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced beautifully. The automatic backlight compensation function activates whenever the camera detects the subject is in backlight. Other features of Panasonic iA include:

• MEGA OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) – Reduces blurry photos due to hand-shake
• Intelligent ISO Control – Reduces blur when the subject is moving
• Face Detection – Ensures registered faces are captured in focus with appropriate exposure and unwanted red eyes are digitally corrected
• Intelligent Scene Selector – Selects the best option from: Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Night Scenery and Sunset
• Dedicated iA button – Lets users engage easily with one click

Other features of the LUMIX FP7 and LUMIX FP5 include:

• LUMIX Image Uploader – Share images via Facebook and video via YouTube
• Intelligent LCD – Detects the lighting conditions and controls the brightness level in 11 finely graduated steps, to display the most appropriate setting
• 70MB of built-in memory

The LUMIX FP7 will be available in blue, black and red, while the LUMIX FP5 will be available in blue, black, pink and silver. Pricing and availability for both models will be announced 30 days prior to shipping date. For more information, please visit www.panasonic.com/CES.

* DMC-FP7 only.
** Equivalent to 35mm.

Panasonic DMC-FP7 and DMC-FP5 specifications

	DMC-FP7	DMC-FP5
Sensor	• 1/2.33" Type CCD • 16.6 million total pixels • 16.1 million effective pixels • Primary colour filter (RGB)	• 1/2.33" Type CCD • 14.5 million total pixels • 14.1 million effective pixels • Primary colour filter (RGB)
Image sizes	4:3 Aspect Ratio: • 4608 x 3456 (16M) • 3648 x 2736 (10M) • 2560 x 1920 (5M) • 2048 x 1536 (3M) • 640 x 480 (0.3M) 3:2 Aspect Ratio • 4608 x 3072 (14M) 16:9 Aspect Ratio: • 4608 x 2592 (12M) 1:1 Aspect Ratio: • 3456 x 3456 (12M)	4:3 Aspect Ratio: • 4320 x 3240 (14M) • 3648 x 2736 (10M) • 2560 x 1920 (5M) • 2048 x 1536 (3M) • 640 x 480 (0.3M) 3:2 Aspect Ratio • 4320 x 2880 (12.5M) 16:9 Aspect Ratio: • 4320 x 2432 (10.5M) 1:1 Aspect Ratio: • 3232 x 3232 (10.5M)
Movie clips	• HD Movie: 1280 x 720 pixels, 30fps (Motion JPEG) • 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps • 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps
File formats	• JPEG( Exif 2.3) • QuickTime Motion JPEG
Lens	• 4x Optical zoom • 35 - 140mm (35mm equiv.) • f = 6.3- 25.2mm • F3.5- 5.9 • LUMIX DC VARIO • 11 elements in 10 groups (4 Aspherical surfaces)
Image stabilization	MEGA O.I.S. Lens-shift stabilization
Digital zoom	Yes, up to 4x
Focus	• Normal • Macro • Zoom Macro • Quick AF (Always On) • AF Tracking • Touch AF/AE
AF assist lamp	Yes
Focus distance	• Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / Tele 50 cm - infinity • Macro / Intelligent AUTO / Motion Picture : Wide 10 cm - infinity / Tele 50cm - infinity
Metering	Intelligent Multiple
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • 100 • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600 • High Sensitivity Mode : Auto (1600 - 6400)
Exposure compensation	± 2EV, 1/3EV steps
Shutter speed	• 8-1/1600 sec • Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec.
Aperture	F3.5 - F5.9 / Multistage Iris Diaphragm (F3.5 - 5.6 (W) / F5.9 - 7.1 (T))
Modes	• Intelligent AUTO • Normal Picture • Motion Picture • SCN • My SCN • Cosmetic
Scene modes	Portrait, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial Photo, Pin Hole, Film Grain, High Dynamic(Standard, Art, B&W), Photo Frame
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Shade • Incandescent • White Set
Self timer	2, 10 sec
Flash	• Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off 0.3 - 4.9m (Wide/I.ISO), 0.5 - 2.9m (Tele/I.ISO)
LCD monitor	• 3.5" TFT Touch Screen LCD Display • 230K pixels • AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode, High Angle mode	• 3.0" TFT Touch Screen LCD Display • 230K pixels • AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode, High Angle mode
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Full speed • AV Output (NTSC/PAL) • DC Input
Storage	• Approximately 70 MB built-in memory • SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card
Power	• ID-Security Li-ion Battery Pack • Charger included
Weight (no batt)	130g	141g
Weight (with batt and card)	147g	124g
Dimensions	101.0 x 58.9 x 18.2 mm (3.98 x 2.32 x 0.72 in)

Additional images

DMC-FP7	DMC-FP5