Panasonic DMC-FZ5 Lumix Discount and Review

Thanks to Leica lenses and the new Venus II image processor, Panasonic Lumix cameras can take digital photos that have the same emotional warmth, impact and subtlety as photographs shot on film.

The DMC-FZ5 has 12x optical zoom with image stabilization in a compact package.

12x Optical Zoom and a Brightness of F2.8 to 3.3
The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens is a small, lightweight lens that packs the same zoom power as a big, clunky 400mm-class film camera lens. This 12x optical zoom lens is super-bright too, at F2.8 to 3.3 with a focal length of 6 to 72mm (equivalent to 36mm to 432mm in a 35mm film camera). You've got all the power and flexibility you need to take exquisitely beautiful shots all the way from telephoto to wide angle and macro. The DMC-FZ5 also has a 4x digital zoom. Use it together with the 12x optical zoom and you've got ultra-powerful 48x zooming¹ - roughly equivalent to a huge 1680mm lens on a 35mm camera.

12x zoom

Our MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer Helps Eliminate Blurry Pictures
Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. We don't expect everyone to have hands of stone when taking pictures--that's why Lumix® cameras help solve the problem of unsteady hands with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer technology. The DMC-FZ5 has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working-all you'll see are the outstanding results!

Snap Off Consecutive Shots at 3 Frames per Second!
You can take up to 7 images in Standard Mode and 4 images in Fine Mode with full resolution. In addition, the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting² function lets you continue shooting until the memory card or built-in memory is full. All this is made possible by the Venus Engine™ II LSI. The multi-task image processing in the Venus Engine™ II LSI has accelerated response speed, giving you more comfortable shooting with a release time lag of 0.008 second minimum³ and a shutter interval of around 0.4 second minimum³.

The DMC-FZ5 Puts the Focus on Fast Auto Focus
Select the AF setting from Spot, 1-point (normal or high-speed), 3-point high-speed, and 9-point. The 1-point normal setting solves the "image-freezing" that used to happen while focusing on fast-moving subjects, and makes them easier to track. Focusing time of the 1-point high-speed setting is reduced to about 1/3 of our previous level⁴. This nearly eliminates the time lag that often occurs with high-magnification zoom shots, letting you capture those great moments that happen all of a sudden. Plus, an AF Assist Lamp is provided to make it easier to focus in low lighting.

Smaller, Easier-to-Hold Body
The positioning of the control buttons and shape of the grip have been improved to make operation even easier than in previous models. Functions like 12x optical zoom and MEGA Optical Image Stabilization are still neatly tucked inside the camera's extremely compact body.

1. As digital magnification increases, resolution significantly decreases.
2. Depending on memory card size, built-in memory, battery power, picture size and compression. The consecutive shooting speed varies depending on the memory card or the built-in memory.
3. Not including time for AF.
4. Compared with the previous Panasonic DMC-FZ3, at full telephoto.

What's included in the box?

Battery Charger
Battery Pack
16MB SD Memory Card
Lens Cap
Lens Hood & Adaptor
A/V & USB Cable
Strap
CD-ROM
North America Warranty Card

Plenty in stock!
$439.95

Specifications

DMC-FZ20 Recommended Accessories

1GB 60X high-speed SD card (Over 8MB/sec. transfer rate). Perfect for the DMCFZ5. Take about 400 photos at high-res jpg before clearing card.	$89.95
Lexar 512MB 32X high-speed SD card (Up to 5MB/sec. transfer rate)	$66.95
Spare CGAS-002 Li-ion battery Don't go on a trip without a spare battery. Panasonic recommends only this battery. Part #CGAS002A1B	$59.95
SanDisk Photo Album View pictures on a TV from your SD card. USB cable included to read most memory cards as a card reader. Also allows you to transfer photos from your SD card to a CompactFlash card without a PC.	$42.95
Case Logic Padded Camera Bag Inner mesh pockets, Outer zippered pockets, Belt loops, Nonslip adjustable shoulder strap, Compartment Dims: 5W x 3.5D x 6H in	$19.95

Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens: 11 Elements in 8 Groups
(3 Aspherical Lenses/4 Aspherical Surfaces)

Optical Image Stabilizer:
MEGA O.I.S. (Mode 1 / Mode 2)

Optical Zoom: 12x

Digital Zoom: 4x
(up to 48x Total Zoom when combined with 12x Optical Zoom)

Camera Effective Pixels: 5.0 Megapixels

CCD (Image Sensor): 1/2.5"
5.36 Total Megapixel CCD
Primary Color Filter

Image Processor: Venus Engine II™ LSI

Recording Image Size: (Pixels )
2560 x 1920
2048 x 1536
1600 x 1200
1280 x 960
640 x 480
1920 x 1080
Motion Image: 320 x 240

Motion Image (Quick Time™ Motion JPEG) 30 or 10 fps (320 x 240 pixels) to capacity of memory card

Aperture
Wide: F2.8 - F8
Tele: F3.3 - F8

Focal Length: f=6.0-72mm (35mm equivalent: 36-432mm)

Focusing Area
Normal:
Wide: 0.98 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet - infinity
Simple/A/S/M:
Wide: 0.16 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet - infinity
Macro (except for Tele):
Wide: 0.16 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet - infinity
Macro Tele (Tele Macro Mode):
3.28 feet - infinity

Focus: Auto Focus System
Normal/Macro (Dial)
Continuous AF On/Off
AF Trigger (Shutter/Focus Button)

ISO Sensitivity: Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400

White Balance:
Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/
Halogen/Flash/White Set
White Balance Adjustment (except for Auto Set)

Exposure Program AE
Aperture Priority AE
Shutter Priority AE, Manual

Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV Step, ± 2 EV

Auto Bracketing (AE) +1/3EV-1EV Step, 3 Frames

Light Metering Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot

Scene Modes Dial: P(Program) Mode, A(Aperture Priority) Mode, S(Shutter Priority) Mode, M(Manual) Mode, Macro Simple
SCN Mode: Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, Panning, Night Portraight, Fireworks, Party, Snow
Moving Image, Playback

Shutter Speed: 8 - 1/2,000 sec.

Self Timer: 10 seconds / 2 seconds

Picture Adjustment: Natural, Standard, Vivid

Color Effect Mode: Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia

Image Quality: TIFF/Fine/Standard

Image Formats Still Image: JPEG 3, DPOF corresponding
Still Image with Audio: JPEG 4 & QuickTime®
Motion Image: QuickTime® Motion JPEG

Mega Burst™ Shooting Mode Full-resolution image:
Standard Mode: Up to 7 images at 3 or 2 frames/sec.
Fine Mode: Up to 4 images

Still Image Recording with Audio: 5 seconds

Audio Dubbing: Maximum of 10 Seconds

Built-in Flash Mode: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction,
Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction
Forced On/Off
Wide: 0.98 - 13.78 feet (ISO Auto)
Tele: 1.64 - 8.53 feet (ISO Auto)

External Flash: No

Real-time Histograms: Yes

LCD Monitor: 1.8" diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (130k pixels)
Field of view: approx. 100%

Viewfinder: 0.33" diagonal Color EVF (114k pixels)
Field of view: approx. 100%

Built-in SD Card Slot: Yes

Recording Media: SD Memory Card or Multimedia Card (high-speed SD card recommended)

Microphone: Yes

Speaker: Yes

Interface: DC Input, Video Output (NTSC/PAL), USB

Power Supply: Li-Ion Battery (680 mAh, 3.6V)
Battery Charger/AC Adaptor (Input: 110 - 240V AC) (Included)

Battery Life: 5 Up to 300 pictures (CIPA Standard)
Up to 320 pictures with EVF

Conversion Lens Compatibility: No

Auto Review: 1 sec/3 sec/zoom

Review: 1x/4x/8x

Included ArcSoft® Software:
ArcSoft® PhotoImpression™
ArcSoft® Panorama Maker™
ArcSoft® PhotoBase™

Other Included Software: SD Viewer for DSC, USB Driver

Included Accessories:
Battery Charger
Battery Pack
16MB 8 SD Memory Card
Lens Cap
Lens Hood & Adaptor
A/V & USB Cable
Strap
CD-ROM

OSD Language: English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese (Traditional), German, Italian, French

Exposure Button: Yes

AF Metering 1 point
1 point high speed
3 points high speed
9 points
Spot

AF Assist Lamp: Yes

Composition Guide Lines: Yes

Flip Animation: Yes

Unlimited Consecutive Shooting: Yes

Economy Mode: No

Playback Mode:
Thumbnail Display
Zoomed Playback (16x max)
Slide Show
Resizing
Trimming, Protection
DPOF Setting

Direct Print: PictBridge

Backlight Compensation: Yes (at simple mode)

Color: Black

Built-in Memory: No

Scene Mode Help Screen: Yes

Auto Angle Detection: Yes

Dimensions: (H x W x D) 2.69'' x 4.25'' x 3.34''

Weight: 0.72 lbs

Footnotes
1 As digital magnification increases, resolution significantly decreases.
2 Max. recording time depends on Memory Card capacity.
3 Design rule for Camera File system based on Exif 2.2 standard
4 Design rule for Camera File system based on Exif 2.2 standard
5 Shooting conditions: 73.4°F with 50% humidity;LCD On; Using the included SD Memory Card; Starting to shoot 30 seconds after turning on the power; Shooting once every 30 seconds with the flash in full operation for every other shot; Changing the zoom setting from telephoto to wide, or wide to telephoto, for each shot; Temporarily turning the power off after each 10 shots (long enough to lower the battery temperature. For DMC-LC1: Shooting once every 30 seconds, flash in operation for every shot, 77°F(25°C) ambient temperature.
6 Each ArcSoft® program requires Microsoft®Windows®98, Windows®98SE, Windows®Me, Windows®2000, Windows®XP or Macintosh®OS 9 - OS X (Classic mode).
7 Requires Microsoft®Windows®98SE, Windows®Me, Windows®2000 or Windows®XP.
8 MB means one million bytes. Usable capacity will be less.
9 Number of shots may vary depending on memory card size, battery power, picture size, and compression. The consecutive shooting speed varies depending on the memory card or the built-in memory.

Plenty in stock!
$439.95

NightOwl Camera only carries
the U.S. Model DMC-FZ5K with
full 1 year U.S. manufacturer warranty
and all accessories in the box
(including battery, charger, USB cable, etc. from Panasonic)