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 Click on the Lumix FZ15 to take a QuickTime VR tour The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15 is a 4-megapixel digital camera with a high-quality Leica 12x optical zoom. The Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x zoom is equivalent to a 36 - 432mm zoom on a 35mm camera and has a constant F2.8 brightness throughout the entire zoom range. Panasonic's advanced MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) enhances the camera's telephoto zoom capabilities, helping to deliver sharp, vivid images even when taking handheld telephoto shots or shooting in low light. This feature uses motion sensors, which detects even slight hand movement and integrally links the lens control to the motion of the camera to reduce jitter. Incredibly responsive, the DMC-FZ15 captures consecutive shots nearly as quickly as a motor-driven film camera. As soon as the camera's CCD captures the image signal, Panasonic's multi-tasking Venus Engine LSI simultaneously displays images on the LCD while writing data to the memory card, significantly reducing lag time between shots. To capture sudden events as they unfold, the MEGA BURST recording feature enables consecutive rapid-fire shooting, capturing 4 frames per second with undiminished quality from frame to frame. The DMC-FZ15 features Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual exposure modes as well as Macro, Portrait, Sports, Panning and Night Portrait picture modes. Single or Continuous auto focus, Spot AF Switching and AF Lock. Other features include High Speed and Low Speed Continuous, AE Bracketing and Timelapse recording. The camera also captures QuickTime 320 x 240 motion video at 30 or 10 frames-per-second (without audio), the length is limited only by available memory space. The DMC-FZ15's histogram feature functions like a digital light meter, providing a graphic representation of the luminance level of the pixels composing an image. By using the histogram, users can exercise more precise exposure control for quality photos. The histogram can be displayed on the camera's 2-inch LCD screen while an image is being recorded and also after a shot has been taken.
Power is supplied by a proprietary lithium rechargeable battery pack that is charged
outside of the camera. The charger is small and very portable and allows
you to charge one battery while using another. Images and movies are stored on
removable Secure Digital (SD) memory cards which are available in capacities up to 512MB.
Major DMC-FZ15 Features:
Physical Views
  
 The DMC-FZ15 compared in size to a standard CD disc.
The 2004 Lumix 12x Super-Zoom FamilyThe Lumix DMC-FZ20 is physically identical to the FZ15 with the addition of a flash hot shoe, audio recording and a higher resolution 5-megapixel imager and sells for about $100 more. If you're on a budget then check out the smaller and lighter Lumix DMC-FZ3, it also features a 12x stabilized Leica lens and is coupled with a 3-megapixel imager and sells for about $100 less.
 The 5-megapixel FZ20 and 4-megapixel FZ15.
 The 5-megapixel FZ20 and the 3-megapixel FZ3. |
Motion Image: 320 x 240
(Specifications as provided by the manufacturer.)
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Features & Controls
Lumix DMC-FZ15 Specifications
Image Sensor
1/2.5" CCD, Primary Color Filter
4.23 Total Megapixels
4.0 Effective Megapixels
Lens
Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x Optical Zoom
f=6.0-72mm (35mm equivalent: 36-432mm)
Constant F2.8 max. aperture (Wide-Tele)
4x Digital Zoom (up to 48x when combined with 12x Optical)
13 Elements in 8 Groups (3 Aspherical / 1 ED Lens)
Focusing Area
Normal:
Wide: 0.98 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet-Infinity
Macro, A/S/M mode:
Wide: 0.16 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet-Infinity
Focus
TTL Contrast-Detect AF System
Normal/Macro (Dial)
Continuous AF On/Off
Manual Focus (Ring)
One-shot AF
Focus-Assist Illuminator
Optical Image Stabilizer
MEGA O.I.S. (Mode 1 / Mode 2)
Image Processor
Venus Engine II™ LSI
Recording Image Size (Pixels)
2304 x 1728
1600 x 1200
1280 x 960
640 x 480
1920 x 1080 (16:9 HDTV)
Motion Image (Quick Time Motion JPEG)
30 or 10 fps (320 x 240 pixels) without audio
Length of movies depends on available memory.
ISO Sensitivity
Auto / 64 / 100 / 200 / 400
White Balance
Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Halogen/Flash/White Set
White Balance Adjustment
(except for Auto WB)
Exposure Modes
Program AE w/Shift
Aperture Priority AE
Shutter Priority AE
Manual
Scene Modes
SCN1 and SCN2 is user-settable for:
Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Night Landscape, Panning, Night Portrait,
Fireworks, Party or Snow
Exposure Compensation
1/3 EV Step, ± 2 EV
Auto Bracketing AE
+1/3EV-1EV Step, 3 Frames
Light Metering
Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot
Shutter Speed
8 - 1/2,000 sec.
Self Timer
10 seconds / 2 seconds
Picture Adjustment
Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Noise Reduction
Color Effect Mode
Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia
Image Quality
TIFF/Fine/Standard
Mega Burst® Shooting Mode
Full-resolution image:
Standard Mode: Up to 7 images at 4 or 2 frames/sec.
Fine Mode: Up to 4 images
Still Image Recording with Audio
No
Audio Dubbing
No
Built-in Flash Mode
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction,
Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction
Forced On/Off
Flash Output Adjustment (1/3EV step, -2 +2EV)
0.98 - 22.97 feet (ISO Auto)
External Flash
No hot shoe or PC sync connector
Real-time Histograms
Yes
LCD Monitor
2.0" 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 (SD) or Multimedia Card (MMC)
Microphone
Built-in
Speaker
Built-in
Conversion Lens Compatibility
Yes, Wideangle and Telephoto available
Auto Review
1 sec/3 sec/zoom
Quick Review
1x/4x/8x
OSD Language
English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian, French
Playback Mode
9-Thumbnail Display
Zoomed Playback (16x max)
Image Rotation
Slide Show
Resizing
Trimming, Protection
DPOF Setting
Direct Print
Yes, PictBridge compatible
Interface
DC Input, Video Output (NTSC/PAL), USB 1.1
Power Supply
Lithium-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 680 mAh)(Included)
AC Battery Charger (Input: 110-240V AC)(Included)
Battery Life
Up to 240 pictures (CIPA Standard)
Up to 270 pictures with EVF
Dimensions (H x W x D)
3.43'' x 5.02'' x 4.18''
Weight
1.14 lbs
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 SD Memory Card
Lens Cap
Lens Hood & Adaptor
A/V & USB Cable
Strap
CD-ROM
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