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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8


Review posted 4/23/2008


Introduction & Physical Views


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8
Click on the Lumix LZ8 to take a 360° tour


The new LZ-Series models from Panasonic for 2008 feature Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR lenses and wide-angle shooting – 30mm on the LZ10 and 32mm on the LZ8. Furthermore, each new LZ-Series model boasts manual controls, convenient AA-battery operation, a 5x optical zoom, Intelligent Auto Mode and the Venus Engine IV (Panasonic's new high-speed, image-processing LSI).

To provide digital photographers with added creative elements and performance, both LZ models sport manual control over aperture and shutter speed, thanks to the camera’s newly-adopted iris. When shooting manually, users can choose from three modes: A-aperture priority, S-shutter speed priority and M-manual, allowing them to enjoy added control and creativity, normally reserved for higher end models. Also new to the LZ-Series is Advanced Scene Mode – a feature that gives consumers some manual control while using some of the common scene modes: Portrait, Sports, Landscape and Night portrait.

For consumers not quite ready for complete manual control, the LZ-Series also features Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto Mode, which is comprised of five distinct technologies designed to provide users with intuitive and automatic camera adjustments, regardless of the shooting condition and without the user having to do anything manually. Intelligent Auto mode, consists of the following features:

  • MEGA O.I.S. – Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and the lens system shifts to compensate, helping to prevent hand-shake from creating a blurry image.
  • Intelligent ISO – Can determine if the photo subject is moving and change the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus giving a blur-free photo.
  • Intelligent Scene Selector – Senses the ambient conditions, recognizes the shooting environment and will automatically select the appropriate scene mode from: Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode.
  • Face Detection – Panasonic’s Face Detection detects up to 15 faces anywhere in the frame, even if they are moving, and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure settings so portraits come out clear and crisp.
  • Quick AF – The Quick AF (auto focus) system starts focus on the subject by just pointing the camera to the subject, thus minimizing the AF time.

The LZ8 also offers a 230,000-dot high-resolution Intelligent LCD, meaning the 2.5-inch screen detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level to offer optimal clarity in any situation, whether dark or light; indoors or outdoors. The cameras also include the popular High Angle mode which makes the LCD screen easy to view when held high, to shoot over a crowd or a tall object.


Major DMC-LZ8 Features:

  • 8-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 3264x2448 pixels
  • 5x optical zoom, equivalent to 32-160mm on a 35mm camera
  • Optical image stabilization to help prevent camera shake and blurring
  • 9-point AF with 3 point, 1 point and Spot options
  • 2.5-inch TFT color monitor with 230K pixels and 100% coverage
  • Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual, Intelligent Auto and 20 Scene modes
  • Burst mode captures @ 2.5fps up to 7 Large (8M) Fine images (10fps at 2M)
  • 640x480/320x240 (4:3) or 848 x 480 (16:9) QuickTime movies, 30fps or 10fps with audio
  • Shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 8 seconds (Shutter priority and Manual modes)
  • Starry Sky Mode 15, 30, 60 seconds
  • Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow synchro and red-eye reduction modes
  • TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
  • 27MB internal memory plus Secure Digital memory card slot
  • Plug-n-Play USB, Mass Storage compliant
  • PictBridge Direct-Print compatible
  • Powered by two standard AA type batteries


The Lumix DMC-LZ8 is available in black or silver with a suggested retail price of $179.95. The camera comes with Two AA Alkaline Batteries, AV & USB Cables, Strap, CD-ROM. See our Buy box below for current pricing at various online vendors.





Physical Views

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8



Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8

The DMC-LZ8 compared in size to a standard CD disc.




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Features & Controls



US visitors Lumix DMC-LZ8K Black Digital Camera (8.1MP, 3264x2448, 5x Opt, 27MB Internal Memory, SD/SDHC/MMC Card Slot)
$ 154.00 at Butterfly Photo
$ 152.96 at Dell Home
$ 149.00 at Beach Camera
$ 149.00 at Buydig.com
$ 149.00 at OneCall.com
$ 152.99 at Newegg.com
$ 149.99 at J&R
$ 169.95 at B&H Photo-Video


UK visitors Panasonic DMC-LZ8 - SIlver
£ 119.99 at UKDigitalCameras.co.uk
£ 149.00 at KadooAV.com
£ 157.00 at Digital Empire Online
£ 157.00 at Digico




Lumix DMC-LZ8 Specifications

Camera Type Runs on AA Batteries
KEY FEATURES .
Camera Effective Pixels 8.1 Megapixels
Optical Image Stabilizer MEGA O.I.S. (Mode 1 / Mode 2)
Optical Zoom 5x
Image Sensor 1/2.5", 8.32 Total Megapixels CCD, Primary Color Filter
Extra Optical Zoom 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 6.4x for 5 Mega, 8.0x for 3 Mega, 2 Mega, 0.3 Mega
3:2 Aspect Ratio: 6.4x for 4.5 Mega, 8.0x for 2.5 Mega
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 6.4x for 3.5 Mega, 8.0x for 2 Mega
Digital Zoom 1 4x
(Max. 20.0x combined with Optical Zoom without Extra Optical Zoom)
(Max. 35.6x combined with Extra Optical Zoom)
Focal Length f=5.2-26mm (35mm Equiv.: 32-160mm)
Lens Leica DC Vario-Elmar
Aperture Range Wide: F3.3 / F8.0 (2 steps)
Tele: F5.9 / F8 (2 steps)
PERFORMANCE FEATURES .
Conversion Lens Compatibility No
Focusing Area Normal: Wide 50cm/ Tele 100cm - infinity
Macro / Intelligent AUTO: Wide 5cm / Tele 100cm - infinity
AF Metering Face / 1-point/ 1-point high speed/ 3-point high speed/ 9-point/ Spot
Focus Normal / Macro, Quick AF On/Off
AF Assist Lamp Yes
ISO Sensitivity Auto /100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode : Auto(1600 - 6400) )
White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set / White Balance Adjustment (+10steps, except for auto set) (Selectable at Portrait, Soft Skin, Self-Portrait, Sports, Baby, Pet, High Sensitivity, and High-speed Burst mode)
Exposure Program AE
Aperture Priority AE
Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV Step, ± 2 EV
Backlight Compensation Yes (at Intelligent AUTO mode)
Auto Bracketing (AE) +/- 1/3 EV ~ 1EV step, 3 frames
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot
Dedicated Button/Mode Switch Dedicated Button: Macro
Mode Switch: Shooting, Playback
Shooting Mode (Mode Dial)/Rec. Mode Dial: P(Program AE) Mode, A(Aperture Priority AE) Mode, S(Shutter Priority AE) Mode, M(Manual Exposure) Mode, Custom, Intelligent AUTO
Scene Modes SCN (Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Panning, Night Portrait, Self-Portrait, Food, Party, Candle Light, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial Photo, Snow, High Sensitivity, Baby 1&2, Sunset, Pet, Hi-Speed Burst)
Advanced Scene Mode Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait
Shutter Speed/Shutter System 8 - 1/2,000 sec.
Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30, 60 sec.
Self Timer 10 seconds / 2 seconds
Auto Review 1sec, 3sec, Zoom, Hold
Review No
Picture Adjustment Contrast +2steps
Sharpness +2steps
Saturation +2steps
Noise Reduction +2steps
Color Effect Mode Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia
Color Mode No
Recording Format Still Image: JPEG (design rule for camera file system, based on Exif 2.21 standard), DPOF Corresponding
Image with audio: JPEG (design rule for camera file system, based on Exif 2.21 standard)+ QuickTime
Motion Picture: QuickTime Motion JPEG
Image Quality Fine/Standard
RECORDING IMAGE SIZE (Pixels) .
4:3 Aspect Ratio (Still Image) 3264 x 2448
2560 x 1920
2048 x 1536
1600 x 1200
640 x 480
3:2 Aspect Ratio (Still Image) 3264 x 2176
2560 x 1712
2048 x 1360
16:9 Aspect Ratio (Still Image) 3264 x 1840
2560 x 1440
1920 x 1080
Motion Image (4:3 Aspect Ratio) 640 x 480, 320 x 240
30 fps, 10fps
Motion Image (16:9 Aspect Ratio) 848 x 480 pixels - 30 fps, 10 fps
CONVENIENCE FEATURES .
Burst Shooting Mode Full-Resolution Image, 2.5 frames/sec Max. 7 images (Standard mode), Max 4 images (Fine Mode)
High-speed Burst Mode: approx. 10 frames/sec (recorded in 2M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)
Unlimited Consecutive Shooting 2 Yes
Intelligent Exposure No
Digital Red Eye Correction No
Easy Zoom/Zoom Resume/Motion Zoom Yes/No/No
Still Image Recording with Audio No
Audio Dubbing No
Real-time Histograms Yes
Composition Guide Lines Yes (2 patterns)
Built-in Memory approx. 27MB
Scene Mode Help Screen Yes
Auto Angle Detection Yes
Flip Animation No
Travel Date/World Time Yes/Yes
Title Edit Yes
Text Stamp/Date Stamp Yes/Yes
STANDARD FEATURES .
Built-in Flash Type/Mode Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
0.6-6.3m (Wide/ISO Auto), 0.3-3.1m (Tele/ISO Auto)
External Flash No
Viewfinder No
LCD Monitor 2.5" Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (230K dots)
Field of View : approx. 100%
AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode, High angle mode
Playback Mode 30 & 12-thumbnail display, Calendar Display, Zoomed Playback (16x max.), Playback of Favorite Pictures, Category Playback, Slide Show, Image Rotation, Resizing, Trimming, Protection, Aspect Conv. DPOF Print Setting
OSD Language English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese
Recording Media Built-in Memory
SD Memory Card
SDHC Memory Card
MultiMediaCard
Microphone Yes
Speaker Yes
Interface DC Input, A/V Output (NTSC/PAL), USB
Direct Print PictBridge
Color Silver
Power Supply Batteries (x2): AA Alkaline
Battery Life 3 Up to 160 images with Alkaline Batteries
Up to 260 Images with Oxide Batteries
ACCESSORIES .
Included Software PhotofunStudio -viewer-, ArcSoft® MediaImpression™, ArcSoft® Panorama Maker™, QuickTime, Adobe Reader, USB Driver
Standard Accessories Two AA Alkaline Batteries, AV & USB Cables, Strap, CD-ROM
SPECIFICATIONS .
Dimensions (H x W x D) 2.44'' x 3.84'' x 1.31''
Weight 0.31 lbs

Footnotes

1   As digital magnification increases, resolution significantly decreases.

2   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.

3   Shooting conditions: 73.4°F with 50% humidity;LCD On; Using an 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.

(Specifications as provided by the manufacturer.)




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