Features & Controls

The 10X optical zoom lens offers a broad equivalent zoom range for a compact camera, with a 25mm wide angle extreme and 250mm of magnification (in still image mode). It also boasts their proven MEGA O.I.S. (optical image stabilization) system. The Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens contains nine elements in seven groups (four aspherical lenses and 6 aspherical surfaces).
F3.1 - 5.9 / 2-step (F3.1 / 9.0 (W), F5.9 / 16.0 (T))
Focusing range:
Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity / Tele 150 cm - infinity
Macro / Intelligent Auto / Motion Picture: Wide 5 cm - infinity / Tele 150 cm - infinity
Focus menu:
- Normal
- AF Macro
- Macro Zoom
- Quick AF (Always On)
- Continuous AF (only for motion picture)
- AF Tracking
Flash menu:
- Auto
- Auto / Red-eye Reduction
- Forced On
- Slow Sync. / Red-eye Reduction
- Forced Off
- 0.6 - 5.6 m (1.9 to 18.3 feet) (Wide / i.ISO)
- 1.5 - 2.9 m (4.9 to 9.5 feet) (Tele / i.ISO)
In the setup menu you will find three options of varying brightness for the LCD. The automatic setting adjust the brightness according to surrounding light. The power LCD setting brightens the screen to help you see it outdoors. A third LCD mode called high angle brightens the screen even further and is designed to improve visibility when taking pictures at an angle.
LCD setup menu:
- Auto power LCD
- Power LCD
- High angle
- Off
Quick mode menu items:
- File size
- ISO
- White balance
- AF mode
- Burst mode
- Video recording quality
- LCD mode
To use the remote control function, you download a Lumix application to your smart phone so it can communicate with the camera. This allows you to use your smart phone to remotely trigger the shutter, playback images on the smart phone that are stored in the camera, save images to the smart phone from the camera, alter the camera's menu selections, and upload photos to a social networking service. You can also use the smart phone to record GPS location information to images taken by the camera - by using the smart phone's GPS unit, the SZ5 does not have built-in GPS.
Shutter speed range:
- Approx. 8 seconds to 1/1600 second
The camera supports SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card formats. In addition there is approximately 55MB of built-in memory. The card slot is right beside the battery compartment behind a spring-loaded hinged door.
To charge the lithium-ion battery, you leave it in the camera and connect the camera to the charger via the USB cable. Battery life is not outstanding, rated by CIPA at 250 pictures. You have the option of buying a second battery. However, you will not be able to charge the first one while shooting with the second. Also available is an AC adapter for saving battery power while shooting within range of an outlet.
Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.