Panasonic DMCFZ3EBS Bridge Camera - Silver

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 is an affordable 3.1-megapixel digital camera with a high- quality Leica 12x optical zoom. The high precision Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x zoom is equivalent to a 35 - 420mm 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-FZ3 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 3 frames per second with undiminished quality from frame to frame.

The DMC-FZ3 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 Time lapse recording. The camera also captures QuickTime 320 x 240 motion video at 30 or 10 frames-per-second with audio, the length is limited only by available memory space.

The DMC-FZ3'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 1.5-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-FZ3 Features:

3.1-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 2016 x 1512 pixels

Leica DC-VARIO ELMARIT 12x zoom lens, equivalent to a 35-420mm on a 35mm camera

Optical image stabilization to prevent camera shake and blurring

Venus Engine II LSI for robust camera operations

Mega Burst continuous capture @ 4 or 2fps up to 13 images (7 in Fine mode)

Macro focus with auto focus down to 1.9 inches

1.5-inch TFT colour monitor with 114,000 pixels

Eye level colour electronic viewfinder with dioptre adjustment

Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual modes

Macro, Portrait, Sports, Panning, Night Portrait picture modes

High Speed and Low Speed Continuous, AE Bracketing and Time lapse modes

320 x 240 QuickTime movies, 30fps or 10fps w/audio

Shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 8 seconds (Shutter priority and Manual modes)

Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow synchro and red-eye reduction modes

Intelligent Multiple and Spot exposure metering

TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set

Secure Digital memory card slot, 8MB card included

Plug-n-Play USB, Mass Storage compliant

PictBridge Direct-Print compatible

Lithium rechargeable battery and rapid charger included

Lumix DMC-FZ3 Specifications

Image sensor            1/3.2", 3.34 Total Megapixel CCD, Primary Colour Filter
3.1 megapixels effective

Still image            JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2)
2016 x 1512
1920 x 1080 (HDTV 16:9 format)
1600 x 1200
1280 ? 960
640 x 480
(TIFF, Fine or Standard quality)

Digital video capture            320 x 240 @ 30 or 10 frames per second with audio
Clip length is limited only by available memory

Digital video format  Motion JPEG, QuickTime MOV format

Audio capture            Attach up to 10-sec audio notes to still images

Lens    Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x aspherical
f=4.6-55.2mm (35-420mm 35mm equivalent)
Constant F2.8 aperture
with Mega Optical Image Stabilization
13 elements in 8 groups (3 aspherical lenses / 3 aspherical surfaces)

Digital zoom            4x

Focusing            TTL Auto Focus System with Focus-Assist Illuminator, Normal/Macro (Dial), Continuous AF On/Off (Spot mode) (Spot Mode), Continuous AF On/Off

Normal focus range   0.98 ft (W) / 3.94 ft (T) to infinity

Macro focus minimum            0.16 ft (W) / 3.94 ft (T)

ISO sensitivity            Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400

White balance            TTL Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, Flash, Custom Set

Exposure modes P Mode (Program)
A/S/M Mode (Aperture Priority/ Shutter Priority/ Manual)
Macro, SCN1, SCN2, Portrait, Sports, Panning, Night Portrait, Moving Image

Picture Adjustment            Colour: Natural, Standard, Vivid
Effect: Cool, Warm, B&W, Sepia

Mega Burst            Full-resolution image:
Standard mode: Up to 13 images at 4 or 2 frames/sec.
Fine mode: Up to 7 images

Real-time histograms            Yes

Shutter speed            8 to 1/2000 sec Shutter priority and Manual
1 to 1/2000 sec., except Shutter Priority and Manual

Metering            Intelligent Multiple / Spot (Spot Mode)

Self-timer            Yes, 2 or 10 seconds

LCD screen            1.5-inch colour low temp polysilicon TFT (114,000 pixels)
Field of view; approx. 100%

Viewfinder type            Electronic 0.33" (114K pixels) with dioptre adjustment
Field of view; approx. 100%

Flash   Manual popup with modes for: Auto, Red-eye reduction, Slow-sync, Fill, Forced Off

Flash Range
(at ISO 100)            0.98 ft - 15.10 ft (ISO Auto)

Tripod mount            Yes

Auto review            1 sec / 3 sec

Review modes            1x / 4x / 8x

Playback modes 9-Thumbnail Display
Zoomed Playback (16x max)
Slide Show
Resizing
Trimming, Protection
DPOF Setting

Direct print            PictBridge standard

I/O connections            DC input, A-V output, USB 1.1

Video out            NTSC or PAL

Audio out            Monoraul

Battery type            Rechargeable 7.2v 680mAh Li-ion battery pack

Battery charger            AC Adapter/Charger (Input: 100 - 240V AC)

Charging time            90 minutes maximum

Battery life            Up to 260 pictures (CIPA Standard)
Up to 280 pictures using electronic viewfinder

Storage type(s) Secure Digital (SD), 8MB supplied / Multimedia Card (MMC)

Cables USB and A-V cables

Software            PC/Windows: SD Viewer for DSC, Acrobat Reader, ArcSoft Suite (PhotoImpression, Panorama Maker, PhotoBase), QuickTime 5.0, USB driver

Macintosh: ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, ArcSoft PhotoBase, QuickTime 5.0

Operating temperature            0°C - 40° C

Humidity            10% - 80%

Dimensions            2.69 x 4.25 x 3.34 inches (HxWxD)

Weight            0.64 lbs (not including battery and SD card)