Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera

panasonic lumix dmc-zs3 10mp digital camera with 12x wide angle mega optical image stabilized zoom and 3 inch lcd (silver)

2009-11-04T00:21:00.001-08:00

Product Description

The ZS3 records HD motion images at a smooth 60 frames per second with 1280 x 720-pixel resolution. It uses the AVCHD (MPEG-4/H.264) format, via AVCHD lite, which stores less data than other formats and thus lets you shoot more minutes of HD motion images before running out of memory.Just set the camera to iA mode, aim and shoot. The camera does all the rest. It automatically determines the most suitable scene mode and helps correct blurring, focus, and brightness problems. With iA mode, it's easy to get beautiful, clear results. In the ZS3, iA mode cannot be used when shooting motion images.The ZS3 packs a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 12x optical zoom into a compact body. This versatile photographic tool lets you shoot everything from sweeping vistas at the 25mm wide-angle setting to dynamic 300mm telephoto shots. And the lens system's exquisite rendering ability lets you capture even the subtle nuances of the sights and scenes in your travels.

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About Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Silver) detail

Amazon Sales Rank: #302 in Camera & Photo

Color: Silver

Brand: Panasonic

Model: ZS3 Silver

Dimensions: 4.07" h x 1.29" w x 2.35" l, .45 pounds

Native resolution: 1280 x 720

Display size: 3

Features

10.1-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-size prints

12x MEGA optical image-stablilized zoom; 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens

Capture HD video in "AVCHD Lite" format

Intelligent Auto (iA) mode; Face Recognition feature

Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP

2009-11-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera

Product Description
Color Name: Black
From the Manufacturer
The new Lumix ZS3 features 10.1-megapixels, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens and 12x optical zoom, meaning it has added 2x optical zoom to the award-winning TZ-series camera, yet reduced its size. The ZS3 also features a Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens and High Definition (HD) video recording ability, known as AVCHD Lite.

The ZS3 is the world’s first digital camera to feature HD video recording in "AVCHD Lite." Compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format, AVCHD Lite allows longer recordings with breathtaking HD visual and audio quality. This combined with a well-considered control interface, which includes a dedicated movie recording button on the camera’s back panel, makes the ZS3 a hybrid model that performs admirably for both still and motion image capture.

The ZS3 also expands Panasonic’s popular Intelligent Auto (iA) mode with the addition of Face Recognition--a feature that "remembers" faces from previous shots. When a registered face appears in the frame, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure to capture it beautifully. With Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt the users to register the face. Once registered, if the face appears into the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and sharply focused.

New this year to the ZS-Series, iA mode is also available in Movie Mode. It automatically selects the most suitable Scene mode and helps to correct handshake, focus and brightness problems - making iA mode your one-stop solution to capture beautiful still and motion images. In Movie Mode, the ZS3, Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using the high-powered zoom. Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion so it turns out perfectly. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality.

The imaging power of Lumix has further evolved with the Venus Engine HD, which boasts two CPUs to provide approx. 2.4x processing capability and support for AVCHD Lite and HDMI output. It integrates all the advanced functions and camera operations with high performance and low-power consumption. In image processing, luminance noise and chromatic noise are reduced separately before and after signal processing. This is further refined by separating noise two-dimensionally into high-frequency and low-frequency noise. The circuits then effectively reduce only the low-frequency noise to minimize the unwanted noise and help produce beautiful, sharp still and motion images.

Playback with the ZS-series is also easy. Simply insert the camera’s SD memory card into the VIERA HDTV’s Image Viewer SD Card slot for a photo slideshow. Alternatively, connect the camera via an optional HDMI mini cable, the DMW-HDC2, to a VIERA Link-equipped Panasonic VIERA HDTV and use the television’s remote control to run mixed slideshows of photos and videos. The ZS3 features a 3-inch, high resolution 460,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle, improving visibility during recording and playback.

Other features of the Lumix ZS3 include:

* Increased Scene modes for both still and motion image shooting--optimized for a variety of situations. There are 26 scene modes for still image and 17 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, High sensitivity, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pin hole, Film grain and Underwater)
* Two new My Scene settings let users assign their two most frequently used Scene modes to the setting, and with a simple switch, allow access to either scene instantly.
* New Panorama Assist scene mode allows users to shoot a number of consistent photos, either vertically or horizontally, by aligning them according to a guide that overlaps the screen. Then using those photos and the bundled PanoramaMaker software, users can create dramatic panoramic images.
* High-Speed Burst (Speed Priority) that fires off approx. 10 shots per second.
* Menus are clearer and easier to navigate with the Display Size option.
* Macro Zoom function lets users pull subjects even closer to capture dramatic close-up shots by using the 3x digital zoom in the wide-angle.
* Bundled Software: The latest version of PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition allows users to view, edit and archive captured content with greater ease and fun. Still and motion images can be transferred to the computer via a USB cable for viewing and archiving. Using PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition, users can edit and remove unwanted portions of video clips recorded in AVCHD Lite. Contents recorded in AVCHD Lite can be burned directly onto a DVD disc or the software can convert contents to MPEG2 format. The software also incorporates the Face Recognition function, which recognizes registered faces in photos stored on the computer, making organizing and archiving photos with a specific person much easier. Additionally, motion pictures can be uploaded directly to YouTube.

Product Description
10.1-megapixel effective recording * 12X optical zoom (4X digital/48X total zoom) * 3" high-resolution (460,000-pixel) LCD screen * optical image stabilization * wide-angle lens for shooting landscapes and large groups * 35mm equivalent focal length: 25-300mm * top JPEG resolution: 3648 x 2736 * face detection adjusts focus and exposure settings for better portraits * scene recognition identifies shooting conditions and selects optimal settings * intelligent ISO detects subject movement and adjusts camera settings to prevent blur * high sensitivity mode for better low-light and flash-free shooting * variable burst mode lets you select shooting resolution and speed (up to 5 frames per second) *

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera

2009-11-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD Reviews

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'Not bad, but could be better OR cheaper' 2009-11-03
By home user
Pros:

1. Made in Japan (NOT in China) !!!
2. Zoom range.
3. 3' High resolution screen.
4. HD videos with zoom.

Cons:

1. The sensor is too small for such a camera -> granulation in low light. Less expensive Fujifilm Finepix F70EXR has bigger sensor and better quality photos in low light.
2. Buggy software in the camera - sometimes some modes get frozen.
3. Bundled Software on included CD - a piece of junk, as usual for digital cameras, a bunch of useless extras. DOESN'T OPEN OWN AVCHD VIDEOS from a camera (.MTS format) for editing. A BUMMER! It's a must for such an expensive top-line camera to have full editing package included. So use/buy 3rd party video editing software.
4. Original battery goes down pretty fast, buy spare one (not cheap - $50).
5. Default Intelligent Auto (iA) mode sometimes is not intelligent enough, doesn't provide best quality.
6. Be careful with wide angle lenses - bent lines, etc. Other cameras make better pics from the same point/distance with the same frame.

Overall not bad camera, but price should be about $200 (not 300) because of a small sensor, quality and installed/included software. Disappointed. Overpaid.

'Unbelievable capability in a small package' 2009-11-03
By Frederick P. Krueger (Aurora, IL USA)
I am an old 35mm and 6x6cm shooter, plus did my own darkroom work years ago. In 2002 I entered the digital age and purchased an Olympus C2020?, then last year a Canon A570. The Olympus gave very good images, however, the Canon has become my favorite 'carry everywhere' camera due to it's small size, many features and relatively low cost. However, I have never been completely happy with the image quality of the Canon and feel the old Olympus yielded better images.

My youngest son was married in October and I wanted to do a video of the wedding, as his grandmother was unable to attend. The video capabilities of the Canon are resolution limited so I decided to look for a camera with HD capability. I also decided a camera with flash memory would be the most rugged and after some searching found that the Lumix DMC-ZS3 has 720P HD video capability and well as full zoom capability in video mode (this is the only regular digital camera in this price range to offer full zoom capability in the video mode).

Many regular flash memory video cameras have a file size limit in HD mode (2GB). This limits recordings to less than 15 minutes. To continue recording one must then start another file. Not so with the Lumix. Using AVCHDlite recording mode allows uninterrupted video recording (until the SD card is full). So a 16GB card yields 2hours of continuous 720P HD recording using the AVCHD lite mode. The latest version of iMovie (Mac app) can read AVCHDlite files so I'm in business.

The Lumix does an excellent job with video, yielding superb images (even from the back of a large church) and stereo sound. Plus the still images are absolutely superb! Over the last several weeks I have taken quite a few available light shots with the Lumix and the images are noticeably sharper than most other digital images that I've seen. Plus the color balance is excellent. I'm guessing that this is primarily a function of the Leica optics and the image processing algorithms.

My only negative is the lack of a viewfinder. I find a viewfinder necessary for fast framing. I may attempt to design a framing device to attach to the tripod socket.

'Important info if you plan to export & edit video...' 2009-11-03
By Pete R (SW burbs Chicago, USA)
...I think this is a terrific camera - very lightweight and compact for having a 12x optical zoom. The perfect camera for the point & shoot photographer - not so if you prefer manual settings because there are just a few. But if you plan to shoot video and then export it to your PC/Mac, you'll need to ante up another $130 for the AC adapter (Panasonic DMW-AC5 AC Adapter for Panasonic Lumix® Digital Cameras) AND the Multi Conversion adapter (Panasonic DMW-MCA1 @ $49.95) - YOU MUST PURCHASE BOTH. Without these items, the battery will run out before the video transfer is complete. You can view the video direct to TV using an HDMI mini cable (Tripp Lite Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable (6 feet)). One star off due to the high price of accessories...

'Fantastic Camera' 2009-11-02
By Lake Michigan Fisherman (USA)
Just Received the camera and visited the Grand Canyon. The zoom is unbelievable! As is the wide angle lens! The picture quality and video quality are both great! Just be sure NOT to use the AVCHD lite video mode, because most video editing programs won't recognize it. Use the Quicktime HD mode to edit and make movies. Be sure to get a high speed card for the movies, like the Sandisk Extreme III. This is the best point and shoot camera available, according to all the camera review sites and in my experience with it so far.

'Panasonic lumix ZS3' 2009-11-02
By David Phillips (Utah)
This is a very nice camera in this price class. It takes consistently better photos than my Canon or Kodak point and shoot models. The bright 3 inch screen is very nice and the cameras metal body feels very well made. The only negative I have found is that the mode wheel on top is near the shoot button and will get moved by accident. You will know when this happens as it will say 'mode wheel in wrong position' on the view screen when it happens. Not a deal breaker as this is minor and overall the camera is far above average. I also own the ZS1. It is very similar without the fancy movie mode and it has a slightly smaller LCD screen. It is also a very nice camera. Don't hesitate to buy the ZS3 as there is nothing better at this price.

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