Panasonic rolls out three new LUMIX digital cameras

Panasonic expanded their LUMIX line of digital cameras on Monday with the introduction of three new models including the LUMIX DMC-FZ35, LUMIX DMC-FP8, and LUMIX DMC-ZR1. The DMC-FZ35 is the successor to the FZ28 and features AVCHD Lite, HD video recording, and a 27mm wide-angle, 18x optical zoom LEICA lens while the DMC-FP8 comes with a 12.1 megapixel resolution, and a 28mm wide-angle 4.6x Leica DC lens with folding optics. Finally, the DMC-ZR1 features the world’s first 0.3mm thin aspherical lens which allows for a super compact body while still yielding a 25mm ultra-wide-angle 8x optical zoom. Here’s the low down on the new digicams:

dmc-fz35k Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ35:

Creative Movie Mode – allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture manually for movie capture
My Color Mode – manually adjust the color, brightness, and saturation parameters while seeing how the adjustments change the picture live on the display
High Dynamic Mode – helps capture a scene with moderate exposure even though the scene contains both bright and dark areas
12.1 megapixel resolution
LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens
Upgraded POWER Optical Image Stabilizer
MEGA OIS
Ultra high-speed Auto Focus (AF)
18x optical zoom lens
Venus Engine HD
Battery life of around 470 pictures
Intelligent Auto Mode with features such as Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Exposure, and Face Recognition
Face Recognition that recognizes up three faces simultaneously while taking pictures
Available in September for a suggested retail price of $399.99
Available in black

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FP8:

12.1 megapixel resolution
LEICA DC Vario-Elmar lens
High-speed Auto Focus(AF)
Intelligent Auto (iA) suite of technologies
POWER Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
MEGA OIS
Blue LED cursor buttons that glow when pressed
2.7 inch large Intelligent LCD
Face Recognition recognizes up to three faces simultaneously
Venus Engine V
HD movies with VIERA Link Networking – record in 1280 x 720 at 30fps or 848 x 480 or 640 x 480
27 scene modes including a new High Dynamic Mode which takes a scene in moderate exposure even though there are dark or bright areas in the scene
PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 software
Available in September for $299.95
Available in black, red, and silver

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZR1:

Has the world’s first 0.3 mm thin aspherical lens providing a 25mm ultra-wide angle 8x optical zoom lens in an ultra-compact body
Zoom range of 25-200mm
12.1 megapixel resolution
LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens
High speed Auto Focus
High speed startup of 1.1 seconds
2.7 inch Intelligent LCD
Venus Engine V
Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies including hand-shake component, and a face recognition feature – up to 6 faces registered and three detected simultaneously
POWER Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS)
Travel Mode – organize information related to travel including destination, date, and time. Allows for simply playback of pictures
High Dynamic Mode (see above)
PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 software included
Available in September for a suggested price of $279.95
Available in black, red, blue, and silver