Panasonic Lumix TS3: The Rugged Cam That’s Sensitive on the Inside [DigitalCameras]

At one point, springing for a camera that may survive a smash or two meant sacrificing, you know, actually getting an honest camera. Not so anymore! Panasonic’s 12.1MP TS3 is punctiliously rugged and does geotagging and 1080p video.

First, the basics. That you would be able to beat this thing up. It’s waterproof to 40 feet; shockproof to about 6 feet; freezeproof to -10 degrees C, and dustproof for good measure. Good.

And as you’d expect, there are lots of upgrades over its predecessor, the already-pretty-great ZS2 , in the case of guts: the ZS3 shoots full 1080p HD video; has built-in GPS for geotagging magics where the ZS2 had none; and has a pretend 3D mode whihc will snap 20 shots, pick the appropriate two, and overlay them to provide as best a 3D image as it could muster. Not quite the true deal, but you’ve gotta start somewhere in this crazy new 3D world, right?

The ZS3′s got 4.6x optical zoom, a built-in LED for lighting up dark creepy crawlies and an entire suite of Panny’s intelligent auto options. It’ll be available in March for a to-be-determined price.

Then there’s the zoomy ZS10. It’s got a wideeee 24mm Leica lens with 16x optical zoom; it shoots 1080p HD video; and it too has the brand new 3D mode.

There’s a new 14.1MP CMOS sensor on board, and it is going to shoot 10 fps at full resolution. Not too shabby. But the $64000 addition here’s the 3.0″ touch screen, which allows you to use touch for autofocus, playback, shutter, and for zooming in on subjects. It’ll be available for a yet-to-be-determined amount in March. [ Lumix ]

PANASONIC’S NEWEST RUGGED LUMIX CAMERA, COMPLETE WITH GPS & COMPASS IS PERFECT FOR CAPTURING STUNNING PHOTOS AND HD VIDEOS DURING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
New LUMIX TS3 is Waterproof*1, Shockproof*2, Freezeproof, Dustproof*1, and Adds Full-HD Video Recording, a New 3D Photo Mode & Easy Facebook and YouTube Uploads

SECAUCUS, NJ (January 25, 2011) – Panasonic today introduces the LUMIX DMC-TS3, specifically designed for active users who desire to capture high-quality photos and 1920 x 1080 full-High Definition videos, incorporating an impressive rugged design and new outdoor-friendly features, equivalent to a built-in GPS function, a compass, altimeter and barometer. The brand new 12.1-megapixel LUMIX TS3 further strengthens its toughness, in comparison to its LUMIX TS2 predecessor, and is now waterproof to approximately 40 feet (12m)*1; shockproof to approximately 6.6 feet (2m) *2; freezeproof to 14ºF (-10 degrees C); and dustproof*1.

The Panasonic LUMIX TS3 also features the brand new Panasonic 3D Photo mode, which produces a sensible 3D photo by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlays the two best to create a 3D image which may then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. The format of 3D images is compatible with MPO, and may also be played back on other MPO-compatible equipment corresponding to a televisions, digital photo frames and printers. Panasonic also adds the LUMIX Image Uploader, for seamless and instant sharing via Facebook (for digital photos) or YouTube (for videos). Users can checkmark the photo or video files they wish to share, connect it to a PC with the included USB cable or by inserting the SD Memory Card directly into the PC’s SD Card slot, and then the uploading automatically launches with a simple-to-follow menu option.

” The LUMIX TS3 is Panasonic’s ‘take anywhere’ digicam – whether it’s miles for carefree, everyday shooting with its easy-to-use features, high-quality lens and video capabilities, or for the active user who will appreciate the rugged design in any season – for activities together with hiking, skiing, camping, diving, snorkeling,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. ” Last year’s LUMIX TS2 was a highly-regarded rugged camera and with the TS3, we just built on its success with new features, like GPS, a compass, altimeter and barometer, making this the final word camera for the outdoor user.”
The Panasonic LUMIX TS3 incorporates a 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens, complete with a folded optics design. With an optical zoom up to 4.6x, the LUMIX TS3 works even while shooting video – giving the user the pliability for plenty of different scenes – especially underwater, where movement is regularly restricted and the perspective of view becomes important for composing shots. Because of the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology, the Intelligent Zoom is offered and extends the zoom to 6x equivalent.
Empowered by a newly developed 12.1-megapixel Hi-Speed CCD sensor, the LUMIX TS3 is compatible with high-speed, large-capacity signal processing required for 1920 x 1080 full-HD AVCHD video recording and high speed continuous shooting. The advanced image processor, the Venus Engine FHD, powers Panasonic’s Intelligent Resolution and the Sonic Speed AF, makes it possible for a shutter release time lag as short as approximately 0.005 second.

Beyond full-HD video recording capabilities, LUMIX TS3 excels in shooting videos with a Dolby® Digital Creator so audio quality is usually high. The built-in LED light greatly supports shooting in dark situations. The LUMIX TS3 also includes a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD screen with wide-viewing angle and Anti-Reflection coating.

Panasonic’s iA Mode, a set of technologies that engage automatically, has evolved for more powerful image stabilization while video recording and taking still photos with Active Mode which reinforces POWER OIS to excel in suppressing blur when recording videos at wide angle while walking. Other features of iA include: POWER OIS, Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure. With iA, taking beautiful photos is possible for users at any skill level. Similarly, the Intelligent Resolution technology is often activated within the iA mode, which helps produce even clearer photos by precisely performing signal processing pixel by pixel to assist ensure clear and sharp images.
The newly-integrated GPS function, shows the name of the Country/Region, State/Prov./County, County/Township, City/Town/Village and Landmark simply by the interior data to offer users details on where the photos or videos were taken. The realm information covers 203 countries or regions for global users. Plus, more than 1,000,000 landmarks over 78 countries or regions are inside the database. Using the included software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.1 HD Lite Edition, photos and videos can also be searched by location and names. The LUMIX TS3 also features an internal clock that automatically adjusts to the local time when GPS is enabled – a handy feature for travelers.

The LUMIX TS3 shall be available in March 2011 and pricing might be announced approximately 30 days in advance of shipping date. The LUMIX TS3 will probably be available in red, orange, silver, and blue. For more on these Panasonic LUMIX models, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

PANASONIC EXPANDS ITS POPULAR ZS-SERIES OF DIGITAL CAMERAS WITH ADDITIONAL ADVANCED FEATURES INCLUDING INTUITIVE TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL AND ENTIRE HD VIDEO
Panasonic LUMIX ZS10 Incorporates a 24mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Leica Lens and an impressive 16x Optical Zoom, 3D Photo Mode and Built-In GPS Functions
SECAUCUS, NJ (January 25, 2011) – Panasonic today introduced the LUMIX DMC-ZS10 as the latest member of its acclaimed LUMIX ZS-Series of digital cameras that has won worldwide popularity for its versatile lens from ultra wide-angle to long zoom. The LUMIX ZS10 continues its versatility with a 24mm ultra-wide-angle and robust 16x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens – and it features full-High Definition 1920×1080 video recording capability, a newly-adopted large 3.0-inch, 460,000-dot Smart Touch Intelligent LCD – which permits Touch Zoom, Touch Auto Focus (AF), Touch Shutter, and Touch Playback. The LUMIX ZS10 also includes a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) function allowing geotagged images to be pinpointed via online maps and easily shared with friends and families.

” With the introduction of the LUMIX ZS10, Panasonic expects to continue to steer the market in long zoom cameras, as this very advanced digital camera not only offers a 16x optical zoom, but with a good wider 24mm Leica lens, it is a truly robust digicam for both still photos and entire HD 1080 videos,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. ” With new features equivalent to touch-screen operation and even a 3D photo mode, Panasonic continues to pack the ZS10 with innovative features for capturing high-quality photos and videos, that are easily shared with family and friends using the most recent LUMIX Image Uploader feature.”

The Panasonic LUMIX ZS10 also features the most recent Panasonic 3D Photo mode, which produces a sensible 3D photo by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best images which offer a 3D image that could then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. The format of the 3D image is compatible with MPO, and might also be played back on other MPO-compatible equipment together with a televisions, digital photo frame and printers. Panasonic also adds the LUMIX Image Uploader for seamless and instant sharing via Facebook (for digital photos) or YouTube (for videos). Users can checkmark the photo or video files they need to share, connect it to a PC with the included USB cable or by inserting the SD Memory Card directly into the PC’s SD Card slot, and then the uploading automatically launches with a simple-to-follow menu option.

Using the touch-screen, once locked on the subject, the LUMIX ZS10 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function even though it moves. With the Intelligent Scene Selector within the iA mode, the LUMIX ZS10 automatically switches to the suitable mode consistent with the subject touched. For instance, a slightly on a human face switches to the portrait mode and a splash on the background or a landscape changes to the Scenery mode, while a splash on the subject close within the foreground changes to Macro mode. All menu settings are now available with touch control. The touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting, but additionally in playback, allowing the user to pull the photographs across the screen with a finger and skim the collection of photos as though flipping the pages of a book.

Newly adopted 14.1-megapixel MOS sensor and the advanced image processor Venus Engine FHD feature high speed, high sensitivity image recording to comprehend 1920×1080 full-HD movie recording and high speed burst shooting in high picture quality. It also compiles the Intelligent Resolution technology to perform optimum signal processing to provide the overall image outstandingly natural clearness with bits and bobs. The powerful 16x optical zoom – available while shooting videos – increases its power to 21x equivalent with the Intelligent Zoom function, making the most of Intelligent Resolution technology. The Sonic Speed AF also boasts approximately 49% higher speed compared to its LUMIX ZS7 predecessor.

The LUMIX ZS10 shoots 10 fps in 14-megapixel full resolution with mechanical shutter and 5 fps with continuous AF. Even higher speed burst shooting is accessible with LUMIX ZS10 if the electronic shutter is used – 60 fps in 3.5-megapixel*1. The LUMIX ZS10 is a complicated photographic tool for recording not only great photos but in addition beautiful full-HD movies. Besides Motion JPEG images, the LUMIX ZS10 can record high-resolution full-HD 1920×1080 60i videos in AVCHD (MPEG-4 / H.264)* format. The high frame rate of 60i excels in recording moving subjects with outstanding smoothness. The videos also come with the high-quality stereo sound of Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator, to supply highly realistic sound.

Panasonic’s iA Mode, a collection of technologies that engage automatically, has evolved for more powerful image stabilization while video recording and taking still photos with Active Mode which enhances POWER OIS to excel in suppressing blur when recording videos at wide angle while walking. New iA features include the Intelligent Handheld Nightshot, which creates a lovely night scenery with illumination by layering the pictures shot consecutively. Furthermore, the Intelligent Burst Shooting automatically sets the frame rate of burst shooting in step with the subject’s movement – whether it moves fast or slow – utilizing the mechanism of Intelligent ISO Control. Other features of iA include: Motion Deblur, POWER OIS, Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure. With iA, taking beautiful photos is possible for users at any skill level. Similarly, the Intelligent Resolution technology is usually activated inside the iA mode, which helps produce even clearer photos by precisely performing signal processing, pixel by pixel, to assist ensure clear and sharp images.

The LUMIX ZS10 camera incorporates a built-in GPS system which tags the position data where the photo was focused on its latitude and longitude automatically inside the Exif data. Plus, the LUMIX ZS10 also shows the name of the Country/Region, State/Prov./County, County/Township, City/Town/Village and Landmark by means of internal data to provide users details on where the photos or videos were taken. The world information covers 203 countries or regions for global users. Plus, more than 1,000,000 landmarks over 78 countries or regions are inside the database. Using the included software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.1 HD Lite Edition, photos and videos will also be searched by location and names. The LUMIX ZS10 also features an internal clock that automatically adjusts to the local time when GPS is enabled – a handy feature for travelers.
The LUMIX DMC-ZS8 was also added to the ZS-Series of cameras and maintains the versatile 24mm ultra-wide angle and strong 16x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens. Other features include:

iA mode including POWER OIS, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Recognition, Intelligent Exposure
Venus Engine VI featuring Intelligent Resolution
720p HD video recording in Motion JPEG
Large 3.0-inch large 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD
Manual exposure
LUMIX Image Uploader

The LUMIX ZS10 and ZS8 can be available in March 2011 and pricing will probably be announced approximately 30 days ahead of shipping date. The LUMIX ZS10 might be available in black, red, blue, silver, and brown; while the LUMIX ZS8 can be available in black and silver. For more on these Panasonic LUMIX models, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

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This post is tagged: creepy crawlies, good-measure-, intelligent auto, lumix camera, lumix panasonic, secaucus nj, stunning photos