[PAGEBREAK]

Panasonic has announced the latest addition to its Lumix range, the FX100.

In what has already been a busy year for the Japanese manufacturer, the 12MP compact will join eleven new Lumix cameras announced earlier this year. Its new 1/1.72-inch large sensor enables each pixel to record light accurately, helping to minimise noise and allowing prints up to A2 in size, the company claims.

In addition, its 28-100mm Leica lens gives it a 3.6x optical zoom, stablised not only by an advanced version of its Mega O.I.S. system but also by an Intelligent ISO Control feature, which is said to compensate for motion blur. The camera also features its latest Venus III processing engine, benefiting both image quality and operational speed.

Available in silver, champagne and black, the model will go on sale from July.

See next page for full press release

[PAGEBREAK]



DMC FX-100

New Lumix DMC-FX100
12.2-Megapixel Premium Compact Digital Camera
with High Quality 28mm Wide-Angle* Leica DC Lens
Featuring Intelligent Image Stabilization
with Advanced Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO Control
(*)35mm film camera equivalent: 28-100mm


Panasonic is pleased to announce a new addition to the Lumix family of high-performance digital cameras. The new DMC-FX100 combines 1/1.72-inch large 12.2-megapixel image recording with a superb, 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens that features a 3.6x optical zoom(equivalent to 28-100mm on a 35mm film camera) and f/2.8 brightness. This Leica DC lens has been newly developed specifically for the DMC-FX100, whose 12.2-megapixel recording gives users the creative power to capture stunningly true-to-life high-resolution images with extraordinary resolution, detail and clarity. Panasonic managed to pack the advanced 28mm wide-angle lens and large CCD into a sleek, slim body. Also adding a host of sophisticated features, the new FX100 is a premium camera that moves right to the top of the Lumix FX series of compact, stylish cameras.

The quality of the DMC-FX100 goes beyond its high specifications. Panasonic went to great lengths to make the FX100 a camera so effortless to use that anyone will find it easy to take clear, beautiful pictures every time they shoot. At the heart of the FX100’s super-easy operation is Intelligent Image Stabilization, a Panasonic system offered in all new Lumix cameras. Intelligent Image Stabilization combines two distinct features aimed at making it easy to capture perfect images. First is Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), a system that helps eliminate blurring due to hand-shake. Mega O.I.S. is particularly critical when shooting high-resolution pictures, where the effects of even slight hand-shake are readily visible. The new advanced Mega O.I.S system in the DMC-FX100 can even detect and separate the hand-shake from other movement of camera to raise both precision of detection and corrective effect. Second is Intelligent ISO Control, a system that fights motion blur by detecting if the subject moves and adjusting the ISO setting and shutter speed according to the degree of motion and light conditions. Both Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO Control act automatically, so you don’t have to even think about them each time conditions change. You enjoy effortless, trouble-free shooting in any situation, as well as the satisfaction that comes with capturing beautiful photos.

The FX100 also incorporates the Venus Engine III, Panasonic’s advanced image processing LSI that helps render exquisite images with minimal noise. Also providing exceptional response speed, the Venus Engine III makes possible the newly developed High-Speed Burst shooting mode that lets you snap off a lightning-fast eight shots per second,* as well as a new High Sensitivity mode that provides a maximum ISO setting of 6400.* In addition, when using the High Sensitivity mode, the built-in flash reaches as far as 16 m, letting you capture clear images even in dim lighting.

The FX100 lets you shoot high-definition 1920 x 1080 pixel still images and high-quality 1280 x 720 pixel moving images. Both perfectly fit the wide-screen (16:9) TVs that are popular today, giving you a impressive viewing of the photos and motion images you shoot .
The FX100 will be available in silver and black, each colour is metallic and combines with the sleek styling to create a sophisticated, high-grade look appropriate for a camera of this pedigree.

Beautifully designed and packed with high-end features, the new DMC-FX100 is an eminently worthy addition to the Lumix line of advanced digital cameras. The FX100 carries on the Lumix legacy of capturing breathtakingly clear, beautiful images that turn special moments into cherished memories that can be enjoyed again and again in different ways.
(*) In 3-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording.


1. 28mm Wide-Angle Leica DC Lens* with f/2.8 Brightness in a Small, Sleek Body
With the DMC-FX100, Panasonic packages a newly developed 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens featuring f/2.8 brightness and a 3.6x optical zoom* plus a 12.2-megapixel CCD into a slim, stylish and conveniently compact camera body. The new lens unit, which comprises seven elements in six groups, including an EA lens and four lenses with five aspherical surfaces, is designed and manufactured to Leica’s stringent standards. Its optical performance is exceptional. In addition to the 3.6x optical zoom, the FX100 offers an Extra Optical Zoom function. Available when the camera is in 3-megapixel resolution mode, this function uses the centre part of the CCD to boost magnification even further, extending the zoom power to 7x. The FX100 also has an Easy Zoom feature that, at the touch of a button, shifts the lens instantly to full 3.6x zoom power. A second touch of the button activates the Extra Optical Zoom function and extends zoom all the way to 7x.**
(*)35mm film camera equivalent: 28-100mm
(**)When the picture size is set to 3 megapixels or larger, the photo is automatically resized to 3 megapixels. When the lens is shifted back to the wide-end, the picture size is set to the original size automatically. The original size is maintained for photos smaller than 3 megapixels.

2. Large 1/1.72-inch CCD and 12.2-Megapixel Resolution ? Highest in the Class
The DMC-FX100 incorporates 1/1.72-inch large CCD with 12.2-megapixel rich recording resolution. This super-high resolution is possible because sufficient light-receiving area is allocated to each pixel, thus preventing noise that would otherwise be generated by a smaller pixel area. Images seen with the FX100’s Leica DC lens ? a lens superior in quality and performance to those found in other compact cameras ? are rendered with the incredibly rich detail and gradation that only 12.2-megapixel resolution can achieve. Delicate flower petals, subtle skin textures, the changing hues of sunset ? the FX100 captures the nuances of images like these with breathtaking clarity and detail. The 12.2-megapixel resolution also allows images to be printed up to A2 size with spectacular results. For example, you can make life-size prints of a baby or the upper half of an adult’s body. Similarly, the high resolution lets you trim an image ? framing only the part you like ? and then magnify it and still get outstanding detail and resolution.

3. Intelligent Image Stabilization: Advanced Mega O.I.S. for Hand-Shake Plus Intelligent ISO Control for Motion Blur
Panasonic drew on its cutting-edge lens technology to invent Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), a system that prevents blurring from shaky hands and has been studied it for over 20 years. In Panasonic’s Mega O.I.S., sensors act at a frequency of 4,000 times per second to accurately detect the hand-shake and an O.I.S. lens unit is shifted to compensate. The new advanced Mega O.I.S system in the DMC-FX100 can even detect and separate the hand-shake from other movement of camera to raise both precision of detection and corrective effect. With Mega O.I.S., it is easier than ever to capture clear, sharp, beautiful images when shooting indoor portraits, illuminated night scenes or even the scenery you see from a train window.
Another problem is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being snapped but Lumix?s Intelligent ISO Control detects whether or not the subject is moving. If it is, the system automatically raises the ISO setting accordingly, allowing the camera to shoot at a higher shutter speed. If the subject is not moving, the camera shoots at a low ISO setting and captures beautiful, natural-looking images. Intelligent ISO Control is included as one of the corrections in certain scene modes used to shoot subjects that are often moving, such as Sports, Baby and the newly added Pet mode. Simply select the mode that best suits the subject, and Intelligent ISO Control provides the optimal corrections, making it easy to capture crisp, clear photos.

4. High-Performance Image-Processing LSI: The Venus Engine III
Featured in the DMC-FX100, the Venus Engine III is an advanced multi-task image-processing engine that supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as 0.009 second and the shutter interval as short as 0.9 sec* ? outstanding for a camera recording at 12.2-megapixel resolution. The camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. In burst shooting mode, the FX100 can snap two shots per second at full 12.2-megapixel resolution.** And in High-Speed Burst shooting mode,*** it fires off an incredible eight shots per second. You also get unlimited consecutive shooting**** ? which lets you keep snapping until the memory card is full.
The Venus Engine III separates luminance noise from chromatic noise, which has a greater effect on picture quality, and greatly suppresses the chromatic noise to maintain high resolution. The Venus Engine III also supports a new High Sensitivity mode that lets the FX100 record at a setting of up to ISO 6400 ? sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash.*** This advanced processing engine is also energy efficient. Its low power consumption means you can shoot around 320 images on a single charge, for a full day of shooting fun.
(*)Not including auto focusing time
(**)Max. five images in standard mode/ three images in fine mode.
(***) In 2-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording
(****)The consecutive shooting speed varies with the memory card, image size, and image compression mode. The number of shots depends on the memory card size, battery life, image size and image compression mode.

5. HD Photo and?Motion Picture Recording in HD Resolution
With TV screens getting bigger and picture definition getting higher, consumers want to be able to shoot higher-quality still images and motion pictures. Panasonic has long focused on making photography more enjoyable, such as by letting people view their images easily on a Viera TV, with its internal SD card slot. With the FX100, you can shoot high-definition 1920 x 1080 pixel photos that are ideal for full-screen viewing on a wide-screen (16:9) TV. Panasonic also offers the DMW-SDP1 HDTV Photo Player, which makes it easy to view a slideshow of Lumix photos in 1080i high-definition quality. Simply connect the SDP1 via a component cable to an HDTV and slip the SDHC/SD Memory Card into the slot, and you’re ready to view high-definition images on a large display with family or friends.
In addition to recording standard VGA (640 x 480) and WVGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second, the DMC-FX100 can record stunning wide-aspect HD (1280 x 720) motion images at 15 frames per second. Fitting a wide-screen HDTV perfectly, these HD motion images captured by the FX100 make for extremely impressive viewing.


6. Other Advanced Features
The sleek and stylish DMC-FX100 has around 27 MB of built-in memory to back up the SDHC/SD Memory Card recording. With a total of 20 scene modes plus the new High Sensitivity mode and High-Speed Burst shooting mode, the FX100 makes it easy to capture stunning, high-resolution photos in a range of shooting situations. The FX100 also provides a number of playback functions. Category Playback, for example, sorts images into such categories as portraits, landscapes, nightscapes, events, and motion pictures, so you can play back or make slideshows of a particular type of image.