The DMC-FX9 is a new addition to Panasonic?s FX series, incorporating a 6MP CCD and 3x optical zoom.
At the front of the camera sits a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with a focal length of 35-105mm. Like the newly announced DMC-FZ30, the FX9 includes the new Extra Optical Zoom feature, which extends the zoom range to 4.1x for 3MP images.
The Venus Engine Plus processor promises low-energy consumption, reducing battery expenditure by 70% (since its predecessor) and enables larger batteries to be utilised. Shutter release time is 0.006 seconds and the FX9 offers 3fps burst shooting.
Like other models in the Lumix range, the FX9 incorporates a Mega Optical Image Stabiliser to reduce the effects of camera shake, thus enabling slower-shutter speeds to be used. Panasonic has increased the resolution of the 2.5-inch LCD screen by 180% to 207,000 pixels and 1-point high-speed AF time has also been reduced.
Available in silver and black, the DMC-FX9 will be available at the end of August for £349.99. For more details, go to www.panansonic.co,uk or by calling 08705 357357.


Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 Specifications

Dimensions (W x H x D): Approx. 94.1 x 50.5 x 24.2 mm ( 3.70 x 1.99 x 0.95 inch)
Weight: Approx. 127g. (0.28 lb), Approx. 155g with Battery and SD Memory Card (0.34 lb)
Camera Effective Pixels: 6 Megapixels
Image Sensor: 1/2.5″, 6.37 Mega Total Pixels CCD, Primary Color Filter
Optical Zoom: 3x
Extra Optical Zoom: 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 4.1x for 3Mega, 2Mega, 1Mega, 0.3Mega, 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 4.1x for 2.5Mega, 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 4.1x for 2Mega
Digital Zoom: 4 x ( Max. 12 x combined with Optical Zoom without Extra Optical Zoom) (Max. 16.4x combined with Extra Optical Zoom)
Focal Distance: f=5.8-17.4mm (35mm Equiv.: 35-105mm)
Lens: LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT, 7 elements in 6 groups, (3 Aspherical Lenses / 3 Aspherical surfaces)
Aperture: Wide: F2.8 / F5.6 (2 steps) Tele: F5.0 / F10 (2 steps)
Optical Image Stabilizer: MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1/ Mode2)
Focusing Area: Normal: 50cm ? infinity, Macro/Simple : wide 5cm/Tele 30cm ? infinity
AF Metering: 1 point/1 point high speed/3 points high speed/5 points/Spot
Focus: Auto Focus System, Normal/Macro (Dial)
AF Assist Lamp: Yes
ISO Sensitivity: Auto/80/100/200/400
White Balance: Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Halogen/White Set, White Balance Adjustment ( 150K step, -1500 – +1500 K) (except for auto set)
Exposure: Program AE
Exposure Compensation: 1/3 EV step, -2 – +2 EV
Backlight Compensation: Yes (at simple mode)
Auto (AE) Bracketing: +/- 1/3 EV -1EV step, 3 frames
Light Metering: Intelligent Multiple
Scene Mode: Dial: Normal Picture, Simple , Macro, SCN mode (Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, Night Portrait, Fireworks, Party, Snow, Self-Portrait, Food, Baby, Soft Skin, Candle, Starry Sky) , Moving-Image, Playback
Shutter Speed: 8-1/2000 sec
Self Timer: 10 sec / 2sec
Auto Review: 1sec/3sec/zoom
Review: 1x / 4x / 8x
Picture Adjustment: Natural, Standard, Vivid
Color Effect Mode: Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia

Recording Format
Still Image: JPEG(Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.2 standard), DPOF corresponding, Picture with audio: JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif2.2 standard)+ QuickTime
Motion Image: QuickTime Motion JPEG

Recording Image Size
Still Image: 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 2816 x 2112 pixels, 2048 x 1536 pixels, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 1280 x960 pixels, 640 x 480 pixels, 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 2816 x 1880 pixels, 2048 x 1360 pixels, 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 2816 x 1584 pixels, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Motion Image: 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels
Image Quality : Fine / Standard
Motion Image: 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps, 10 fps , Max. recording time depends on Memory Card Capacity
Burst Shooting Mode: Full-Resolution Image, 3 frames/sec or 2 frames/sec, Full-resolution: Max. 8 images (Standard mode), Max 6 images (Fine Mode)
Unlimited consecutive shooting: Yes
Still Image Rec. with Audio: 5 sec
Audio Dubbing: Max. 10sec
Real-time histogram: Yes
Composition Guide line: Yes
Scene Mode Help Screen: Yes
Auto Angle Detection: Yes
Economy mode: Yes
Built-in-Flash: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced On/Off, 0.3 – 4.0m (Wide/ISO Auto), 0.3 – 2.2m (Tele/ISO Auto)
LCD Monitor: 2.5″ Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (207K Pixels), Field of View : approx. 100%, Power LCD mode
Playback mode: 25-thumbnail display, 16-thumbnail display, 9-thumbnail display, zoomed playback (16x max.), Image Rotation, Slide show (Duration is adjustable, also manually controllable), Playback of favorite pictures, Resizing (selectable number of pixels), trimming, protection, DPOF print setting
OSD language: Japanese,English,German,French,Italian,Spanish
Recording Media: SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
Microphone: Yes
Speaker: Yes
Interface: DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), USB
Direct Print: PictBridge
Power: Li-ion Battery Pack (3.7V, 1150mAh) (Included), AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
Battery life (approx.)
270 pictures (CIPA Standard)
Included Software: LUMIX Simple Viewer, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, USB Driver
Standard Accessories: Battery Charger, Battery Pack, Battery carrying case, SD Memory Card (16 MB), AC Cable, AV Cable, USB Connection Cable, Strap, CD-ROM