As a camera brand, Panasonic might not be at the top of a lot of people’s shopping list here (even if it’s a best-seller in many countries), but those who’ve owned or used Panasonic’s Lumix line of cameras always swear by them
And with new Lumix models — the 8.1-megapixel DMC-FX55 and DMC-FX33 — making their local debuts, even more people will experience what Lumix fans have been raving about.
Both cameras are equipped with 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC lens, which makes it possible to fit more people in a photo or take pictures with expansive backgrounds — enabled by the cameras’ 3.6x optical zoom and f/2.8 brightness.
The DMC-FX55 boasts a three-inch LCD, while the DMC-FX33 has a more compact 2.5-inch LCD. Despite their slim and compact form factors, the cameras are equipped with several new features with functionality and ease of use in mind.
Both Lumix models come with iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, which is comprised of five shooting-assist functions; Mega OIS, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection and Quick AF functions.
Mega OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) suppresses hand-shake while Intelligent ISO Control prevents motion blur.
The Quick AF (Auto Focus) system allows the camera to start focusing on the subject even without pressing the shutter button halfway, to get the best results from every shooting opportunity by minimizing the auto-focusing time.
The Intelligent Scene Selector, on the other hand, sets the appropriate scene mode by automatically selecting it from the most frequently used scene modes, such as Portrait, Scenery, Macro, Night Portrait and Night Scenery.
Finally, the Face Detection system detects a human face to automatically set the focus and appropriate exposure for the shot.
Once you enter the iA mode, these advanced functions take away the hassle of having to change settings every time conditions change.
Additionally, the cameras have High-Speed Burst shooting mode, which makes the camera take as many as seven shots per second.
The High Sensitivity mode, which provides a stunning maximum ISO setting of 6400, makes the built-in flash effective as far as 16 meters.
Furthermore, the high-speed, high-performance image processing LSI of both cameras is the Venus Engine III, which renders great quality images with minimal noise.
Yet another helpful feature is the newly incorporated Intelligent LCD, which allows the cameras to detect the lighting conditions and automatically respond by either boosting the backlighting when under bright light or boosting signals with pixel-mixed readout method in low-lit conditions to ensure a clear image under any shooting condition.
The DMC-FX55 is available in silver, black and pink, while the DMC-FX33 is available in silver, black, blue, brown, pink and white, each with a specially textured finish. Both SD memory cards and SDHD memory cards are compatible on the cameras.
Upcoming Lumix cameras are the DMC-LS80 and the DMC-FS3. The former is a slim, compact AA-battery digital still camera with mostly the same features as the DMC-FX55/FX33 that comes with the Lumix DC Vario Lens system with 3x optical zoom.
The DMC-FS3, meanwhile, comes with a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with 3x optical zoom and f2.8 brightness. It offers simple operation and a slim, stylish profile for novice and experienced shutterbugs alike.