12x Optical Zoom in a Compact Body
The DMC-FZ4 feature the LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens - a small, lightweight lens that packs the same zoom power as a big, clunky 400 mm-class film camera lens. This 12x optical zoom lens is super-bright too, at F2.8 to 3.3 with a focal length of 6 to 72 mm (equivalent to 35 mm to 420 mm in a 35 mm film camera). You've got all the power and flexibility you need to take beautiful shots from telephoto to wide angle and macro. The FZ4 also has a 4x digital zoom. Use it together with the 12x optical zoom and you've got ultra-powerful 48x zooming - roughly equivalent to a huge 1680 mm lens on a 35 mm camera.
LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT Lens Achieves Stunning Image Quality
The Elmarit lens made by Leica Camera AG of Germany has earned the acclaim of top photographers everywhere. Now some of the same cutting-edge technologies that make this lens so exceptional have been adapted to the digital camera. Presenting the LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens that inherits the traits that make Leica a legend in the camera world. Small in size yet featuring a large, bright aperture, this lens meets Leica's stringent quality standards.
420mm*, F3.3 Shots with a Beautiful Soft Focus
The CCDs used in most digital cameras have much smaller light-receiving areas than film does, so photos tend to have a high depth of field. This means that everything in the photo - including objects in the foreground and background - is in focus. The FZ4 take advantage of their 12x zoom and F2.8 to F3.3 aperture to a level of expression that you cannot get with conventional digital cameras. You can snap photos that capture the subject in a clear, sharp focus while giving the background a beautiful soft focus.
*Converted to 35mm camera equivalent
Moving-Image Mode (at 30/10 frames per second)
The FZ4 lets you take moving images at either 30 or 10 fps. The 30-fps speed produces smoothly flowing motion. An audio track is recorded at the same time.
Smaller, Easier-to-Hold Body
While providing the superb performance of functions like the 12x zoom, the camera body is extremely compact. The positioning of the control buttons and shape of the grip have also been improved to make operation even easier than in previous models. In addition to the light 0.64-lb (290-g ) weight of the body, the compact Li-ion battery holds the total camera weight down to only 0.719-lb (326-g) in full operating condition.
Adding to the Beauty with Digital Processing
The many advantages of the Venus Engine II extend even into the optical area to raise the limits of lens performance. The digital correction capability of this advanced LSI corrects color aberration in telephoto shots and vignetting, which are inherent in every optical lens. This combines with the high optical precision of the Leica DC lens to achieve even higher image quality. In addition, the Soft Skin Detail function detects skin areas and activates a low-pass filter and digital toning process to improve complexions when shooting portraits.
Advanced Panasonic Technologies Take Out the Shake
Jitter from shaky hands is far and away the biggest single cause of blurry shots. LUMIX cameras help solve this problem with advanced MEGA O.I.S. (optical image stabilizer) technology. In this Panasonic technology, a built-in gyrosensor detects any hand-shake and a signal is relayed to a high precision control circuit built into the Venus Engine II LSI, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the O.I.S. lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. Panasonic Venus Engine II LSI makes this process even faster and more accurate. This helps extend the MEGA O.I.S. correction range all the way to more than 3 steps below (slower than) the shutter speed that is generally considered to be the limit for handheld shooting, which is calculated by the formula "1/focal length (1 divided by the focal length)." In addition to giving you clear, sharp shots, MEGA O.I.S. also expands your shooting possibilities.
Large 1.5" Polycrystalline TFT LCD
This LCD is not only a good size for easy viewing, it is also comfortably bright. It lets you check images easily and clearly both indoors and in strong sunlight outdoors.
Wide Screen 16:9 Format
You can shoot images in the wide-screen 16:9 format (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). Then insert the recorded SD Memory Card into a TV equipped with an SD card slot to view them in perfect, large-screen size.
Auto Angle Detection
It determines whether the photo is framed horizontally or vertically and rotates the image accordingly, so it displays correctly on the LCD monitor or TV screen*.
High-speed AF
In the newly incorporated 1 point high-speed AF, the shutter time lag(including AF speed i.e. the time from "shutter button full pressing" to "capture picture") has dramatically been reduced to one-third the level* of the previous model, and has resulted in achievement of industry-leading short shutter time lag for a high zoom model.
Flip Animation
Using up to 100 of your photos, you can create a "flip animation" clip up to 20 seconds long.
MEGA BURST Consecutive Shooting
Just keep the shutter button pressed to fire off consecutive shots of a moving subject or a person's changing facial expression. The Venus Engine II offers fast, consecutive shooting at 4 frames per second with full resolution. The Unlimited Consecutive Shooting function lets you keep on shooting until the memory card is full. You can take a series of shots, then choose the one you like best and delete the rest.
Trimming & Resizing
Let you trim the image, or reduce the amount of image data.
PictBridge compatible
The PictBridge standard lets you print directly on a compatible digital printer.Print size, layout, date and other settings can be made with the camera.
Total Megapixel: 4.23
Effective Pixels: 4.0 Megapixels
CCD (Image Sensor): 1/2.5"
Image Processor: Venus Engine II LSI
Recording Image Size: (Pixels )
2304 x 1728
1600 x 1200
1280 x 960
640 x 480
1920 x 1080
Motion Image: 320 x 240
Motion Image: 30 or 10 fps (320 x 240 pixels)**
Lens:
Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens: 11 Elements in 8 Groups (3 Aspherical Lenses/4 Aspherical Surfaces)
Optical Image Stabilizer: MEGA O.I.S. (Mode 1 / Mode 2 )
Optical Zoom: 12x
Digital Zoom: 4x
Combined Total Zoom: 48x
Aperture Wide: F2.8 - F8
Tele: 3.3 - F8
Focal Length: f=6.0-72mm (35mm equivalent: 36-432mm)
Focusing Area Normal: Wide: 0.98 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet - infinity
Simple/A/S/M: Wide: 0.16 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet - infinity
Macro (except for Tele): Wide: 0.16 feet; Tele: 6.56 feet - infinity
Macro Tele (Tele Macro Mode): 3.28 feet - infinity
Focus Modes:
Auto Focus System
Normal/Macro (Dial)
Continuous AF On/Off
AF Trigger (Shutter/Focus Button)
ISO Sensitivity: Auto / 64 / 100 / 200 / 400
White Balance:
Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Halogen/ Flash/White Set
White Balance Adjustment (except for Auto Set)
Exposure:
Program AE
Aperture Priority AE
Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Exposure Compensation: 1/3 EV Step, +/- 2 EV
Auto Bracketing (AE): +1/3EV-1EV Step, 3 Frames
Light Metering: Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot
Scene Modes:
Dial: P(Program) Mode, A(Aperture Priority) Mode, S(Shutter Priority) Mode, M(Manual) Mode, Macro Simple; SCN Mode: Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, Panning, Night Portraight, Fireworks, Party, Snow, Moving Image, Playback
Shutter Speed: 8 - 1/2,000 sec.
Self Timer: 10 seconds / 2 seconds
Picture Adjustment: Natural, Standard, Vivid
Color Effect Mode: Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia
Image Quality: TIFF/Fine/Standard
Image Formats Still Image:
JPEG, DPOF corresponding
Still Image with Audio: JPEG & QuickTime
Motion Image: QuickTime Motion JPEG
Mega Burst Shooting Mode: (Full-resolution image)
Standard Mode: Up to 7 images at 4 or 2 frames/sec.
Fine Mode: Up to 4 images
Still Image Recording with Audio: n/a
Built-in Flash Mode:
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction,
Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction
Forced On/Off
Wide: 0.98 - 13.78 feet (ISO Auto)
Tele: 1.64 - 8.53 feet (ISO Auto)
External Flash: NO
Viewing:
LCD Monitor: 1.5" Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (130k pixels)
Field of view: approx. 100%
Viewfinder: 0.33" diagonal Color EVF (114k pixels)
Field of view: approx. 100%
Recording Media: SD Memory Card / Multimedia Card
Microphone: No
Speaker: Yes (only beep)
Interface: DC Input, Video Output (NTSC/PAL), USB
Power Supply:
Lithium-ion Battery Pack (3.6V, 680 mAh) Included
Battery Charger/AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) Included
Battery Life:
Up to 300 pictures (CIPA Standard)
Up to 320 pictures with EVF
Auto Review: 1 sec/3 sec/zoom
Review: 1x/4x/8x
Playback Mode: 9-Thumbnail Display, Zoomed Playback (16x max), Slide Show, Resizing, Trimming, Protection, DPOF Setting
AF Metering: 1 point, 1 point high speed, 3 points high speed, 9 points, Spot
Included ArcSoft Software:
ArcSoft PhotoImpression
ArcSoft Panorama Maker
ArcSoft PhotoBase
Other Included Software:
SD Viewer for DSC
USB Driver
OSD Language: English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian, French
Dimensions: (H x W x D) 2.69'' x 4.25'' x 3.34''
Weight: .72 lbs
Other Features:
Color: Silver
AF Assist Lamp
Backlight Compensation (at simple mode)
Composition Guide Lines
Exposure Button
Flip Animation
Auto Angle Detection
Unlimited Consecutive Shooting
Scene Mode Help Screen
Real-time Histograms
Direct Print: PictBridge
Conversion Lens Compatibility
