Ultra-compact with Luxurious Exterior
The DMC-TZ3 is more compact than the previous model (DMC-TZ1), and has been given a more luxurious touch with its stylish design and metallic, stainless-steel exterior. Newly integrated lens barrier takes the place of the lens cap, to ensure that it never gets lost again. This is a camera that you will want to take with you always.
The 28mm Wide-angle 10x Optical Zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR Lens
The DMC-TZ3 features a 28mm wide-angle 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens (equivalent to a 28mm-280mm zoom on a 35mm film camera) in an ultra-compact body. With the wide-angle lens, you can get all your friends in the picture or capture an expansive landscape in a single shot. And with the high-power 10x optical zoom, you can get clear, beautiful shots even when you can't get close to your subject. The lens unit comprises eleven elements in nine groups, with three aspherical lenses, including dual-sided aspherical meniscus lens, to achieve high optical performance while preserving compactness. The dual-sided aspherical meniscus lens represent a major achievement in mass-produced lens elements, and enable the remarkable 28 to 280mm range of focal lengths in this compact body. Inheriting the fine rendering and outstanding quality of the LEICA ELMAR lens, this easy-to-carry camera delivers beautiful pictures any time, any place.
28mm Wide-angle with Multiple Aspect Ratios
Conventional cameras generally use almost the entire CCD area when recording an image, and the angle of view may be altered regardless of the photographer's intention. The DMC-TZ3, however, incorporate a 1/2.35" CCD with a total of 8.50-megapixel. This CCD, which is larger than those in conventional 7-megapixel and 6-megapixel class cameras, can reproduce images shot with the lens set from 28mm to 280mm in any of three aspect ratios - 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 - so you can always capture dynamic, richly expressive shots with a wide perspective.
MEGA O.I.S. Prevents Blurry Shots Caused by Hand-shake
The MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) compensates for the blurring caused by hand-shake. It is now featured on the entire LUMIX range, and is highly popular with users around the world. Even slight hand-shake movement is accurately detected by a sampling frequency of 4,000 times per second, and compensated to produce sharp, clear images. This is true, of course, for zooming and macro shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake, but it also lets you shoot in dimly lit rooms or evening illumination, without a flash, to preserve the mood. In short, it lets anybody take beautiful, blur-free shots with ease.
Intelligent ISO Control Prevents Blurry Shots Caused by Moving Subjects
When the Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) in LUMIX cameras detects subject motion, it automatically raises the ISO setting and increases the shutter speed to prevent motion blur. On the other hand, when the subject is still and no movement is detected, it lets you take beautifully natural photos with a low ISO setting. Have you ever mistakenly used a high ISO setting to take a photo of a subject standing still? If so, you may remember the noisy, grainy result. Or, if you have tried snapping a moving subject at a low ISO setting, your photo was probably spoiled by motion blur. Intelligent ISO Control gives you stunning images with ease because there is no need for complicated settings.
Blur Indicator
Blur Indicator lets you confirm that the camera is precisely detecting hand-shake and motion blur separately.
High Sensitivity Mode ISO 3200
Selecting High Sensitivity mode from among the Scene Modes allows the sensitivity to be raised all the way up to ISO 3200. This makes it possible to take sharp, blur-free shots of active children or pets even in indoor settings with limited light.
Venus Engine III
Venus Engine III in the DMC-TZ3 allows high-sensitivity recording up to ISO 1250 at full resolution. The noise reduction system is also greatly improved while maintaining high resolution. It removes noise at the processing stages in series. First, critical noise is roughly undraped and the chromatic noise and the luminance noise are separated so they can each go through a supplemental noise reduction process that appropriately minimizes the remaining noise.
Super-fast Shutter Response
We slashed the release time lag to 0.006 second minimum by increasing both the circuit speed itself and the point at which the shutter release signal is detected. We also shortened the shutter interval to around 0.5 second (minimum)*. These improvements help make LUMIX an extremely quick, responsive camera that's a pleasure to use.
Scene Mode
Versatile Scene Modes are another great LUMIX feature. And the Scene Mode list display makes them even easier to find. In addition to the new Sunset and Pet modes, you can choose from a total of 20 travel-enhancing situations, including Underwater (Use together with the optional marine case) and Aerial Photo, for settings that match your subject. Animated moving icons make mode selection even easier and more fun.
Mode Dial - Mode Position Display
This single, easy-to-understand mode dial lets you easily switch between shooting, viewing, and printing. In addition to shooting the easy way with Simple Mode and viewing or processing your shots with Playback Mode, you can use the handy Clipboard Mode when traveling, or select the new Direct Print Mode for connecting directly to a printer. As you operate the dial, large animated icons appear on the display, making it easy to find the mode you want.
AF Metering
Choose from five focus methods to match the shooting conditions of your subject.
- 9-point AF: For general shooting conditions. This mode gives you a sharp focus for a variety of picture compositions.
- 3-point high-speed AF: This mode prevents the system from mistakenly focusing on the area between two subjects in a horizontal composition.
- 1-point high-speed AF: The AF time has been dramatically reduced to achieve outstanding focusing.
- 1-point AF: Although screen-freeze in high-speed AF is now minimized, you can select this mode to totally eliminate it when you are focusing on a fast-moving subject.
- Spot AF: This mode keys the focus to a small area within the frame.
Continuous AF
Clear, sharp focus even for moving subjects.
MEGA BURST Consecutive Shooting, Unlimited Consecutive Shooting
With the DMC-TZ3 you can snap off consecutive shooting at 3 frames or 2 frames per second with full resolution. In addition, the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting function lets you continue shooting until the memory card or built-in memory is full. You can take a series of shots, then choose the one you like best and delete the rest. (The focus and exposure are fixed at the first frame.)
Function Button
The Function Button gives you shortcuts to frequently used menu settings. When shooting, this single button lets you turn consecutive shooting on/off, make white balance adjustments, set the ISO sensitivity, aspect ratios and image size, and select the compression format, while you continue to view your subject on the LCD.
Easy to See Large 3.0" High-resolution LCD
The large 3.0" high-resolution LCD has a total of 230,000 pixels for high resolution. The difference is easy to see. Its large size lets everyone view the images together, and its crisp clarity is great for both shooting and playback.
Dual Image Playback
New utilizing large 3.0? LCD, you can playback 2 photos at the same time and compare them.
High Quality Wide Aspect VGA Motion Picture Mode
In addition to standard VGA (640x480) at 30 fps motion image recording, the DMC-TZ3 also records stunning full-size movies in 16:9 wide-aspect VGA (848x480) at 30-fps, enabling you to view them on your wide screen TV. The brightness level of these motion images is also enhanced as a result of the pixel-mixed readout method performed by the CCD.
Clipboard
The new Clipboard function has been added to the mode dial. It is incredibly handy for the maps and time schedules that are so important when traveling. These documents are cumbersome to hold, but when stored in a bag, they can be difficult to find. By snapping photos of them and adding them to the clipboard, you can retrieve them instantly with the mode dial.
Date Stamp
You can also print the date on your photos. In addition to the ordinary recording date, you can choose Baby or Pet mode from among the Scene Modes to print the age of a child or pet by inputting the birthdate in advance, or use the Travel Date Setting to print which day of the trip each photo was taken on. These dates, which can be helpful when making a photo album, can be stamped on photos whether you print them yourself at home or have a photo shop do them.
Built-in Memory 12.7MB
Take photos even when you don't have an SD/SDHC Memory Card on hand. The built-in memory holds up to 12.7 MB of image data, which you can later copy to an SD/SDHC Memory Card or PC. You can also copy images from a memory card or PC to the built-in memory, and view them on the LCD anytime you like.
Other Features:
- Shooting Information Display: In addition to basic information like the remaining battery strength and the number of shots that can be taken, information about the mode setting is displayed. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the focusing condition, aperture, and shutter speed are displayed.* This lets you check them before you shoot.
- Composition Guidelines: You can use composition guidelines from two patterns according* to the shooting subject. And guidelines can be shown at the same time as other information and icons.
- Real Time Histograms: This graph, which can be displayed in the LCD as you line up the shot, shows the status of the exposure and contrast in real-time.
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- ISO Sensitivity Settings: You can choose the light-receiving sensitivity from Auto, I.ISO, 100, 200, 400, 800, or 1250.
- White Balance: Choose from six preset white balance settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, and White Set. This is handy when there are several different light sources and it's difficult to get the exact coloration you want.
- Color Mode: Choose from five or seven preset Color Mode settings: Cool*, Warm*, Black & White, Sepia, Natural, Standard, and Vivid.
- Exposure Compensation: Adjust the exposure setting to create a particular image. (1/3 EV step, -/+2 EV) This is also effective for backlight compensation. And you can show the control indication on the display with a single button.
- Self Timer: You can use either a 2-second or 10-second setting.
- Economy Mode: This mode saves battery power by turning off the LCD after a certain amount of idle time. There are two economy levels to choose from.
Level 1: The LCD turns off when the camera has been idle for 15 seconds.
Level 2: Same as Level 1, plus the LCD turns off when the camera has been idle for 5 seconds after you've taken a shot. - Flash: Choose the ideal flash for almost any situation. Auto; Auto/Red-eye Reduction; Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction; Forced On/Off; Forced On/Red-eye Reduction
- Auto Bracketing: This lets you pick the best shot from different, automatically graduated exposures. (+/-1/3 -1 EV step, 3 frames)
- Audio Recording / Dubbing: Add 5 seconds of sound to pictures as you shoot. Or, if you prefer, add up to 10 seconds of sound after shooting.
- Light metering: The light can be measured in three ways as a guideline for exposure: Intelligent Multiple, Center Weighted, or Spot. Simply switch the metering method to match the shooting scene or your shooting intent.
- World Time Setting: This setting lets you display the local time of your destination when traveling abroad. You simply select your travel destination, and the camera calculates the time difference from the time in the clock setting and displays the local time. You can set the time and date for 74 locations across the world.
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9/25 Multi Display and Calendar Display: The large LCD allows the display of images even in tiny thumbnail size. Playback of 9 or 25 frames is possible on a multi-split screen in addition to the normal 1-frame playback. This helps you to search for the image you want out of a number of images stored on the SD/SDHC Memory Card, even if there are many images. LUMIX also features the Calendar Display. It shows the day that each shot was taken, which makes it easy to group and play back all of the shots taken on a particular day.
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Auto Review: This function shows you an enlarged view of the image right after you shoot, to make it easier to check the focus.
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DPOF Settings: You can automatically record the information you need when having prints made by a commercial printing service, or on your home printer. Simply specify the images you want to print, how many copies you want, and what kind of information you want to be output with them, and save the information onto the LUMIX memory card. Then you just insert the memory card into the printer and start printing. When using a commercial printing service, all you have to do is send them the memory card. It couldn't be much easier.
Included Software:
ArcSoft Software: This software features a variety of functions, such as viewing and editing images. (ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ArcSoft PanaramaMaker)
Specifications:
Lens | LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR 11 elements in 9 groups (3 Aspherical lenses / 4 Aspherical surfaces, 1 ED lens) |
Optical Image Stabilizer | MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1 / Mode2) |
Zoom | Optical:10x Extra Optical : 4:3 Aspect Ratio: | 12x for 5 Mega, 15x for 3.0 / 2.0 / 1.0 / 0.3 Mega | 3:2 Aspect Ratio: | 12.6x for 4.5 Mega, 15x for 2.5 Mega | 16:9 Aspect Ratio: | 13x for 3.5 Mega, 15x for 2 Mega | Digital: 4x Max. 40x combined with Optical Zoom without Extra Optical Zoom) (Max. 60x combined with Extra Optical Zoom) |
Focal Distance | f = 4.6 - 46 mm (35 mm Equivalent: 28-280 mm) |
Focusing Area | Normal: Wide 50 cm (1.64 feet) / Tele 200 cm (6.56 feet) - infinity Macro / Simple Mode / Intelligent ISO / Motion Picture / Clipboard: Wide 5 cm (0.16 feet) / Tele (excepted tele end) 200 cm (6.56 feet) - infinity Tele Macro (at tele end): 100 cm (3.27 feet) - infinity |
AF Metering | 1-point / 1-point high speed / 3-point high speed / 9-point / Spot |
AF Assist Lamp | Yes |
Camera Effective Pixels | 7.2 Megapixels |
Image Sensor | 1/2.35", 8.50 Mega Total Pixels CCD Primary Color Filter |
Focus | Auto Focus System, Normal / Macro (Dial), Continuous AF On / Off |
ISO Sensitivity | Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1250 (High Sensitivity Mode: 3200) |
White Balance | Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set White Balance Adjustment (+/-10steps, 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 - 1 EV step, 3 frames |
Light Metering | Intelligent Multiple / Center Weighted / Spot |
Scene Mode | Dial: Simple, Normal Image, Macro, SCN1, SCN2 (Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self-portrait, Food, Party, Candle, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial Photo, Snow, High Sensitivity, Baby1, Baby2, Underwater, Sunset, Pet), Motion Picture, Playback, Clipboard, Print, Intelligent ISO |
Shutter Speed | 8 - 1/2,000 sec Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30, 60 sec |
Aperture | Wide: F3.3 / F8.0 (2 steps) Tele: F4.9 / F11 (2 steps) |
Self Timer | 2 sec / 10 sec |
Auto Review | 1 sec / 3 sec / zoom |
Review | 1x / 4x / 8x |
Color Mode | Black & White, Sepia, Cool, Warm, Natural, Standard, Vivid |
Recording Format | Still Image: JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.21 standard), DPOF corresponding Image with Audio: JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.21 standard) + QuickTime Motion Images: QuickTime Motion JPEG |
Recording Image Size | Still Image 4:3 Aspect Ratio: | 3,072 x 2,304 pixels, 2,560 x 1,920 pixels, 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, 1,600 x 1,200 pixels, 1,280 x 960 pixels, 640 x 480 pixels | 3:2 Aspect Ratio: | 3,216 x 2,144 pixels, 2,560 x 1,712 pixels, 2,048 x 1,360 pixels | 16:9 Aspect Ratio: | 3,328 x 1,872 pixels, 2,560 x 1,440 pixels 1,920 x 1,080 pixels | 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 Multiple Aspect Ratios |
Image Quality | Fine / Standard |
Motion Picture * (QuickTime Motion JPEG) | 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps, 10 fps 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps, 10 fps (Max. recording time depends on Memory Card Capacity, Max. 2 GB for a motion picture) Creating still pictures from a motion picture |
Burst Shooting Mode | Full-Resolution Image, 3 frames/sec or 2 frames/sec Full-Resolution: Max. 7 images (Standard Mode) / Max. 5 images (Fine Mode) |
Unlimited Consecutive Shooting | Yes |
Easy Zoom/ Zoom Resume | -/Yes |
Still Image Rec.w/ Audio | 5 sec |
Audio Dubbing | Max. 10 sec |
Real-time Histogram | Yes |
Composition Guide Lines | Yes (2 patterns) |
Built-in-Memory | 12.7 MB |
Scene Mode Help Screen | Yes |
Auto Angle Detection | Yes |
Travel Date / World Time | Yes / Yes |
Date Stamp | Yes |
Built-in-Flash | Auto, Auto / Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync. / Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off 0.6 - 4.2 m (Wide / ISO Auto), 1.0 - 2.8 m (Tele / ISO Auto) |
LCD | 3.0" Polycrystalline TFT LCD (230 K Pixels) Field of View : approx. 100% Power LCD Mode, High Angle Mode |
Playback Mode | 25 - thumbnail display, 9 - thumbnail display, Calendar display, Zoomed playback (16x Max.), Image rotation, Slide show(duration is adjustable, also manual controllable), Playback of favorite pictures, Out-of-frame display, Dual display, Creating still pictures from a motion picture, Resizing (selectable number of pixels), Trimming, Protection, Aspect conversion, DPOF print setting |
OSD Language | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Netherlandic, Thai, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian, Japanese |
Recording Media | Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMedia Card |
Microphone | Yes |
Speaker | Yes |
Interface | DC Input, AV Output (NTSC / PAL), USB |
Direct Print | PictBridge |
Power | Li-ion Battery Pack (3.7 V, 1,000 mAh) (Included) AC Adaptor (Input: 110 - 240 V AC) (Optional) |
Battery Life (Approx.) | 270 pictures(CIPA standard) |
Included Software | LUMIX Simple Viewer, PhotofunStudio -viewer-, ArcSoft (PhotoImpression / PhotoBase / PanoramaMaker), USB Driver |
Dimensions (Approx.) | 4.20" (W) x 2.37" (H) x 1.47" (D) (105.0 x 59.2 x 36.7) |
Weight (Approx.) | 0.51 lb. (232 g) 0.57 lb w/ Battery and SD Memory Card (257 g) |
Standard Accessories | Battery Charger, Battery Pack, Battery Carrying Case, AV Cable, USB Connection Cable, AC Cable, Strap, CD-ROM |