Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8, 7.2 Megapixel, 12x Optical/4x Digital Zoom, Digital Camera (Black)
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Discontinued
Availabillty Details
CloseThis item has been discontinued by the manufacturer and is no longer available.
Selected Color: Black
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera incorporates 7.2-megapixel resolution with a 12x optical zoom (36mm - 432mm equivalent) LEICA DC lens with MEGA O.I.S., Optical Image Stabilizer that compensates the hand-shake. The camera incorporates a joystick that allows easy manual control of focusing in addition to exposure settings, making the camera more compact and easy to carry while preserving all of the powerful zoom capability and manual controllability of more expensive Digital SLRs.
The DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera also has a large, 2.5-inch LCD that uses a pixel-mixed readout method, improving brightness over typical LCD displays, and allows you to enjoy comfortable shooting even in low-lit situations. The display is also extremely easy to view from a low angle (e.g. when taking photos raising a hand upward to shoot the subject over the crowd) with the High Angle LCD function. The Power LCD function also supports clear view even in sunny outdoor by offering a brightness boost of up to 40%. The DMC-FZ8 is powered by a high capacity Lithium-ion battery; combined with the efficient power usage of the Venus Engine III processor, you'll get an impressive 380 shots on a full charge.
- Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens with a 12x Optical Zoom
- The DMC-FZ8 features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens with a remarkable 12x optical zoom, equivalent to a 36 to 432mm lens on a 35mm film camera. A film camera with an optical zoom this powerful would be so big and heavy, you couldn't handle it with one hand. The DMC-FZ8, on the other hand, is small, lightweight and easy to handle. It also has Panasonic's Extended Optical Zoom. While causing minimal deterioration by using the center part of the high-resolution CCD, this function magnifies the image to give you total zoom power of up to 18x.
- Reduce Blur with MEGA OIS and Intelligent ISO
- Image blur is commonly caused by either movement of the camera or movement of the subject. Camera movement is corrected with the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) feature which uses built-in gyro-sensors to detect the smallest camera movement and instantaneously shifts a lens element in the opposite direction to compensate, giving you sharp, clear images without deterioration. Motion blur - caused when a subject moves as the shot is being taken - is minimized with Intelligent ISO Control. This system actually detects whether the subject is moving and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to minimize the motion blur effect while maintaining good exposure.
- High-Sensitivity Mode
- This mode helps suppress motion blur by automatically setting the ISO sensitivity to 3200, which increases the shutter speed. It also lets you take clearer, sharper shots in dim lighting without using a flash.
- Super-Fast Shutter Response and Consecutive Shooting
- The DMC-FZ8 is fast and responsive - thanks to the Venus Engine III processor. The camera has an extremely fast shutter lag, so you won't miss that "perfect" moment, and it enables high ISO to minimize motion blur and take pictures under low lighting without the need for a mood-killing flash. Furthermore, the advanced processor enables fast and unlimited continuous shooting at a rate of 3 frames per second - a superbly useful feature when shooting sports or other fast paced events.
- Wide VGA Motion Image Recording
- The pixel-mixed readout method performed at the CCD makes it possible to record beautiful full-size movies in Wide VGA (848x480) size at 30 fps especially good for viewing on wide-screen TV in addition to the normal VGA (640x480). Much higher luminous signals are provided by the pixel-mixed readout method, so the video quality is enhanced not only in size but also in the brightness level as well.
- Fast Consecutive Shooting
- Snap off up to 14 consecutive shots at a swift 3 frames per second in Standard mode. The DMC-FZ8 also has Unlimited Consecutive Shooting, so you can keep on shooting until the SD Memory Card is full.
- Joystick-operated Intuitive Manual Control
- The DMC-FZ8 offers manual focus and manual exposure; and both are adjustable with an independent omni directional joystick. Users can quickly shortcut to frequently used variables containing white balance adjustment, ISO setting, image size setting and compression format just by pressing and holding down the joystick, even while monitoring a subject on the LCD. There's no need to switch to the menu screen. When you focus in the Manual Focus mode, not only the focus distance but also the depth of field (according to the zoom range and aperture) is displayed. There is also a MF assist function that enlarges the center of the image to make focusing easier.
- 19 Easy-to-use Scene Modes
- The DMC-FZ8 contains a total of nineteen scene modes to assist your shooting according to the wide-ranging situations. The unique "Baby" mode allows easy growth recording in which the baby's age according to the preset birthday would be automatically recorded onto the image. "Starry sky" mode helps you capture the beautiful star-filled night sky by securing shutter speeds as slow as 60 seconds. Plus, the Tele-Macro function allows shooting the subject in the Macro mode as close as 100cm at the tele end, giving a soft-focused background to make the subject stands out.
- Mode Dial with Mode Position Display
- The Mode Dial is combined with a unique Mode Position Display, and as you operate the dial, large animated icons are displayed on the LCD Screen, making it easy to find the mode you want and switch between shooting, viewing, and printing.
- Auto Angle Detection
- Auto angle detection records whether an image was taken horizontally or vertically. This ensures that when playing back on the LCD monitor and displaying images on your TV by connecting your Lumix Digital Camera with an A/V cable, vertical images are automatically displayed vertically and horizontal images are automatically displayed horizontally.
- Built-in and Expandable Memory
- The camera includes 27MB of built-in memory, and the memory capacity can be expanded dramatically with Secure digital (SD) or Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards. 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.
- 2.5" LCD and High-Resolution EVF
- The DMC-FZ8 features a large, 2.5" diagonal LCD and the Power LCD function. Simply touch the Power LCD button and the display becomes about 40% brighter for easier viewing on sunny days. The DMC-FZ8 also has a High-Angle LCD feature, which makes it easier to check the LCD when you're holding the camera high to shoot over a crowd. The large LCD lets you check the focus, frame the shot, and use functions like 25-thumbnail display and Calendar View in comfort, with no eye strain. Also, the electronic viewfinder and LCD are aligned along the same line of sight to minimize differences in the images you see when framing shots.
- Print Directly From Your Camera
- You can send images directly to print, right from the DMC-LZ7 camera without the need of a PC. Simply connect the camera to a PictBridge compatible printer by using the included USB cable, and then simply select the pictures you want to print.
Go To
| Camera Type | Ultra-zoom Point-and-shoot Digital Camera |
| Image Quality | |
|---|---|
| Image Sensor | 1/2.5" 7.38 Megapixel CCD with Primary Color Filter |
| Effective Resolution | 7.2 million pixels |
| Color Depth | 24-Bit RGB |
| Color Modes | Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia |
| Image File Formats |
RAW JPEG (Fine, Standard) Exif, DCF & DPOF compliant |
| Recorded Resolution |
4:3 Aspect Ratio 3072 x 2304 2560 x 1920 2048 x 1536 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480 3:2 Aspect Ratio 16:9 Aspect Ratio |
| Video Recording |
QuickTime Motion JPEG with Audio 16:9 Aspect Ratio 848 x 480 @ 30 fps 848 x 480 @ 10 fps 4:3 Aspect Ratio 640 x 480 @ 30 fps 640 x 480 @ 10 fps 320 x 240 @ 30 fps 320 x 240 @ 10 fps Clip length limited only by available memory |
| Audio Recording |
QuickTime Audio Still Image with Audio up to 5 seconds record Audio Dubbing up to 10 seconds record |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens (11 Elements in 8 Groups with 3 Aspherical Lenses/Surfaces) |
| Optical Zoom | 12x (Extended Optical Zoom up to 18x) |
| Lens Focal Length | 6.0mm - 72mm (36mm - 432mm equivalent) |
| Digital Zoom | 4x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 2.0" (5cm) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8-3.1 |
| Optical Image Stabilization | Yes (Mega O.I.S.) |
| Accessory Lens/Filter Mount | Yes (52mm with included lens hood) |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | AF Metering with AF Assist Lamp |
| Focus Modes | Auto Focus (1 point, 1 point high speed, 3 points high speed, 9 points, Spot), Manual Focus (Joystick), Macro, Continuous AF, AF Lock |
| Focus Range |
P / A / S / M / Normal: 12" (30cm) - infinity Macro / Simple: 2.0" (5cm) - infinity wide Tele Macro: 39.3" (100cm) - infinity |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity |
Auto ISO Selectable ISO (80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1250) High Sensitivity Mode (3200) |
| Shutter Type | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Shutter Speed |
Program AE: 1 - 1/2000 seconds Aperture/Shutter Priority AE: 8 - 1/2000 seconds Manual: 60 - 1/2000 seconds Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30, or 60 seconds |
| Aperture Range | f/2.8-3.1 - f/8.0 |
| Exposure Metering | Intelligent Multiple, Center-weighted, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual, Program Shift (P mode), Exposure Compensation (+/2 EV in 1/3 EV Steps), Auto Bracketing AE (+/- 1/3 EV - 1EV Step, 3 Frames), Backlight Compensation, AE Lock |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, Flash, White Set 1/2, White Balance Adjustment (2-axis adjustable, ÿ± 9 steps each, Blue / Amber and Magenta / Green bias) |
| Scene Modes | Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Panning, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial Photo |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes (Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync. Forced On, Forced Off) |
| Effective Flash Range | 1.0' (0.3m) - 18.0' (5.4m) wide |
| External Flash Connection | No |
| External Flash Control | Not Applicable |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Start-Up Time | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Shutter Lag | 0.005 seconds |
| Time Between Shots | 0.6 seconds |
| Burst Capability | 3 or 2 fps Up to 13 images (Standard mode) or up to 7 images (Fine mode) |
| Self Timer | 10 seconds, 2 seconds, 3-image (3 frames after 10 second delay) |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Date & Time Stamp | Yes |
| Memory & Power | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | 27MB |
| Compatible Memory Cards |
Secure Digital (SD/SDHC) MultiMediaCard (MMC) |
| Recording Capacity | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Battery Type | CGR-S006 Lithium-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 710 mAh) |
| Power Adapter | AC Adaptor (110-240V)(Optional) |
| Input/Output | |
|---|---|
| Computer Interface | USB |
| Direct Print Capable | Yes (PictBridge) |
| Remote Control | No |
| Video Output | Yes (NTSC & PAL) |
| Web-Cam Capable | No |
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, XP, Vista Macintosh OS X (10.1 or later) |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder | 0.44" Color EVF (188,000 pixels) |
| LCD Display | 2.5" Polycrystalline Transflective Type TFT Color LCD Display (207,000 pixels) |
| Language Options | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Netherlandic, Thai, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian, Japanese |
| Playback Options | Image Playback, Zoom Playback (16x max), Thumbnail (25 or 9-up), Auto Review (1 sec/3 sec/zoom), Review (1x/4x/8x), Calendar Display, Image Rotation, Slide Show, Favorite Pictures, Resizing, Trimming, Protection, DPOF Print Setting, Picture Adjustment (Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Noise Reduction), Histogram display |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 2.9" x 4.5" x 3.1" (73 x 113 x 79mm) |
| Weight | 10.9 oz (310g) without battery |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 8 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Quiet (3)
- Short lag time (3)
- Simple controls (3)
Cons
Best Uses
- Fun (3)
- Travel (3)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 8 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-8
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Quiet
- Small Lag Time
- Strong Construction
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Art
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
Took this camera with us to New Jersey and New York City. Everything we took we compared it to the 4-5 year old Minolta digital and what a difference! There are so many more options to choose from, from settings, battery saving tools and a lens cover that does not fall off, just to name a few. This camera does just about everything a dslr does but you do not have to change lenses.
Pros
- Comfortable Controls
- Quiet
- Small Lag Time
Cons
Best Uses
- Fun
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
I bought this camera to have a lighter travel alternative to my Canon EOS 300D. This camera is a step up from point and shoot and offers a nice Leica lens with 36-432mm equivalent and will shoot raw files as well as jpg. It is small and light enough to pop in your purse or shoulder bag and you don't feel like you are lugging an anvil around all day. My only complaints are that filters cannot be screwed directly on the lens. You must have the lens hood adapter on to screw in a filter. This adds about 2 inches to the length of the lens and makes the camera a little more bulky. Other minor complaints include the fact that the image stabilizer is not bullet proof as one other reviewer noted. But your mileage may vary. All in all if you accept that you are not going to get the same quality of image that you get from a SLR in terms of resolution this is a pretty nice little camera. One more thing, it has an old school view finder which is handy if you are in bright light and have trouble seeing the LCD.
- Similar:
- Canon EOS 300D
Pros
- Bright LCD
- Comfortable Controls
- Quiet
- Small Lag Time
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Art
- Fun
- Photojournalism
- Travel
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera is really well made, and is especially good for the price. The price is even better than when I got it. I have used it often for the last 5-6 months, and quality hasnt gone down, and I have only been continually impressed by this product. My 35mm SLR has only been depressing to me when I compare Lens quality and all the other features. This is an amazing camera, if you have the money and need a good digital, this is great!
- Similar:
- 35mm pentax SLR
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
I Got this camera about 4 months ago, and I would have to say..... this is a great camera. The different type of scenes are extremely helpful to different shots. like the tropical scene setting brings out greens and blues, and though it is meant for tropical settings, it can help other places. the battery is nice, and unlike the canon powershot S3 this has a place for you hand to fit comfortably around the camera, which may seem miniscule, but on the canon a person could easily hit the menu button without thinking, and could complicate things. also the Panasonic comes with a LEICA lens. that is extremely good quality. How you know this is true: I shopped around for about 5 months actually testing the cameras myself, and this one was the best at the time.... now it would be the upgraded version of the DMC. I have had worked published in a book, been in two art shows and some of my photographic work sells online.
Expertise: Amateur
Problems Encountered: Picture gets noisy with higher settings of aperatures.
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
I bought this camera while on vacation in Alaska had noopportunity for comparison shopping prior to purchase, so Iwent on the recommendation of the salesperson that I wasgetting a good camera. I bought it for its light weight &ease of handling combined with the 12x zoom capabilities andimage stabilization, as I wanted it to photograph wildlifeand I needed a point & shoot as I'm clueless about anytype of manual operation. It offered a lot of features forthe price. It has delivered pictures of exceptional color,clarity, and sharpness, & I am very pleased that I bought it.
Expertise: Novice
Problems Encountered: None so far!
Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon Powershot S80
Items I Recommend: Sunpak 52mm UV lens filter
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
I am really glad I bought this camera. I am an amaturephotographer at best, and this camera is teaching me aboutthe different effects of the settings on the way the pictureturns out. While taking pictures on my girlfriend's SLRmakes my pictures look great, this camera makes me work forthe same level of satisfaction. I'm extremely pleased withthe image quality, the speed and the zoom of the camera. Iwould highly recommend this camera, because it has settingsand modes to fit all skill levels.
Expertise: Beginner
Items I Recommend: Good Camera Case.
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
I'm a pro and I've written a couple of books on digital photography. I've got a Nikon D-80 and a few other digitals. I wanted a small lightweight digital for travel and the FZ8 is a perfect choice. I don't care much for the reviews of cameras about megapixel size and noise and all that. For me its the prints that matter and when the FZ8 arrived I got my favorite model and shot a few dozen images and made some 11x17 inch prints.The FZ8 has a Leica designed lens and it shows. The 11x17 from this little 7.2 MP camera was almost indistinguishable in sharpness from an 11x17 made with the D-80. Passed around the studio everyone agreed and a few felt that the tonality of the FZ8 shot was better.This is a great camera I only wish it had a 28-300mm lens instead of a 36-420mm equivalent.
Problems Encountered: No problems just wish it had a wider range.
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: 35mm Leicas & Nikons, Digital D-70, D-80, Dimage A-2, Panasonic DMC-LX1
Items I Recommend: Spare battery
Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Digital Camera (Black):
I didn't need a the bulk of an D-SLR and I didn't want thelimited pocketcam point-and-shoot functionality. ThePanasonic DMC-FZ8 has been a dream. Shooting RAW (withSandisk Extreme III 1GB) is faster than my old LX1 and thepictures have come out stunning.I have zoomed into architectural details from streets awayand the 12x optical zoom + Mega OIS delivered knockoutimages. The focus assist (similar to Panasonic's HVX200) isinvaluable and while I'd rather have physical rings foraperture and focus if it means I can depend on a cameraaround this small to deliver ultra-sharp photos, I'll takethe loss. Plus, the focus assist has become really fun toplay with and the EVF is super.Their are a lot of options in this little bad boy and Icouldn't be happier.Many people might go on about noise/venus III and such butremember...most of these people never print their images,don't shoot RAW and sit 1 inch from a screen with theirimage at 100%. Set your in-camera NR to low, shoot RAW andyou're off!
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Panasonic DMC-LX1
Items I Recommend: Tiffen 52mm UV filter
Displaying reviews 1-8
- Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
- Battery Charger
- USB Cable
- A/V Cable
- Lens Cap
- Lens Hood & Adaptor
- Neck Strap
- Software CD-ROM (Lumix Simple Viewer, PhotofunStudio, SILKYPIX Developer Studio, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft PanoramaMaker USB Driver)
- User Guide
- 90-Days Labor; 1-Year Parts U.S.A. Limited Warranty
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