Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ7 Digital Camera incorporates 6.0-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. Compared to the Popular Panasonic DMC-FZ30 which has a manual focus ring and manual zoom ring, the DMC-FZ7 incorporates a joystick which allows easy manual control on focusing in addition to the manual exposure setting, making the camera more compact and easy to carry while preserving the same powerful zoom capability and manual controllability.
The DMC-FZ7 Digital Camera also has a large, 2.5-inch LCD which uses a pixel-mixed readout method, gaining much brightness, and allowing you to enjoy comfortable shooting even in low-lit situations. The display is also extremely easy to view from a bottom 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%.
Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens with a 12x Optical Zoom
The DMC-FZ7 features a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens with a remarkable 12x optical zoom, equivalent to a 35 to 430mm 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-FZ7, 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 17.5x. - roughly equivalent to a huge 1680mm lens on a 35mm camera.
MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer Helps Eliminate Blurry Pictures
Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. We don't expect everyone to have hands of stone when taking pictures--that's why Lumix cameras help solve the problem of unsteady hands with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer technology. The DMC-FZ7 has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working-all you'll see are the outstanding results!
High-Sensitivity Mode Helps Prevent Motion Blur
This mode helps suppress motion blur by automatically setting the ISO sensitivity to 1600, which increases the shutter speed. It also lets you take clearer, sharper shots in dim lighting without using a flash.
2.5" Diagonal LCD and High-Resolution EVF
The DMC-FZ7 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-FZ7 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.
The Venus Engine ll High Quality Image Processing LSI
The image processing LSI Venus Engine II is the brain of digital camera, driving high picture quality and quick response of the camera. The Venus Engine II has a unique image processing algorithm that results in the improvement of the horizontal and vertical resolution by more than 10% compared with the former Venus Engine. The multi-task image processing LSI also realizes an outstanding release time lag of 0.008 seconds and a shutter interval of approx. 0.5 seconds for achieving stress-free operation. It also boasts high consecutive shooting performance, providing 3fps shooting at full resolution. Furthermore, the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting function allows limit-free consecutive shooting up to the capacity of the memory card.
MEGA BURST Consecutive Shooting
Snap off up to 14 consecutive shots at a swift 3 frames per second in Standard mode. The DMC-FZ7 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-FZ7 offers manual focus and manual exposure; and both are adjustable with an independent omnidirectional 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.
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.
16 Easy-to-use Scene Modes
The DMC-FZ7 contains a total of sixteen 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.