Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ1 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ1 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Product Type: Photography

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. Panasonic does not 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-LZ1 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!

Average customer rating:

Good camera with a flaw
Splendid Little Compact Digital Camera
AMAZING!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ1 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom

Manufacturer: Panasonic
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

4 MP CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 11 x 15-inch prints
6x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.0-inch LCD display
Records 320 x 240-pixel motion video ( QuickTime motion jpegs) without sounds; movie length limited only by memory capacity
14MB built-in memory
Stores images on SD memory cards; powered by 2 AA-size batteries

ASIN: B0007OV45O

Product Description

Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. Panasonic does not 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-LZ1 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!

Customer Reviews:

Good camera with a flaw.......2005-09-12

I bought this camera on the strength of other people's reviews. It does take good pictures and the optical stabilizer is great. However, I found that the lack of a viewfinder made it impossible to compose pictures in bright sunlight. This is my first digital camera, and I didn't realize what a problem it would be. I'm used to SLRs. I returned the camera and bought an Olympus C5500. It was a little more money but is WAY more versatile. I do miss the stabilizer, though.

Splendid Little Compact Digital Camera.......2005-06-30

A professional photographer visiting from New Zealand showed me this camera, which he uses mainly as a sophisticated light meter for his 35mm black and white photography. He said that he's obtained excellent color images using this camera, easily enlarging them to 16 x 20" without no visible loss in quality. I was surprised how well this camera handles, fitting comfortably in the palm of my hand. And thanks to the image stabilized option, I could photograph at a shutter speed as low as 1/15 of a second. The resolution I'd seen from this camera is on par with what I have observed from the Leica Digilux models and the Contax TVS digital camera. In short, this is extraordinary performance from a 4 MP digital camera. Panasonic's latest digital camera comes with a Leica Vario-Elmarit lens, which is as good as the Leica and Zeiss lenses I have seen on other digital cameras. If I had some money to spare as well as space in my camera bag, I wouldn't hesitate buying this little optical jewel of a digital camera.

AMAZING!.......2005-05-10

I've known what I wanted in a digital camera for several years:
1. Fast shutter release (my Canon S-200 takes 3+ sec., 5+ flash).
2. Small and light (for backpacking, travel).
3. Point and shoot zoom(5X plus with image stabilization).
4. 4+ megapixel, under $250.
5. No proprietary batteries, 2 AA preferred.

Up until now, nothing has come close. Then I read in Business Week that the LZ1 and LZ2 had become the best selling cameras in Japan within several months of their introduction. No independant reviews were available (even CNET) so I bought the LZ1 on the strength of it's technical spec's and my previous experiences with Panasonic products.

I took the LZ1 to the rodeo several days ago to test it under demanding conditions. I used the "sports" setting and burst mode(four exposures in about 1 1/2 seconds under those circumstances), all freehand. The results were stunning! No noticeable shutter lag, no blurry or out of focus pictures, all action frozen. Simply put: point, shoot, you got it!

Notes: Actual weight with 2 batteries is 8.2 ozs. The user interface is the best I've seen: full functioned and simple. Flash shots have shutter lag of approx. 1/2 second. I use Panasonic 2300 mah nmh rechargeable batteries purchased at Costco. Panasonic specs claim 370 pictures with those batteries, 30 seconds between shots, LCD on, flash every shot, full zoom in and out each shot. This camera has no optical view finder. I use a 512mb Sandisc Ultra II SD memory card- a little more expensive, but after having a Viking card quit and swallow 200 pics on another camera, I don't pinch pennies on memory.

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