Panasonic has added AVCHD Lite and POWER OIS to the Super Zoom category, courtesy of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35. Read on to find out what else is in store.
Today Panasonic announced the update to the popular Lumix DMC-FZ28, touting the addition of HD video recording and a handful of new shooting modes. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 will be equipped with AVCHD Lite, a feature we've tested on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and DMC-TS1, Panasonic's new POWER Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS), and a 12-megapixel sensor with updated Venus Engine HD processing. The new Panny will also inherit the Panasonic's Creative Movie Mode, My Color Mode and High Dynamic Mode.
As for the rest of the package, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 will rock the same chassis and interface as the Lumix DMC-FZ28, only the new Lumix DMC-FZ35 will get a stealthy black paint job and a specified Video Record button to solidify the camera's true hybrid functionality. The 27mm wide-angle lens with 18x optical zoom capability will be carried over, so aside from an internal overhaul, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 is relatively unchanged from its predecessor in terms of construction.
We're digging the fact that Panasonic is tossing more creative control into the HD video recording mode, allowing shooters to set the shutter speed and aperture, a feature exclusive only to camcorders in the past. The separate Video Record button is a direct shout out to the rise of the digital camera hybrid, and it's only a matter of time before we start seeing 1080p Super Zooms surface along the digital camera skyline.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35's My Color Mode will allow shooters to adjust the Color, Brightness, and Saturation while using the live LCD. Panasonic also boasts the new High Dynamic Mode, which supposedly allows shooters to capture stills with "moderate exposure, even though the scene may contain both bright and dark areas". We're not entirely sure what technical method Panasonic is going to achieve this dynamic range boost with, whether it's a bracketing-type burst fusion process or just a simple exposure boost to alleviate shadows.
We're excited to test the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35's POWER OIS, which is supposed to be twice as effective as the company's MEGA OIS—one of the best systems on the market. The new Lumix DMC-FZ35 will also feature ultra high-speed Auto Focus, and Panasonic claims that the combination of advanced OIS and high-speed AF will function adequately with an 18x optical zoom telephoto shot. We'll put that claim to the test when we get our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 test unit.
Thanks to the Venus Engine HD processing, Panasonic says the new Lumix DMC-FZ35 will offer an extended battery life. The camera will also feature Panasonic classics like Intelligent Auto mode, Face Detection and Intelligent Scene Selector.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 will be available in September for $400 and ship in Black.
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