The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 Digital Camera provides a 10.1-megapixel resolution with a 5x wide-angle f/2.8 Leica DC lens (equivalent to 25 - 125mm on a 35mm film camera), features an Intelligent Image Stabilizer based on the renowned MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) and includes Intelligent ISO control.
The large, 3.0-inch LCD display provides a beautiful and clear way to frame and view your images and also provides intuitive touch-screen operation. There are also a variety of advanced functions, including Auto Focus (AF) tracking which continuously tracks the subject and adjusts the focus, even after the AF is set, which is especially helpful for catching active children or pets. Plus the iA (Intelligent Auto) mode is a helpful shooting assist function that lets the user leave all the settings to the camera. Taking maximum advantage of this iA mode, users can then go a step further to set autofocus and exposure on the desired subject by simply touching it on the screen.
The camera also provides true HD motion picture recording and HD slideshows complete with music. There is even an optional cable available to provide HD output so that you can view your movies and images in true HD quality.
For more intuitive operation, the DMC-FX500 has a hybrid control system that combines joystick control with touch-screen operation, allowing basic settings to be directly controlled by the joystick. Other extensive controls are finely adjusted by touch or by moving a slider on the screen with the finger or an included stylus pen. This beautifully designed digital camera is easy to use, comfortable to handle, (thanks to its slim body), and can appropriately be used both at a family gathering or at a formal event.
10.1 Megapixel Resolution
The DMC-FX500 features a CCD image sensor that is slightly larger than previous types with a size of 1/2.33-inch. With 10.1 Megapixels of image resolution, you'll be able to produce high-quality images that can yield photo-quality 20 x 30" prints. The camera also has resolution options that are available in three different aspect ratios - 16:9 for displaying on a widescreen monitor or TV, 3:2 for making standard photo album prints, and 4:3 for more traditional image dimensions common in picture frames.
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Wide Angle 5x Optical Zoom Leica DC Lens
The DMC-FX500 camera has a 25mm wide-angle 5x optical zoom Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens, and thanks to the incorporation of an unevenly thick concave meniscus EA (Extra-High Refractive Index Aspherical) lens element, the camera still maintains a slim design. This wide-angle lens enables easy capture of large indoor group subjects or expansive architectural structures and sceneries with dynamic width and a rich perspective.
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Extra Optical Zoom Function
The zoom ratio of the DMC-FX500 can be extended up to 8.9x in 3-megapixel resolution mode thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom function which gives extra magnification (and minimal image deterioration) by intentionally using only the center part of the CCD. There is also a 4x digital zoom that extends the total zooming power to a maximum of 35.6x (35mm equivalent of 890mm).
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MEGA O.I.S. with Intelligent ISO Control
The MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) system compensates for a handshake - the major cause of blurred images. Every slight hand-shake movement is detected accurately with the sampling frequency at 4,000 times per second and is compensated to render clear, sharp images. In addition, movement of the subject, the other major cause of blurred images, is suppressed by Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) and available ISO 800 recording capabilities (ISO 1600 is available in Normal Mode). The incorporation of I.I.C. allows the automatic adjustment of the ISO setting and shutter speed that best suits the situation by analyzing the speed of subject movement. If the subject is moving, the ISO setting would automatically rise to allow a higher shutter speed. On the other hand, if the subject is still and no movement is detected, you can take beautiful natural images with a low ISO setting.
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High Picture Quality, Quick Response Image Processing LSI: The Venus Engine IV
The DMC-FX500 camera utilizes the Venus Engine III Image Processing LSI to realize high sensitivity recording. The noise reduction system is greatly improved by removing noise at the processing stages in the series. First, critical noise is roughly identified and the chromatic noise and the luminance noise are separated to respectively go through the supplemental noise reduction process so that the remaining noise is appropriately minimized. Furthermore, With its multi-task image-processing capability, the Venus Engine IV also boasts outstanding response time with a shutter release time lag of as short as 0.005 seconds and a shutter interval of 0.9 seconds. In burst shooting mode, the DMC-FX500 can snap 2.5 shots per second at full resolution, and in High-Speed Burst shooting mode, it fires off an incredible 6 shots per second. Together with the fast startup time of approx. 1.7 seconds, the quick response of DMC-FX500 enables easy capture of those spur-of-the-moment shots. Another benefit of the energy-efficient Venus Engine IV is long battery life - sufficient to shoot approximately 280 pictures (CIPA Standard) on a single charge.
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Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode
The Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, comprises various shooting-assist functions so you can shoot without the bother of adjusting settings every time conditions change. The camera will not only help eliminate blurring from hand-shake or subject movement by automatically initiating Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO Control, but will also initialize the Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection, and Quick AF functions. Furthermore, the DMC-FX500 adds the Intelligent Exposure feature and Digital Red-eye Correction to the iA System for even more comprehensive automation of the camera functions. Plus, it differs from other Lumix cameras by including the enhanced option where you can set autofocus and exposure on the desired subject by simply touching it on the screen, and the rest of the settings are automatically supported by the iA mode.
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Advanced 3.0" Touch-screen LCD Display
The 3.0-inch 230k pixels high-resolution LCD of the DMC-FX500 provides a touch-screen interface to achieve amazing ease in both shooting and playing back the images. The LCD Screen is also part of Panasonic's hybrid operation system, combining the touch-screen interface and a more conventional operating system that is accessed with a joystick for more intuitive and quick control. In playback mode, an Easy Organization menu is provided to simplify image organizing, and users can quickly select an image to view by scrolling the thumbnails located below the main window and then edit the image by resizing, trimming, and inputting the text title of the picture. Furthermore, the high-resolution Intelligent LCD automatically controls its brightness by detecting the surrounding lighting condition to gives the display the most appropriate clarity in any situation.
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High-Definition Videos & Slide Shows
Like most other cameras today, the DMC-FX500 can take 1920 x 1080 pixel HD (high-definition) quality photos that perfectly fit a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV for full-screen viewing, however, the camera can also record true HD motion pictures in 1280 x 720p at a smooth 30 fps, in addition to WVGA (848 x 480) and normal VGA (640 x 480) video. Plus the camera has HD component output capability so you can enjoy watching still and motion pictures in stunning HD quality by simply connecting the camera to a TV via an optional component cable (DMW-HDC2). The DMC-FX500 also provides in-camera slideshows complete with music - just select the pictures you want to show and choose the music that best matches your selection from natural, slow, urban, or swing, and you'll get an emotion-filled slideshow with a variety of slide change effects and matching music.
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High-speed AF
The various AF modes available in the DMC-FX500 can be selected according to the shooting environment and the position of the subject: 9-point, 3-point high speed, 1-point high-speed, 1-point normal-speed, and spot, to provide a quick and smooth AF without screen-freeze. The inclusion of an AF assist lamp provides further assistance in low light situations when focusing is difficult. The result is stress-free photography with never a moment missed.
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Scene Modes and Other Features to Enrich Your Photography
With twenty scene modes, the DMC-FX500 can assist the user in a wide range of photographic situations. For Example, the "Beach" mode is perfect for shooting in strong sunlight and the "Aerial" mode assists with shooting through the windows of an airplane. In the "Simple" mode, almost all adjustments are automatically set by the camera processor, even including the backlight compensation, allowing even entry-level users to take beautiful images easily. Also of interest is the Title Edit function, which allows text to be input as additional information for the picture, for example, names of children or pets, and travel places. This information, as well as dates, can be stamped on photos with the Text Stamp function whether you print them yourself at home or have a photoshop do them.
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Built-in and Expandable Memory
The DMC-FX500 includes an impressive 50MB of built-in memory so you'll be able to begin shooting, right out of the box. Plus the camera memory can be expanded using the popular Secure Digital(SD)card or Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory card. Users can also copy images between the built-in memory and a memory card to facilitate image sharing.
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Powerful Included Software
The included software PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer-2.0 offers more convenience to the user by taking advantage of the features available on the LUMIX cameras. You can access pictures not only by date, but also by scene mode, or by text that you have inputted on the cameras Title Edit function. The PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer-2.0 allows you to easily organize your growing number of still and motion pictures on one simple interface.