Panasonic LUMIX LX5, the Ultimate Compact High-Performing Digital Camera Aims for Superb Photo Quality, Especially in Low-Light Environments
Panasonic LUMIX LX5 Features New High Sensitivity CCD and F2.0 Leica Lens for Shooting Stunning Photography and Vivid High Definition Videos
SECAUCUS, N.J., July 21 -- Panasonic today announced the LUMIX DMC-LX5, the ultimate compact, high-performing digital camera offering photo enthusiasts the ideal camera for capturing professional-quality photos and High Definition (HD) video. With an ultra-bright F2.0 ultra-wide-angle 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens, the LUMIX LX5 minimizes image distortion, resulting in stunning, true-to-life images with outstanding resolution and detail. The 24mm wide angle lens offers extraordinarily large viewing space and now the optical zoom is extended to 3.8x(90mm) making the LX5 even more versatile.
"The Panasonic LUMIX LX-Series cameras have been extremely popular models for us with professional and enthusiast photographers, who understand and value the superb image quality such a compact, affordable digital camera can offer," said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "We expect the same enthusiasm, if not more, for the LUMIX LX5, which features improvements to the lens and processing - resulting in even better images."
The Panasonic LUMIX LX5 is a unique compact digital camera in that it offers superb image quality along with a super-bright lens and increased creative modes. The F2.0 lens is twice as bright as a F2.8 lens, making it easy to produce beautiful photos with a soft-focused background thanks to the shallow depth of field provided by the extra light. In addition to the newly-designed lens, the LUMIX LX5 features an image processing engine that combines technologies resulting in professional-quality photos, especially in low-light situations. Like its predecessor, the LUMIX LX5 features the highly-acclaimed 10.1-megapixel CCD, but it has an expanded dynamic range by increasing the sensitivity and the saturation.
The newly developed Venus Engine FHD image processor enables higher-speed, higher-performance while compiling the Intelligent Resolution technology. The triple CPUs in this imaging engine dramatically speeds up processing while achieving exceptional noise reduction performance. With its high-sensitivity CCD and the brightness of the lens, minimum illumination of the LUMIX LX5 is as low as 3 lux while shooting video.
In addition to capturing high-quality still photos, the LUMIX LX5 can record HD videos in AVCHD Lite, a format that allows almost doubling the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. Creative video shooting modes include Creative Movie mode, where users can set shutter speed and aperture manually to make even more impressive movies. My Color mode and Film mode are available for more extended expression not only in photography but also in videography. The LUMIX LX5 also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio and the 3.8x optical zoom is available while shooting video.
The LUMIX LX5 has also been redesigned externally - with a thicker grip making it easier to hold and a newly-incorporated turn-and-push jog dial achieves various selection and setting more quickly. The LUMIX LX5 also features a hot shoe, which allows for the attachment of a wide-variety of accessories, such as an optional Live View Finder which helps shooting under strong daylight with high visibility or an external flash. The 1:1 square format setting is added in the aspect ratio option which can be selected with the switch at the side of the lens barrel.
Other features of the Panasonic LUMIX LX5, include:
-- The 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high resolution Intelligent LCD also
redesigned by adopting High CRI (Color Rendering Index) backlight LED
to greatly increase the color reproduction, making it more visible
both in shooting and playing back images in any conditions from at
dark night to under bright sunlight.
-- Battery life is extended to shoot 400 photos (CIPA) per a single
charge.
-- A wide-variety of accessories, including a Live View Finder
(DMW-LVF1), External Optical View Finder (DMW-VF1), Wide Conversion
Lens (DMW-LWA52), Conversion Lens Adaptor (DMW-LA6), MC Protector
(DMW-MC52), ND Filter (DMW-LND52), PL Filter: DMW-LPL52, External
Flashes, Leather Case (DMW-CLX5) and a Battery Pack (DMW-BCJ13).
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX5 will be available in late-August 2010 for a suggested retail of $499.95 and will be available in black and white models.
-Leica is a registered trademark of Leica
Microsystems IR GmbH.
-The LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lenses
are manufactured using measurement
instruments and quality assurance
systems that have been certified by
Leica Camera AG based on the company's
quality standards.
-The "AVCHD" is a high definition (HD)
digital video recording /playback
format jointly established by Panasonic
Corporation and Sony Corporation. The
"AVCHD Lite" is a subset of the "AVCHD
format" for HD digital video cameras
with HD video recording restricted to
720P. The new "AVCHD Lite" Logo and the
"AVCHD Lite" License are restricted to
devices within the AVCHD Video Camera
category. Digital cameras have been
added to the AVCHD Video Camera
category.
-The "AVCHD Lite" and the "AVCHD Lite"
logo are trademarks of Panasonic
Corporation and Sony Corporation.
-AVCHD Lite motion images recorded onto
an SD Memory Card or a DVD disc cannot
be played on a device that does not
support the AVCHD standard.
-Dolby and the double-D symbol are
trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
-HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-
Definition Multimedia Interface are
trademarks or registered trademarks of
HDMI Licensing LLC.
-YouTube is a trademark of Google Inc.
-All other company and product names are
trademarks of their respective
corporations.
-This unit is compatible with both SD/
SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards. You can only
use SDHC Memory Cards on devices that
are compatible with them. You cannot use
SDHC Memory Cards on devices that are
only compatible with SD Memory Cards.
(When using an SDHC Memory Card on
another device, be sure to read the
operating instructions for that device.)
-Some accessories are not available in
some countries.
-The use of recorded or printed materials
that are protected by copyright for any
purpose other than personal enjoyment is
prohibited, as it would infringe upon
the rights of the copyright holder.
-Design and specifications are subject to
change without notice.
About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In its commitment to provide consumers with extensive imaging resources, Panasonic LUMIX established the Digital Photo Academy, a series of nationwide workshops designed to instruct consumers how to optimize the features on their digital cameras and produce high-quality photos.
Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Company information for journalists is available at http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom.
For more than 20 years, Panasonic has been proud to support the Olympic Movement as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category and, beginning in 2009, in the Digital Imaging category as well. Panasonic has also renewed its partnership with the International Olympic Committee for an additional eight years through the 2016 Summer Games. For more information, visit http://panasonic.net/olympic.