Panasonic slips out budget Lumix IS camera

Ahead of the PMA photography expo, Panasonic today has quietly revealed the Lumix DMC-LS80. The company's latest point-and-shoot is said to be a significant reworking of earlier designs with an upgrade to a sharper 8.1-megapixel sensor and changes both to the inside and outside to make the camera easier to use. Unlike most budget cameras, the LS80 provides optical image stabilization as well as an auto-ISO boost mode that increases sensitivity up to ISO 6400 for fast movement in the dark. An auto macro mode also properly refocuses the camera when a subject is too close for normal shots.

This new entry Lumix promises 3X optical zoom as well as relatively fast shooting for a compact camera, either capturing stills at a continuous 2.5 frames per second at full quality or shooting full 30 frames per second video at a DVD-like 848x480 widescreen resolution. Pricing and release dates have not been announced, but the US release of the camera should include models in black, pink, and silver.