Panasonic adds Lumix FS62 point and shoot camera
updated 01:20 pm EDT, Fri April 17, 2009
Panasonic Lumix FS62
Panasonic UK on Thursday announced it is adding the 10.1-megapixel DMC-FS62 point and-shoot camera to its FS line-up, following up on the release of the FS25 in January. The new camera sports an Intelligent Auto mode that has an optical image stabilizer, auto ISO control, face detection and full auto scene selection. The new Intelligent Auto chooses between one of two optical stabilization modes depending on which of the two zoom ratios is being used. Advances in detection accuracy and correction effect come via a new Venus Engine IV image processing chip.
The face detection function can track up to 15 faces, even if they turn sideways to the camera, continually adjusts focus and exposure and allows for digital red eye correction. The Intelligent Scene Selector chooses from Portrait, Scenery, Macro, Night Scenery and Night Portrait mode and has a newfound automatic backlight compensation function that can detect and correct for light sources behind the subject. All of the new automatic intelligent modes can be activated by pressing the iA button on top of the camera.
The DMC-FS62 uses an F2.8 Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with 4x optical zoom which can be extended up to 7.1x in 3-megapixel recording mode. The camera sports a 2.5-inch LCD for framing images and is capable of shooting video in 848x480 resolution at 30 frames per second. A standard 640x480 video recording mode is also available.
Spec-wise, the closest camera to the FS62 in Panasonic's US lineup is the FS7. The DMC-FS62 will launch in the UK this May, available in silver, black, blue, red and pink colors. No prices have been announced.
