e, starting at 25mm. The ZS3 is the more advanced of the two: it’s the first digital camera with AVCHD Lite, a new video format that allows longer recordings with breathtaking HD quality. Other features include Face Recognition, intelligent Auto mode in Movie Mode, optical image stabilization, and a 3-inch LCD monitor. The ZS1 has standard Auto Mode and a 2.7-ich LCD monitor, but no face recognition. The Panasonic DMC-ZS3 will cost approximately $399.95, and the ZS1 will be $299.95. Both models will be available in April.
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\nFor details, please read the Panasonic USA press release:<\/i>
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\nPANASONIC\u2019S NEW LUMIX ZS-SERIES, THE ULTIMATE COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERAS, SUCCEEDS POPULAR TZ-SERIES<\/b>
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\nNew LUMIX ZS3, With Impressive 12x Optical Zoom is Slimmer Than Predecessor and Adds AVCHD Lite High Definition Video Recording Capability<\/i>
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\nMIAMI, FL \u2013 Panasonic today introduced the LUMIX DMC-ZS3 and DMC-ZS1, both members of the new ZS-Series, the successor to the acclaimed LUMIX TZ-Series and Panasonic\u2019s newest ultimate compact and powerful digital cameras. The LUMIX ZS3 features 10.1-megapixels, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens and 12x optical zoom, meaning it has added 2x optical zoom to the award-winning TZ-Series camera, yet reduced its size. The ZS3 also features a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens and High Definition (HD) video recording ability, known as AVCHD Lite.
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\n\u201cThe LUMIX ZS3 is a powerhouse performer with enormous versatility. Compared with the TZ-Series, it extends the power of the optical zoom from 10x to 12x and expands the wide-angle lens from 28mm to an ultra-wide 25mm, giving it the range for virtually any shooting situations,\u201d said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. \u201cDespite its superior lens specifications and functionality, the ZS3 is remarkably smaller and lighter than its predecessors, making it easier to carry on travels and everyday shooting opportunities.\u201d
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\nThe ZS3 is the world\u2019s first digital camera to feature HD video recording in \u201cAVCHD Lite\u201d. Compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format, AVCHD Lite allows longer recordings with breathtaking HD visual and audio quality. This combined with a well-considered control interface, which includes a dedicated movie recording button on the camera\u2019s back panel, makes the ZS3 a hybrid model that performs admirably for both still and motion image capture.
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\nThe ZS3 also expands Panasonic\u2019s popular Intelligent Auto (iA) mode with the addition of Face Recognition \u2013 a feature that \u201cremembers\u201d faces from previous shots. When a registered face appears in the frame, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure to capture it beautifully.
\nWith Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt the users to register the face. Once registered, if the face appears into the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and sharply focused.
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\nNew this year to the ZS-Series, iA mode is also available in Movie Mode. It automatically selects the most suitable Scene mode and helps to correct handshake, focus and brightness problems – making iA mode your one-stop solution to capture beautiful still and motion images. In Movie Mode, the ZS3, Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using the high-powered zoom. Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion so it turns out perfectly. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality.
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\nThe imaging power of LUMIX has further evolved with the Venus Engine HD, which boasts two CPUs to provide approx. 2.4x processing capability and support for AVCHD Lite and HDMI output. It integrates all the advanced functions and camera operations with high performance and low-power consumption. In image processing, luminance noise and chromatic noise are reduced separately before and after signal processing. This is further refined by separating noise two-dimensionally into high-frequency and low-frequency noise. The circuits then effectively reduce only the low-frequency noise to minimize the unwanted noise and help produce beautiful, sharp still and motion images.
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\nPlayback with the ZS-Series is also easy. Simply insert the camera\u2019s SD Memory Card into the VIERA\u00ae HDTV\u2019s Image Viewer SD Card slot for a photo slideshow. Alternatively, connect the camera via an optional HDMI mini cable, the DMW-HDC2, to a VIERA Link\u2122-equipped Panasonic VIERA HDTV and use the television\u2019s remote control to run mixed slideshows of photos and videos. The ZS3 features a 3-inch, high resolution 460,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle, improving visibility during recording and playback.
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\nOther features of the LUMIX ZS3 include:
\n\u00b7 Increased Scene modes for both still and motion image shooting \u2013 optimized for a variety of situations. There are 26 scene modes for still image and 17 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, High sensitivity, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pin hole, Film grain and Underwater)
\n\u00b7 Two new My Scene settings let users assign their two most frequently used Scene modes to the setting, and with a simple switch, allow access to either scene instantly.
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\nThe ZS1, like the ZS3, features a 25mm ultra-wide angle, 12x powerful optical zoom. Distinguishing it, the ZS1 features a 10.1 megapixel CCD, a standard iA mode (no Face Recognition) for still image recording and a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD.
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\nThe DMC-ZS3 will be available in silver, black, blue and red for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $399.95, while the DMC-ZS1 will be available in black and silver for an SRP of $299.95. Both models will be available in April 2009.
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