Panasonic today announced the Lumix DMC-LS70 digital camera, to its 2007 digital camera line. The 7.2 megapixel Lumix DMC-LS70 features Intelligent Image Stabilization with MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO Control, superb optical 3x zoom (equivalent to 35-105mm on a 35mm film camera), and a LUMIX DC VARIO lens. Panasonic is committed to bringing top line features -- like Intelligent Image Stabilization -- to all their digital cameras, making superior imaging a priority.

Panasonic's multi-tasking Intelligent Image Stabilization system makes it easy to capture beautiful photos every time. Today, MEGA O.I.S., which is a standard feature across the entire line of Lumix cameras, compensates for the effects of hand-shake, making it possible to capture clear, crisp photos indoors, at night, or when taking macro close-ups. However, MEGA O.I.S. cannot suppress the motion blur caused by a subject moving as the photo is being snapped. In this case, the camera's Venus Engine III image-processing engine -- detects whether the subject is moving and, as necessary, raises the ISO setting and shutter speed according to how fast the subject is moving and the light conditions.

The DMC-LS70 is powered by two simple AA batteries, which can be purchased anywhere. Each camera comes with two Panasonic Oxyride AA batteries, which lets users take approximately 60 percent more shots than available with ordinary alkaline batteries -- approximately 250 images with the DMC-LS70. The camera also accepts large-capacity SDHC memory cards, giving users more flexibility in shooting and recording.

In addition to added features, Panasonic has redesigned the full exterior of the DMC-LS70, bringing a new sleek design and bright 2.0-inch LCD to their most compact models. The user friendly menu and its graphical user interface have also been redesigned, with the colors brightened for easier viewability.

The DMC-LS70 also features:

Easy Zoom: Shifts the lens instantly to full 3x zoom power at the touch of a dedicated button.

Extra Optical Zoom: Provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 4.5x by using the centre part of the CCD.

Quick Setting: Lets users quickly and easily access and set the functions used most often.

Date Stamp: Allows users to utilize the Lumix date stamp feature in three ways: (1) Simply stamp the date on photos, (2) Stamp the day of a trip or event on the photos, and (3) For those precious baby photos, stamp the child's age in months on the image itself.

Wide-Aspect VGA Motion Images: Records standard VGA (640 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second, and the LS70 records stunning wide- aspect VGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second. These 16:9 motion pictures look extremely impressive on a wide-screen TV.

Added Scene Modes: Offers a total of 18 scene modes, including the new Pet and Sunset modes, making it easy to get beautiful photos in a range of photographic situations.

The Lumix DMC-LS70 will ship in February with an MSRP of $149.95.
DMC-LS70 Specifications
 Dimensions (W x H x D)       Approx. 93.7 x 62.0 x 29.7 mm
                                      (3.69 x 2.44 x 1.17 inch)
  Weight                       Approx. 135g. (0.30 lb), Approx. 181g with
                                Battery and SD Memory Card (0.40 lb)
  Camera Effective Pixels      7.2 Mega pixels
  Image Sensor                 1/2.5",7.38 Mega Total Pixels CCD
                               Primary Color Filter
  Optical Zoom                 3x
  Extra Optical Zoom           4:3 Aspect Ratio: 3.6x for 5Mega, 4.5x for
                               3Mega, 2Mega, 1Mega, 0.3Mega
                               3:2 Aspect Ratio: 4.5x for 2.5Mega
                               16:9 Aspect Ratio: 4.5x for 2Mega
  Digital Zoom                 4 x
                              (Max. 12 x combined with Optical Zoom
                                without Extra Optical Zoom)
                               Max. 18x
  Focal Length                 f=5.8-17.4mm (35mm Equiv.: 35-105mm)
  Lens                         LUMIX DC VARIO
                               7 elements in 6 groups
                              (3 Aspherical Lenses / 3 Aspherical
                                surfaces)
  Aperture                     Wide: F2.8 / F8.0 (2 steps)
                               Tele: F5.0 / F14.0 (2 steps)
  Optical Image Stabilizer     MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1/ Mode2)
  Focusing Area                Normal:50cm - infinity
                               Macro / Simple mode / Intelligent ISO /
                               Motion Picture: wide 5cm/
                                               Tele 30cm - infinity
  AF Metering                  1-point/1-point high speed/5-point
  Focus                        Auto Focus System, Normal/Macro (Dial)
  AF Assist Lamp               Yes
  ISO Sensitivity              Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1250
                              (High Sensitivity Mode: 3200)
  White Balance                Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade /
                               Halogen / White Set
  Exposure                     Program AE
  Exposure Compensation        1/3 EV step, -2 - +2 EV
  Backlight Compensation       Yes (at simple mode)
  Light Metering               Intelligent Multiple
  Scene Mode                   Dial: Intelligent ISO, Normal picture,
                                     Simple, Macro
                               SCN (Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports,
                                    Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food,
                                    Party, Candle, Fireworks, Starry Sky,
                                    Beach, Aerial photo, Snow, High
                                    sensitivity, Baby1, Baby2, Sunset, Pet),
                               Motion Picture, Playback, Print
  Shutter Speed                8-1/2000 sec
                               Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec.
  Self Timer                   2sec / 10sec
  Auto Review                  1sec, 3sec
  Review                       1x / 4x / 8x
  Color Mode                   Natural, Standard, Vivid, Black & White,
                               Sepia
  Recording Format             Still Image: JPEG(Design rule for Camera
                                            File system, based on Exif
                                            2.21 standard), DPOF
                                            corresponding
                               Motion images: QuickTime Motion JPEG
  Recording Image Size         4:3 Aspect Ratio:  3072 x 2304 pixels,
                                                  2560 x 1920 pixels,
                                                  2048 x 1536 pixels,
                                                  1600 x 1200 pixels,
                                                  1280 x 960 pixels,
                                                  640 x 480 pixels
                               3:2 Aspect Ratio:  3072 x 2048 pixels,
                                                  2048 x 1360 pixels
                               16:9 Aspect Ratio: 3072 x 1728 pixels,
                                                  1920 x 1080 pixels
                               16:9 Aspect Ratio: 2816 x 1584 pixels,
                                                  1920 x 1080 pixels
  Image Quality                Fine / Standard
  Motion Picture               4:3 Aspect Ratio:  640 x 480 pixels,
                                                  320 x 240 pixels
                                                   30 fps, 10 fps
                               16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels
                                                   30 fps, 10 fps
  Unlimited consecutive
   shooting                    Yes
  Easy Zoom / Zoom Resume      Yes / -
  Real-time histogram          Yes
  Composition Guide line       Yes
  Built-in-Memory              27MB
  Scene Mode Help Screen       Yes
  Auto Angle Detection         Yes
  Travel Date / World Time     Yes / Yes
  Date Stamp                   Yes
  Built-in-Flash               Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On,
                               Forced Off
                               0.3 - 4.7m (Wide/ISO Auto),
                               0.3 - 2.6m (Tele/ISO Auto)
  LCD Monitor                  2.0" TFT LCD Display (86K Pixels)
                               Field of View: approx. 100% High angle mode
  Playback mode                25-thumbnail display, 9-thumbnail
                               display, calendar display, zoomed playback
                               (16x max.), image rotation, Slide show
                               (duration is adjustable, also manual
                               controllable), Playback of favorite
                               pictures Resizing (selectable number of
                               pixels), trimming, protection, DPOF print
                               setting
  OSD Language                 English, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish,
                               Japanese
  Recording Media              Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card, SDHC
                               Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
  Interface                    DC Input, Video Output (NTSC/PAL), USB
  Direct Print                 PictBridge
  Power                        AA Oxyride Battery (Included), AA Ni-MH
                                Rechargeable Battery (Optional)
                               AA Alkaline Battery (Optional), AC Adaptor
                                (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
  Battery life (approx.)       250 pictures (CIPA standard) with included
                                AA Oxyride Battery
  Included Software            LUMIX Simple Viewer, PhotofunStudio
                                -viewer-
                               ArcSoft (PhotoImpression/PhotoBase),
                                USB Driver
  Standard Accessories         Battery Charger, Battery Pack, Lens Cap,
                               Lens Hood, Lens Hood Adaptor, AV Cable, USB
                               Connection Cable, AC Cable, Strap, CD-ROM

*1. Shooting conditions: 23 degrees C with 50% humidity; LCD on; using the enclosed SD Memory Card; starting to shoot 30 seconds after turning on the power; shooting once every 30 seconds with the flash in full operation for every other shot; changing the zoom setting from telephoto to wide, or wide to telephoto, for each shot; and temporarily turning the power off after each 10 shots (long enough to lower the battery temperature).*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.*All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective corporations.*QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are used under license. QuickTime is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries.*This unit is compatible with both SD Memory cards and SDHC 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 a SDHC Memory card on another device, be sure to read the operating instructions for that device.)