Panasonic announced a new addition to its slim and stylish FX series, the FX66 (aka FX68 outside the U.S). It features 14 megapixels of resolution, 2.7-inch LCD screen and HD movie capture.

The camera uses 25 mm ultra wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom that can be further extended to 6.5 x equivalents with the Intelligent Zoom function. It is also equipped with optical (lens-shift) image stabilizer to minimize blurring caused by camera shake.

The FX66 features the “Intelligent Resolution” technology which is is incorporated in the Venus Engine VI. This technology is integrated in iA(Intelligent Auto) mode that automatically chooses the best automatic setting to match shooting conditions. The engine also allows for fast performance and short start-up time.

The iA mode combines AF Tracking, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent ISO Control and Intelligent Exposure for you to enjoy clear, beautiful images captures with ease. t is also possible to choose from 25 scene modes manually.

Face detection makes it even easier to capture great portraits while the new Cosmetic mode allows to take portraits with favored skin color(soft skin, natural skin, summer look), which will enhance your creativity and make the faces looking smoother and more beautiful.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX66 aka FX68 – Specifications:

• 1/2.33″ CCD Sensor
• 14.1 Megapixels
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• 5x Optical Zoom
• Focal Length Equivalent: 25 -125mm
• Aperture Range: F2.8 (W)- 5.9 (T)
• Power O.I.S Lens-Shift Stabilization
• AF area modes: Face / AF tracking, 11-point, 1-point high speed, 1-point, Spot
• AF assist lamp Yes
• Macro Focus: 3 cm
• Sensitivity: ISO 80-6400
• Shutter Speed: 60-1/2000 sec
• Intelligent AUTO Mode
• 24 Scene modes
• Continuous Shooting: 1.8 frames/sec
• High-speed Burst Mode: up to 10 frames/sec
• 2.7″ TFT LCD Display with 230K dots
• Movie clips: 1280×720 pixels @ 30 fps
• SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card
• 40MB Internal Memory

What’s new: The camera was reviewed by Digitalcamerainfo!

Panasonic today introduced the new Lumix DMC-TS2 (aka FT2 in Europe), a successor to the company’s Lumix DMC-FT1/TS1. It is rugged as well as its predecessor, and features 14.1-megapixel sensor, 4.6x optical zoom,2.7-inch LCD screen and HD movie capture.

The camera’s toughness includes being waterproof to 33 feet (10m), shockproof to 10 feet (2m), freezeproof to 14° F (-10° C) and dustproof.

As other Panasonic digicams announced this year, the TS2 uses Venus Engine HD II image processor with new Intelligent Resolution processing technology. This allows to achieve super-fast response time, and short shutter lag times and while delivering quality, noise-free, clear and detailed images.

The camera incorporates with 28mm wide-angle lens with 4.6x optical zoom, which can be further extended to a total zoom of 6x, thanks to the Intelligent Zoom function. The lens is equipped the POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) to combat blurring.

The TS2 is a simple digital camera that makes it easy to get beautiful shots. It offers the iA (Intelligent Auto) feature, which combines Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Scene Selector to adjust camera settings to any shooting conditions.

You can as well choose manually from 25 pre-set scenes available in the camera. There’re also Face Detection and AF Tracking function in the camera to make shooting great portraits easy.

The camera can record HD video in Motion JPEG and AVCHD Lite. The latter format almost doubles the recording time in HD quality compared with the Motion JPEG format. Dolby Digital Stereo Creator, in its turn, enables high quality audio.

Camera Reviews:

Photographyblog.com:
It’s certainly one of the better-looking “tough” cameras on the market. It’s not the best compact camera around, but it will certainly outlast the majority of its rivals.

Photoreview.com.au:
The camera can record HD video clips and good-looking still shots, has a good wide-angle coverage and competent image stabilization. But it can’t deliver high burst capacity at high resolution, though.

Digitalcamerainfo.com:
The camera shoots good looking photos with strong color accuracy, low noise and decent sharpness. The videos captured by the TS2 have only adequate color and lacked sharpness.

Sample Photo Galleries: photographyblog.com, digitalcamerainfo.com.

Alternatives/Rivals: Casio G1, Pentax W80, Canon D10.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 aka FT2 – Specifications:

• 1/2.33″ CCD Image Sensor
• 14.10 Megapixels
• Maximum Image Size: 4320 x 3240 pixels
• 2.7 in. LCD Screen with 230,000 dots
• 4.6x Optical Zoom
• Focal Length Equivalent: 28 - 128mm
• Aperture Range: f/3.3 (wide) - f/5.9 (tele)
• Optical Image Stabilization
• Contrast Detection Focusing: Face, AF Tracking, 11 pt, 1 pt HS, 1 pt, Spot
• Manual Focus Possible
• Macro Mode: 5 cm/ 2.0″
• Sensitivity: ISO80 - 1600
• Shutter Speed: 60 - 1/1300 second
• Intelligent Multiple Metering
• Intelligent Auto Mode
• 25 Scene Modes
• Continuous Shooting: 1.8 fps for 3 frames
• SD/MMC including SDHC, SDXC
• 40.0MB Built-In Memory
• Movie Mode: 720p HD (AVCHD Lite, MotionJPEG)
• Waterproof, Dustproof, Freezeproof, Shockproof
• Available Colors: Silver, Blue, Orange, Yellow

Samsung has unveiled the TL110 and TL105 ultra compact cameras. Outside the U.S. market they are known as the ST70 and the ST60 respectively. Being only 16mm thick they are nevertheless well equipped for simple, beautiful, on-the-go photography.

The 14.2 megapixel TL110 and 12 megapixel TL105 offer 2.7 inch LCDs, 27mm wide angle 5x zoom lenses and 720p HD video recording. They succeed the TL100 digital camera, and unlike it, their lenses are equipped with optical image stabilization.

Unlike other new Samsung cameras- the HZ30W and HZ35W – these ones do not feature full manual controls. Instead, they offer Samsung’s advanced scene recognition technology, Smart Auto for both still images & movies. The technology analyses the composition and automatically chooses between one of four pre-programmed scenes to match the shooting conditions. .

There also 12 scene modes available for the user’s selection. You can also manually set such options as ISO, white balance, metering mode, AF, and exposure compensation.

The cameras also include different photography styles to suit all scenarios, including Normal, Soft, Vivid, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Negative, Custom RGB and two new options: Sketch and DeFog Clear/Fog Lifting. For making creating something more creative, both cameras come with fantastic Fisheye and Lomo functions.

Both the TL110 and TL105 come equipped with HD video recording to record video at a resolution of 720p / 30fps, using H.264 compression.