Panasonic announces the new DMC-FX700 digital camera that boasts a lot of advanced features housed into a slim and stylish body. The camera spots 14-megapixels MOS sensor, 3.0-inch large touch screen, 5x optical zoon, Full HD movie shooting and an array of intelligent features as well as full manual controls.

The camera’s lens offers 24mm wide angle of view and is stabilized with the help of Power O.I.S. lens-shift stabilization to avoid blurry images in low light. Furthermore, the camera uses Intelligent ISO control function to prevent blur caused by subject movement.

The FX700 incorporates the fast Venus Engine FHD image processor and hence benefits from Panasonic Intelligent Resolution technology, which means finer detail, softer tonal gradation and better noise reduction. The new engine allows for high-speed shooting as well – you can take up to 60 images per second in a burst mode.

The camera’s Intelligent Auto mode employs all possible functions to make your photos perfect, namely POWER O.I.S., Face Detection, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Scene Selector. The latter chooses from Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes and applies the one that matches your shooting conditions.

Face detection and recognition function allows optimizing exposure and focus for faces detected in a frame while AF Tracking function helps keeping moving subjects in focus (you can set a target by simple tough of a finger!).

There’s also a number of pre-set scene modes in the camera’s SCN mode and full manual controls hidden in Manual, Aperture and Shutter priority modes.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700 - Specifications:

• 1/2.33″ Type MOS Image Sensor
• 14.1 Megapixels
• Aspect ratio: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1
• 5x Optical Zoom
• Focal Length Equivalent: 24 - 120mm
• Aperture Range: F2.2 - F5.9
• Power O.I.S Lens-Shift Stabilization
• 3.0″ TFT LCD Display with 230K dots
• AF area modes: Face / AF tracking, 11-point, 1-point, Spot
• Macro Mode: 3 cm
• Metering: Intelligent Multiple
• Sensitivity: ISO100-6400
• Exposure bracketing
• Shutter Speed: 60-1/2000 sec
• Shooting Mode: Intelligent AUTO, P (Program), A (Aperture Priority), S (Shutter Priority), M (Manual)
• 29 Scene Modes
• Continuous Shooting: up to 60 frames/sec
• Movie Mode: AVCHD 1980 x 1080 (FSH: 17Mbps / FH:13Mbps)
• SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards
• 40MB Internal Memory
• Included Software: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.2 HD Edition

Panasonic announced the new DMC-FX75 (aka FX70 in Europe) camera model featuring 14.1 megapixels of resolution, 5x optical zoom and a 3.0 inch touch-screen LCD. It can also shoot AVCHD Lite format HD movies.

The camera is equipped with Leica lens. Its optical structure is up to the company’s standards and includes aspherical elements to educe various kinds of aberration. Its 5x optical zoom can be extended to 10.5x one with the camera’s Intelligent Zoom function.

The lens is extremely wide-angle offering 24mm angle of view, which allows for placing more objects and subjects into a frame. It is also extremely fast with its f/2.2 aperture value when wide open. It means that it can let more light through, and thus extend hand-held shooting capabilities in low-light. Moreover, the lens is equipped with POWER O.I.S. Optical Image Stabilizer for clear and sharp images with no sign of blurring.

The FX75 incorporates the multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine HD II that provides for fast response times and for higher quality signal processing and better noise reduction, the Intelligent Resolution technology.

The camera offers you its Intelligent Auto mode for easy and convenient shooting without fuss over camera settings. This mode combines several powerful technologies working together, namely Intelligent Exposure, Intelligent Scene Selector, Power O/I/S., Face Detection with Face Recognition, and AF Tracking.

There’s also an Intelligent Motion Deblur mode that raises ISO level when it detects movement in a frame, and lighting conditions don’t allow for shortening shutter speed. All these features help the camera deliver great shots regardless of shooting conditions.

Panasonic DMC-FX75 aka FX70 – Specifications:

• 14 Megapixels
• 3.0 inch Touch-screen with 230,000 dots
• 5x Optical Zoom
• 10.5x Intelligent Zoom
• Focal Length Equivalent: 24-120mm
• POWER O.I.S. Optical Image Stabilization
• Aperture Range: F2.2 (W) -F5.9 (T)
• Intelligent Resolution technology
• Intelligent Auto Mode
• Scene Auto Selector
• Notion Deblur Mode
• Face Detection
• AF Tracking
• Movie Mode: 1280 x 720p, AVCHD Lite Format
• Body Colors: Black, Silver, Pink, Champagne Gold, Red
• Included Software: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition
• Availability: August 2010

The Panasonic Lumix DMC FS33 is a 14-megapixel digital camera with 8x optical zoom and touch controlled 3-inch LCD monitor. It can e also shoot High Def movies at 1280 x 720p resolution and comes in a comparatively compact body.

The lens has wide angle capabilities – it offers 28mm angle of view at the wider end, which means easy capture of wide scenes and large groups of people. 8x optical zoom can be as well extended up to 16.9x, but in this case you will get 3-megapixel images.

The FS33 is rather a simple and straightforward digicam. Its touch screen allows you to browse camera the menus easily. It has no manual controls but has an intuitive operation that even beginner can quickly master.

The camera Scene Auto Selector function can automatically analyze your shooting situation and set on of the following scenes to deliver the best shot possible: Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Sunset, and Macro.

There’re also 25 scene modes in the camera from which you can choose manually. They cover almost all possible situations so you will never face difficulties in getting a great photo. Here’s a complete list of them: Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High sensitivity, / Hi-Speed Burst, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial photo, Film Grain, Photo Frame.

Camera Reviews:

Cameras.co.uk:
The camera is easy to use, offers extra zoom at low Resolutions and can shoot High Definition movies. But there’s some loss of sharpness towards the edges of some photos.

Sample Photo Galleries: cameras.co.uk.

Alternatives/Rivals: Canon PowerShot SD3500 aka IXUS 210 (5x zoom).

Panasonic DMC FS33 – Specifications:

• 14 Megapixels
• CCD Size: 1/2.3 inches
• Scene Mode Help
• Print Ratios: 4:3 16:9 3:2
• 8x Optical Zoom
• Focal Length Equivalent : 28 - 224mm
• Aperture Range: F3.3 - 10 (W) / F5.9 - 18 (T)
• Image Stabilization
• 3 inch LCD Touch Screen with 230,000 dots
• Shutter Speed: 8 to 1/1600 sec
• Macro Focus: 5cms
• Metering: Intelligent Multiple
• Sensitivity: ISO80 6400
• Intelligent Scene Selector
• 25 Scene Modes
• Face Detection
• Unlimited Consecutive Shooting: 1.5 fps
• High-speed Burst Mode: up to 4.6 fps
• Movie Mode: 1280 x 720 pixels @ 30 fps
• 40mb Internal Memory
• SD / SDHC / SDXC Memory Cards
• Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
• Dimensions: 100 x 56.5 x 27.2 mm
• Weight: 140g
• Body Colors: Red, Black, Silver

In addition to its E1260 digital camera Benq has announced the T1260 model. Both cameras feature HDR technology and are quite similar in specs. The only difference is the T1260’s large 3-inch tough screen while the E1260 has a simple 2.7-inch LCD.

The T1260’s highlights (as well as that of the E1260) include 12 megapixels of resolution, 4x optical zoom and High definition 720p movie capture. Its 28mm wide-angle lens will help you capture wide scenes and large groups of people with ease.

The camera is a point-and-shoot in its essence as there’s little control over camera settings. It its Smart Scene mode it will automatically analyze the scene being shot and adjust its settings for you to get the best shot possible. At the same time you can choose from 12 creative scene modes.

There’re all necessary functions for effortless portrait capture in the T1260. These include Face detection and Tracking, Blink Detection, Smile Shutter and Beauty Enhancer functions.

The peculiarity if this camera is its HDR (High Dynamic Range) function. This technology helps overcome difficulties that arouse in tough lighting conditions, in backlit situations when you have either overexposed sky or nice blue sky with complete loss of details in shadows. With HDR technology you will get evenly-exposed light images with plenty of detail in both light and dark areas.

The T1260 also has a smart file management feature that make pictures searchable by date, categories or by built-in favourite categories.

BenQ T1260 High Dynamic Range Camera - Specifications:

• 1/2.3″ CCD Image Sensor
• 12.0 Megapixels
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9
• 3-Inch Touch Screen
• 4x Optical Zoom
• Focal Length Equivalent: 28 - 112mm
• Aperture Range : f/2.8 (wide) - f/6.3 (tele)
• Sensitivity: ISO 100 - 6400
• Shutter Speed: 15 - 1/2000 sec
• Super Shake-Free (S.S.F.) Image Stabilizer
• Creative Scene Modes: Landscape; Portrait; Backlight; Backlight Portrait; Night Scene; Night Portrait; Macro; Sunset; Text; Foliage; Snow; Still
• Smart Scene Mode
• Smart Focus
• Auto Face Tracking
• Smile Shutter
• Self/Love Portrait
• Blink Detection
• Beauty Enhancer
• Movie Mode: 1280 x 720p
• 3 Second Prerecording
• SD/ SDHC, MMC Memory Cards
• Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
• 11.0MB Internal Memory

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

The new Sony CyberShot TX5 is the world’s thinnest waterproof digital still camera with Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and touch operation. Apart from it, the camera features 10.2-megapixel resolution, 4x optical zoom and HD movie capture.

The camera can endure 1 hour of being underwater down to 10 feet (3 meters). Moreover, the TX5 is freezeproof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, dustproof and shockproof up to about a five-foot (1.5m) drop. So it is a good choice for those preferring active lifestyle.

The lens is 25mm wide-angle, the benefit of which is that you can take vast pictures and large groups of people without having to go back to get everyone and everything into a frame.

With Sony “Exmor R” CMOS sensor the camera can deliver great low-light performance, while the BIONZ® processor allows for speedy 10MP image capture at 10fps. So you’ll never miss a moment.

The TX5 offers program exposure mode with little control over the settings and 14 scene modes. It also has a solution for backlight situations, the Correction High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology. It combines highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one image with natural lighting.

Sony has built its unique Intelligent Sweep Panorama function in the camera to get panoramic shots without bothering about stitching individual frames. It requires only one press-and-sweep motion, and the camera will combine the frames itself to deliver natural looking panoramic photos.

The camera will be available in April at a planned price of $349. Body colors include silver, black, pink, green and red.

Camera Reviews:

Digitalcamerainfo.com:
These make it a very attractive package for those who want a compact camera that can handle the rough and tumble of the outdoors and shoot good looking images at the same time.

Photographyblog.com:
Despite its diminutive dimension the camera can take pretty good images, not DSLR-like quality, but better would be possible otherwise.

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

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 – Specifications:

• 1/2.4″ Exmor R CMOS Image Sensor
• 10.20 Megapixels
• 3.0 in. Touchscreen LCD with 230,000 dots
• 4x Optical Zoom
• Optical Image Stabilization
• Focal Length Equivalent: 25 - 100mm
• Aperture Range : f/3.5 (wide) - f/4.6(tele)
• Auto Focus Modes: 9-point, center, spot, flexible (touch) spot AF
• Macro Mode: 1 cm
• Sensitivity: ISO 125 - 3200
• Shutter Speed: 2 - 1/1600 sec
• Light Metering: Multi-pattern, center-weighted, spot
• 14 Scene Modes
• Intelligent Sweep Panorama
• Backlight Correction HDR
• Continuous Shooting: 10.0 fps for 10 frames
• Movie Mode: 1280 x 720p HD
• Memory Stick (PRO) Duo, SD/SDHC , MMC Memory Cards
• 45.0MB Internal Memory
• Dimensions: 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.7 in./94 x 57 x 18 mm
• Waterproof to 3.0m / 10 ft (1 hour),
• Dustproof
• Shockproof (/ 5 ft)
• Freezeproof (-10C/14F)