Panasonic debuts trio of advanced cams

Panasonic Lumix TS4

 Panasonic Consumer Marketing Co. of North America, Secaucus, N.J., introduced new cameras for spring, including an advanced outdoor model. The $399.99 Lumix TS4 combines a GPS, compass, altimeter, barometer with waterproof to 40 feet, shockproof to 6.6 feet and freezeproofto as low as 14 degrees F. The Lumix TS4 features a Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens with a 4.6x optical zoom (35mm equivalent: 28-128mm), a 12.1-megapixel sensor and the advanced image processing LSI Venus Engine, and the ability to shoot 1,920-by-1,080 full-High Definition (HD) video in AVCHD and MP4 formats.

The Lumix TS4 has a more advanced GPS system than its predecessor, the Lumix DMC-TS3, with more than a million landmarks and 82 countries/regions covered in the maps available on the bundled DVD. Geo-tagged images are automatically sorted and can be played back along a map so that users can trace their photographic journey.

The LUMIX TS4 offers users manual operation, allowing adjustment of shutter speed and aperture for more creative photography, plus modes such as Time Lapse Shot, Miniature Effect, and Panorama Shot.

Panasonic also introduced the rugged 16.1 megapixel Lumix TS20, which is waterproof to approximately 16 feet, shockproof to approximately 5 feet, dustproof  and freezeproof to temperatures as low as 14 -degrees F. The $179.99 Lumix TS20 features a flat and slim profile with a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens and a 4x optical zoom.  Even more, the Lumix TS20’s zoom extends to 8x equivalent with the Intelligent Zoom function. The Lumix TS20 can shoot 720p HD video in the MP4 format and the 4x optical zoom is available during video recording. Plus, with a dedicated video record button, switching between still photos and videos is quick and seamless.  The Lumix TS20 records dynamic HD video in 1280-by-720p at a smooth 30p MP4 format.

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Finally, Panasonic slimmed down its compact line with the Lumix DMC-ZS-20, a thin camera with a 20x zoom lens. The $349.99 14.1 MP camera has a 24mm ultra wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens and the ability to shoot full-HD video. Beyond the quality of its lens, the LUMIX ZS20 integrates an enhanced built-in GPS functionality, making it easy for users to pinpoint locations where photos were taken and share with family and friends on internet maps. Map data can be installed onto the LUMIX ZS20 via a bundled DVD, giving the camera detailed worldwide maps of major regions on a scale of 1/25,000 or more precise.  A user can copy the map data of a designated city to an SDXC/SDHC/SD Memory Card and get quick geographic information to know their location and if any landmarks are located nearby. More than one million landmarks and 82 countries/regions are covered in the bundled DVD map.

In addition, the ZS20 has manual control options, allowing the user to adjust shutter speed and aperture, and 3D Photo Mode, the LUMIX ZS20 also features a variety of special effects that add fun to a photography shooting experience. Creative Control mode offers a selection of artistic effects including Expressive Retro, High Dynamic, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, High Key, Low Key, Miniature Effect, Toy Effect and Soft Focus.

Also introduced today, the $279.99  12.1 megapixel Lumix DMC-ZS15 features a 24mm ultra-wide angle and powerful 16x optical zoom with 32x Intelligent Zoom.