Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 ... makes it possible to pack a powerful 10x optical zoom (equivalent to a big 35 to 350mm lens on a 35mm camera) into a compact camera. The Extended Optical Zoom function, which magnifies the image with minimal deterioration by using the center part of the high-resolution CCD, boosts the zoom power to a maximum 12.5x2.

The Venus Engine III provides a high sensitivity ISO 800 setting that captures images with minimal noise at full resolution. The higher ISO setting lets you use higher shutter speeds to minimize the motion blur that can occur when you're shooting a moving subject, particularly in dim lighting. Even indoors, you can get crisp, clear, beautiful shots of children, pets and other subjects that won't hold still.

Choose from several auto focus modes - spot, 1-point (normal or high-speed), 3-point high-speed, and 9-point - to suit the scene you're shooting. The DMC-TZ1 also introduces a new Linear AF system, which has resulted in the achievement of an industry-leading fast auto focusing time. Not only the speed but also the noise of the motor is reduced and even the zooming while recording motion image is possible. Combined with a startup time of merely 0.95 seconds, this fast focusing lets you catch every shooting opportunity. Plus, the AF Assist Lamp helps when focusing in dimly lit places.

Thanks to the Venus Engine III, the DMC-TZ1 has a release time lag as low as 0.006 seconds. The DMC-TZ1 can also fire off consecutive shots at a swift 3 frames per second, and offers Unlimited Consecutive Shooting, so you can keep shooting until the SD Memory Card or built-in memory is full.