Panasonic has added another superzoom to its FZ-series camera range. The LUMIX DMC-FZ47 features a 25 - 600 mm equivalent zoom lens with a special coating that's claimed to reduce ghost and flare, and a brand new sensor capable of recording 1080/60i high definition video. It also features a host of creative photography options, including those seen in the company's DMC-G3 camera announced in May.
The 4.74 x 3.14 x 3.62 inch (120.3 x 79.8 x 91.9 mm) LUMIX DMC-FZ47 features a newly-developed 12.1 megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor with a 2-channel signal output structure that's said to improve signal transfer speed. Sensitivity ranges from ISO100 to ISO1600, which can be boosted to ISO6400 in Hi mode. There's also an image stabilized LEICA DC VARIO- ELMARIT f4.5 - 108 mm lens made up of 14 elements in 10 groups, that features Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating technology to keep image-spoiling light reflection to a minimum. The camera has 24x zoom capabilities at full resolution, but reducing the image quality to 3 megapixels and restricting the aspect to 4:3 results in up to 46.9x EZ zoom extension.
A DLSR-like mode dial atop the camera offers quick access to PASM exposure settings, scene modes and creative video mode. The camera's Venus Engine FHD processing engine powers the camera's Intelligent Resolution image optimization technology as well as keeping a handle on image noise. The now familiar Intelligent Auto chooses optimum settings based on the shooting environment, using tools like Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent D-range Control to help users get the best shot.
Round the back, framing up shots can be undertaken on the 0.20-inch color viewfinder with 201,600 pixel resolution and 100 percent field of view, or the 3-inch, 460,000 pixel resolution LCD display. The user is offered a choice of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 aspect for images, which are recorded in the JPEG image format (a lack of RAW image capability is noteworthy) in either standard or fine quality. The camera achieves 3.7 frames per second burst shooting at full resolution, with up to 10 fps available at the sacrifice of some resolution.
High definition movie recording is offered at up to 1080/60i in AVCHD or full 1080p at 30 fps in MPEG-4 format, with sound being captured by built-in stereo microphones.
The new LUMIX DMC-FZ47 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC media card format, comes shipped with PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.3HD Lite Edition software and will be available in August for a suggested retail price of US$399.99.