PANASONIC INTRODUCES SUPER COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA FEATURING AVCHD LITE
HD VIDEO RECORDING CAPABILITY

Panasonic LUMIX ZR3 includes 25mm ultra-wide-angle Leica lens and
powerful 8x optical zoom in a slim and portable body

SECAUCUS, NJ (January 26, 2010) – Panasonic today announced the
introduction of the LUMIX DMC-ZR3, a fully-featured digital camera
complete with AVCHD Lite High Defintion (HD) video recording
capabilities, a25mm ultra-wide-angle Leica lens and a powerful 8x
optical zoom – giving consumers a wide-range of shooting options, yet
in a slim body that is small enough to fit in a pocket or small purse.
New to the ZR-Series this year, Panasonic also introduces Intelligent
Zoom, which extends the LUMIX ZR3’s zoom to an impressive 10x.

The Panasonic LUMIX ZR3’s incredible 8x optical zoom is not found on
many conventional point-and-shoot cameras, especially ones that are
approximately 1-inch thick. With a powerful zoom, users will be
thrilled with the close-up shots they are able to take. And for an
added boost, zoom power can be increased to 10x with Panasonic’s new
Intelligent Zoom function, which takes advantage of the newly-added
Intelligent Resolution technology. Intelligent Resolution, a component
of Intelligent Auto mode, helps to maintain optimal picture quality by
capturing higher quality signal processing and through the detection
of three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation –
examining them pixel by pixel to enhance any degradation created
during the digital zoom process or in high-sensitivity shooting. As a
result of Intelligent Resolution, images are naturally clear and crisp
in both photo and video recording.

“The 2010 Panasonic LUMIX lineup of digital cameras pack advanced
functions into smaller, more compact bodies without compromising the
ability to take high quality photos and video,” said David Briganti,
Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronic
Company. “With a remarkable 8x optical zoom power, sleek design, HD
video capabilities, the LUMIX ZR3 is a compact and versatile camera
that is also extremely easy and intuitive to use.”

The LUMIX ZR3 takes video recording to the next level with its AVCHD
Lite HD video format. Featuring double the recording time in HD
quality compared to the conventional Motion JPEG format, and offering
Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to record high-quality audio, the LUMIX
ZR3 is perfect for capturing those spur-of-the-moment video
opportunities in high-quality. With the newly-added Video Divide
function, users can cut their video into two sections on the spot –
within the menus of the camera – to shorten or delete the unwanted
half.

Continuing with the trademark iA mode, Panasonic has incorporated this
intuitive and innovative feature into the LUMIX ZR3. Working to
enhance the potential of all photos and videos, iA mode automatically
selects the best Scene mode, and also helps to correct handshake and
any focus or brightness issues.

Other technologies incorporated into the LUMIX ZR3’s iA mode include:
• Face Recognition – Allows users to register various faces, helping
to improve detection accuracy of friends and family. 
• Happy Mode –
New color mode that optimizes color, saturation and brightness, to
make both photos and videos more vivid and true to the color
originally experienced.
• Other iA Technologies – Intelligent
Resolution and Intelligent Zoom, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control
and Intelligent Exposure.
The LUMIX ZR3 features a super-fast AF (Auto Focus) speed of 0.26
second (wide-end) / 0.31 second (tele-end)*1. This combined with a
high-speed start-up of just 1.1 second, gives the LUMIX ZR3 an
ultra-fast response that helps to catch even the most fleeting photo
opportunities. Additionally, the 2.7-inch large Intelligent LCD screen
offers a dynamic, clear view and automatically adjusts its own
brightness level. Also, the LUMIX ZR3 accepts the SD/SDHC Memory Card,
but is also compatible with the next-generation SDXC Memory Cards,
which feature a high-potential in both capacity and data-transfer
speed.

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