The Panasonic DMC-FS3 gives a great combination of fine optics, slim and attractive design, and high resolution. Below is a summary of the many merits of this camera:
Leica 3x optical zoom lens
Features fast f2.8 maximum aperture at wideangle setting to give great low light performance as well as pin sharp detail thanks to the Leica Vario-Elmarit design.
Extra Optical Zoom
This is a useful feature incorporated into many of Panasonic’s designs which allows extra zooming beyond that of the lens but without losing image quality when set to (for this model) 5 megapixels or lower resolution. Safety Zoom for the DMC-FS3 varies from between 3.8x and 4.8x depending on resolution selected.
8.1 Megapixel High Resolution CCD
Has 8.32 total megapixel CCD to give an effective resolution of 8.1 megapixels for high quality crisp photos.
iA (Intelligent Auto Technology)
Ideal for those opportunities when there’s not enough time for selecting shooting modes. It combines the following modes to give the best possible image:
- Motion Detection- Intelligent ISO control
- Shake Detection- Using MEGA O.I.S., Panasonic’s Optical Image Stabilisation technology
- Face Detection AF/ AE
- Quick AF- Starts focusing when you point the camera at a subject without needing to press the shutter halfway
- Scene Detection- Chooses the most appropriate mode from Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Scenery or Night Portrait.
Venus Engine IV
Improvement on Panasonic’s previous image processor (Venus Engine III). Specifically it features the following:
- More accurate detection and better correction for Optical Image Stabilizer and Intelligent ISO Control functions
- Separation of low frequency noise to reduce colour errors while avoiding loss of image resolution. Also colour changing information is retained in border areas to avoid colour bleeding as can happen with noise reduction
- High Speed response- release time lag (excluding AF) reduced to a minimum of 0.005 sec.
- Longer battery life for up to 300 shots on one charge (Based on CIPA standard)
Useful Shooting Features
- Focus mode can be selected between 9-Area AF, Face AF (multiple), 1-Area High Speed AF or 1-Area AF
- 20 Scene modes including High Sensitivity (ISO 6400), Burst Mode (7fps), Sunset, Scenery, Pets etc
- Q.MENU button for easy access to the seven most frequently used settings.
- HD Photo mode 1920x1080 in 16:9 for easy viewing on HD TV sets
- Slideshow with Music
- Shoot in one of three aspect ratios
- Movie mode with up to WVGA (848x480) resolution
- PictBridge compatible
- Compatible with DMW-MCFS5 Marine Case