With a resolution of 6.0 Megapixels, you'll be able to produce high-resolution images that can yield photo quality 16 x 20" prints.

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The DMC-LZ5 is equipped with a 6x optical zoom (equivalent to a 37mm - 222mm zoom on a 35 mm film camera) lens while keeping the body size as compact as ordinary 3x zoom cameras. The 6x zoom ratio can be extended up to 8.3x in the 3-megapixel image recording mode thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom function with minimal deterioration, by intentionally using the central part of the CCD. This powerful zooming function allows you not only to easily capture and magnify subjects in distant locations but also to take impressive photos with soft-focused backgrounds. In addition, the zoom lens features the pinnacle of Panasonic's optics technology, with eight elements in seven groups including two aspherical lenses, which are used to achieve compactness and higher optical performance.

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The MEGA O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer) feature, offsets unintentional hand movement while you're taking pictures, to give you clear sharp images even when taking handheld telephoto shots or shooting at night. This optical technology provides precise compensation for movement with no image quality degradation.

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Select the AF setting from Spot, 1-point (normal or high-speed), 3-point high-speed. The 1-point normal setting solves the "image-freezing" that used to happen while focusing on fast-moving subjects and makes them easier to track. Furthermore, the 1-point high-speed mode slashes conventional AF time; plus, the AF Assist Lamp helps when focusing in low lighting.

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Incorporating the latest in power efficiency, the Venus Engine PLUS consumes less power than previous processors. The LZ5 realizes more than 40% longer battery life when compared with the previous L Series Camera Models. Furthermore, Panasonic includes two Oxyride AA batteries that offer more than 1.6 times the number of shots compared with Alkaline AA batteries, so you can take approximately 240 pictures with the included batteries. You can also use NiMH Rechargeable AA batteries for better cost efficiency.

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Record beautiful full-size movies with sound in VGA resolution at 30 fps (requires SD Memory Card), and you'll get enhanced picture quality - not only in the resolution but also in the overall brightness level of the video image. A built-in speaker lets you enjoy playing back movies with audio on the large LCD anytime, anywhere.

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Auto angle detection records whether an image was taken horizontally or vertically. This ensures that when playing back on the LCD monitor or displaying images on your TV by connecting your Lumix Digital Camera with an A/V cable, vertical images are automatically displayed vertically and horizontal images are automatically displayed horizontally.

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In a dark setting or when the subject is moving, shooting at a faster shutter speed is required for truly great results. That's why this digital camera offers a High Sensitivity Mode. When combined with OIS, this remarkable shooting mode allows you to shoot up to ISO1600. And that means stop-action clarity in nearly any situation.

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This wonderful feature lets you shoot images in widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) so that you can achieve bold, panoramic images that are perfect for dramatic, wide prints. Plus, you can view photos as full-screen images on your widescreen TV.

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You can take up to 5 images in Standard Mode and 3 images in Fine Mode with full resolution at a rate of up to 3 frames per second. In addition, the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting function lets you continue shooting at a rate of 1.5 frames per second until the memory card or built-in memory is full. In addition, thanks to the Venus Engine Plus LSI, the shutter release time lag is only 0.005 seconds.

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The large, easy-to-see 2.5-inch LCD employs a pixel-mixed readout method providing greatly increased brightness of the live image displayed; thereby allowing you to enjoy comfortable shooting even in low-lit situations. The high-angle LCD function makes the display extremely easy to view from the bottom angle, for example, when taking photos raising a hand upward to shoot the subject over the crowd. Furthermore, the large LCD allows the display of images even in tiny thumbnail sizes with playback options of 9, 16, and 25 thumbnails, in addition to the normal 1-frame playback. This helps you to search for the image you want faster than on previous models.

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The DMC-LZ5 provides fourteen scene modes to assist your shooting in wide-ranging situations, and the easy-to-use mode dial lets you select the scene mode that best matches the situation quickly and easily. The unique mode Baby mode allows easy growth recording in which the baby's time of age according to the preset birthday would be automatically recorded onto the image, as well as providing a shade of soft focus on the subject. On the other hand, Simple Mode offers easy shooting even to entry-level users by making most settings automatically. You just aim at the subject, zoom in or out, and press the shutter button, even compensating backlight if necessary.

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With 14 megabytes of built-in memory, you can take photos without missing a chance that may suddenly arise even when you do not have an SD Memory Card. You can also store your favorite photos in an album that you can enjoy viewing or showing at any time. Additionally, you can easily copy photos from the built-in memory to the SD Memory Card and vice versa.

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In addition to the ArcSoft PhotoImpression, PanoramaMaker, and PhotoBase, The DMC-LZ5 includes the Lumix Simple Viewer for Windows. This software is good, especially for beginners for storing, playing, printing, or attach to E-mail the images via the PC. Images will be automatically transferred just by inserting the SD Memory Card into a card reader, or by connecting the camera to a PC, and the images will also be sorted by the date of shooting to streamline the process of organizing the pictures as much as possible.

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You can send images directly to print, without the need of a PC, when using PictBridge-compatible printers.