Secaucus, NJ—Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ47, the newest addition to its superzoom FZ series, boasts a 24x optical zoom in a 25mm ultra-wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens that employs Nano Surface Coating technology to help minimize ghosting and flare. The FZ47 also offers Full HD 1080i video recording and new creative controls while shooting both still and video images.
Powered by a 12.1 megapixel “Hi-Speed” CCD sensor, the FZ47 is said to produce the high-speed, large-capacity signal processing required for 1,920×1,080 Full HD video recording in the AVCHD format, and high-speed continuous shooting. The Venus Engine FHD processor powers the camera’s Intelligent Resolution technology, which enables the zoom to be extended 1.3x times to a 32x. Specs say the FZ47 can take high-res shots at 3.7 fps at 12.1MP and at 10 fps at 3MP. Users can also simultaneously take a 3.5MP photo while shooting video. And with Panasonic’s Sonic Speed AF, its start-up time is about 35% faster than the Lumix FZ40.
Additionally, the FZ47’s 24x optical zoom is optimized for video recording with a mechanism designed to minimize the noise of AF and zooming. Its video capability is complemented with Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to produce realistic audio and a wind-cut function.
A creative video mode lets users set the shutter speed and aperture manually to bring special effects to videos and still photos. The FZ47 also adds creative control and photo style functions that come with a variety of options for artistic effects, including: expressive, retro, high key, sepia, high dynamic, miniature effect, film grain and pin hole. Users can also adjust exposure compensation in the creative control mode or, using photo style, adjust contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction in standard, vivid, natural, monochrome, scenery and portrait settings.
For those who prefer not to change settings, the DMC-FZ47 employs iA (intelligent auto) mode, where the camera automatically chooses the setting based on the environment. iA includes: Power OIS (optical image stabilizer), motion deblur, face recognition, face detection, AF tracking, intelligent ISO control and intelligent scene selector. Select iA functions are available during video mode.
Other features include: 3D photo mode to take 3D photos that can be played back on MPO-compatible 3D devices; a 3.0-inch LCD; and a social media connection that allows the camera, once connected to a computer, to prompt users with an menu asking if they want to share images online—no software needed.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 is available in black for an MSRP of $399.99. panasonic.com
