Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Digital Cameras

Panasonic DMC-FX580 Lumix Digital Camera

547357.jpg

Packs a 25mm Ultra-Wide-Angle and 5x Optical Zoom Into a Touch-Screen Digital Camera Complete With New Advanced iA Mode

Panasonic today announces its newest touch-screen LUMIX digital camera, the slim and stylish DMC-FX580, a successor to last year’s DMC-FX500. The new DMC-FX580 features a 25mm ultra-wide-angle LEICA DC lens with F2.8 brightness, a 5x optical zoom and an increased recording image size from 10.1-megapixel to 12.1-megapixel. Using the popular touch-screen operation is easy with the DMC-FX580’s large 3.0-inch LCD, so both shooting and image playback is intuitive and smooth.

“With the new LUMIX FX580, Panasonic provides for our digital camera consumers, by offering a touch-screen model, for those users who are accustomed to touch-screen technology,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With the FX580, we remain true to Panasonic’s commitment to providing high-quality photos, by advancing our Intelligent Auto mode and using a bright LEICA DC lens, we want to help consumers capture beautiful photos, regardless of their interface preference.”

Though featuring a touch-screen, the FX580 uses a hybrid operation system combining the new touch-screen interface and a conventional operation system with the cursor key for intuitive control. Taking advantage of both operation systems, users can set the Auto Focus (AF) and Auto Exposure (AE) at the desired part of the frame by simply touching the subject on the screen while recording. In manual exposure mode, aperture and shutter speed can be adjusted by moving the slider. Users can also make fine adjustments to white balance and color temperature with the touch-screen. In playback mode, simply slide a finger across the screen to activate touch scroll for viewing images. An Easy Organization menu is provided to simplify image organizing so the user can quickly select an image to view and edit with the touch menu.

The LUMIX FX580 features Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, a system of technologies, such as MEGA O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, Face Detection, AF Tracking1, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Scene Selection, that engage automatically, without the user having to adjust any settings. New in 2009, Panasonic’s advanced iA adds Face Recognition, a feature that recognizes individual faces, making it a “personal verification system” in the digital camera2. Face Recognition allows a user to give AF and AE priority to a single person in a group, ensuring that a person’s face will be beautifully exposed.

With Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt the user to register the face. Once registered, if the familiar face appears in the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the face is bright and sharply focused. During registration, the user can change the icon that indicates when the registered subject is in focus and the person’s age can also be added. In playback, users can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using Category Playback, so organizing and viewing photos is much easier.

Panasonic’s newly developed Venus Engine V processor integrates these advanced functions and controls the camera’s operation with high speed, high performance, and low-power consumption. The Venus Engine V has twin CPUs to boast approximately 2.4x processing capability and also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the DMC-FX580 record at a setting of up to ISO 64003.

The DMC-FX580 can also record High Definition (1280 x 720p) motion images at 30 fps. And, using the DMW-HDC2 component cable (optional accessories), the video can output directly to a television, such as a Panasonic VIERA HDTV, for easy playback.

DMC-FX580

Other features of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX580 include:

  • New Panorama Assist scene mode allows users to shoot a number of consistent photos, either vertically or horizontally, by aligning them according to a guide that overlaps the screen. Then using those photos and the bundled PanoramaMaker software, users can create dramatic panoramic images.
  • High-Speed Burst (Speed Priority) that fires off approx. 10 shots per second4.
  • Macro Zoom function lets users pull subjects even closer to capture dramatic close-up shots by using the 3x digital zoom in the wide-angle.
  • Bundled PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 software that features a Face Recognition function that recognizes the faces in photos stored on the computer, allowing the user to easily sort files by the people photographed. Using the software, motion pictures can also be uploaded directly to YouTube.

The DMC-FX580 features an aluminum body and available in silver and black starting in April 2009 for a suggested retail price of $399.95. For more information, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

  1. Dynamic tracking function may fail to lock, lose the subject in AF Tracking, or track different subject depending on the recording conditions.
  2. Depending on background and facial expression, camera may not recognize a registered person. For family members with similar facial features, camera may not correctly identify the intended subject.
  3. In 3-megapixel (4:3), 2.5-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) recording.
  4. 3-megapixel (4:3), 2.5-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) recording. (10fps in Speed Priority mode / 6fps in Picture Priority mode)

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

Zeitgeist Germany Tree Collection IEMs

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

At $814, Zeitgeist Germany offers bespoke IEMs carved from 4 different types of wood -- Sequoia, Zebrano, Olive and Redheart.

TCL A1 Portable Lifestyle Projector TCL A1 Portable Lifestyle Projector

New Products

At $499, the TCL A1 is a 1080p portable lifestyle projector that lets you bring big screen entertainment wherever you go.

Bose 901 60th Anniversary Edition Speakers Lifestyle Front Bose 901 60th Anniversary Edition Speakers Lifestyle Front

Bookshelf Speakers

Without any public fanfare, Bose has recreated its legendary 901 Direct Reflecting Loudspeakers that we would like to see and hear in person.

Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl Phono Stage Silver Front Angle Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl Phono Stage Silver Front Angle

New Products

Musical Fidelity's new flagship M8x Vinyl Phono Stage is both fully discrete and fully balanced with improved gain stage and more.

Master & Dynamic ME05 Wired Earphones Master & Dynamic ME05 Wired Earphones

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

Are wired earphones coming back? The new $199 Master & Dynamic ME05 in-ear headphones refresh a 10-year old design with added support for hi-res...

McIntosh MSA5500 Integrated Streaming Amplifier (Front) McIntosh MSA5500 Integrated Streaming Amplifier (Front)

Digital Music Systems

At $8,000, the McIntosh MSA5500 streaming integrated amplifier isn't for everybody, but it's hard not to be impressed with its styling and audio technology.

Gift Ideas?

Christmas Gift Guide 2024 for Hi-Fi, Headphones and Home Theater

Gift Guides

From headphones to home theater, these high performance audio gifts will exceed the expectation of any movie or music lover on your list.

You May Also Like

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers