12x Optical Zoom with 10.1-Megapixel Resolution New Feature!
The 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 35mm to 420mm on a 35mm film camera) lets you take dynamic telephoto shots, or dramatic portraits with a softly focused background. By capturing this data with the total 10.1-megapixel CCD, the DMC-FZ50 opens the door to a whole new photographic world.
 

LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT Lens
This advanced lens system consists of one ED (extra-low dispersion) lens and fourteen lens elements in ten groups, including three aspherical lenses. The ED lens employs a special optical glass to compensate for chromatic aberration. It suppresses the color bleeding and reduced sharpness that tend to occur in telephoto shots, to produce crisper, clearer images. Backed by superb Leica optical quality, this lens system renders breathtakingly beautiful images that are bright and have minimal distortion. The aspherical lenses extend this extraordinary performance all the way to the edges of the image, and help to make the lens more compact.

Extended Optical Zoom - Up to 21.4x (3-Megapixel) / 17.1x (5-Megapixel) / 13.4x (8-Megapixel)
The Extended Optical Zoom, made possible by using the center part of the 10.1-megapixel high resolution CCD, further extends the powerful 12x optical zoom to up to 21.4x for 3-megapixel image recording (or 17.1x for 5-megapixel and 13.4x for 8-megapixel recording). High-resolution images with a wide dynamic range for richer gradation are always assured with these LEICA DC 12x optical zoom lens and the 10.1-Megapixel CCD. You can also use the 4x digital zoom together with Extra Optical Zoom for ultra-powerful zooming.

MEGA O.I.S. - The New Standard in Digital Camera Performance
Taking advantage of its outstanding lens technology, Panasonic invented the MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) system to fight against the major cause of blurred images. It compensates for the blurring caused by hand-shake. It is now featured on the entire LUMIX range, and is highly popular with users around the world. Even slight hand-shake movement is accurately detected by a sampling frequency of 4,000 times per second, and compensated to produce sharp, clear images.

Intelligent ISO Control for Preventing Blurry Shots Caused by Subject Movements New Feature!
The movement of the subject, the other major cause of blurred images, is suppressed by the advanced image processing LSI Venus Engine III with the Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.). The world's first incorporation of this I.I.C. allows the automatic adjustment of the suitable ISO setting and shutter speed that best suits the situation by analyzing the speed of subject movement. If the subject is moving, the ISO setting would automatically rise to allow high shutter speed. On the other hand, if the subject is still and no movement is detected, you can take beautiful natural images with a low ISO setting.

High Image Quality - Recording up to ISO 1600 in Full Resolution New Feature!
The DMC-FZ50 adopts the Venus Engine III to realize high sensitivity recording at max. ISO 1600 at full resolution. The noise reduction system is greatly improved by removing noise at the processing stages in series. First, critical noise is roughly undraped and the chromatic noise and the luminance noise are separated to respectively go through the supplemental noise reduction process so that the remaining noise is appropriately minimized. In addition, chromatic aberration is also reduced so beautiful images are assured even in telephoto shooting.

Super-Fast Shutter Response and Startup Time
With its multi-task image processing capability, the Venus Engine III also boasts outstanding response time with an industry-leading level of shutter release time lag of as short as 0.009 sec. minimum and the shutter interval of 0.8 sec. Together with the fast startup time of approx.0.7 sec., the quick response of DMC-FZ50 enables easy capture of those spur-of-the-moment shots

Free-angle LCD and high resolution EVF to extend shooting potential New Feature!
The 2.0-inch flip-out 207k high resolution LCD is adjustable to 180 degrees both vertically and horizontally. This assists smooth shooting even in high- and low-angle shooting positions. The DMC-FZ50 is also equipped with the 235 k pixels high resolution EVF to encourage active shooting. Not OVF but EVF can provide the benefit of being able to check white balance, real-time histogram and the DOF(depth of field) before shooting.

Power LCD  New Feature!
You probably know how difficult it is to see an LCD image on a sunny day.
When that happens with the DMC-FZ50, all you have to do is hold the EVF/LCD button down a little longer. The LCD backlight becomes about 1.4 times brighter to produce clear, easy-to-see images even in bright sunlight.

Brighter LCD Shows Even Dark Scenes Clearly New Feature!
The bright 2.0" LCD is easy to see when taking photos. The pixel-mixed readout method is used to automatically increase the brightness level of live images according to the level of ambient darkness. This allows bright, easy framing of scenes that would normally be too dark to see.
 

Free-angle LCD and high resolution EVF to extend shooting potential New Feature!
The 2.0-inch flip-out 207k high resolution LCD is adjustable to 180 degrees both vertically and horizontally. This assists smooth shooting even in high- and low-angle shooting positions. The DMC-FZ50 is also equipped with the 235 k pixels high resolution EVF to encourage active shooting. Not OVF but EVF can provide the benefit of being able to check white balance, real-time histogram and the DOF(depth of field) before shooting.

Full Manual Operation:

Ring-Operated Manual Focus and Manual Zoom: The DMC-FZ50 succeeds the high operational ease and the good design that have been highly acclaimed with its predecessor DMC-FZ30. Two exclusive rings on the lens barrel provide manual control of zooming and focusing, allowing quick and fine control that cannot be achieved with button or lever operation. This feature will be highly valued by high-end users not only for its precise controllability but also for the feeling of manual operation.
 

Focus Mode Select Switch and Independent Macro Mode: Select Manual Focus, Auto Focus or Macro AF with the switch located on the side of the lens barrel. This means you can set the focus easily with your left hand while holding the camera to compose your shot. The One-Shot AF function is available in MF mode with a single press of the button.

 

Program / Aperture / Shutter Speed / Manual Modes: Provided for the more advanced photographer, this function lets you choose the exposure setting yourself to capture exactly the image you want. This opens the door to a host of creative possibilities. You can set both the shutter speed and aperture separately while viewing the image in the viewfinder or LCD screen.

 

New Feature! Command Dial for Shutter and Aperture Setting / Direct Exposure Compensation: With the two dials located under the index finger and the thumb, you can compensate the exposure directly in addition to the shutter speed and the aperture smoothly and naturally.

 

New Feature! Function Button: With its multi-task image processing capability, the Venus Engine III also boasts outstanding response time with an industry-leading level of shutter release time lag of as short as 0.009 sec. minimum and the shutter interval of 0.8 sec. Together with the fast startup time of approx.0.7 sec., the quick response of DMC-FZ50 enables easy capture of those spur-of-the-moment shots

 

New Feature! Custom Setting Mode: Your frequent setting patterns can be memorized and it can be instantly applied by simply selecting this function with the mode dial.

 

Program Shift: You can use Program Shift in Program AE mode to keep the exposure fixed while changing the combination of shutter speed and aperture. Provided for the more advanced photographer, this function lets you choose the exposure setting yourself to capture exactly the image you want.

 

Movable MF Assist: In manual focus, you can enlarge part of the subject in the viewfinder or LCD by 2x (Mode 1) / 4x (Mode 2). You can also freely move the magnified area for easy framing, which is especially handy when using a tripod.

 

Faster AF Distance Metering: The AF mode can be selected according to the shooting situation: 9-point, 3-point high speed, 1-point high speed, 1-point and Spot.

• 9-point AF: For general shooting conditions. This mode gives you a sharp focus for a variety of picture compositions.

• 3-point high speed AF: This mode prevents the system from mistakenly focusing on the area between two subjects.

• 1-point high speed AF: The AF time has been dramatically reduced to achieve outstanding focusing.

• 1-point AF: Although screen-freeze in high-speed AF is now minimized, if you take the picture of subject with fast movement, you can select this mode which does not have any screen-freeze while focusing.

• Spot AF: Spot metering: This mode keys the focus to a small area within the frame.

Selectable AF Area: While using 1-point and 1-point high speed AF mode, you can specify a point out of 9 AF points. You can thereby enjoy free framing shooting even with the subject not at the center.

 

New! Focus/AE Lock: The focus and exposure values that were automatically set when the lock button was pressed are maintained. The focus lock can be used even during manual focus in addition to auto focus. This means that there are no more worries about accidentally changing a delicate focus point after you have worked hard to get it just right.

 

AF Assist Lamp: Provides extra lighting as a focusing aid for slightly dark situations where AF focusing would ordinarily be difficult.

 

Continuous AF: Clear, sharp focus even for moving subjects.

Useful Features:

• New Feature! An Even More Powerful Flash (TTL External Flash Compatible): The DMC-FZ50 is equipped with a built-in multifunctional flash that features Auto, Auto/Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync/Red- Eye Reduction, and Forced On/Off. The flash intensity can be adjusted within a range of +/- 2 EV. If desired, you also can mount the optional DMW-FL500(GN50)/FL360(GN36) TTL external flash onto the DMC-FZ50. This expandability enhances the potential of shooting to make DMC-FZ50 a true high end camera.

•  New Feature! Two Axis White Balance Adjustment: Choose from seven white balance settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, Flash, and White Set. When there are several different light sources and it's difficult to get the exact coloration you want, you can also adjust with a reference to the horizontal axis for amber to blue and vertical axis for green to magenta.

• Exposure Compensation: Adjust the exposure setting to create a particular image. (1/3 EV step, +/- 2 EV)

• Auto Bracketing: This lets you pick the best shot from different, automatically graduated exposures.  (+/- 1/3 -1 EV step, 3 frames)

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• Zoom Auto Review: This function shows you an enlarged view of the image right after you shoot, to make it easier to check the focus.

• New! Direct Button Operation: You can set while confirming the alternative from the list on the screen and prevent from changing the setting with wrong operation.

• 3D Multi-Color Menu Screen

• Shooting Screen: The LCD and viewfinder can be switched to any of six display styles by pressing the DISPLAY button. You can choose to keep the information display completely outside the shooting area, so it isn't super-imposed over the image.

• Real-Time Histograms: This graph, which can be displayed in the LCD/EVF as you line up the shot, shows the status of the exposure and contrast in real-time.

• Highlight Display: A flashing indicator on the LCD/EVF shows any parts of the images that have been overexposed.

• Self-Timer: You can use either a 10-second or 2-second setting.

• Remote Shutter (Optional) Allows remote operation of the shutter button when, for example, you are using a tripod. Optional Cable (DMW-RSL1) length: 1.5m

Mode/Scene Dial - A single, easy-to-use dial for beautiful shots in most any situation. Choose from 8 different modes and 19 scene modes.

Easy-To-Use Menu Operation

The easy-to-use menu lets you quickly change to the Rec, Setup or Scene mode with the left cursor. Then you can easily set the desired parameters or scene mode with the menu/set button. The icon on the setting screen for the selected scene mode is animated to show your selection more clearly. A description of each scene mode is shown on the LCD, making it easier to select the mode that best fits the shooting conditions.

Total Pixles: 10.4 Megapixel

Effective Pixels: 10.1 Megapixels      

CCD (Image Sensor): 1/1.8"

Image Processor: Venus Engine III Primary Color Filter     

Recording Image Size: (Pixels) 

4:3 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 3648 x 2736, 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200
3:2 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 3600 x 2400, 3248 x 2160, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1360
16:9 Aspect Ratio (Still Image): 3584 x 2016, 3072 x 1728, 1920 x 1080
Motion Image (4:3 Aspect Ratio): 640 x 480, 320 x 240 

Motion Image (16:9 Aspect Ratio) 848 x 480
 

Lens:

Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens: 14 Elements in 10 Groups (3 Aspherical Lenses/3 Aspherical Surfaces, 1 ED Lens)

Optical Image Stabilizer: MEGA O.I.S. (Mode 1 / Mode 2 )      

Optical Zoom: 12x    

Extra Optical Zoom:

4:3 Aspect Ratio: 13.4x for 8 Mega, 17.1x for 5 Mega, 21.4x for 3 Mega, 2Mega
3:2 Aspect Ratio: 13.4x for 7 Mega, 17.1x for 4.5 Mega, 21.4x for 2.5 Mega
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 13.4x for 5.5 Mega, 21.4x for 2 Mega

Digital Zoom:

Aperture: Wide: F2.8 - F11; Tele: F3.7 - F11  

Focal Length: f=7.4-88.8mm (35mm equivalent: 35-420mm)  

Focusing Area:  

Normal: Wide 30cm / Tele 200cm - infinity
Macro/MF: Wide 5cm / Tele 200cm - infinity

Focus Modes:  

AF
AF Macro
MF switchable
Manual Focus (Ring)
Continuous AF On/Off
 

AF Metering:

1 point
1 point high speed
3 points high speed
9 points
Spot

ISO Sensitivity: Auto / I.ISO / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 /1600 (High Sensitivity Mode: 3200)

White Balance: