Panasonic DMC-LC70 4.0 Megapixel Digital Compact

Pocket-sized Marvel

You've got to check out the list of features you get with such a reasonably priced camera! This Award Winning Digital Camera is so compact it can be operated with one hand. Yet, Panasonic has managed to pack in it the Lumix 4.0 Megapixel Charged Coupled Device (CCD), the innovative Venus Engine LSI, and a professional Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens-which all work together in such perfect harmony that you'll be totally amazed with the vibrant and detailed works of photographic art you can take with such an easy-to-operate, point-and-shoot camera.

Super Duper Advanced Digital Technology

For really resounding photos, the technologically superior 4.0 Megapixel CCD converts optical data into digital information and captures the full range of expressive colors in high-resolution detail. By using the primary (red, blue, green) colors to ensure the correct extraction of color information from the CCD, it creates vividly colored images. Simultaneously, the highly evolved "brain" of the operation, the Venus Engine LSI is instantly and accurately processing and recording the images. And unlike conventional LSI that generates a luminance signal only from the green component of the incoming light, the Venus Engine LSI generates the signal from the green, red AND blue components, too. This detailed information in the luminance signal then boosts the diagonal, horizontal and vertical resolution by about 50% for super-rich images. Additionally, this system accurately distinguishes edges between colors. Due to false signals generated at color borders when the luminance signal is extracted from the pixels by a conventional engine, colors bleed into each other. The Venus Engine however, creates sharp edges by using a low-pass color filter at the color edges to better, and more clearly define each distinct color. So, really, what does all this mean for you? Well, when you see the amazingly crisp, precisely detailed, and vibrant photos that YOU took, you'll say WOWZA!

Don't Miss Those Memorable Moments

Ever notice how the most memorable and emotionally revealing photos can't be made, they can only be captured? And, have you ever missed that ONE perfect shot while you were trying to see if the last one was any good? With this camera you don't have to worry about those missed opportunities any more. The CCD and Mega Burst Imaging let you take great shot after shot, without having missed a beat. And, you can be confident each of those shots are particularly impressive with the 4 megapixel CCD. As soon as the CCD captures the image signal, the Venus Engine instantly displays it on the LCD, while recording it in the memory card. This significantly reduces shutter release time lag and gives the DMCLC70 a super-fast response for rapid-firing shooting. You can snap off consecutive shots at up to 5 images at 3.3, or 2 frames per second with full resolution. And, with the convenient and inexpensive power source of 2 AA alkaline batteries it'll easy to keep the juice in your camera flowing. With the LCD on you can take up to 160 CIPA Standard pictures, or up to 400 without the LCD. You won't have to worry about being the one who didn't get the shot anymore because you're going to get them all.

Would You Like Options With That Camera?

Are you the kind of person who wants options? In addition to the standard Simple Mode (which automatically makes all adjustments for you), this camera includes a Normal Picture Mode (Program AE). The camera automatically adjusts incoming light and shutter speed while you adjust the white balance, ISO sensitivity and other settings for a more personal shot. But, in addition to those two basic modes, this camera offers a host of extra Scene Modes to more accurately reflect the settings of your life. For example, you can choose from Portrait Mode for a soft background with a sharp subject, or the Macro Mode for subjects as close as five centimeters away from the lens. Try the Landscape Mode for sweeping vistas, or the Night Portrait to catch the mood and person of the evening. And, if those don't leave your pictures just right, you can further adjust them with Natural, Standard and Vivid settings. And, if they're STILL not exactly what you're aiming for, you can always add a color effect mode, including Cool, Warm, or Black & White for a nostalgic-feeling picture. There is also a Moving Image Mode which allows you 10 frames per second of 320x240 pixel, moving images. And finally, when you're ready to see what you've got, use the playback Modes to see your pictures on the improved and larger 1.5" LCD screen that lets you review images in 1x, 4x, or 8x magnification. You've got an improved 9-Thumbnail Display, Zoomed playback at up to 16x magnification, and Slide Show. You can also rotate, resize and trim images right there. Whew, that's a lot for such a compact camera! Why does Panasonic include ALL these different shooting options? Because they want you to have flexibility, to take all the different types of pictures that fully characterize your diverse life. After all, life isn't perfectly composed with great lighting-why should your photos be? With this camera, you'll be able to capture your life like you're really living it.

And The Lens Goes ZOOM, ZOOM!

The lens on this camera is awesome. It's made by Leica Camera AG, a world-renowned German camera and lens maker. Professional photographers sing the praises of Leica's finely crafted lenses, which are recognized for the accuracy of their optics. And, unlike other lenses that tend to have distortion near the edges of wide-angle shots, Leica lenses produce consistently high-quality images. Since they first produced the original 35 mm camera in 1913 Leica has worked to be the industry's pinnacle company. And of course, the Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens on this DMCLC70 follows in the Leica tradition of excellence. But, how well does it zoom, you ask? The DMCLC70 has a lens with 3x optical zooming potential. But, if that's not enough, this camera is also equipped with a 3x digital zoom, which when combined with the already optical zoom, allows you a total of 9x magnification. As important as zooming is, however, it isn't all that makes a good lens; there are other qualities you should consider, too. For example, you want digital pictures that provide emotional warmth, impact, and the subtlety of shots you see from film-based camera. This super fine lens can help you achieve that. It comprises 7 lenses in 6 groups, including three aspherical lenses, which are smaller, lighter, provide less internal reflection, and are generally better than spherical lenses. Additionally, multi-coating helps prevent the fogging caused by flare, and also eliminates ghosts in your picture that can result from excessive light. Even enlarged images captured by this camera are crisp and clear-right to the very edges. With the combination of Leica and Lumix you get the best of outstanding optics and innovative technology with this Panasonic digital camera.

At The Heart of the Operation: Memory Power

If the Venus Engine LSI is the brain of the camera, then the Secure SD Memory Card is the heart. This is the high-capacity, high-speed storage medium for the digital age. Incredibly small (the size of a postage stamp) yet durable, the included 16MB SD Memory Card stores all kinds of digital content (like video, still images, music, and more) so you can easily transfer data between it and the other SD compatible products you already have in your home. And, because there is strong industry support for the SD Memory Card, it will be as lasting as it is versatile. This Lumix camera lets you record digital images onto a SD memory card (or a MultiMedia Card) and then cordlessly transfer them to any PC, printer, or media storage device that has a SD Memory Card slot. Files can also be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 (or later) without installing any software. In addition, this camera supports the PictBridge standard so you can transfer pictures from the digital camera to a compatible printer, without a PC or image-editing software. And, don't forget to take advantage of the motion image recording-with audio, too! Using the QuickTime Motion JPEG format, this camera can record up to 10 frames per second of moving images at a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, with the maximum time for each recorded segment varying with the SD card capacity. The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're lots of fun, really convenient, and perfect for e-mail attachments. There are also a variety of SD-compatible accessories available, allowing you store and even print images without the need for a computer.