Panasonic announces DMC-FX70 with F2.2-5.9 lens

The DMC-FX70 packages a LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON high quality lens that boasts an astonishing brightness of F2.2, like no other stylish compact digital cameras. Comprising 7 elements in 6 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 5 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit passes Leica’s stringent standards and delivers an exceptional optical performance. Also, the 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens, rare on a compact camera, gives photographers a wider range of composition possibilities with approx. 213% larger viewing space compared to that of a 35mm camera.

The F2.2 lens is approximately 1.6x brighter than the F2.8 lens, itself generally considered a bright lens, and allows the FX70 to shoot at higher shutter speed and capture stunningly clear, sharp, blur-free images in lower lighting situations. Together with the anti-blurring function in the iA mode, FX70 never allows any subject to be blurred making it easy to produce beautiful photos with pleasing soft background focusing thanks to the shallow depth of field provided by the extra light.

Thanks to the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology, Intelligent Zoom is available with the FX70 extending the zoom ratio by approx. 1.3x, and maintaining the picture quality even when using a digital zoom. This means the 5x optical can virtually extend to 6.5x equivalent. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 10.5x by using the centre part of the CCD.