Panasonic introduces two new affordable compact digital cameras, the LUMIX DMC-S5 and DMC-S2. Both models are equipped with a 4x optical zoom LUMIX DC VARIO lens with 28mm wide angle, and offers 8x intelligent zoom. The two cameras are almost identical except for the sensor. The former packs a 16.1 Megapixel CCD sensor and the S2 has a 14 Megapixel imagers. They have a stylish, compact design, and comes with a 2.7-inch Intelligent LCD display and Venus Engine image processor.
The LUMIX S5 and S2 feature Sonic Speed Auto-Focus for users to quickly focus on moving subjects. They include the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, offering MEGA O.I.S. to help reduce blurry photos due to shaking hands, Face Detection, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Exposure, Motion Detection, and Happy Mode that optimizes color, saturation and brightness to make images more vivid and true to the color of the scene. The cameras also offers the Auto Retouch Mode that automatically adjust contrast and brightness to give different impression to the photo with just a press of a button. The S5 and S2 can record 1280×720 HD video, and shoot horizontal or vertical panoramic image using the new Panorama Mode.
With 70MB internal memory, Panasonic’s new LUMIX cameras support SD/SDHC and SDXC cards. The LUMIX S2 is available in the US in black, pink, and violet colors starting at $102.98. The S5 is available in black, silver and red.
