Panasonic UK Press Release

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2 - MEGA O.I.S. Equipped 5-megapixel 3x Optical Zoom DMC-LS2 Running on AA batteries

Panasonic is introducing the incoming LUMIX models 5.0-megapixel DMC-LS2, incorporating MEGA O.I.S., an Optical Image Stabilizer that compensates the handshake, and 3x optical zoom lens, that runs on two AA batteries.

MEGA O.I.S. is the image stabilization system against handshake that bears no picture deterioration. Panasonic is the first company in the industry to have succeeded in incorporating MEGA O.I.S. into a compact digital camera and now its benefit is strongly approved by the users of the world, considered to be the standard of photography.

Compared with the previous model DMC-LS1, the LS2 has been externally redesigned into more compact and stylish form. For the performance, the LS2 speeds up its AF time by newly adopting 1-point high speed AF options. For more easy and comfortable shooting, scene mode options are also enhanced totally providing thirteen to fit wider-ranging situations. For the brain of the camera, the LS2 incorporates continued Venus Engine Plus, which saves energy consumption to achieve long battery life while maintaining quick response and high picture quality.

As you recall, the blurred image caused by hand shake is the biggest problem of digital camera photography. Let us again mention our MEGA O.I.S. here for the introduction of our new product information. Normally, the compactness of the camera results in the good portability and shooting using LCD helps fine view, however, these advantages may stand in the way because they reduce stability on the other hand. However, MEGA O.I.S. solves those problems. The spur-of-the- moment for which you’re not ready enough to keep your posture and the low-lit indoor or night time, when the shutter speed tends to slow, and macro shooting in which even a slight move will spoil the picture, all those are common situations accompany blurry pictures. However, MEGA O.I.S. enables you to easily take clear, beautiful pictures in even in such situations. This capital feature is subsumed under no other cameras but LUMIX among the entry class models that run on AA batteries.

The high performance of Venus Engine Plus is evident with the quick response allowing you to take three frames per sec at full resolution and even to shoot successive photos until the memory card or the built-in memory reaches capacity in its Unlimited* Consecutive Shooting mode. What’s more, the 14 megabytes of built-in-memory is continued, which enables you to take pictures even when you do not have an SD Memory Card, and allows you to always have your favorite pictures in your camera wherever you go. Also, despite the high capability, the battery life achieves 250 pictures (CIPA) recording with included two AA OXYRIDE batteries.

The DMC-LS2 is the perfect compact camera especially for the entry-level users thanks to its variety of supportive settings of Mode Dial and Scene Modes together with MEGA O.I.S., to easily take clear, beautiful pictures worth preserving.

*The speed of the consecutive shooting varies depending on the memory card or the built-in memory.

The number of recordable picture depends on the memory card and built-in memory size, battery life, picture size and compression.

1. MEGA O.I.S. – The Essential Feature for Compact Digital Cameras
MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer), that Panasonic thinks it indispensable for all digital cameras, especially for compact models that lacks stability, is subsumed under LUMIX all line-up. Now this hand shake correction system, which accompanies no deterioration of image quality, is appreciated by the users of the world and positively getting to be the standard of digital camera photography. Every slight hand-shake movement is detected accurately with the sampling frequency at 4,000 times per second and will be compensated to render clear, sharp images. It also features two corrective modes, Mode 1 and Mode 2. Mode 1 constantly detects and follows movements and continuously compensates for them.  In contrast, in Mode 2, the O.I.S. lens suppresses hand-shake only at the moment the shutter button is pressed.  In this mode, the lens can move in all directions at the moment to maximize its effect, and higher-resolution image can be taken by capturing the image as close as to the center of the lens. In consequence, since MEGA O.I.S. enables a beautiful picture shot without blurring at slower shutter speeds of more than 3 steps compared to the conventional models without O.I.S.. You can enjoy shooting clear and beautiful pictures easily even in the situations using slow shutter speeds, like indoor portrait shots and nighttime scenery, as well as shooting of a delicate flower using macro mode.

2. High performance, low energy consumption image processing LSI:  Venus Engine Plus
The LS2 incorporates the Venus Engine Plus LSI for high performance image processing in both speed and image quality as well as other LUMIX models. For the burst shooting mode, it boasts the shooting at three frames per second* at full resolution.  You can start it the moment you want thanks to the independent button**, allowing you to record consecutive images and select the best one afterward. And the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting function*** allows limit-free consecutive shooting up to the capacity of the SD memory card. The industry-leading release time lag of 0.009 sec does not let you miss a shooting chance and helps you capture the spur-of-the-moments.
The Venus Engine Plus reduces the power consumption to the 70% of that of Venus Engine II, enabling the long enough shooting per single replacement of batteries.
*Max. five images in Standard Mode / three images in Fine Mode.
*The button also performs as “delete” in playback mode.
***The speed of the unlimited consecutive shooting varies depending on the SD memory card.

3.  3x Optical Zoom Lens and 2.0-inch LCD with the Industry’s First* High Angle LCD Function
The lens part of LUMIX DMC-LS2 is comprised of seven elements in six groups including three aspherical lenses. The 3x (equivalent to 35 mm to 105 mm on a 35 mm film camera) zoom ratio can be extended up to 3.8x in 3-Megapixel image recording mode thanks to Extra Optical Zoom function with minimal deterioration, by intentionally using the central part of the CCD.
The High Angle LCD function, which is the first application to the digital camera LCD*, makes the display extremely easy to view from bottom angle, for example, when taking photos raising a hand upward to shoot the subject over the crowd. This option can be set instantly by the independent button**.
The large LCD allows the display of images even in tiny thumbnail size. Playback of 9, 16 and 25 is possible on a multi-split screen in addition to the normal 1 frame playback. This helps you to search for the image you want out of a number of images stored on the SD Memory Card, even if the images are in bulk.
*As of January 4, 2006
**The button also performs as display setting.

4.  Faster AF with Enhanced Options
In addition to the 5-point, 3-point high speed, 1-point normal speed and Spot, you can select 1-point high speed AF setting. In the 1-point high-speed AF, the AF time has been dramatically reduced by more than 50%*. This makes the auto focusing even easier but very accurate quickly.
Although screen-freeze in high-speed AF is now minimized, to take pictures of fast-moving subjects you can select 1-point normal-speed AF, which does not have any screen-freeze while focusing.
*Panasonic in-house comparison with 1-point normal speed AF in the previous model LS1and 1-point high speed AF in the LS2.

5. Long Battery Life Powerfully Supported by Panasonic OXYRIDE AA Batteries
The DMC-LS2 runs on 2 AA batteries, which can be purchased anywhere. Panasonic OXYRIDE AA batteries offer more than 1.6 times* increased number of shots compared with the Alkaline AA batteries, allowing you to take up to a maximum of 250 pictures (CIPA) with the included two AA OXYRIDE batteries.
*Comparison between Panasonic Alkaline battery and OXYRIDE battery.

6. Other Features Expanding the Usability
LUMIX LS series has a mode dial that shortcuts the selection of the scene mode that best matches the situation quickly and easily.  The LS2 contains five new scene modes added to the LS1’s, providing a total of thirteen scene modes* to assist your shooting according to the wide-ranging situations. Our unique mode “Baby”, allows easy growth recording in which the baby’s time of age according to the preset birthday would be automatically recorded onto the image, as well as maximizing the purity by giving a shade of soft focus on the subject.  This mode has already been incorporated in other recent LUMIX series and favored and now doubled for LS2 so that you can set two birthdays to apply to two children’s records of growth.  Other included modes are: “Soft Skin” that makes human skin look bright and smooth, “Food” that helps capture food with its natural color and nuances regardless of lighting circumstance and “Starry sky” that helps you capture the beautiful star-filled night sky by securing shutter speeds as slow as max. 60 sec. 

On the other hand, the Simple Mode offers easy shooting even to entry-level users by making most settings automatically. You just aim at the subject, zoom in or out, and press the shutter button, even compensating backlight if necessary.

With 14 megabytes of built-in memory, you can take photos without missing a chance that may suddenly arise even when you do not have an SD Memory Card. You can also store your favorite photos like an album that you can enjoy viewing or showing at any time. Additionally, you can easily copy photos from the built-in memory to the SD Memory Card and vice versa.
*Not including Macro Mode.

DMC-LS2 Specifications
Color: -S(Silver)
Dimensions(W x H x D) 110.5 x 53.5 x 30.9 mm (4.35 x2.11 x 1.22 inch)
Weight Approx. 138g. ( 0.3 lb)
Aprox.186g with Battery and SD Memory Card( 0.41 lb)
Camera Effective Pixels 5.0 Megapixels
Image Sensor 1/2.5”,  5.36 Mega Total Pixels CCD
Primary Color Filter
Optical Zoom 3 x
Extra Optical Zoom [ 4:3 Aspect Ratio] 3.8x for 3 Megapixels, 2 Megapixels, 1 Megapixels, 0.3 Megapixels
[ 3:2 Aspect Ratio] 3.8x for 2.5 Megapixels
[16:9 Aspect Ratio] 3.8x for 2 Megapixels
Digital Zoom 4 x
( Max. 12 x combined with Optical Zoom)
Focal Distance f=5.8-17.4mm (35mm Equiv.: 35-105mm)
Lens LUMIX DC VARIO
7 elements in 6 groups (3 Aspherical Lenses / 3 Aspherical surfaces)
Optical Image Stabilizer MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1 / Mode2)
Focusing Area Normal: Wide 50cm/ Tele 50cm – infinity
Macro/Simple/Motion Image : wide 5cm/Tele 30 cm - infinity
AF Metering 1-point / 1-point high speed / 3-point high speed / 5-point / Spot
Focus Auto Focus System, Normal/Macro (Dial)
ISO Sensitivity Auto/80/100/200/400
White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Halogen / White Set
White Balance Adjustment ( 150K step, -1500 - +1500 K)* (Except for Auto set)
Exposure Program AE
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV step, -2 - +2 EV
Backlight Compensation Yes (at simple mode)
Auto (AE) Bracketing +/- 1/3 EV -1EV step, 3 frames
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple
Scene Mode Simple, Normal Picture, Economy, Macro
SCN1, SCN2 (Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Snow, Baby1, Baby2),  Motion Image, Playback
Shutter Speed 1/8-1/2000 sec (Starry Sky Mode: 15,30,60 sec)
Aperture Wide: F2.8 / F5.6
Tele: F5.0 / F10
Self Timer 10 sec / 2sec
Auto Review 1sec / 3sec / zoom
Review 1x / 4x / 8x
Picture Adjustment Natural, Standard, Vivid
Color Effect Mode Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia
Recording Format Still Image: JPEG(Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.2 standard),
DPOF corresponding
Motion images: QuickTime Motion JPEG
Recording Image Size Still Image
[ 4:3 Aspect Ratio] 2560 x 1920 pixels, 2048 x 1536 pixels, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 1280 x960 pixels, 640 x 480 pixels
[ 3:2 Aspect Ratio] 2560 x 1712 pixels, 2048 x 1360 pixels
[16:9 Aspect Ratio] 2560 x 1440 pixels, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Motion Image (Only with Built-in Memory and SD Memory Card)
[4:3 Aspect Ratio] 320x240 pixels
Image Quality Fine / Standard
Motion Image 320 x 240 pixels   30 fps, 10 fps
Max. recording time depends on the Memory Card capacity.
Burst Shooting Mode Full-Resolution Image, 3 frames/sec or 2 frames/sec
Max. 5 images (Standard mode), Max 3 images (Fine Mode)
Unlimited Consecutive Shooting Yes*1
Real-time Histogram Yes
Composition Guide Line Yes
Built-in-Memory 14MB
Scene Mode Help Screen Yes
Auto Angle Detection Yes
Economy mode Yes (Dial)
Built-in-Flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced On/Off
Wide)  0.3 – 3.7m (ISO Auto)  Tele) 0.3 – 2.1m (ISO Auto)
LCD Monitor 2.0” TFT LCD Display (86 K Pixels)  Field of View : approx. 100%
Playback mode 25-thumbnail display, 16-thumbnail display, 9-thumbnail display, Zoomed playback (16x max.), Image rotation,
Slide show (the frame-to-frame time is adjustable), Playback of favorite pictures,
Resizing (selectable number of pixels), Trimming, Copy, Protection, DPOF print setting
OSD language English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese
Recording Media Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
Interface DC Input, Video Output (NTSC/PAL), USB
Direct Print PictBridge
Power AA OXYRIDE Battery (Included),  AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Battery (Optional)
AA Alkaline Battery (Optional), AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
Battery life (approx.) 250 pictures (CIPA) *2
Included Software SD Viewer for DSC, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, USB Driver
Standard Accessories AA OXYRIDE Battery x 2, Video Cable, USB Connection Cable,
Strap, CD-ROM

*1 The speed of the consecutive shooting varies depending on the memory card.
The number of recordable picture depends on the memory card size, battery life, picture size, and     compression.
*2 Shooting conditions: 23?C with 50% humidity; LCD on; using Panasonic 16MB SD Memory Card; starting to shoot 30 seconds after turning on the power; shooting once every 30 seconds with the flash in full operation for every other shot; changing the zoom setting from telephoto to wide, or wide to telephoto, for each shot; and temporarily turning the power off after each 10 shots (long enough to lower the battery temperature).

*The use of recorded or printed materials that are protected by copyright for any purpose other than personal enjoyment is prohibited, as it would infringe upon the rights of the copyright holder.
*All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective corporations.
*QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are used under license. QuickTime is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries.
*Some accessories are not available in some countries.
*Availability of models and colors may differ depending on the country.