Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8K 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) | 
| Brand: Panasonic
List Price: $149.95
Buy New: $113.76
You Save: $36.19 (24%)
New (35) Refurbished (2) from $100.01
Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 66
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 5
Display Size: 2.5
Maximum Focal Length: 26
Minimum Focal Length: 5.2
Maximum Resolution: 8.1
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 2.4 x 1.3 x 3.9
nv:Sensor: 8.1 Megapixel
Size: 1/2.5" CCD Sensor
Image Resolution: 3264 x 2448
Movie Resolution: 848 x 480
Memory Included: 27MB Internal
Storage Media: MultiMediaCard
Storage Media: SD/SDHC Memory Card
Compressed Format: JPEG/EXIF v 2.21
Movie File Format: QuickTime motion JPEG
Optical Zoom: 5x
Digital Zoom: 4X
Focal Length: f=5.2-26mm
Focus Mode: Normal AF
Focus Mode: Macro AF
Focusing Range: Wide: F3.3 / F8.0 (2 steps)
Focusing Range: Tele: F5.9 / F8 (2 steps)
LCD Monitor: 2.5 inches
MPN: DMC-LZ8K
Model: DMC-LZ8K
UPC: 037988987436
EAN: 0037988987436
ASIN: B0011Z23XK
Release Date: March 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 8.0-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for photo-quality 16x 22-inch prints | | • | 5x wide-angle optical zoom; Mega Optical Image Stabilized | | • | 2.5-inch Intelligent LCD screen; Face Detection | | • | Intelligent ISO; Intelligent Scene Selector | | • | Captures images to SD memory cards (not included) |
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Product Description
With both a 32mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens and a 5x zoom, this is one camera that does it all. You can fit more in the photo than you can with a 35mm lens, so you can get more of a sweeping landscape in a single shot. The 5x zoom is great for capturing dramatic shots of small or distant subjects. There's also an Extra Optical Zoom function that boosts zoom power to 8.9x in 3-megapixel resolution mode. Simply set the Lz8 to iA mode and let the camera do the rest. Intelligent Scene Selector chooses the mode that best fits the situation; MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur; and Face Detection helps produce clear portraits by optimizing the focus and exposure settings. The brightness and contrast of the large 2.5" diagonal LCD adjust automatically in 10 steps as ambient light conditions change, so images are clear, bright and easy to see day or night, indoors or outdoors. f=5.2-26mm (35mm Equiv. - 32-160mm) Focal Length 2.5 Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (230K dots) Focusing Area Normal - Wide 50cm/ Tele 100cm - infinity, Macro / Intelligent AUTO - Wide 5cm / Tele 100cm - infinity 8 - 1/2,000 sec. Starry Sky Mode - 15, 30, 60sec. Shutter Speed Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 (High Sensitivity Mode - Auto(1600 - 6400) ) ISO 27MB Internal Memory (additional memory recommended to store more photos and video) Built-in Flash, Microphone and Speaker SD/SDHC, MultiMedia Card Slot DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), USB Connections PictBridge Compatible Approximate Battery Life - 260 Shots (Oxide Batteries) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.33 lbs
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| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Panasonic LZ8 - Excellent Camera May 8, 2008
J. Singh (South Africa)
41 out of 42 found this review helpful
I bought the LZ8 for $162 from Amazon, but u can get it now for $152 from Amazon. I can say without reservation: THIS IS A GREAT CAMERA! I've read 1000s of reviews on digicams on the net, I finally settled on the LZ8 because it had full auto, manual (aperture & shutter), a great 2.5" screen, nice video capabilities and was under $[...]. Many websites complain about digicam's low light capabilities, given my experience with this camera using it's manual controls and a tripod, frankly I got excellent results.
If want to see this camera's capability, then goto: steves-digicams, and under "Photo Contest" look at my entry for 20 May 2008.
Take it from a user with who can make up his mind without fear of upsetting sponsors etc. There is no problem with start up speed, if there is any lag when taking flash photos, the question is what do u expect? This is an 8M camera using AA batteries. If u want a fast 8M camera using LiOn batteries (that might take faster flash photos) then spend $[...] or more and just u might just get that, or buy a DSLR. The bottomline is: if u want Porsche performance then buy a Porsche.
The LZ8 is a honest to excellent $150 camera that will produce great photos and has options that can be only found in more expensive cameras. Read the manual, don't be afraid to experiment, trawl the net for tips on how to take photos and u will have fun with this camera.
Excellent value for the specs June 29, 2008
Jason Rodgers (Las Vegas, NV USA)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
I've only owned one other digital camera, a Canon a60. Although it was only 2mp it took some great photos (still does even after 7,000 shots). However, I wanted a new one and did research for about 3 months before deciding which one to buy. I was looking for a pocketable camera that preferably ran off AA's instead of a proprietary li-ion, and could use a SDHC card. I was also looking for a camera that had a nice wide-angle lens and took true widescreen (16:9) photos - which really narrowed it down. I really liked the TZ5 w/ the 720p video, but the twice-as-much price and extra heft and battery steered me towards this little guy. Here are my pro's and con's:
Pro's:
- 5x optical at full resolution, 8x at 2mp (which still takes decent pics, just not as good as my canon at 2mp). There's also an easy-zoom button that auto zooms to 5x then 8x with just one press each time. The third press will put back to the wide-angle.
- size (very pocketable - much better than my a60 which was pocketed itself for the longest time)
- lightweight
- Runs off 2 aa's - in fact... I swear I've taken over 800 shots on my new set of Sony Ni-MH's (2600 or 2700 mah), but I'll just have to test that out again in case I did switch them at some point.
- Venus IV engine vs the older Venus III for better images
- Optical image stabilizer
- boot-up time (from off to shot taken)
- looks and price (both subjective)
- great video (including the ability to do it in 16:9)
- As mentioned above - ability to take true 16:9 images (all the way up to 7mp I believe)
- full manual control, minus focus (something even the TZ5 doesn't have!)
- Easy to use with intelligent auto function that will select the scene mode for you (which has worked really well so far)
- 32mm wide angle lens to capture more. Works great for group photo's or 16:9 outdoors shots.
- Leica lens (although that's like saying your speakers or receiver is "THX certified" - it's all subjective).
Cons:
- Slow shot-to-shot when using the flash
- photo's don't have the canon color (subjective) - they just seem a bit dull.
- blurry shots in low-light condition (more so than my canon a60, but better than my folks' SD400).
- More noise than I'd like. It makes the 8mp necessary if you'll be cropping any of them.
All in all I still think this is the best camera you can buy if you're looking for the same specs I was. I've recommended it to family and friends and even my girlfriend wants one (and she is very careful with big purchases). One way to tell you got a good deal is that the price actually goes UP 2 months after you bought it (especially if it's anything to do with technology). I'm actually surprised it's priced so low with it's bigger brother the LZ10 priced a lot more for just a few more bells and whistle's. If the big optical zoom, wide-angle or 16:9 capabilities aren't necessary than compare image quality to canon's before buying this. Everyone's opinion on a 'good picture' is different, judge for yourself. Otherwise, you'll be happy with this purchase just like I am!
great size, great price. April 10, 2008
V. Wee (San Francisco, CA)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
I was looking for a small point and shoot to bring around with me all the time. This fits the bill perfectly.
The zoom is sufficient, picture quality is decent, and arguably the best feature is that it uses only 2 AA batteries. The large LCD reproduces the pictures very well. And the on-board memory is a lifesaver. How many times have you run out with your camera only to find you left your memory card in your computer? I have - dozens of times. Granted you don't get too many pictures, you can get by with a dozen pics or so.
That said, the wide angle isn't all that wide. You'll get about a foot and a half or two feet more space to the side if you're taking a group shot.
The images can get a little noisy at night, and if you're used to a dslr, the picture quality cannot compare for sure. But for the price, it's a more than decent buy.
A great camera May 24, 2008
VK (Dallas, TX)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
I had bought a Canon SD750 and while it gave great outdoor shots I gave it back because the indoor shots were grainy or blurry unless one used flash. I hate to use flash most of the time as it usually gives a glaring effect (not to mention surprising the subject) and want to capture pictures in natural light as much as possible. I also tried the Nikon Coolpix ($200) and got the same result, though marginally better than the Canon. Finally settled on the Lumix which gives fabulous indoor shoots in natural light (while also doing great on outdoor shots). All the other features (incl manual control) were a great bonus as they usually come in higher end cameras/SLRs. Also, the histogram and other settings are visible in playback mode also which most the other cameras didn't have. IMHO, this camera is the best buy in point and shoot, period.
 Expected Better June 20, 2008
DB from NC (SouthEast, US)
14 out of 19 found this review helpful
We've had two Canon cameras which have taken great pictures, but the first model used a proprietary battery and we had to replace it twice and it was expensive. In our current model, the CCD went dead...and apparently it was a "known problem, but not recalled".
This time around I decided to try Panasonic and this DMC-LZ8 looked like a nice package. Consumer Reports rated Panasonic lowest in repair rate, so we ordered.
Pros: Intuitive interface, small package, nice LCD
Cons: Excessively blurry pictures...including in full daylight, long focus times (in full day light), difficulty focusing in on correct target. Didn't appear to have zoom capability in movie mode (didn't keep long enough to determine if you could)
Returned within a week (which was a tremendously easy process, thanks Amazon!!) Decided to push the repair issue with Canon and they agreed to fix our old camera at no cost.
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