Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS20 20x Zoom Camera

Panasonic updates its ZS-series of long-zoom cameras with the new LUMIX DMC-ZS20 with 20x optical zoom, which is the follow-up to the LUMIX ZS10. The new ZS20 sports a 24mm ultra wide-angle 20x optocal zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens, and it is the world’s slimmest digital camera with 20x zoom lens. The camera is equipped with a 14.1 Megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor and a 3-inch Smart Touch LCD touchscreen display for easy operation that allows for Touch AF, Touch Zoom or Touch Shutter.

Panasonic’s new ZS20 features built-in GPS functionality for geo-tagging photos with latitude and longitude of where a photo is taken as well as the name of the Country/Region, State/Prov./County, County/Township, City/Town/Village and Landmark – all of which is saved in the EXIF data. The bundled DVD will included detailed worldwide maps of major regions on a scale of 1/25,000 or more precise, which can be installed to the ZS20 easily. The long zoom camera sports the Venus Engine image processor and offers Light Speed AF allows users to capture even the most fleeting photo opportunities, and 10fps high speed burst shooting. It records Full HD 1920×1080/60p videos in AVCHD format. There is a stereo zoom microphone to provide videos with the high-quality stereo sound of Dolby Digital Stereo Creator.

The LUMIX ZS20 features 3D Photo Mode, Creative Control mode with a selection of artistic effects, Panorama model for taking 360-degree shots, Miniature Effect mode that the peripherals are defocused, and the Creative Retouch mode with six filters and Auto Retouch function that automatically adjusts contrast and brightness for a clearer, more natural image. Like other LUMIX cameras, the ZS20 includes the iA (Intelligent Auto) mode that offers POWER O.I.S. with Active Mode for reduced hand-shake, HDR (High Dynamic Range) shooting, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Face Recognition, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Handheld Nightshot, Motion Deblur mode…etc.

Along with the ZS20, Panasonic will also release the 12.1 Megapixel LUMIX DMC-ZS15 that packs a 16x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 24mm wide angle, and a 3-inch Intelligent LCD display. It does 1920×1080/60i video recording. Coming in March, the LUMIX ZS20 and LUMIX ZS15 will be available for $349.99 and $279.99, respectively. The former comes in black, red, white, and silver and the latter in silver and black.