Panasonic DMC-FS25 budget Lumix packs 12MP image sensor

If you can't spare $400 for the much-advanced Lumix touch-screen FX-580 or the AVCHD lite series Lumix , there's a budget slim factor model down the line with Venus Engine IV powered DMC-FS25. It's more affordable but not cutting down in functionalities. You'll get the same 12.1 megapixel image sensor, 5x Leica-brand optical zoom and 3-inch large LCD screen, and in fact, a top-of-the-line FS-Series model, no less.

For $150 less, they take away the rugged armored casing, widest edge optics at 29mm and restrict video at 848x480 resolution without the AVCHD lite feature; but there more than handfuls of advanced photography features to improve your captures. The new addition of the FS lineup now includes AF tracking and Intelligent Exposure Auto Mode (iA) in addition to the standard Mega O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Face Detection.

The DMC-FS25 will be available in silver, black and gold for a suggested retail price of $249.95 and like the rest of the Panasonic's rollout, it will be available in April 2009.

Panasonic LUMIX FS25

  • 12.1 effective Megapixel CCD
  • F3.3-5.9, 5X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 29 – 145 mm

  • Optical image stabilization
  • ISO sensitivity – 80-6400
  • 3-inch LCD display with 230,000 pixels
  • Venus Engine IV processor
  • Intelligent Auto mode (the standard version)
  • Records movies at 848 x 480 (30 fps) with sound
  • 50MB onboard memory + SD/SDHC/MMC slot
  • Uses proprietary li-ion battery; 330 shots per charge
  • Macro Zoom function lets users pull subjects even closer to capture dramatic close-up shots by using the 3x digital zoom in the wide-angle.
  • Dynamic tracking function may fail to lock, lose the subject in AF Tracking, or track different subject depending on the recording conditions

[via imaging-resources]