Bright, superb f2.8 Lumix DC VARIO lens with Extra Optical Zoom function

The 8.1-megapixel DMC-LS80 packages a superb LUMIX DC VARIO lens with 3x optical zoom(35mm film camera equivalent: 33-100mm) into a compact body. A crystallization of Panasonic?s advanced lens technologies, the LUMIX DC VARIO lens comprises 6 elements in 5 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 4 aspherical surfaces, delivering outstanding optical performance. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 4.8x by using the centre part of the CCD.

The Easy Zoom feature shifts the lens instantly to full 3x optical zoom power at a touch of a dedicated button, and with a second touch, the zoom ratio is further extended to 4.8x by activating the Extra Optical Zoom function*.

*When the picture size is set to 3-megapixel or larger, the photo is automatically resized to 3-megapixel. When the lens is shifted back to the wide-end, the picture size is set to the original size automatically. The original size is maintained for photos smaller than 3-megapixel.

Making every user a photographer with Intelligent mode

Panasonic incorporates both MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) to compensate for hand-shake and Intelligent ISO Control system to detect and suppress motion blur into all Lumix cameras, which are the industry?s most advanced countermeasures against blurring.

While hand-shake is the single biggest cause of blurry images, it is not the only one. Another problem is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being snapped. Incorporating Panasonic's Intelligent ISO Control, Lumix cameras are the first in the world to fight motion blur by themselves. This system detects whether or not the subject is moving. If it is, the system automatically raises the ISO setting accordingly, allowing the camera to shoot at a higher shutter speed. If the subject is not moving, the camera shoots at a low ISO setting and captures beautiful, natural-looking images. Intelligent ISO Control is included as one of the corrections in certain scene modes used to shoot subjects that are often moving, such as Sports, Baby and the Pet mode. Simply select the mode that best suits the subject, and Intelligent ISO Control provides the optimal corrections, making it easy to capture crisp, clear photos.

One more convenient function is the Auto Macro mode which automatically switches the camera in and out of macro mode by measuring the focusing distance.

The Quick AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject even without pressing a shutter button halfway, to get best result out of a shutter chance by minimizing the AF time. All these intelligent functions act automatically, requiring no additional setting so the photographer can concentrate on taking the spur-of-the-moment.

High-quality, high-performance image processing LSI: the Venus Engine III

With its multi-task image processing capability, the Venus Engine III boasts outstanding response time. Shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second. In the consecutive shooting mode, it is possible to shoot at 2.5 frames per second in full resolution**. And in High-Speed Burst shooting mode***, it fires off an incredible 5.5 shots per second. You also get unlimited consecutive shooting which lets you keep snapping until the memory card is full ****.

The Venus Engine III also supports a new High Sensitivity mode that lets the DMC-LS80 record at a setting of up to ISO 6400, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash*****.

*Max. 7 images in standard mode / 4 images in fine mode.
** In 2-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording
*** The speed of the consecutive shooting varies depending on the memory card. The number of recordable pictures depends on the memory card size, battery life, picture size and image compression.
**** In 3-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording

2.5" large, 230,000-dot high-resolution Intelligent LCD for easy shooting and playback

The DMC-LS80 incorporates an easy-to-see 2.5-inch large Intelligent LCD for comfortable viewing during both shooting and playback. The resolution has been doubled compared to the predecessor DMC-LS75, to boast 230,000-dot high resolution. The Intelligent LCD function detects the light condition and automatically boosts the LCD backlighting by max. 40% when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, and adjusts the frame rate when shooting in low-lit situations in addition to using the pixel mixed readout method to secure clarity in such situations. Detecting the lighting condition precisely and automatically controls the brightness at a total of 12 fine steps, this function offers the display with best appropriate clarity in any situations without using extra energy.

The High Angle mode, which can be accessed quickly and easily in Quick Menu, makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as to shoot over a crowd.