Advanced Features
2.8" Widescreen LCD
LEICA DC Vario-Elmarit Lens
MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
Shooting Modes
Venus Engine III LSI
Intelligent ISO Control
Other Functions

Flexible, Single-Switch Focusing

A switch on the side of the lens lets you match the focusing operation to your shot. Choose from AF, AF macro to focus from as close as 0.16 feet (5cm) from the subject, or manual focus using the joystick. When flicking the switch to AF, you can select from 9-point AF, 3-point high-speed AF, 1-point high-speed AF, 1-point AF and spot AF. The 1-point high-speed AF, initially incorporated in the high zoom line DMC-FZ5, dramatically reduces the AF time to realize stress-free operation. Although screen-freeze in high-speed AF is now minimized, if you take the picture of a subject with fast movement, you can select 1-point AF, which does not have any screen-freeze while focusing. Plus, the AF Assist Lamp helps when focusing in dimly lit places.

Manual Exposure and Manual Focus Using the Joystick

The joystick on the back of the camera lets you manually adjust the exposure and focus. You can set the aperture, shutter speed and focus with your thumb while viewing the LCD monitor to compose the photo. In Manual Focus mode, you can use the Manual Focus Assist function, which enlarges the centre of the LCD image while showing the bar graph of a focal distance and depth of field to determine precise focus. By pressing and holding the joystick, you can also set four parameters (white balance, ISO sensitivity, recording image size, and image quality) instantly while viewing the subject, without having to switch to the menu screen.

AF Assist Lamp

Provides extra lighting as a focusing aid for slightly dark situations where AF focusing would ordinarily be difficult.

Composition Guide Lines

Displayed in the LCD, these thin horizontal and vertical lines make it easy for you to compose your shots or to hold the camera level.

Real-Time Histogram

This graph, which can be displayed in the LCD monitor as you line up the shot, shows the status of the exposure and contrast in real-time.

White Balance

Choose from five white balance fine adjustment settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, and White Set. When there are several different light sources and it's difficult to get the exact coloration you want, you can also fine-tune the photo by adding bluish or reddish tones, in up to ±10 steps of 150K (Kelvin) each.*

* White Balance Adjustment is not possible in Auto Mode.

Choice of 3 Aspect Ratios

A switch at the top of the lens barrel lets you choose an aspect ratio of normal 4:3, wide 16:9, or the 3:2 used in film cameras*. A 16:9 image is obtained using the wide-angle lens and large CCD, instead of the conventional method of cropping the top and bottom of a 4:3 image.

*The number of effective pixels varies with the aspect ratio. (Maximum of 8-megapixel in 16:9 mode / 7-megapixel in 3:2 mode / 6-megapixel in 4:3 mode).

Auto Bracketing

This lets you pick the best shot from different, automatically graduated exposures.(±1/3 -1 EV step, 3 frames)

Picture Adjustment

Select the picture tone to match your creative vision.

Colour Effect Mode

Alter the colouring effect to your liking.

Zoom Auto Review

This function shows you an enlarged view of the image right after you shoot, to make it easier to check the focus.

Flash

Choose the ideal flash for most any situation. Auto / Auto/Red-eye Reduction / Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction / Forced On/Off

Exposure Compensation

Adjust the exposure setting to create a particular image (1/3 EV step, +/-2 EV).

Self-Timer

You can use either a 10-second or 2-second setting.

The LX2 features a 4x optical zoom with a wide 28mm field of view (35mm equivalent) when shooting in 16:9 aspect ratio at up to 10-megapixel resolution. The 16:9 CCD with 10.2 million effective pixels gives you superb image quality over a wide shooting range. The Extended Optical Zoom made possible by using the centre part of the 10.2-megapixel high-resolution CCD, further extends the zoom ratio to 5.5x for 5.5-megapixel image recording in 16:9 aspect with minimal deterioration. Adding the Extended Optical Zoom* to the 4x digital zoom extends the total zooming power to a maximum of 22.5x (equivalent to a 765mm lens on a 35mm camera).

* 6.2x for 3.0-megapixel-image recording in 4:3 aspect ratio.

Note: Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH. Elmarit is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG. The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lenses are manufactured using measurement instruments and quality assurance systems that have been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company's quality standards.

MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)

Helps keep your shots steady, even if you’re not

Jitter from shaky hands is far and away the biggest single cause of blurry shots. Lumix® cameras help solve this problem with an advanced optical image stabilizing system that we call MEGA O.I.S. This system uses built-in gyrosensors to detect even tiny camera movement and then shifts a lens in the opposite direction to compensate. The system is completely optical - it does not affect the CCD or image processing - so you get sharp, clear images without deterioration. It lets you reduce the shutter speed more than 3 steps below* the conventionally accepted hand-shake limit, which is calculated as 1/focal length (1 divided by the focal length). It helps achieve high-quality images in a wide range of shooting conditions such as telephoto, macro or low illumination; for situations from self-portraits to capturing images outdoors at night.

* Varies with the shooting conditions.

Two Image Stabilizing Modes

Lumix^® cameras offer two image stabilization modes. In Mode 1 the O.I.S. lens is always compensating for camera movement, so the image is clear and easy to see even when you're looking at the monitor or through the viewfinder. This makes it easy to frame your shots. Mode 2 provides a slightly higher level of stabilization. Choose the one that's best for the scene you're shooting.

Mode 1
The O.I.S. lens moves continuously, compensating for camera shake all the time.
Mode 2
The O.I.S. lens remains near the image center until you press the shutter button, for higher-quality images.

* The MEGA O.I.S. may not be able to eliminate the effect of hand-shake in photos shot under some conditions, such as when an extremely slow shutter speed is used or when the vibration that causes hand-shake is excessive.

Shooting Modes

Mode Dial
A single, easy-to-use dial for beautiful shots in most any situation.

Auto Mode
Take beautiful photos even if you’re using a camera for the very first time. The camera does all the work so you can just aim and press the shutter button. When shooting directly into a light source, press the cursor button. This will turn on the backlighting compensation mode so the subject doesn’t appear too dark.

P: Program AE Mode
This mode determines the optimal aperture and shutter speed settings for you.

A: Aperture Priority AE Mode
You can set the aperture between F2.8 and F8.0 to create a softer focus.

S: Shutter Priority AE Mode
Set the shutter speed between 8 and 1/2,000 sec to freeze or express movement.

M: Manual Exposure Mode
You can set both the aperture and shutter speed to take beautiful, artistic photos. Shutter speed extends up to 60 sec at slowest in this mode and is adjustable from 1/2,000 to 60 sec for wider ranging shooting opportunities. Noise reduction is available for images taken at slow shutter speed.

Moving Picture Mode
The LX2 is the first digital camera in the world to offer 16:9 widescreen recording for moving images. It offers 10-fps or 30-fps moving pictures in wide VGA size (848 x 480 pixels), with a 16:9 format and audio. You can continue shooting these moving pictures until the SD Memory Card is filled. It can also capture 10-fps or 30-fps in standard 4:3 aspect at VGA quality (640 x 480).

Print Mode This mode allows you to print pictures form a PictBridge compliant printer connected directly to the camera.

Playback Mode
You can view them as a slide show, in a 1, 9, or 25 window display, or in Calendar View which shows thumbnails of all images taken on a particular date. Right inside the camera, you can organize your images for easier access – handy when you've taken a lot of shots.

Scene Mode
Select from the various modes available to suit your shooting conditions. Pressing the left of the cursor button opens a help screen that explains what each mode is for.

	High Sensitivity Mode This mode lets you shoot with the maximum ISO 3200* setting to capture crisp images of moving subjects, such as babies and pets, even indoors. Conventionally, shots like these are often spoiled by the subject’s movement. * Resolution significantly decreases in High Sensitivity Mode.
	Self-Portrait Mode Simply aim the camera at yourself and the LED will light up to tell you when you are in focus. Then, after you press the shutter button, you can see the results on the LCD.
	Beach Mode This mode is good for shooting under strong sunlight.
	Aerial Photo Mode This mode is good for shooting through an airplane window.
	Portrait Mode Takes beautiful portraits by adjusting the exposure and colouration to produce natural, true-to-life skin tones.
	Baby Mode 1/2 Records the baby’s age in months and day by calculating back to his/her birthday, which is set in advance, and shows it on the image when it is played back. You can set two birthdays to apply to two children’s records of growth. It also gives the subject a slight skin softening effect to maximize the purity.
	Food Mode Use this mode when taking pictures of food without being affected by ambient light such as at restaurants.
	Sports Mode Uses a higher shutter speed to catch fast-moving subjects.
	Night Scenery Mode The MEGA O.I.S. minimizes hand shake at slow shutter speeds to capture night scenery in outstanding detail.
	Scenery Mode This mode provides quick focusing and crisp detail for beautiful photos of distant scenery.
	Night Portrait Mode The MEGA O.I.S. minimizes hand shake at slow shutter speeds to capture people clearly and beautifully.
	Fireworks Mode Slows the shutter speed to capture fireworks with vivid beauty.
	Starry Sky Mode Allows you to take clear pictures of stars in the night sky by making the shutter speed slower.
	Party Uses MEGA O.I.S. to capture clear, jitter-free shots of subjects with true-to-life colours – even in dim lighting
	Candle Light Mode Use this mode when you want to take photos with a candlelight atmosphere.
	Snow Prevents subjects from looking washed out in scenes with bright surroundings.
	Soft Skin This function adjusts the skin colours to make complexions more attractive.

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Venus Engine III

Lightning speed & superb performance

Analyses images, and makes it possible to shoot at higher ISO setting with less noise.

Noise reduction at high ISO settings

A newly designed noise reduction system detects chromatic noise and luminance noise separately, reducing chromatic noise by 80% and luminance noise by 60% compared with our previous models. This lets you capture crisp, high-resolution images without graininess even when shooting at a high ISO setting.

Enhanced resolution for more beautiful images

In the previous Venus Engine image-processing LSI, we improved diagonal resolution by 50% over earlier models by extracting luminance signals from all of the pixels - red, green and blue, and now vertical resolution has been increased by about 10%. Images are rendered in fine detail, without visible colour bleeding.

Adding to the beauty with digital processing

The digital correction capability, corrects colour aberration in telephoto shots and vignetting, which are inherent in every optical lens. This combines with the high optical precision of the Leica DC Lens, to achieve even higher image quality.

Super-fast shutter response so you’re ready to capture the moment

Refinements have led to a super-fast response, with a release time lag as low as 0.005 seconds* and consecutive shooting at a quick 2 or 3 frames per second. The Unlimited Consecutive Shooting** function lets you keep shooting until the SD Memory Card is full.

* Not including auto focusing time.
** The consecutive shooting speed varies depending on the memory card or the built-in memory.

Less energy consumption for more shooting fun

Even with advanced functions like MEGA O.I.S. and a large, high-quality LCD monitor, the Venus Engine III uses approximately 80% less energy than Venus Engine II. This, plus the use of a longer-lasting battery, greatly increases the number of shots you can take on a single battery charge.

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Intelligent ISO Control

Automatically detects subject movement to reduce blurring

When there is not a lot of light or you're using a slow shutter speed, hand-shake isn't the only potential problem. There's also "motion blur" - the blurring that can result if your subject moves even a little in low lighting. That's why the LX2 features the world's first* "Intelligent ISO Control" in ISO sensitivity setting, which uses a circuit with Venus Engine III to detect movement within the frame and helps you get blur-free shots by automatically adjusting the ISO sensitivity (up to ISO 1600) and shutter speed according to how much the subject is moving. This helps you freeze unpredictable moving subjects, and catch decisive moments that happen all of a sudden.

* As of July 19th, 2006.

High Sensitivity shooting for less motion blur

Models with the Venus Engine III provide up to ISO 1600* at full resolution in normal shooting mode, minimizing motion blur and preventing resolution degradation to capture clear shots in dim lighting without a flash. The Scene mode features a High Sensitivity mode** that employs the pixel-mixed readout method of the CCD to raise the ISO to 3200*** for shooting at even higher shutter speeds.

* FZ50 and LX2. Up to ISO 1250 in the FX50 and FX07, and ISO 800 in the TZ1.
** Not provided on the LS2. Note that resolution is significantly lower in this mode.
*** FZ50, LX2, FX50 and FX07. Up to ISO 1600 in the FZ7, TZ1, LZ5 and LZ3.

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Other Functions

Wide-Screen 16:9 Format

You can shoot images in the wide-screen 16:9 format (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). Then insert the recorded SD Memory Card into a TV equipped with an SD card slot to view them in perfect, large-screen size.

Audio Dubbing

Add 5 seconds of sound to pictures, as you shoot, or up to 10 seconds of sound after shooting.

Trimming & Resizing

Lets you trim the image, or reduce the of image data.

PictBridge compatible

The PictBridge standard lets you print directly on a compatible digital printer. Print size, layout, date and other settings can be made with the camera.