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Panasonic's new DMC-TZ3 is the latest member of the award-winning Lumix TZ family of digital cameras, which is renowned for packaging a remarkable 10x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body. To further add to its appeal, the TZ3 goes one step further to feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera) for wide-angle shooting.
The 28mm wide-angle lens opens up a plethera of photographic opportunities, allowing photographers to easily capture a large group of people, or expansive architectural structures and landscapes with dynamic width and rich perspective. The wide-angle lens is particularly helpful in situations where you cannot step back or move away from a subject - ideal for shooting group portraits in a small room for example.
The diminutive size of the 7.2 megapixel DMC-TZ3 belies the wealth of technological features. Incorporating a powerful 10x optical zoom in such a slim and stylish body is impressive in itself. Add to this the incorporation of Panasonic's Mega O.I.S that prevents blurring from shaky hands, Intelligent ISO to prevent motion blur, and the high quality, high performance image-processing Venus Engine III to name but a few - and the calibre of these new additions becomes apparent.
The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens comprises 11 elements in nine groups, including an ED (extra-low dispersion) lens and three aspherical lenses. This advanced lens unit passes Leica's stringent standards and delivers an exceptional optical performance. To further add to their appeal, the zoom ratio can be extended up to 15x in 3megapixel resolution mode with minimal deterioration thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom. By using the central part of the CCD, this powerful zooming function allows you to easily capture and magnify distant subjects. Furthermore, in combination with the 4x digital zoom, a zoom factor of up to 60x can be achieved.
