Overview
LENS PERFORMANCE
Powerful 16x Optical Zoom
The DMC-ZS15's powerful 16x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 24-384mm) draws your subjects right up close, and lets you freely capture decisive sports scenes, along with the natural expressions of people and animals, and details that you can't even see with your bare eyes.
In addition, this single camera lets you record 16x zoom in video recording. It makes the DMC-ZS15 twice as attractive.
32x Intelligent Zoom
The Intelligent Zoom is an extensive zoom function using digital zoom, however, you can even draw the subject 2x closer than the original optical zoom with minimum deterioration of image quality thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology. This means the 16x optical can virtually extend to 32x equivalent.
24mm Ultra Wide-angle Lens
The 24mm ultra wide-angle lens* – rare on a compact camera – gives you a wider range of composition possibilities with approx. 213% larger viewing space compared to that of 35mm camera. The super-high-quality LEICA DC lens minimizes distortion at the wide end.
* Converted to standard 35mm camera equivalent, at the wide-end.
LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR Lens
The high-quality LEICA DC lens system is versatile with 24mm ultra wide-angle to powerful 16x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 24-384mm). Comprising 12 elements in 10 groups, including 1 ED lens and 3 aspherical lenses with 6 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit suppresses chromatic aberration which tends to occur in telephoto shooting effectively. The lens system is also compatible with high shutter speed of min. 1/4,000 sec.
Nano Surface Coating
The Panasonic's black box technology Nano Surface Coating boasts extremely low reflectance ratio and it is applied to DMC-ZS15 for exceptional optical performance with stunning clarity by minimizing flaring and ghosts.
POWER O.I.S.
The POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) suppresses the low-frequency vibration hand-shake component, which is physically generated when pressing the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed. The POWER O.I.S. also works for powerful zoom shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake in a compact camera. Active mode is effective for video recording.
IMAGE QUALITY
12.1-megapixel MOS Sensor
The DMC-ZS15 features the 12.1-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor that boasts high-speed signal output and high-sensitivity image recording for making many advanced features possible. It also allows shooting images up to ISO3200 in full resolution.
Venus Engine
The DMC-ZS15's Venus Engine processes large amount of full HD data at high-speed. At the same time, the multi-task image-processing engine, the Venus Engine realizes a super-fast response time.
Intelligent Noise Reduction System
The excellent S/N ratio of the MOS sensor and the Intelligent Noise Reduction system in the Venus Engine make both photos and videos shot at any sensitivity from low to high and boast outstanding clearness.
Multi-process Noise Reduction System
Newly developed Multi-process Noise Reduction applies optimum noise reduction according to the brightness of the part of the image. Images recorded in low-lit situations are now dramatically clear.
Intelligent HDR
The DMC-ZS15 integrates Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range) in the iA Mode. Several still pictures consecutively shot at different exposure levels are overlaid to produce a single composite picture without whiteout (over-exposure) or blackout (under-exposure).
The HDR Mode is also available in the Scene Mode.
VIDEO
1920 x 1080 Full HD Video in AVCHD Format / MP4 Format
The DMC-ZS15 is an advanced photographic tool for recording not only great photos but also beautiful full HD 1,920 x 1,080 videos in AVCHD (MPEG-4 / H.264) format*1 / MP4 format. The AVCHD format excels in the compatibility with AV equipment like HDTVs or Blu-ray Disc™ players. The MP4 format has higher compatibility with computers.
16x Optical Zoom in Video Recording
The 16x optical zoom lets you zoom up close to subjects that you can't actually approach, even when shooting videos. This single camera will capture both photos and videos of highly natural expressions from people and animals and sports scenes.
High-quality Sound
The videos come with the high-quality sound of Dolby® Digital Creator, to offer highly realistic sound to the motion images.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
Wind Cut
The Wind Cut function is available to block out most of the noise from background wind. This gives you higher quality sound when taking images on breezy days.
POWER O.I.S. with Active Mode
The Active Mode effectively suppresses blur in video recording especially at wide angle while walking or playing with your children. In addition, it's an optical system so there's no image degradation. It‘s especially good for active video shooting.
Creative Control
The Creative Control renders highly unique expressions by matching the colors to your subject and surroundings. In Miniature Effect Mode, the video recorded is played back in 10x fast-forwarding making it more comical to watch*.
* Sound will not be recorded with Miniature Effect in Creative Control Mode and approximately 1/10 of the time period is recorded. (If you record for 10 minutes, the resulting motion picture recording will be approximately 1 minute long.)
SHOOTING FUNCTIONS
Creative Control / Creative Retouch
You can add different effects by applying one of the filters both in the recording mode (Creative Control) and the playback mode (Creative Retouch).
Panorama Shot
The Panorama Shot Mode makes it is possible to shoot a 360-degree horizontal / vertical panoramic image with consequent shots taken by overlaying the previous picture.
Auto Retouch
The Auto Retouch function adjusts contrast and brightness to give different impression to the photo with just a press of a button. Appropriate retouch is automatically applied depending on the image – if the image was shot too dark, it can be clear and bright to look it nicer with this function.
Intelligent Handheld Night Shot
The Intelligent Handheld Night Shot in the iA Mode generates a beautiful night scenery with illumination by multi-layering the images shot consecutively. Bright, glamorous night scenery can be recorded without using a tripod. The Handheld Night Shot Mode is also available in the Scene Mode.
3D Photo Mode
The 3D Photo Mode produces a 3D image in the camera. The image-processing method used by LUMIX records beautiful images with less distortion or visible image links.
Take 20 panning shots and the camera selects the two most suitable images – one for the right eye and one for the left eye – to synthesize a 3D composite.
The 3D image can be played back on MPO-compatible equipment such as VIERA HDTVs and digital photo frames, or printed.
RESPONSE
0.1 sec Light Speed AF
The DMC-ZS15 boasts the approx. 0.1 second of Light Speed AF that helps to catch even the most fleeting photo opportunities. You can quickly focus on moving subjects, such as when you're shooting sports scenes or animals.
10 fps with 12.1-megapixel Full Resolution
The 12.1-megapixel MOS sensor lets the DMC-ZS15 shoot 10 fps in full resolution with mechanical shutter. You can take a series of shots, then choose the ones you like the best and delete the rest.
5 fps / 2 fps with AF Tracking
You can snap off consecutive shots at approx. 5 fps or 2 fps with AF Tracking.
60 fps in 3.5-megapixel Resolution
Even higher-speed burst shooting is possible when the electronic shutter is used.
Intelligent Burst Mode
The Intelligent Burst Shooting automatically sets the frame rate of burst shooting according to the subject's movement.
*1 The number of recordable images depends on the memory card size and battery life. *2 The focus, exposure and white balance are fixed with the first picture for the burst. *3 The range that can be recorded will become smaller.
AF Tracking
Once you focus on your subject, the AF Tracking automatically tracks it until you press the shutter. When you're taking images of an active subject, like children or pets, this function eliminates the need to press the shutter button halfway down repeatedly to readjust the focus.
USABILITY
iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode
In the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, the camera does all the work, leaving you free to compose shots and capture moments in both photo and video recording. The Intelligent Resolution technology, 32x Intelligent Zoom and Intelligent Burst are always activated in the iA Mode.
Shake Detection - POWER O.I.S.*1
Gyrosensors detect hand-shaking and the O.I.S. lens shifts to compensate, helping prevent blurring caused by hand-shaking.
Motion Deblur
The Motion Deblur Mode*2 judges the appropriate shutter speed and suppresses motion blur. The shutter speed rises as high as possible activating the high-sensitivity recording by pixel mixed readout method.
Motion Detection – Intelligent ISO Control*3
The Intelligent ISO Control function detects subject movement and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the movement and light conditions.
Face Recognition*4
The Face Recognition function remembers faces that have been registered in the camera and provides the faces with optimal focus and exposure.
Face Detection - Face Detection AF/AE*1
The Face Detection function detects faces anywhere in the frame and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure. The Face Detection also features the Digital Red-eye Correction (Red-eye Removal) in photo recording.
Subject Detection - AF Tracking
Once you focus on your subject, the AF Tracking automatically and continuously tracks it and keeps it in focus and proper exposure.
Scene Detection - Intelligent Scene Selector*5
The Intelligent Scene Selector senses the ambient conditions and automatically selects one of Scene Modes: Photo (Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait*6, Night Scenery, Sunset or Handheld Night Shot), Video (Scenery, Portrait, Macro or Low Light).
Happy Mode
The Happy Mode optimizes color, saturation and brightness to make images more vivid and true to the color of the scene you remember.
Light Detection - Intelligent Exposure*1
The Intelligent Exposure corrects the brightness in parts of the image that are too dark due to insufficient lighting, backlighting or use of the flash. This produces natural images that are close to the way they actually look to the human eyes.
Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Several still pictures consecutively shot at different exposure levels are overlaid to produce a single composite picture without whiteout (over-exposure) or blackout (under-exposure).
ARCHIVE AND SHARE
3D Image Viewer / VIERA Link
Photos or videos recorded in AVCHD on SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards are easy to view on a Panasonic VIERA TV. Simply insert the card into the VIERA Image Viewer (SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card slot) on VIERA TV or Blu-ray Disc™ players to playback your contents. With the DMC-ZS15, you can use an optional HDMI mini cable to output images you took from the camera directly to the TV for VIERA Link. The pictures taken with the 3D Photo Mode via the 3D Image Viewer offers you a whole new exciting experience.
LUMIX Image Uploader
You can upload images to Facebook™ (photos and videos) and YouTube™ (videos) with simple operation.
* LUMIX Image Uploader starts up automatically on the computer if the supplied software "PHOTOfunSTUDIO Ver. 6.0" or later is installed. In other case, start up the menu by double-clicking the file “LUMIXUP.EXE" in the folder below: [My Computer] > [Removable Disk] > DCIM > AD_LUMIX (Windows) • Facebook is a registered trademark or trademark of Facebook, Inc. • YouTube is a registered trademark or trademark of Google Inc.
PHOTOfunSTUDIO
The PHOTOfunSTUDIO 8.0 Advanced Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos and videos not only of those newly taken but also of those stored in your computer with quick start-up and fast read-in of images. Recorded videos can be edited with the Short Movie Story function and written into MPEG2 to burn onto a DVD disc. You can also enjoy making photos and videos slideshows with a variety of effects and use your iTunes music library as background music. It is also possible to put a title or add comments on the scene utilizing the information from the people's names registered in Face Recognition.
*1 The POWER O.I.S., Face Detection AF/AE, and Intelligent Exposure are automatically turned on in the iA Mode and can be turned on or off in the P/A/S/M Mode or some Scene Modes.
*2 The picture size may be reduced.
*3 The Intelligent ISO Control is automatically turned on in the iA Mode and can be turned on or off in the P/A Mode or some Scene Modes.
*4 Turn the Face Recognition ON and register the person with full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance. Recognition performance varies greatly depending on shooting conditions, i.e., according to factors such as angles, facial expression and lighting, so operation under all conditions cannot be guaranteed. Because the camera searches for faces that are similar to registered faces, there are cases where the faces are not correctly recognized when the registered image and the shooting image varies much. When facial characteristics are similar, particularly between parents and their children or brothers and sisters, the camera may not distinguish the faces.
*5 With some subject and shooting conditions, it is just not possible to judge the best shooting details. When this happens, it is recommended that you shoot with the Scene Mode that best suits your purpose.
*6 In the iA Mode, the Night Portrait is not identified when the flash is turned off.
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