Ultra Wide Angle Lens for the Bigger Picture
The FT1 features a high-quality LEICA DC VARIO ELMAR 28mm wide-angle lens with a 4.6x optical zoom. The folded optics of shaft guide method is adopted to secure the toughness of the lens unit. Comprising 9 elements and a prism unit in 8 groups, including 1 ED lenses and 5 aspherical lenses with 6 aspherical surfaces, a difficult feat even by today’s standards, this advanced lens unit passes Leica’s stringent standards to deliver exceptional optical performance to the edges even adopting the folded optics.
The zoom ratio can be extended up to 9.0x (252mm ) 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.
Venus Engine HD Assures High Picture Quality for Both Still and Motion Picture
The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD has been re-engineered to support the recording of beautiful, high-definition motion images in AVCHD Lite. With its twin CPUs, Venus Engine HD boasts approx. 2.4x processing capability, greatly improving the speed of camera operations.
This high performance LSI elevates the artificial intelligence of the camera by introducing new circuitry making it possible to “recognize” human faces individually. It also supports high definition output through HDMI.
In image processing, luminance noise and chromatic noise are reduced separately before and after signal processing. This is further refined by separating noise two-dimensionally into high-frequency and low-frequency noise. The circuits then effectively reduce only the low-frequency noise to minimize the unwanted noise and help produce beautiful, sharp still and motion images.
This multi-task image-processing engine has a super-fast response time. The camera starts up quickly in 1.3 seconds. Shutter release time lag is as short as approx. 0.005 seconds, making it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. In burst shooting mode, the FT1 can snap approx. 2.3 shots per second at 12.1-megapixel full resolution . In High-Speed Burst shooting mode, it fires off an incredible approx. 10 shots per second . Unlimited consecutive shooting is also available to let you shoot until the memory card is full .
In addition to its outstanding performance, the high performance engine is also more energy efficient compared with the conventional Venus Engine IV, extending the battery life up to 340 shots (CIPA) per a single charge.
Look at me
The FT1 is equipped with a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD with super high resolution and a wide viewing angle. The screen brightness automatically adjusts in 11 steps as the surrounding brightness level changes, ensuring easy visibility at all times.
Menus are now cleaner and easier to navigate, even for seniors, thanks to the new “Display Size” option. Thanks to the Venus Engine HD, smooth image playback at very high speeds is now available approx.17x faster for thumbnail and approx. 4x for single image even the image resolution is as high as 12.1-megapixel.
The Best Just Keeps Getting Better
Lumix functions continue to evolve. Scene modes, which are optimized for a variety of still-image shooting situations, are now available for motion images as well. Thanks to a rich variety of 26 scene modes for still image and 17 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, Beach & Surf, Snow, Aerial, Pin hole, Film grain, Underwater and High Sensitivity.), capturing beautiful videos is effortless with the FT1. The most commonly used scene modes for outdoor photography including Sports, Snow, and Beach & Surf can be accessed directly via the mode dial.
The new scene mode for shooting still images includes the Beach & Surf and Panorama Assist mode. Beach & Surf mode is perfect for your beach activities, allowing you to use a single mode with optimized auto white balance both on the beach and in shallow water. Panorama Assist mode allows you to create powerful panoramic images – both vertically and horizontally. Simply align your shots according to a guide which overlaps the frame when you shoot, then use the included PanoramaMaker software to create your panorama images.
The minimum shooting distance has been shortened to 3cm in the FT1 – great for macro shots. Using the extra 3x digital magnification in the Macro Zoom function , you can pull subjects even closer than the closest point possible in the wide-angle setting, and capture dramatic close-ups.
Included Software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition
The latest version of the exciting bundled software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition allows you to view, edit and archive your captured contents with greater ease and fun.
Still and motion images can be transferred to the PC via a USB cable for viewing and archiving on the PC with the PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition installed. Using PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition, you can edit and remove unwanted portions of your video clips recorded in AVCHD Lite. Contents recorded in AVCHD Lite can be burned directly onto a DVD disc for viewing on a DIGA Blu-ray Disc player . Alternatively, you can use the software to convert your contents to MPEG2 format to burn onto a DVD disc.
The portrait images taken with the camera’s Face Recognition function are organized neatly in the folder of the name registered with the camera. Not only that, the software also features an independent Face Recognition function that recognizes the faces in the picture stored in your PC to sort the photos by the face. You do not have to pick out each photo one by one out of thousand of photos when you only want pictures of a specific person. With PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition, the software automatically sorts your images into virtual folders based on the faces you registered. You can also enjoy slideshows with a variety of effects and use your iTunes music library as background music. Motion pictures can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader.
Enjoy stunning photos and HD videos with tremendous ease on land and under sea – the FT1 is the ideal partner for your outdoor adventures. The FT1 will be available from March in a choice of sleek silver or cool blue.
1 As of 27/1/2009
2 This camera is waterproof / dustproof equivalent to “IP58”, and is possible to record at a maximum of 3.0 m depth/60 min. This does not guarantee non-destruction, non-malfunction, and water-proofing in all conditions. Please observe specified precautions and avoid product-use beyond the guaranteed underwater duration, or beyond the guaranteed depth of water.
3 This camera has passed a drop test from 1.5 m in height in accordance with “MIL-STD 810F Method 516.5-Shock”, but this does not guarantee non-destruction, non-malfunction, and water-proofing in all conditions. Water-proofing is not guaranteed if the unit is subject to an impact as a result of being hit or dropped etc.
4 Continuous recording exceeding 2GB is not possible when recording motion JPEG. Remaining time for continuous recording is displayed on the screen
5 Motion pictures can be recorded continuously for up to 15 minutes in some countries.
When you set the picture quality to HD, WVGA or VGA, we recommend using a high-speed card with “10MB/s” or greater displayed on the package.
6 AVCHD Lite motion images recorded onto an SD Memory Card or a DVD disc cannot be played from a device that does not support the AVCHD standard
7 Depending on background and facial expression, camera may not recognize a registered person. For family members with similar facial features, camera may not correctly identify the intended subject.
8 A maximum of six people can be registered.
9 Equivalent to 35mm film camera.
10 Max.5 images in standard mode / 3 images in fine mode
11 3-megapixel (4:3), 2.5-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) recording.
(10fps in Speed Priority mode / 6fps in Picture Priority mode)
12 The consecutive shooting speed varies with the memory card, image size, and image compression mode. The number of shots depends on the memory card size, battery life, image size and image compression mode.
13 3-megapixel (4:3), 2.5-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) recording.
14 AVCHD Lite motion images recorded onto an SD Memory Card or a DVD disc cannot be played from a device that does not support the AVCHD standard.
15 YouTube is a trademark of Google Inc
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