Imaging-Resource reviews Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7 7.2MP digital camera
Similar in shape, size, and style to preceding Panasonic Lumix models, most notably the DMC-LZ5, the DMC-LZ7 is a little boxy, yet still fairly compact. The DMC-LZ7 offers many of the same features as the LZ5, but updates the line with a 7.2-megapixel CCD, improved "Mega O.I.S." (Optical Image Stabilization), a new High Sensitivity mode offering ISOs up to 3,200 with Intelligent ISO Control, and a new blur warning. Offering more features to help you get better shots in common situations where lighting is bad and the subjects are moving, such as kids in a classroom, in a play, etc., the DMC-LZ7 is aimed at the family photographer. Panasonic has included a large selection of scene modes for just about any situation you can think of, and optimized the automatic exposure system to do just about everything for you except press the shutter button.
In addition to its almost dummy-proof exposure modes, the DMC-LZ7 offers a generous 6x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 37-222mm lens on a 35mm camera. As much as 4x digital zoom is available, and there's also a 9x "Extended Optical Zoom" option, which limits the resolution to the 3.0-megapixel size to minimize quality loss. A unique feature here is the DMC-LZ7's Easy Zoom, a button on top of the camera (next to the Shutter button) which jumps between main zoom settings with one touch. The Lumix DMC-LZ7 also features a 2.5-inch color LCD monitor for framing and image review, with a High Angle option that brightens the view so you can see it better when holding the camera overhead, such as shooting over a crowd...
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