Panasonic Unveils FS-Series, With Slim and Stylish Design, Adding to Its Line of Compact LUMIX Digital Cameras

Market Wire, January, 2008

Panasonic today unveiled a new compact line of LUMIX digital cameras, the new FS-Series, including the DMC-FS3 which features 8.1 megapixels, a f2.8 Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens, 3x optical zoom, and Panasonic's Intelligent Auto Mode. The FS-Series, a sister line to the world-acclaimed FX-Series, also includes the newly announced DMC-FS20 and DMC-FS5, and the entire series offers easy and intuitive operation that helps consumers produce high-quality images.

The DMC-FS3 features a new image-processing LSI, the Venus Engine IV, which contains a more advanced signal processing technology for rendering higher-quality images and produces a faster response time. In addition, the camera boasts the new Intelligent LCD, meaning the 2.5-inc LCD screen detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level to offer optimal clarity in any situation, whether dark or light; indoors or outdoors.

"Many consumers today are looking for pocket-sized, easy-to-use cameras that take crisp, high-quality pictures," said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "With the DMC-FS3, we're giving consumers what they want: a sleek, stylish compact digital camera that still packs powerful advanced imaging technologies, such as Panasonic's Intelligent Auto Mode."

Panasonic's Intelligent Auto Mode is comprised of five distinct technologies designed to provide users with intuitive and automatic camera adjustments no matter the shooting condition and without the user having to do anything manually. Intelligent Auto Mode consists of the following:

--  MEGA O.I.S. - Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and the lens system shifts
    to compensate, helping to prevent hand-shake from creating a blurry image.
--  Intelligent ISO - Can determine if the photo subject is moving and
    change the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus giving a blur-
    free photo.
--  Intelligent Scene Selector - Senses the ambient conditions, recognizes
    the shooting environment and will automatically select the appropriate
    scene mode from: Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery
    mode.
--  Face Detection - Panasonic's Face Detection detects up to 15 faces
    anywhere in the frame, even if they are moving, and automatically chooses
    the optimal focus and exposure settings so portraits come out clear and
    crisp.
--  Quick AF - The Quick AF (auto focus) system starts focus on the
    subject by just pointing the camera to the subject, thus minimizing the AF
    time.
    

Additional features of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FS3 include:

--  Title Edit function which allows the consumer to input text to
    accompany a photo, for instance, the names of children or travel locations.
--  50 MB internal memory.
--  Records WVGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second in a
    16:9 aspect ratio, ideal for viewing on High Definition televisions, such
    as Panasonic VIERA Plasmas and LCDs.
--  Compatible with optional marine case, DMW-MCFS5, for underwater
    shooting.
    

The DMC-FS3, available in blue, pink, green, silver and black models, has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $199.95 and will be available in February 2008.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In its commitment to provide consumers with extensive imaging resources, Panasonic LUMIX established the Digital Photo Academy, a series of nationwide workshops designed to instruct consumers how to optimize the features on their digital cameras and produce high-quality photos. Panasonic is honored to support OUR PLACE - The World's Heritage, a project that will create the world's largest photographic collection of UNESCO World Heritage sites, with acclaimed photographers exclusively using LUMIX digital cameras to capture all images. Information about Panasonic LUMIX digital still cameras and its affiliated programs is available at www.panasonic.com/dsc

*1. Shooting conditions: 23C with 50% humidity; LCD on; using SD Memory Card; starting to shoot 30 seconds after turning on the power; shooting once every 30 seconds with the flash in full operation for every other shot; changing the zoom setting from telephoto to wide, or wide to telephoto, for each shot; and temporarily turning the power off after each 10 shots (long enough to lower the battery temperature).

*The number of recordable pictures decreases in Auto Power LCD mode or Power LCD mode.

*Some accessories are not available in some countries.

*The use of recorded or printed materials that are protected by copyright for any purpose other than personal enjoyment is prohibited, as it would infringe upon the rights of the copyright holder.

*Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.