Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch Touch-Screen LCD (Dark Blue)

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Item Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B003964GY8
• Item model number: DMC-FP3AB
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,349 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The flat body and compact size of the DMC-FP3 allow it to fit nicely into a small handbag. Built of high-quality aluminum, the DMC-FP3 also brings a wide range of colors to the series. The new lens cover both protects the lens from scratches or dusts and serves as the camera's power switch, making it fast and easy to slip the camera out of a pocket or a bag and turn on the power. The delicate hairline finish on the lens cover of the DMC-FP3 elegantly accents the design. You'll want to take this sleek, stylish camera with you everywhere you go, like a fashion accessory.

Lumix DMX-FP3 Highlights

Touch Screen Operation
The newly adopted static sensor type 3.0-inch touch-screen LCD on the DMC-FP3 gives you an easy, intuitive control thanks to a hybrid operation combined with the 4 major operation buttons. Touch operation is free and smooth either in recording or playing back images.

Once you compose the flame, all you have to do is touch the area you wish to focus on before pressing the shutter button halfway.

You can drag the image across the screen with a finger to browse the collection of photos as you flip over the pages of the book.

Sonic Speed AF
The Sonic Speed AF system in the DMC-FP3 has a maximum speed of approx. 0.33 second for auto focusing^*. It includes numerous re-engineering enhancements, including a higher-speed actuator, optimized algorithms and parallel software processing. The result is fast and accurate AF performance. You can quickly get moving subjects in focus, such as when you're shooting sports scenes.
_{* Using the 1-area AF, at the wide-end.}

HD Movie Recording
The DMC-FP3 can record motion images in high-definition (1,280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format). The pixel mixed readout method enables bright motion-image recording even in low-light settings. The DMC-FP3 can also record full-size motion images in WVGA (848 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) or standard motion images in VGA (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) and QVGA (320 x 240 pixels at 30 fps).

4x Optical Zoom / Up to 8.4x Extra Optical Zoom
The DMC-FP3 is equipped with a 4x optical zoom lens (35mm camera equivalent: 35-140mm). The Extra Optical Zoom function^*1 uses the center part of the CCD to extend this 4x zoom ratio to powerful 8.4x zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 295mm) at a resolution of 3-megapixel or less. Adding the Extra Optical Zoom to the 4x digital zoom^*2 extends the total zooming power to a maximum of 33.8x.
_{*1 At a resolution of 3-megapixel or less. In the DMC-FP3, image resolution is kept at its maximum size to the optical tele-end even if the Extra Optical Zoom is ON.
*2 As digital magnification increases, resolution significantly decreases.}

Venus Engine IV
The image-processing engine, Venus Engine IV, uses advanced signal processing to give you beautiful images even when the sensitivity is high. Multi-task signal processing is employed for all images to enable high-speed, high-performance shooting. Venus Engine IV also effectively raises the precision of various functions, such as MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) and Intelligent ISO Control. Along with its extremely high performance, Venus Engine IV reduces power consumption thanks to a number of energy efficiency improvements.

Extended Battery Life
The energy-saving Venus Engine IV image-processing engine and the efficient, rechargeable lithium-ion battery which has been slimmed down to fit into thinner camera bodies work together to extend the shooting time of the DMC-FP3. This lets users take approx. 300 shots on a single battery charge*.
_{* Based on the CIPA standard.}

Product Description

The flat body and compact size of the DMC-FP3 allow it to fit nicely into a small handbag. Built of high-quality aluminum, The new lens cover both protects the lens from scratches or dusts and serves as the camera's power switch, making it fast and easy to slip the camera out of a pocket or a bag and turn on the power. The delicate hairline finish on the lens cover of the DMC-FP3 elegantly accents the design. You'll want to take this sleek, stylish camera with you everywhere you go, like a fashion accessory. Stylish as it is, the DMC-FP3S 14 Megapixel Lumix Digital Camera shoots ultra hi-res stills and 1280x720 HD movies for flexibility anytime and anywhere. Venus Engine IVAdvanced Signal Processing Extended Battery Life - Approx. 300 Shots on a Single Battery Charge Unlimited Consecutive Shooting iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode Intelligent Scene Selector - Scene Detection MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) - Shake Detection Intelligent ISO Control - Motion Detection Face Detection AF/AE - Face Detection Auto Backlight Compensation HD Movie Recording (1,280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps in Motion JPEG Format) 3.0-inch, 230,000-dot High-resolution LCD Intelligent LCD / High-angle Mode Selectable Scene Modes - Scene Mode lets the camera make the optimal settings for you automatically, so anybody can take superb photos with ease. The versatile Scene Mode range, which handles just about any situation and subject type, is a major LUMIX feature. And to make it even simpler to use, the icons and display are designed for easy visibility. Macro Zoom - Pull subjects even closer than the closest point possible with the wide-angle setting by using 3x digital zoom, and capture dramatic close-ups Selectable Focus Icon Select from 3 Aspect Ratios - 16 - 9 - 4 - 3 - 3 - 2 View Photos on a Large-screen HDTV Slideshow with Music Text Stamp PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 for PC / iPhoto compatible for

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 digital camera, April 23, 2010

By 

K. Kirwin "hotaskel" (Upstate NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch Touch-Screen LCD (Dark Blue) (Electronics)

I love this camera. It's small, compact (maybe about the size of a Blackberry) and light weight. It can easily fit in a small purse or your back pocket. The touch screen operation is as easy as can be - and has a nice large screen compared to a lot of other cameras this size. It records videos, it has both zoom and wide angle, and the touch screen is easy to operate. this camera is easy to figure out the basics even without a manual. read the manual and it's a piece of cake. takes great pictures.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of bang for the buck, July 17, 2010

By 

E. Swope (Kaneohe, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch Touch-Screen LCD (Dark Blue) (Electronics)

I'll preface this review by saying that I am a huge fan of Pansonic (Lumix) cameras. This is the 4th one purchased in my household. the first was the original TZ (travel zoom) camera, which I bought for myself (at a cost which could purcahse 5 of these now). It was the first compact zoom; the market everyone is going after now, but few can catch up or keep up in. I was a tad skeptical buying a camera from Panasonic 5 years ago, but, with cameras the lens is the thing and they had the immense good sense to equip it with a Leica lens. I've had that camera for 5-6 years now and am still happy with it. that said, this was purchased with the explicit intent of leaving that camera at home on an upcoming trip to Disney with the kids. I wanted something small, light and inexpensive so that I would not have to worry about it too much in a theme park (as I would with a piece of expensive equipment) or one which is valuable/ hard to replace. Still, I wanted a camera which would take good pictures; a hard bill to fill.

I started off by saying we have several Lumix cameras in the house. After I bought mine, my son wanted a real camera, and used his birthday money to buy the next one down (I believe the TS) with the money he got from his grandparents. His older sister, an award winning photographer, received their top of the line as a gift after winning a prestigious award. That was *very* carefully chosen for its near dslr quality (at the time it was neigh impossible to get a DSLR for under $500, and she was in high school). Cutting to the chase here, that camera is as good as or better than the many SLRs around the house.

So, having a lot of experience with the brand I did not hesitate to order this. The funny thing is that I found it while looking at the Exelim she wanted (to just have something on hand all the time). I saw the P1 here for around $100 and thought it fit the bill, but, for some reason I can not figure out, Amazon said it could not be shipped here. Then the price dropped on the P3, and there was no contest; a 14 mp with a touch screen for just $20 more.

O.K. I'm a little obsessive about thsese things and read dozens of reviews (primarily at pro sites) before ordering this. I was amused at how many people who were diehard fans of other brands grudgingly admitted that this was a better camera.

Well, it arrived this morning, and I am wowed! I took a picture of my dog just to make sure it was properly charged and to familiarize myself with the controls before our trip, and the pictures are just amazing! (I have been joking that we could check for fleas given how crisp and clear the close up shots were). Long story short, I am amazed at the quality, both build and photographic from a camera in this price range, and this size. It is small and light, among the smallest I have seen, has an aluminum (not plastic) case, with a sliding lens cover, takes hi def video, has anti shake and automated processing for people who do not want to fuss , and a fair bit of control options for people who do. (I will add, that I really like being able to use the touch screen to compose a shot and demark the focal point). I am not going to compare this to a dslr; it isn't. But you sure do get a lot of camera for the money; solid build, easy to pocket and use: just about the perfect travel camera. My only real withhold is, why do they think adults don't want purple or orange? It was a small sacrifice to move up to the quality offered by the P3.

Note review editied to correct earler mistake. I had described this as an upgrade from the fp1 with a leica lens. Another customer pointed out that this is not in Amazon's description, so I doubled checked with the manufacturer, and this model has a folded lumix vario lens; still very nice, but not a leica. that lens is availabvle on the f3 (if you can find one), and is beuautiful, but less portable. Another model in this line has the leica lens but is not available in the United states yet (at least as of the date of this review).

I will note though that it does take beautiful crisp detailed pictures. having used it for a couple of months now, I am not at all disappointed (well, except for the fatc that it *is* now available in purple, which I would ahve ordered given the choice ;)

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Small Camera Yet!, May 30, 2010

By 

William T. Wolff "bill" (Novato, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch Touch-Screen LCD (Dark Blue) (Electronics)

I have a two year old Lumix with 10x zoom which is an excellent camera, but the touch screen FP3 is better. The stability control is superb, as well as the touch screen focus concentration. But I was amazed at the terrific exposure adjustment when a bright backlighting situation is experienced. The subject was perfectly illuminated.