Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70S 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Zoom

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 1.2 x 2.4 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000MW8GVQ
• Item model number: DMC-LS70-S
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,444 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The 7.2-megapixel DMC-LS70S features an Intelligent Image Stabilization system with Mega O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, a superb optical 3x zoom(equivalent to 35-105mm on a 35mm film camera) Lumix DC Vario lens, and bright 2.0-inch LCD.

The Intelligent Image Stabilization system comprises two features -- Mega O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO Control -- that together make it easy to capture beautiful photos every time you shoot. Now recognized as a must-have feature for digital cameras, Mega O.I.S. compensates for the effects of hand-shake, making it possible to capture clear, crisp photos indoors, at night, or when taking macro close-ups -- situations in which hand-shake is most likely to be a problem. Even Mega O.I.S., however, cannot suppress the motion blur caused by a subject moving as the photo is being snapped. That's where Intelligent ISO Control comes in. In this system, the camera's Venus Engine III image-processing engine detects whether the subject is moving and, as necessary, raises the ISO setting and shutter speed according to how fast the subject is moving and the light conditions. This happens automatically, so you can shoot without the bother of adjusting settings every time conditions change. Lumix and its powerful Intelligent Image Stabilization system do all the work automatically. You enjoy easy, trouble-free shooting in any situation and get the satisfaction that comes with capturing clear, beautiful images.

The LS70 also offers a range of features that enhance usability and add convenience. The Easy Zoom feature shifts the lens instantly to full 3x zoom power at the touch of a dedicated button. The new Quick Setting function lets you quickly and easily access and set the functions used most often. With the new Date Stamp function, you can simply stamp the date on photos or you can take advantage of two original Lumix features. When travelling, you can stamp the day of the trip on the photos you take. Or, if you have a baby, you can stamp his or her age in months on your photos. The stamped information appears on photos that you print yourself at home or have printed at a photo shop.

It also boasts 27MB of internal memory (approximate) and accepts large-capacity SDHC memory cards, giving users more flexibility in shooting and recording. The menu and its graphical user interface have also been redesigned, with the colours brightened for easier viewability. Powered by Panasonic’s original, extended-life Oxyride dry cell batteries, the LS70 can take 250 shots (CIPA). The menu and its graphical user interface have also been redesigned, with the colors brightened for easier viewability.

DMC-LS70S Highlights

Superb Lumix DC Vario lens with Extra Optical Zoom function The 7.2-megapixel DMC-LS70 packages a superb Lumix DC Vario lens with 3x optical zoom into a compact body. A crystallization of Panasonic’s advanced lens technologies, the lens comprises seven elements in six groups, including three lenses with a combined three aspherical surfaces, and delivers an outstanding optical performance. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function provides additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 4.5x by using the center part of the CCD.

The Easy Zoom feature shifts the lens instantly to full 3x zoom power at the a touch of a dedicated button, and with a second touch, the lens is shifted to 4.5x by activating the Extra Optical Zoom function.

Intelligent Image Stabilization: Mega O.I.S. for hand-shake plus Intelligent ISO Control for motion blur With Mega O.I.S., it is easier than ever to capture clear, sharp, beautiful images when shooting indoor portraits, illuminated night scenes or even the scenery you see from a train window. While hand-shake is the single biggest cause of blurry images, it is not the only one. Another problem is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being snapped. Incorporating Panasonic's Intelligent ISO Control, Lumix cameras are the first in the world to fight motion blur by themselves. This system detects whether or not the subject is moving. If it is, the system automatically raises the ISO setting accordingly, allowing the camera to shoot at a higher shutter speed. If the subject is not moving, the camera shoots at a low ISO setting and captures beautiful, natural-looking images. Intelligent ISO Control is included as one of the corrections in certain scene modes used to shoot subjects that are often moving, such as Sports, Baby and the newly added Pet mode. Simply select the mode that best suits the subject, and Intelligent ISO Control provides the optimal corrections, making it easy to capture crisp, clear photos.

High-quality, high-performance Image-Processing LSI: Venus Engine III The DMC-LS70 features Panasonic's Venus Engine III, an advanced image processing engine which in the past was offered only in the upper-level Lumix models. It can record at a sensitivity setting as high as ISO 1250 with full resolution. With its multi-task image-processing capability, the Venus Engine III also boasts outstanding response time. Shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second. This fast response makes it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment shots. It also allows unlimited consecutive shooting -- you can continue snapping shots until the SDHC/SD memory card is full.

Bright LCD for easier shooting and more enjoyable playback The DMC-LS70 has a bright 2.0-inch LCD for comfortable viewing, both while monitoring shots and playing back the results. The pixel-mixed readout method used by the CCD automatically increases the brightness of the live image on the LCD, making it much easier to shoot in low lighting. The High Angle mode, which can be accessed quickly and easily via a dedicated button, makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as to shoot over a crowd.

Record clear, bright, wide-aspect VGA motion images -- ideal for widescreen viewing In addition to recording standard VGA (640 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second, the LS70 can record stunning wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second. These 16:9 motion pictures look extremely impressive on a wide-screen TV. The pixel-mixed readout method used by the CCD enhances image brightness, so the pictures you see are clear, bright and beautiful.

Extended shooting with Panasonic's Oxyride AA batteries The DMC-LS70 runs on two AA batteries, which can be purchased anywhere. Each camera also comes with two Panasonic Oxyride AA batteries, which let you take around 60 percent more shots than you can with ordinary Panasonic alkaline batteries. The Oxyride batteries let you take around 250 shots with LS70 (CIPA).

Other advanced features The compact DMC-LS70 features 27 MB (approximate) of built-in memory, which can save the day should you happen to fill up or forget to take along a memory card. The functions and settings used most often, such as white balance adjustment, ISO level, image size, image quality (compression format) and consecutive shooting, are quickly and easily accessed via the Quick Setting function. There's no need to open menus to adjust them. It also accommodates large-capacity SDHC memory cards. A total of 18 scene modes, including the new Pet and Sunset modes, also make it easy to get beautiful photos in a range of photographic situations. Above them, Sports, Baby and the Pet mode take advantage of the Intelligent ISO Control as previously described, to let you get great results even if the subjects have unexpected motion.

The Fun Continues Even When the Shooting Is Done The enjoyment of photography doesn't end when you're done shooting for the day. One additional function that broadens the fun of photography is direct print mode. To select it, simply turn the mode dial on the camera top. Then use a USB cable to connect the camera to a Pictbridge-compatible printer, and you're ready to print beautiful photos. Print all the images you shot or only your favourites, and make one copy or multiple copies as you wish. When you turn the mode dial, the mode selected is indicated on the LCD. This lets you change the mode to recording, playback or direct printing without taking your eyes off the subject.

Also interesting is the new Date Stamp function. In addition to showing the date a photo was taken, LS70 can show on which day of the trip a photo was taken. It can also stamp your baby's age in months on a photo, after you've taken the shots. These dates, which can be helpful when making a photo album, can be stamped on photos whether you print them yourself at home or have a photo shop do them.

With the optional Panasonic DMW-SDP1 HDTV Photo Player, it's easy to have a slide show of Lumix images in 1080i high-definition quality. By simply connecting the SDP1, via a component cable, to a high-definition TV such as a Panasonic Viera, and inserting the SDHC/SD memory card into its slot, users can view their photos on a large display together with family or friends. Like Lumix cameras, the DMW-SDP1 incorporates the Venus Engine III imaging engine. This provides extremely quick advancing from one slide to the next. It also allows playback of wide-aspect VGA (848x 480) motion images that fit an HDTV’s 16:9 screen.

Product Description

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70S 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Zoom. 7.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints. 3x image-stabilized optical zoom; 2.0-inch LCD display. Intelligent ISO Control (I.I.C.) reduces image blur from subject movement and low light. Records full-size movies in wide-aspect VGA (848 x 480) at 30 frames per second. Stores images on SD/SDHC/MMC memory cards; 27MB internal memory. Weight: 1.0 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy, good and lot of options, April 7, 2007

By 

Forza Catracha "jcva13" (Miami, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70S 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Zoom (Electronics)

This is a a very easy to use camera. I like that you can use the exposure control with the push of a button instead of going into de menu and the settings. So you can go from taking a picture under the shade to one with no shade and have the same exposure with a lot of ease and not looking around for the menu on the LCD display.

It has very good image quality and light, and has a image stabilizer that allows you to take pictures still even if your had shakes.

There is an normal mode: -intermediate users

It has a lot of options for different kind of displays en purposes. You have 4:3 ratio to display on standard TVs or monitors, thinking of slide shows or wall papers. It gives you different size options, up to 7.2 MP
It has a 3X2 ratio that is optimized for printing 4X6 pictures or bigger prints. Althoug this only gives 2 MP or 6 MP pictures.
It also has a 16:9 ratio for displaying or slide shows to be watched on widescreen TV's or Monitors. -This is my fave setting. But it only gives you 2 MP or 5.5 MP sizes.

You can turn on and off the digital zoom, in my case I don't like it so I turned it off, but you might like it and you may turn it off and while zooming in it will tell you once you start digitally zooming.

It has a basic mode: -beginners
It sets up everything automatically and with very basic options instead of size in MP it gives you options like email pictures, 4X6 or enlarge. With everyday language instead of techie language

It has a scene mode: -more advanced

This allows you to take pictures according to the lighting, weather conditions, portraits, sports etc. This gives you more control over how you want to take your pictures.

It Takes video in standard 4:3 format and 16:9 Widescreen format, which is not very common in this price range or in cameras in general. Still i prefer to have a camcorder to shoot video.

The only two things I don't like is the LCD screen which is bigger than the ones in my previos 2 cameras, is exposed to being touched, so you have to keep cleaning it if you don't want your finger prints on it. The battery life seems shorter than the Canon A75 that I replaced, but I guess that's because it records bigger files, has a bigger display and only uses half the batteries two instead of four. I'd recommend as with all digital cameras to get rechargable batteries as well as at least a 1 GB memory card. With 2 GB with the Widescreen at 5.5 MP it takes under 800 pictures, files are about 2 MB each so the 27 mb internal memory woulld barely allow me to take 13 pictures, less in 3:2 mode and even less on 4:3 7.2 MP format.

At this price range you won't find a better camera, even some 5 MP or 6 MP cameras are selling even higher than this one.

Before I bouhght it I did a lot of research and tried a lot of cameras of different brands and different MP size and this one was the one I like the best for quality image and options, most cameras don't have Widescreen option which I was very interested. This is good for beginners, intermediate or expert.

This is the same as the Lumix LZ7S except for the zoom wichi has a bigger range on the other one, but for 3X you would have to pay 50 bucks more.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Small Camera for the Money, August 26, 2007

By 

Sara-s (New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70S 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Zoom (Electronics)

I bought this as a second camera. For travel, I use a digital with a 10X zoom. It's great for trips, but it's a bit bulky, for family gatherings or formal events (when I am carrying a small purse.)

So I wanted a pocket sized camera, but since it is my second, I did not want to spend a lot. I looked around in stores and on line and quickly settled on this model. Why? It is nice and small and has all of the features I need. A 3X zoom is fine for the events I mentioned and at 7.2MP, the picture quality is excellent. It is also the only camera I found in this price range that had anti-shake technology. It has many options for flash, as well as a variety of shooting modes (like sunset, macro, portrait, sports and so on.) There are thinner cameras on the market, but at about 1.2 inches, it's still nice, small and lightweight.
It also used AA batteries. I will only buy cameras that take AA's, because you can get them anywhere, if you run out.

It has a couple of negatives. There is no sound in video mode. This is of no importance to me, but should be mentioned for other buyers. There is a nice LCD screen but no viewfinder. I'm an old photographer who is used to a viewfinder, so this takes getting used to.

On the whole it's a great camera that suits my needs well.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing impressive about this camera, July 25, 2007

By 

Shaina (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70S 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Image Stabilized Zoom (Electronics)

I bought this camera to replace my old Canon, which I dropped and got the infamous e18 error. I was trying to avoid buying another Canon, and all of the Panasonics I looked at had great reviews.

Before really using it, I liked the controls on the back of the camera. There are a few shortcut buttons that allow you to bypass the menu, which is nice because the menu takes some getting used to.

My first annoyance was the lag time between taking pictures with the flash. There was a noticable wait while the flash recharged. From my research I guess that this is normal, but I've never experienced it on my Canon or my HP. Maybe it's only normal on cameras that take AA bateries. The consecutive shooting mode has a pretty bad lag time too, even without the flash- I'd say at least 2 seconds. That makes a big difference when you're taking a picture of something that's moving, and it meant that I missed a lot of shots that I hoped that the consecutive shooting mode would allow me to catch. Then again, this was the first camera I've had with this feature, and maybe my expectations were too high.

Then came time to get the hard copies of my pictures. They looked great in the camera and on the computer, but the problem came when I had them printed off. Only the outdoor, daytime pictures came out well, all of the others looked like they had been printed on my computer printer- grainy and pixelated. I ordered them through a photo service I've used plenty of times before, so I know that the printer wasn't the problem.

I had some of the pictures from my 2.3MP Canon printed off at the same time, and the difference in picture quality was unbelievable, I still don't see how that camera can take better pictures than this one. I'm returning this camera, and hesitantly getting another Canon because I know that I will get beautiful pictures. I'll just have to make sure to ALWAYS use the wrist strap when I'm taking pictures at a party :p