Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue)

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue)

 

Price : $69.98

Product Description

Color: Blue
From the Manufacturer
Panasonic LUMIX S1The 12.1-megapixel LUMIX S1 features a new design, with a distinct rounded shape that fits comfortably in the palm of the hand, to differentiate the models from the rest of the LUMIX line. With a 28mm wide-angle 4x optical zoom lens, these LUMIX digital cameras are extremely versatile, helping consumers get superb shots both far and wide.Venus Engine VI The image-processing engine, Venus Engine VI, uses advanced signal processing to give you beautiful images. Multi-task signal processing is employed for all images to enable high-speed, high-performance shooting. Venus Engine VI 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 VI reduces power consumption thanks to a number of energy efficiency improvements.
iA (Intelligent Auto) ModeWhen you don't know which mode will give you the best shooting results, or when a sudden photo opportunity pops up and you don't have time to change any settings, simply choose the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode and let the camera do it all for you. Just choose the iA Mode, aim at your subject, and shoot. Four detection and correction functions are simultaneously activated to optimize the settings, so you get stunning photos every time.

MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) Shake Detection The MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) in the DMC-S1 compensates for the blurring caused by hand-shake. Using built-in gyrosensors to detect even slight camera movement caused by handshake, the camera compensates for the shake so you get clear, sharp photos.
MEGA O.I.S. lets you shoot in dimly lit rooms or evening illumination to preserve the mood, and works for macro shots and zoom shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake. In short, it lets anybody take beautiful, blur-free shots with ease. MEGA O.I.S. is automatically turned on in iA Mode and can be turned on or off in Normal Picture Mode or some Scene Modes. Intelligent Scene Selector Scene Detection When the camera is in iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the Scene Mode to Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait¹, Night Scenery or Sunset. The camera judges it from the various detection results such as focusing and brightness level of the circumstance². You are free from adjusting settings every time the scene changes when taking images with these frequently used Scene Modes to get beautiful results.
1 In iA Mode, Night Portrait is not identified when the flash is turned off.2 With some subject and shooting conditions, it is just not possible to judge the best shooting details. When this happens, it is recommended that you shoot with the Scene Mode that best suits your purpose.
Intelligent ISO Control Motion DetectionThe Intelligent ISO Control function in the DMC-S1 made possible by the Venus Engine VI detects subject movement and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the movement and light conditions. When it detects subject motion, it automatically raises the ISO setting and increases the shutter speed to prevent motion blur. On the other hand, when the subject is still and no movement is detected, it takes beautiful natural photos with a low ISO setting. The Intelligent ISO Control gives you stunning images with ease because there is no need for complicated settings. The Intelligent ISO Control function is automatically turned on in iA Mode, and can be turned on or off in Normal Picture Mode.Face Detection AF/AEThe Face Detection AF/AE function¹ detects faces and automatically optimizes the focus and exposure settings. It prevents the blurry faces that happen when the camera focuses on something in front of or behind the subject, and keeps faces from appearing dark when shooting indoors or against the light source. It detects up to 15 faces at a time, making it extremely convenient for group photos. Once the camera detects a face, Face Tracking follows it even when the subject moves around. Plus, the system keeps detection on if a face turns sideways to the camera.
1 Face Detection function is automatically turned on in iA Mode and can be turned on or off in Normal Picture Mode or some Scene Modes.LUMIX Image UploaderThe DMC-S1 gives you a new form of communication by letting you share your photos and movies. All you have to do is checkmark the photos and movies you want to share and connect the camera or SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card to a computer. Uploading automatically starts by simply following the guidance. Facebook can be used for photos and YouTube for movies. You can join these social networking services without having to install any special software. It's easy to share photos and movies on the spot, which means that your friends don't have to wait for you to come back home to see them.
Easy Computer ConnectionSelect photos and movies on the camera menu.Upload Photos and MoviesThe software is launched after connecting the camera or SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card to a computer.Share with Your FriendsYou can share the URL by e-mail right after the upload!Large, 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot LCDThe DMC-S1 large 2.7-inch LCD features high 230,000-dot resolution LCD. The big screen reflects fine details, making it easy to check the focus before shooting. It also serves as a small photo and video viewer, allowing the user and friends to enjoy viewing the still and motion images together.
Built-in Memory 20MBThe DMC-S1's built-in memory holds up to approx. 20MB of image data.
A Simple, Stylish, Smart Camera DebutsSimple, smart and stylish S-series is developed for users who pick up their first digital cameras. Pursuing the ultimate ease of operation, only essential functions are equipped in the DMC-S1. In addition to its easy-to-press shutter button, the DMC-S1 has a round-form that fits comfortably in the palm of the hand, and a body that's designed for easy use. A special color-matched front lens ring also makes the DMC-S1 look like a digital accessory. It is a compact and lightweight power stone - you can just leave it to the camera to get beautiful photo, movies and fun for sure. iA (Intelligent Auto) ModeWhen you don't know which mode will give you the best shooting results, or when a sudden photo opportunity pops up and you don't have time to make any settings, simply choose the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode and let the camera do it all for you. You just choose the iA Mode, aim at your subject, and shoot. 4 detection and correction functions are simultaneously activated to optimize the settings, so you get stunning photos every time. MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) - Shake DetectionThe MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) in the DMC-S1 compensates for the blurring caused by hand-shake. Apart from the digital image correction, the MEGA O.I.S. corrects a jolt of light axis by shifting the O.I.S. lens unit to offset it. Thus the image is not affected digitally nor deteriorated at all. You get clear, sharp images in exchange for nothing.The MEGA O.I.S. lets you shoot in dimly lit rooms or evening illumination to preserve the mood, and works for macro shots and zoom shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake. In short, it lets anybody take beautiful, blur-free shots with ease. Intelligent Scene Selector - Scene DetectionWhen the camera's in iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the Scene Mode to one of Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait, Night Scenery or Sunset. The c...

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.9 x 0.8 x 2.3 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B004HW7KEG
• Item model number: DMC-S1P-A
  

Technical Details

• 12.1-megapixel resolution; 4x optical image-stablized zoom
• 720p HD video capture at 30fps
• Panasonic iA mode makes it simple for anyone to take beautiful photos
• LUMIX Image Uploader makes it simple to share pictures on Facebook and video on YouTube
• Capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Customer Reviews

I am an end user and not a photographer and have purchased half a dozen "point and shoot" digital cameras over the years.
Pros
Small and light, very portable
Excellent in IA (intelligent automatic) mode - ISO and shutter speed displayed
Easy to use without reading the manual (but read it anyway - eventually)
Nice, clear LCD display
HD video is OUTSTANDING (audio, not so much)
Very good macro (close up) camera with flash off (my preference)
Cons
Flash is only good to about 2 meters
Delay between pictures is "acceptable" but not excellent
Camera audio speaker close to worthless
"Burst" feature (constant shooting while holding shutter button) is poor
First thing I do with something like this is take it out of the box and start playing with it without reading the manual - not something I recommend, but working with a product starting in total ignorance tells you something about the overall device that gets spoiled once you learn how it is supposed to work. After playing with it in ignorance, I then read the enclosed printed manual from cover to cover. NOTE: The included CD-ROM includes a much more extensive, forty-two pages, manual that goes into greater technical detail about this camera.
It was trivial to charge the included battery and it took a little less than the two hours advertised to do so. The Panasonic DMC-S1 is a very small, palm sized "point and shoot" that nestled easily in my front shirt pocket which was full of other junk as well. The actual camera is very light.
I popped in the charged battery and a 4 GB Class 4 SD card (easy to do without reading the manual since both can only fit in the correct manner), pressed the power on, and started shooting everything in sight using the default IA (intelligent auto) mode. You will have to get an SD card since the on-board memory is only good for about 4 pictures at the highest (4000 x 3000 pixels) setting.
The first twenty pictures I took were pretty solid with one or two slightly washed out with the automatic flash. The delay between pictures was acceptable (2-3 seconds) but not exceptional by any means. In IA mode, holding down the shutter button half way displays the ISO and shutter speed on the LCD display, which with my limited photographic experience was still a nice feature.
Part of what I attempt to do is intentionally "stupid" things to see what happens (no, I do not immerse it in water). So, I turned the house lights out and started shooting people across the room. I didn't expect these low light photos to come out well, and they didn't - the camera detected the low light and that it needed the flash, but the range of the flash didn't do much to illuminate beyond the specified 2 meters or so, hence, the picture was blurry. Otherwise, walking around the house, outside the house, up to people real close, etc., I'd say 90 percent of the 150 or so pictures I took were very good to excellent (and a little post processing won't hurt a thing). The anti-jitter features seemed to be in top form with almost no blurriness in any but in the worst lighting conditions.
I took this on my train ride to work and shot inside and outside, and got some very nice pictures with the raindrops on the window in sharp focus, and the background scenery quite clear. The IA mode is a pretty good universal choice. I did have some issues shooting some macro shots (a couple of inches away) and experimented with turning the flash totally off. Macro shots seem to work best with no flash. All in all, this is the best "point and shoot" I've ever had for shooting macro type close-ups (e.g., I like to take close-up pictures of butterflies). Off the train and at work I was able to get some very nice shots of tiny screws and wood grain on the desk.
My next tests were with the video. The HD is EXCELLENT but it is, as expected, a memory pig. The camera indicated I could shoot a little less than 10 minutes of HD video for the maximum 2 GB file size, or about two separate 10 minute HD videos on the 4 GB chip. The lowest quality setting (320x240) gives over an hour per each 2 GB file. Playback of the video (and all pictures) was more than acceptable, and the quality of both looked the same on my PC's larger monitor. The speaker on the camera is practically worthless (not a deal breaker) but it does exist and if you put your ear real close you can hear the mono sound of your video. On my PC, the sound was loud and clear, but unexceptional. This would not be my first choice as a video camera, but can still be useful for creating short YouTube shoutouts.
There are lots of settings possible (having read the manual) but I get a "point and shoot" (like this camera) to avoid complex settings. I'm pretty much going to stick with the IA as my default, and will likely turn the flash completely off in most cases. BUT, if you want to control things, you do have some limited options (read the manual!).
I tried the "burst" feature (continual shooting while holding down the shutter button) which was pretty worthless. Since the delay between each shot seemed to be about 2-3 seconds, and there is little control, it's not like you're going be able to shoot supermodels or sporting events with any real clarity. Better to shoot HD video and extract individual frames.
Battery life appears to be good, I'm trying to run it down on purpose but it's a new battery so it's holding the initial charge nicely (and with the flash off I'm putting less stress on it). I'm only really comfortable after using a rechargeable battery for a year or so to see how it deteriorates, so I can't comment on this feature with any confidence. Anyway, after about 5 minutes of HD video and about 400 pictures (most without flash) I'm showing half a charge.
I didn't try out the included software, but would direct you, in any case, to look for separate reviews on that. I just wanted a "point and shoot" that gives little grief and good pictures (and maybe video) and this suits the bill perfectly.
NOTE ADDED (2 HOURS LATER) RE MACRO MODE: I had to wrestle with the whole concept of "macro mode" with this camera. The brief manual that comes with the camera definitely shows a macro mode icon, but that is in IA mode. I just verified that when I put it in IA mode, and place the lens a couple of inches from, say, a leaf, a little "macro mode" icon shows on the LCD display when I press a little down on the shutter button - the autofocus appears to trigger the macro mode in the IA setting. It's just you don't have that as a manual option for macro mode in all the different Scene Mode options - that confused me.

Having used this camera in various conditions for over a week now, its strengths and weaknesses have become pretty apparent...and there are a few of both that depending on your needs, that may sway your purchase one way or another. Note that I also frequently use a Fujifilm FinePix Z90 and, most often (for best quality), a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100. While I may make comparisons between the two, I'm not going to fault a $100 camera for not taking as crisp of a picture as a $300+ camera.
First, for those of you that know exactly what you want (and don't want) in a camera, here are a few things that his does quite well:
1. Very vivid colors of outdoor scenes and natural-light scenes. The colors are sharp with well defined boundaries and contrast...basically, it takes very nice pictures.
2. Ease of use: only a couple buttons, no manual needed. The options that you can select say exactly what they are within the camera menu, so selecting the correct option is easy.
3. Excellent battery life. Comes with a slim rechargeable battery and charger. (It's a proprietary battery, but contrary to some belief, this is a benefit. The battery lasts a LOT longer that AA batteries. Need extra battery life? Buy a spare battery and keep it charged.)
4. Slim enough to slip into a pocket.
5. Great optical zoom for a camera of its size. And with the stabilization it has, I never had a blurry picture when zoomed.
6. The video quality, with good lighting, is quite good. For me, it's good enough that if I didn't have other cameras that already did the same task, I wouldn't hesitate to use it for important video moments like my martial art belt testing for my son, birthdays, etc. Videos are in .MOV format.
7. It has a lens cover that opens and closes by itself! This is something that I wish my Panasonic FZ100 had. Just some simple protection from dust/mist/whatever to keep the lens spot-free.
8. The "intelligent auto" mode that automatically selects the best settings works great. You can override it (say, tell it you're taking a picture in bright sun/snow or low light, closeup, etc), but in various testing, the auto mode always picked the correct mode for me anyway. (As does my other Panasonic...)
But, of course, the camera does have some drawbacks, but they may not matter:
1. Difficult one-hand operation if you want to use the zoom.
2. You cannot zoom when recording video.
3. No one-touch video recording. (You need to pick whether you want to record a picture or a video before pressing the shutter button. Other - more expensive - cameras usually have a "video" button so you don't have to click through menus.
4. Time to focus + take a picture is a little long.
And now the most important drawbacks:
1. Low light pictures are bad. Really bad. Combine a low-light, indoor picture with using the zoom, and even though the flash fires, the picture ends up grainy and almost looks like it's black and white, even if the objects are less than 6 feet away.
2. There's a limit on how long you can record video. And it doesn't depend on anything you can change. Using a class 10 32GB SDHC card (class 10), the timer says the video can go 8 minutes, 24 seconds.
Overall, this is a good camera for its class that I'd only NOT recommend if you plan on taking many low-light, indoor pictures or if you want more options for recording video. (And if your main intent is to take video, be sure to consider the Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera (Black). It takes horrible stills and it's only 5MP, but it's built for video and has more options for it.) This Panasonic is a much better multi-purpose than the Kodak, and chances are, if you're looking at this, you want a still-photo camera.
One last note: I don't install any extra software, unless it's absolutely required to make things work. The camera came with a CD that I never put into my machine, and have had no problems transferring pictures and videos. Used on both XP and Win7.