Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 With New Built-In GPS Feature (Geo-Tag Photos And Videos)

Panasonic has expanded its superzoom ZS Series of digital cameras with the new Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS7, which the company claims as the world’s smallest photo/video hybrid superzoom digital camera, featuring a new built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) that able to geo-tag photos and videos with the latitude and longitude location details in EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data.

Key features of Panasonic LUMIX ZS7:

• 12.1-megapixel image sensor and new built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) feature
• 25mm ultra-wide-angle Leica lens with an 12x optical zoom (also operates in video recording mode)
• 3.0-inch high resolution (460,000 dots) Intelligent LCD with a wide-viewing angle
• AVCHD Lite HD video recording capability almost doubles the recording time in HD quality compared to Motion JPEG format
• Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to record high quality audio
• Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus) delivers super-fast response time [0.35 second (wide-end)/0.41 second (tele-end)], and shutter release time lag as short as about 0.006 second
• Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode includes POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), Face Recognition, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Resolution, Intelligent Zoom and more
• Happy Mode optimizes color, saturation and brightness aimed for more vivid and true photo/video
• Video Divide function lets users divide video into two sections within the menus on the camera
• Long battery life supports (capture) up to 340 images on a single charge

“As a successor to the Panasonic LUMIX ZS3, which was last year’s most popular compact model, we are confident the Panasonic LUMIX ZS7 will continue the success, thanks to big features like HD video, 12x optical zoom and the newly added GPS capabilities and it’s super-fast Auto Focusing,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager for Imaging of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Panasonic is excited to introduce our first GPS-enabled digital camera, and it adds to the ZS7’s appeal as the ultimate travel companion – from its range of shooting options, both far and wide, and now the ability to record exactly where photos were taken. We are confident consumers will have all the features they need to capture high quality photos and video and share their travels with their friends and family.”

Panasonic LUMIX ZS7 will be available in 4 variants of colour – silver, black, red and blue, but no words on its price and availability yet.

UPDATE: Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS7 is slated to hit the market by mid-March 2010 for an SRP of $399.95.