The Lumix DMC-LZ5 was designed specifically to address the universal problem of "hand-shake"--the culprit of the majority of blurred digital images. At the heart of the Lumix DMC-LZ5 is Panasonic's Mega Optical Image Stabilizing System, or Mega O.I.S. A built-in gyrosensor detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the O.I.S. lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. All this happens seamlessly and behind the scenes. All you'll notice will be the camera's outstanding results.

Mega O.I.S. is effective in most shooting situations, such as dimly lit indoor shots, nighttime shots, or macro shots. However, when taking indoor shots of moving subjects, such as children or pets, the movement of the subject tends also to contribute to the blurring. For this, the Lumix DMC-LZ5 features a high sensitivity mode to prevent hazy motion effects, further expanding your range of crisp, clear photo expression.

Another outstanding feature is the Lumix DMC-LZ5's 6x optical zoom. This powerful zoom--the equivalent to a 37mm to 222mm zoom on a 35mm film camera--lets you easily capture and magnify subjects in distant locations, and also produces impressive photos with soft-focused backgrounds. The zoom lens crystallizes Panasonic's optics technology, using two aspherical lenses to achieve compactness and boost optical performance.