12x Optical Zoom and a Brightness of F2.8 to 3.3
The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens is a small, lightweight lens that packs the same zoom power as a big, clunky 400mm-class film camera lens. This 12x optical zoom lens is super-bright too, at F2.8 to 3.3 with a focal length of 6 to 72mm (equivalent to 36mm to 432mm in a 35mm film camera). You've got all the power and flexibility you need to take exquisitely beautiful shots all the way from telephoto to wide angle and macro. The DMC-FZ5 also has a 4x digital zoom. Use it together with the 12x optical zoom and you've got ultra-powerful 48x zooming1 - roughly equivalent to a huge 1680mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Our MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer Helps Eliminate Blurry Pictures
Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. We don't expect everyone to have hands of stone when taking pictures--that's why Lumix? cameras help solve the problem of unsteady hands with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer technology. The DMC-FZ5 has a built-in gyrosensor that 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 Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working-all you'll see are the outstanding results!

Snap Off Consecutive Shots at 3 Frames per Second!
You can take up to 7 images in Standard Mode and 4 images in Fine Mode with full resolution. In addition, the Unlimited Consecutive Shooting2 function lets you continue shooting until the memory card or built-in memory is full. All this is made possible by the Venus Engine? II LSI. The multi-task image processing in the Venus Engine? II LSI has accelerated response speed, giving you more comfortable shooting with a release time lag of 0.008 second minimum and a shutter interval of around 0.4 second minimum3.

The DMC-FZ5 Puts the Focus on Fast Auto Focus
Select the AF setting from Spot, 1-point (normal or high-speed), 3-point high-speed, and 9-point. The 1-point normal setting solves the "image-freezing" that used to happen while focusing on fast-moving subjects, and makes them easier to track. Focusing time of the 1-point high-speed setting is reduced to about 1/3 of our previous level4. This nearly eliminates the time lag that often occurs with high-magnification zoom shots, letting you capture those great moments that happen all of a sudden. Plus, an AF Assist Lamp is provided to make it easier to focus in low lighting.

Smaller, Easier-to-Hold Body
The positioning of the control buttons and shape of the grip have been improved to make operation even easier than in previous models. Functions like 12x optical zoom and MEGA Optical Image Stabilization are still neatly tucked inside the camera's extremely compact body.