Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70, announced at the end of January 2007, is a thick-bodied point-and-shoot with a 1/2.5-inch 7.2 megapixel CCD. This moderately-priced camera has a 3x optical zoom lens, 2-inch LCD screen, and optical image stabilization system. The camera has 18 preset shooting modes, a Simple Shooting mode, and a Motion Picture mode (although no audio recording). The Motion Picture mode is also able to shoot 16:9 video files at a reduced 848 x 480 resolution. The LS70 includes manual control over image settings like exposure compensation, white balance, a handful of shutter speed settings in Starry Sky mode, and ISO. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 entered the market at an initial retail price of $149 but can currently be found online for less.

Physical Tour

Front (7.0)
The Panasonic DMC-LS70's Lumic DC Vario 3x optical zoom lens is on the right of the front side. It has a polished metallic ring with the phrase, "Mega O.I.S" etched along the upper right section. In the upper right corner directly above the lens is a small in-camera flash - its location is perfect for accidental coverage with fingers of the left hand. The self-timer indicator and AF assist lamp are both located to the left of the lens ring near the top of the camera body. There is a slightly raised Lumix logo in the upper left corner with a small raised horizontal ridge near the center of the camera body along the left edge. The ridge is meant to assist in handling this brick-like camera.

Back (5.0)
The 2-inch, 86,400-pixel LCD monitor consumes nearly three-quarters of the camera’s back face. This leaves just enough room for tiny little controls. The four–way controller eases navigation of functions, but we found that accidental missteps were more frequent than on models with more generous layouts. In addition to directional control, the controller accesses camera settings and manual options. The up arrow doubles as the control to open the exposure compensation scale, the right arrow opens the flash settings, the down arrow opens the Review mode, and the left arrow opens the self-timer menu. There is a set button for selecting and confirming alterations to camera settings in the center of the four-way controller.

Left Side (7.0)
The left side of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 is nearly devoid of features except for a large plastic port cover that flips open via a scalloped tab located on its back edge. The ports for video out and DC IN are housed here. Opening this cover is a simple process, even with large fingers or arthritic hands. Returning the port cover to its proper place is a bit more difficult than opening, and the fit wasn’t snug.

Right Side (6.75)
The SD/MMC memory card slot sits vertically in the center of the right side. The memory card slot cover opens by pressing in slightly while simultaneously sliding the cover toward the back of the camera body. An inset wrist strap eyelet is located directly above the memory card cover near the back edge.

Top (7.5)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70's mode dial is located on the top center of the body near this face’s back edge. The shutter button is to the right of the mode dial. A zoom control ring surrounds the shutter button; when the tab is slid to the left the wide-angle setting is engaged while toggling it to the right will engage the telephoto zoom control. The on/off slider switch is located behind the easy zoom button and may be accidentally switched off while maneuvering.

Bottom (4.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 runs on two AA batteries housed in the bottom of the camera body underneath a fairly strong plastic port cover. This port cover slides to the right to open. On the bottom left of the camera is a plastic tripod mount that is subject to stripping over time or with accidental misuse.