Panasonic announced a new LZ-series of digital cameras today with the LZ-10 and LZ8. The DMC-LZ10 has a 30mm wide-angle lens and a 5x optical zoom. The DMC-LZ8 features a 32mm wide-angle lens. Both cameras have a 5x optical zoom and intelligent auto mode.

Both of the cameras also use the Venus Engine IV for high speed image processing. “Not long ago it would have been hard to imagine a user-friendly and affordable digital camera packed with features professional photographers would envy, such as wide-angle Leica lenses, and manual controls,” said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “However, Panasonic’s commitment to research and innovation, our partnership with Leica, and our dedication to providing our consumers with the technologies they need to take professional-quality images resulted in an extraordinary feat with the 2008 LUMIX LZ-Series.”

Both cameras have manual modes for shutter and aperture settings and have automatic scene modes for portrait, sports, landscape and night portrait. The intelligent auto mode selects the best mode for the environment automatically. The LZ10 has a 10.1 MP sensor and the LZ8 has an 8.1MP sensor. The cameras will be available in February for $249.95 for the LZ10 and $179.95 for the LZ-8.

Via Panasonic