A powerful 14.1 megapixel sensor along with the Venus Engine HD II image processor ensures high image quality, even when shooting at high ISO settings up to 6400.

AVCHD Lite file compression allows you to capture broadcast-quality HD video at reduced files sizes - saving space on your memory card for longer shooting sessions. Featuring Dolby Digital Stereo, the camera also captures dynamic, stereo sound with your HD content.

Intelligent Auto Mode uses face detection autofocus, AF tracking for moving subjects, optical image stabilization, scene mode selection, and auto ISO to make great pictures and movies as simple as point-and-shoot. You also have complete manual control over both still images and video, and My Color Mode allows you to create distinctive effects, making your photos and videos stand out from the crowd.

In the field use the 3" LCD screen or electronic viewfinder to compose and review your images. Connect to your HDTV with an optional HDMI to mini HDMI cable.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 makes shooting and sharing your photos and video fun and easy. 25-600mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.

8-5.2 Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens The DMC-FZ40 features a 25-600mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.

8-5.2 Leica DC Vario-Elmarit high-quality lens.

Comprising 14 elements in 10 groups, including 3 ED (Extra Low Dispersion) lenses and 2 aspherical lenses with 3 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit realizes the outstandingly compact body while passing Leica's stringent standards to deliver exceptional optical performance suppressing distortion at the wide-end and color bleeding at the tele-end. This single camera lets you record both photos and movies just the way you want them, making the DMC-FZ40 twice as attractive.

With a 24x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 600mm) that draws your subjects right up close, you can freely capture decisive sports scenes, along with the natural expressions of animals and details that you can't even see with your bare eyes - in both photos and movies. The 25mm ultra wide-angle lens has about twice the shooting area as a standard 35mm lens.

This enhances all kinds of shooting situations, like when you're photographing a group of people at an indoor party or shooting a large structure or sweeping landscape while traveling. The 24x optical zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 600mm) of the DMC-FZ40, with its wide-open aperture of F5.

2 produces stunning portraits with softly focused backgrounds. The high-quality lenses of this lens system also ensure clear and sharp focusing of your subject in telephoto shots, and provide superb resolution and contrast for smoothly shaded facial complexions.

32x Intelligent Zoom / 50.6x Extra Optical Zoom Intelligent Zoom is available with the DMC-FZ40 which extends the zoom ratio by approx.

1.3x maintaining the picture quality even combining a digital zoom.

This means the 24x optical can virtually extend to 32x equivalent. Furthermore, the extra optical zoom function extends zoom power to 50.

6x by using the center part of the large CCD to bring subjects even closer. Sonic Speed AF The Sonic Speed AF system in the DMC-FZ40 includes numerous re-engineering enhancements, including a higher-speed actuator, optimized algorithms and parallel software processing.

The result is fast and accurate AF performance. You can quickly get moving subjects in focus, such as when you're shooting sports scenes.

Fast Start-up Time The parallel processing of software resulted in ultra high-speed start-up. Short Release Time Lag The shutter release time lag is as short as approx.

0.006 second, making it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities.

14.1-megapixel High-resolution CCD Images remain clear and sharp even when they are enlarged to A2 size (594 x 420mm).

An A2 photo is large enough to show a newborn baby or the head and chest of an adult in actual size. Photos in ordinary sizes (127 x 89mm or 178 x 127mm) come out beautifully at 3 megapixels.

You can trim the photos any way you want. Venus Engine HD II The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD II is incorporated in the DMC-FZ40 to enable the recording of beautiful photos and high-definition movies with higher quality signal processing including the Intelligent Resolution technology.

The Venus Engine HD II also supports the recording of beautiful, high-definition motion images in AVCHD Lite with its higher processing speed using twin CPUs. An advanced noise reduction system in the Venus Engine HD II applies noise reduction (NR) to luminance noise and chromatic noise separately.

As a result, beautiful images with minimal noise can be reproduced all the way up to ISO 1600 high sensitivity at full resolution for beautiful night shots or dimly lit indoor shots. High Image Quality in High Sensitivity Shooting The graininess that results from picture noise and the flatness that sometimes comes with noise reduction measures are major concerns when shooting at high sensitivity levels.

The Intelligent Resolution minimizes noise to produce sharp, clear images. Extended Battery Life The energy-saving Venus Engine HD II image processing engine and the efficient rechargeable lithium-ion battery work together to extend the shooting time of the DMC-FZ40.

This lets you take approx. 580 shots on a single battery charge.

Intelligent Resolution With Intelligent Resolution technology, 3 areas - outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas - are automatically detected and optimum signal processes are performed to each area. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way for it.

As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording. iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode When you don't know which mode will give you the best shooting results, or when a sudden photo opportunity pops up and you don't have time to make any settings, simply choose the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode and let the camera do it all for you.

You just choose the iA Mode, aim at your subject, and shoot. 7 detection and correction functions are simultaneously activated to optimize the settings, so you get stunning photos every time.

The DMC-FZ40, a hybrid still/motion image model, also lets you take beautiful HD movies in the iA Mode. In addition, newly incorporated the Intelligent Resolution technology is always activated in the iA Mode which results in the clearer and higher image quality in every photo and movie with extended zoom range equivalent to 32x optical zoom by the Intelligent Zoom.

Power O.I.

S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) - Shake Detection Everyone has had an experience of taking a photo at night and hoping to capture all the memories and beauty, only to be disappointed at the poor result.

Panasonic has worked on the low-frequency vibration hand-shake component, which is physically generated when pressing the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed. The Power O.

I.S.

(Optical Image Stabilizer nearly doubles the hand-shake correction power of conventional MEGA O.I.

S. You get bright photos without blurring even from handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds.

The quality of night shots is heavily influenced by the shutter speed. When the shutter speed is raised to prevent blurring, insufficient lighting can make the shot too dark.

And when the shutter speed is slowed down to allow more light, hand-shake could occur. In addition to the powerful hand-shake correction of Power O.

I.S.

, the DMC-FZ40 features the iA Mode, which intelligently determines the best shutter speed. Together, they produce dramatically beautiful night scenes.

Face Detection AF/AE with Face Recognition The DMC-FZ40 features Face Recognition, a function that "remembers" faces. Register the person from the menu by taking his/her full-face portrait with his/her name.

Once complete, if the familiar face appears into your frame again, the camera will display the name you specified for that person. The camera will prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and in sharp focus.

Up to 3 persons' names can be displayed at once. In playback, you can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using the Category Playback.

The Face Recognition features makes sorting and archiving incredibly easy. Intelligent Scene Selector - Scene Detection When the camera's in the iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the Scene Mode to one of Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night portrait, Night scenery or Sunset.

The camera judges it from the various detection results such as focusing and brightness level. You are free from annoying settings every time the scene changes when taking images with these most frequently used Scene Modes.

Advanced Scene Mode The Advanced Scene Mode function lets you quickly set the frequently used Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Close-up, or Night portrait Modes with the mode dial. And each of these modes can be fine-tuned to match the shooting situation.

The Creative Mode also lets you adjust the aperture or shutter speed, for easy manual control. When pressing the Motion Picture button, the optimal Movie Scene Mode is automatically selected.

Happy Mode The Happy Mode, a color mode option in the iA Mode, optimizes color, saturation and brightness to make images more vivid and true to the color of the scene you remember. It can be used in combination with each Scene Mode in the Intelligent Scene Selector.

The Happy Mode is also available in movie recording. Panorama Assist Mode This is a handy function for aligning panorama photos using the included software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.

0 HD Edition. The afterimage of each previous shot is displayed, so you can use it to precisely line up the second and third shots.

AF Tracking - Subject Detection Once you focus on your subject, the AF Tracking automatically tracks it until you press the shutter. When you're taking images of an active subject, like children or pets, this function eliminates the need to press the shutter button halfway down repeatedly to readjust the focus.

The AF Tracking makes sure you don't miss those once-in-a-lifetime shooting opportunities. Quick Auto Focus The DMC-FZ40 features the Quick AF.

Ordinary AF is activated when the shutter button is pressed half-way, while the Quick AF starts operating as soon as the camera is pointed toward a subject. This dramatically reduces the shutter delay time and lets you take images quickly.

Its super-fast focus is ideal for capturing quick images of active children and pets. By setting the camera to the Quick AF, images of sudden shooting opportunities won't be out of focus or blurry.

Intelligent ISO Control - Motion Detection The Intelligent ISO Control function in the DMC-FZ40 made possible by the Venus Engine HD II, detects subject movement and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the movement and light conditions. When it detects subject motion, it automatically raises the ISO setting and increases the shutter speed to prevent motion blur.

On the other hand, when the subject is still and no movement is detected, it takes beautifully natural photos with a low ISO setting. The Intelligent ISO Control gives you stunning images with ease because there is no need for complicated settings.

Intelligent Exposure - Light Detection The Intelligent Exposure function increases the exposure only in under-exposed areas by detecting the brightness level part-by-part in the image. If the background includes the sky, which tends to be easily washed out, the camera automatically adjusts the aperture and shutter speed to keep the setting slightly under-exposed to prevent wash-out while brightening the darkened area by increasing the ISO only in that area.

If the background of an indoor portrait receives insufficient lighting from a flash and becomes dark, the ISO sensitivity is raised in only the low-lit area to make it brighter without causing graininess in the subject's face. Auto Backlight Compensation When there is strong backlighting, the background appears nice and bright, but the subject is dark.

This function detects backlight condition and compensates it automatically. A/S/M Mode Manual functions are the key to taking highly controlled and distinctive photos.

Aperture-priority Mode lets you open the aperture up wide for stunning portraits with softly focused backgrounds. Shutter-priority Mode makes it possible to express the dynamic power of a flowing stream by slowing down the shutter speed.

And Manual Exposure Mode gives you total control of special shots, allowing you to achieve a higher level of photographic beauty. Full Manual Operation with Jog Dial The manual control of the DMC-FZ40 is easy to use with the incorporation of a jog dial.

The AF/ AF-Macro/ MF mode button lets you change setting quickly according to shooting condition. You can enjoy creative control not only in photos but also in movies, utilizing a host of options including the Creative Movie Mode and the My Color Mode.

Direct Exposure Compensation In Program AE, Aperture-priority, and Shutter-priority Modes, you can retrieve the exposure compensation value and manually adjust it directly with the jog dial. With the DMC-FZ40, the exposure compensation and auto bracket range is +/- 3EV in 1/3EV steps to.

ISO Auto Setting in Manual Exposure Mode In Manual Exposure Mode, you can either select ISO Auto or make settings from ISO 80 to ISO 1600. With ISO Auto, once you set the aperture and shutter speed, the camera automatically judges the ISO sensitivity and maintains the appropriate exposure.

For example, you have to use a fast shutter speed to capture moving subjects, while closing down the aperture enough to extend the depth of field for focusing ease. With this kind of shot, you can set the shutter speed and aperture manually, and then leave the exposure up to ISO Auto.

Manual Exposure Assist When you choose the Manual Exposure Mode, this function shows how much your setting differs from the setting the camera considers optimal. This serves as a convenient guide for anyone using the Manual Exposure Mode.

My Color Mode Naturally, you want your photos and movies to be unique. The My Color Mode, is a special option that gives free reign to your creativity.

With a variety of options including new Pin hole, Film grain, High dynamic and Dynamic B&W, the My Color Mode makes it easier and more fun to create interesting, expressive images by shooting images with more intensive color, brightness and saturation parameters. Detailed White Balance Setting / White Balance Bracket 2-axis adjustment feature gives you a finer white balance adjustment for Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Flash, or Halogen conditions.

It can also be used when adjusting the color temperature setting or white set function. You can adjust with a reference to the horizontal axis for amber to blue and the vertical axis for green to magenta.

With still image recording, you can use the White Balance Bracket setting, which automatically shoots 3 consecutive photos with slight changes to the white balance setting of each photo in both the vertical and horizontal axes, by simply pressing the shutter button once. AF/ AF-Macro/ MF Mode Button / Focus Button The AF/AF-Macro/ MF mode button lets you quickly change the focus mode.

The focus button helps to achieve finer focusing during both shooting and playback. During AF operation, it serves to activate the variable AF area, and during MF operation, it changes to a handy One-shot AF to provide initial focusing.

During playback, this convenient and important function gives you one-touch zoom playback of subjects in focus. Variable AF Area You can select the AF setting from Face AF, AF tracking, Multi-AF (23-area) or 1-area AF.

With the 1-area AF, the position of the AF area can be freely moved. This is convenient when you want to frame a shot for a special effect, like focusing on a subject at the very edge of the frame.

The AF frame size can also be selected from among Spot, Normal, L, and XL. Manual Focus Select manual focus with the AF/ AF-Macro/ MF mode button, and use the jog dial for super-smooth focusing.

When you focus in the manual focus mode, not only the focus distance but also the DOF (depth of field) according to the zoom range and aperture is displayed. 0.

39" (1cm) Macro The DMC-FZ40 lets you get as close as 0.39" (1cm) to your subject.

Simply press AF/ AF-Macro/ MF mode button to switch to Macro Mode. Ideal for taking dynamic, intricate close-ups of flowers and insects, this feature is also great for rendering artwork and handicrafts in spectacular details MF Assist An MF Assist function enlarges the image to make focusing easier.

The focusing area is movable, which also contributes to easy and comfortable manual focusing. AF/ AE Lock Button The AF/ AE Lock button lets you frame your shot freely while keeping the focus locked, or maintains the same exposure setting regardless of the subject color when taking multiple shots.

Built-in Flash Select the flash synchronization you want from 1st Curtain Sync. or 2nd Curtain Sync.

This is effective for capturing nightscapes with a natural flow of light. You can adjust the intensity within a range of +/- EV 2 in 1/3 EV steps, too Built-in Flash Select the flash synchronization you want from 1st Curtain Sync.

or 2nd Curtain Sync. This is effective for capturing nightscapes with a natural flow of light.

You can adjust the intensity within a range of +/- EV 2 in 1/3 EV steps, too AVCHD Lite In addition to Motion JPEG images, the DMC-FZ40 can record high-definition motion images in AVCHD Lite. It features almost double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format.

Motion Picture Button Motion image recording can be started by pressing a dedicated button on the top of the camera - an extremely quick, convenient way to start motion image recording. Most of the camera's settings will be carried over when switched to motion image recording.

24x Optical Zoom When Shooting Movies The 24x optical zoom of the DMC-FZ40 lets you zoom up close to subjects that you can't actually approach, even when shooting movies. This single camera will capture both photos and movies of wild animals in highly natural poses, dynamic sports scenes and countless other situations, exactly as you see them.

iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode for Movies The iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode is also available in motion image recording. The iA Mode automatically and simultaneously activates 4 advanced detection functions: The Power O.

I.S.

(Optical Image Stabilizer) to detect hand-shake, the Face Detection AF/AE to detect faces in the frame, the Intelligent Scene Selector to detect scene conditions, and the Intelligent Exposure to detect the ambient light. Since the camera automatically optimizes the settings, it lets you shoot stunning HD movies every time.

Advanced Scene Mode for Movies You are naturally supposed to take the same subject in the same situation when you start recording a movie while recording photos. So you do not have to set the Advanced Scene Mode again for movie recording once you are in the Advanced Scene Mode of photo recording.

The result is beautiful movies that are best optimized for the scene. My Color, Color Effect, & Happy Mode for Movies You can use the My Color Mode and Color Effect Mode for shooting movies.

They render highly unique expressions by matching the colors to your subject and surroundings. In the iA Mode, you can apply Happy Mode as well, for even brighter coloring.

Creative Movie Mode The DMC-FZ40 features a Creative Movie Mode, which lets you set the shutter speed and aperture manually to make even more impressive movies. Changing the shutter speed brings special effects to movies, which is especially suitable for shooting fast-moving subject.

The ability to control the aperture is convenient when there are several subjects at different distances and it is desired to have each of them stand out. The Creative Movie Mode gives the user a wider range of expressive possibilities to explore.

Video Editing You can divide a single video into two parts using only the camera. This is handy for compiling memorable scenes, and deleting unwanted scenes to free up space on your memory card while you are traveling.

You can also cut out a clear still image from a movie in the camera thanks to Intelligent Resolution technology. VIERA Link/ HDMI Compatibility Just connect the DMC-FZ40 to an HDTV and you're ready to view your photos and movies in beautiful high-definition.

Motion images recorded in AVCHD Lite on SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards are easy to view on a Panasonic VIERA TV. Simply insert the card into the VIERA Image Viewer (SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot) on a VIERA TV or DIGA recorder/ player to playback your content.

Alternatively, you can use an optional mini HDMI cable to output the motion images you took from the DMC-FZ40 directly to the TV for VIERA Link. Quick Menu Frequently used functions can be quickly retrieved and easily switched by using the Q.

MENU button. The function names are displayed in text form, making them easy for anyone to understand and use.

Function Button Functions that can be assigned to the Function button include: Aspect ratio, Quality, Metering, White balance, Intelligent exposure, Color effect, Guide line, Recording area, and Remaining display. Custom Mode Your frequent setting patterns can be memorized up to three and it can be instantly applied by simply selecting this function with the camera.

EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) The DMC-FZ40 has a clear 0.2" EVF (electronic viewfinder) featuring a 100% field of view, 201,600-dot equivalent, and a large, comfortable eyepiece.

Located directly on top of the lens, it is easy to use and provides fast, accurate framing. Using the viewfinder also consumes no battery power.

Large, 3.0", 230,000-dot High-resolution LCD The DMC-FZ40's large 3.

0" LCD features a high 230,000-dot resolution, and a wide-viewing angle that lets you frame your shot in a variety of ways for both shooting and viewing. The Intelligent LCD function also automatically adjusts the brightness in 11 steps according to shooting conditions.

This LCD provides sharp, clear images in virtually all shooting situations, ranging from nighttime to bright daylight scenes and from low-angle to high-angle shooting. And it lets you share the fun of viewing images with family and friends.

Out-of-frame Display This function is handy when you want to concentrate on shooting without having your view blocked by information displayed on the screen. Select from 4 Aspect Ratios In addition to 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9, you can now shoot with a 1:1 aspect ratio.

This unique square frame adds to your image expression possibilities. The 16:9 ratio produces images that match the aspect ratio of an HDTV screen.

Being able to match the aspect ratio to your subject and shooting intent gives you even greater control. Category Playback You can playback photos from a total of 10 settings, including the Face Recognition, which lets you search for and retrieve specific subjects.

Title Edit / Text Stamp The Title Edit function in playback mode lets you edit the titles of any photos you want. Two of the scene modes, Baby and Pet mode, let you enter the date of birth and name of your subject in advance.

You can also enter your destination and the date of travel in advance, in the Travel Date setting. The title, name, age based on the birth date, date of travel information, and date of shooting are displayed during playback, and can be printed on photos.

PictBridge The PictBridge standard lets you print directly on a compatible digital printer. Print size, layout, date and other settings can be made with the camera.

Of course, you can also make multiple prints of an image, or print only the ones that you have selected. Slideshows with Music The DMC-FZ40 can play a slideshow with music.

Choose from 4 types of music: natural, slow, swing and urban. Then, select the transition effect to match your music.

You can also use the optional mini HDMI cable to connect the camera to an HDTV for breathtaking, large-screen viewing. For musical slideshows created with the included PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.

0 HD Edition, you can choose your favorite iTunes music file as background music and burn it onto a DVD disc as a MPEG2 file. It is also possible to upload the slideshow to YouTube.

PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition Software The latest version of exciting software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.

0 HD Edition comes bundled with the DMC-FZ40. With quick start-up and fast read-in of images, the PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.

0 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos not only of those newly taken but also of those stored in your computer. The Face Recognition function that recognizes the faces in the image to automatically sort the photos by the registered faces without picking out each photo one by one when you only want images of a specific person.

You can also enjoy slideshows with a variety of effects and use your iTunes music library as background music and burn it onto a DVD disc in MPEG2. Motion images can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader even in HD (High Definition) quality.

It also lets you create a 360 rotation panorama file in MOV, which is especially easy if Panorama Assist Mode in the camera is used. The software is of course compatible with the Windows 7.

SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.1 SE Software The DMC-FZ40 records original image data in RAW file format, which allows images to be developed according to your intention.

A number of highly advanced functions can be applied to these RAW images by using the SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.1 SE software utility, with its unique combination of high resolution and extraordinary color separation performance.

Product Highlights 14.1 Megapixels 25-600mm (35mm Equiv.

) Optical Zoom 3.0" LCD & Electronic Viewfinder Venus Engine HD II Image Processor Optical Image Stabilizer Stills & Movies Intelligent Auto Mode Stills & Movies AVCHD Lite Video w/ Stereo Sound My Color Mode High ISO Sensitivity (1600 - 6400) Manual Control for Stills & Movies Specification Resolution Effective: 14.

1 Megapixel, Actual Pixels: 14.5 Megapixel Sensor 1/2.

33" Primary Color Filter File Formats Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: MJPEG, MPEG-4 AVCHD Max Resolution 14MP: 4320 x 3240 @ 4:3 Other Resolutions 10MP: 3648 x 2736 @ 4:3 7MP: 3072 x 2304 @ 4:3 5MP: 2560 x 1920 @ 4:3 3MP: 2048 x 1536 @ 4:3 0.3MP: 640 x 480 @ 4:3 12.

5MP: 4320 x 2880 @ 3:2 9MP: 3648 x 2432 @ 3:2 6MP: 3072 x 2048 @ 3:2 4.5MP: 2560 x 1712 @ 3:2 2.

5MP: 2048 x 1360 @ 3:2 0.3MP: 640 x 424 @ 3:2 10.

5MP: 4320 x 2432 @ 16:9 7.5MP: 3648 x 2056 @ 16:9 5.

5MP: 3072 x 1728 @ 16:9 3.5MP: 2560 x 1440 @ 16:9 2MP: 1920 x 1080 @ 16:9 0.

2MP: 640 x 360 @ 16:9 10.5MP: 3232 x 3232 @ 1:1 7.

5MP: 2736 x 2736 @ 1:1 5.5MP: 2304 x 2304 @ 1:1 3.

5MP: 1920 x 1920 @ 1:1 2.5MP: 1536 x 1536 @ 1:1 0.

2MP: 480 x 480 @ 1:1 Aspect Ratio 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 Image Stabilization Optical Optics Lens Leica DC Vario-Elmarit, 14 elements in 10 groups 2 Aspheric, 3 ED EFL: 4.5-108mm (35mm equivalent: 25-600mm) Aperture: f/2.

8 (W) - 5.2 (T) to f/11 1 Zoom Optical: 24x Digital: 4x Focus Range Wide: 0.

98' (30 cm) - Infinity Telephoto: 6.56' (200 cm) - Infinity Wide Macro: 0.

39" (1 cm) - Infinity Tele Macro: 39.37" (100 cm) - Infinity Exposure Control ISO Sensitivity Auto, 80-1600 (High Sensitivity Mode: Auto, 1600-6400) Shutter 1/8 - 1/2000 seconds 15 - 60 seconds in Starry Sky Mode Exposure Metering Center-weighted, Multi, Spot Exposure Modes Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Program Shift, Shutter Priority Compensation: -3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps) White Balance Modes Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Halogen, Manual, Shade 2 Burst Rate Up to 1.

8 fps at 14 MP for up to 3 frames Up to 10 fps at 3 MP Self Timer 2 Seconds, 10 Seconds Interval Recording No Remote Control Not Specified By Manufacturer Flash Built-in Flash Yes: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Off, Red-eye Reduction, Second-curtain Sync, Slow Sync, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction Effective Flash Range Wide: 0.

98 - 31.17' (0.

3 - 9.5 m) Telephoto: 3.

28 - 16.73' (1 - 5.

1 m) External Flash Connection None Memory Built-in Memory 40MB Memory Card Type SD SDHC SDXC Recording Video Recording Yes, NTSC Video Video Clip Length Up to 210 Minutes 3 Audio Recording With Video, Stereo Viewfinder/Display Viewfinder Type Electronic Viewfinder Coverage 1 Screen 3.0" LCD (230000 pixels) Connectivity/System Requirements Connectivity USB 2.

0 HDMI A (Full Size) Viera Link Power Battery ID-Security Li-ion Battery Pack Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2VDC, 895mAh AC Power Adapter AC Adapter (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional) Physical Dimensions (WxHxD) 4.

74 x 3.14 x 3.

62" / 120.40 x 79.

76 x 91.95 mm Weight 1.

09 lb / 494 g (Camera only) (less)

Vice City Stories improves upon some of the flaws found in the first game, not the least of which is improved length and direction, as well as a great deal more personality. The story's still pretty subpar, though, and as much as this is very much Grand Theft Auto, certain conventions of the series are starting to feel a bit antiquated.

Additionally, much as was the case with Liberty City Stories' transition to the PS2, Vice City Stories loses a lot of its appeal when played on a console versus the PSP. Still, it's only $20, and if you don't own a PSP or just never got around to playing it upon its original release, this isn't a bad way to go if you absolutely, positively must get your GTA fix.

Vice City Stories returns to the pastel- and neon-colored excesses of the 1980s and Vice City. Modeled after '80s-era Miami, GTA: Vice City told a Scarface -inspired tale of Tommy Vercetti, a shunned mobster who found himself sifting through the aftermath of a cocaine deal gone wrong, and subsequently ended up building a major criminal empire throughout the city.

It was a bizarre, convoluted, and completely entertaining tale, filled with ridiculous and profane characters, as well as lots of biting satire on the most superficial of decades. Vice City Stories is, again, a prequel, taking place a couple of years prior to the original game.

You play as Vic Vance, the brother of central Vice City character Lance Vance. Vic's a strange fellow.

When the game begins, he's just joined the army, and he gets off the transport truck at a military base in Vice City. Upon meeting his commanding officer--a borderline psychotic named Jerry Martinez--things start going wrong.

We find out that Vic has joined the military to make some money to support his family, specifically his sick brother. But within the first few minutes of the game, you'll find yourself inexplicably picking up drugs for Martinez, killing Mexican gang members, and chauffeuring prostitutes.

Of course, any veteran of this series won't be shocked one bit by missions like these. The trouble here is that the setup for getting Vic into this mess is beyond flimsy.

From the get-go, Vic talks about how uncomfortable he is with illegal activities, and yet he does every single illicit thing Martinez asks him to do. If you're someone who doesn't want to do anything illegal, and your boss starts asking you to pick up hookers and hide drugs for him, are you going to just gripe about it and then do it anyway? Not to mention that Vic seems completely willing to run into an apartment complex and start wasting Mexicans without even being ordered specifically to do so.

He just says, ""I'll go get it"" (referring to owed money stashed inside one of the apartments) and goes in guns blazing. GTA heroes are never heroes, exactly, but the trick in the past has been that there's been no attempt to play those characters up as sympathetic.

They weren't boy scouts--they were gangsters, killers, and dope dealers. Vice City Stories tries to present Vic as a guy who doesn't want to get into that stuff, yet he freely and frequently does throughout the entire game.

He mostly comes off as a hypocritical idiot. For what it's worth, though, once you get through about the first hour of the game, you'll probably be inclined to stop questioning why Vic is doing what he's doing and just go with it.

As time passes, the game settles into the typical progression of GTA missions and oddball characters. While Liberty City Stories was almost devoid of memorable characters, Vice City Stories digs up a few favorites from the original Vice City, and introduces a couple of new ones as well.

Vic's mildly crazy brother Lance, the alcoholic gun nut Phil Cassidy, the balls-obsessed Cuban gang leader Umberto Robina, and the foul-mouthed Ricardo Diaz (voiced by Phillip Michael Thomas, Gary Busey, Danny Trejo, and Luis Guzman, respectively) are all back. Lance plays a huge role in the story, but the others aren't quite as prominently featured as they were in the first game.

Still, you get a good chunk of time with each of them. Functionally, Vice City Stories plays very much as Liberty City Stories did on the PS2, return of the right analog stick camera control and all.

When running around and shooting people, you simply press the R1 button to lock onto an enemy. Occasionally the game will lock onto random civilians, as opposed to the guy with the submachine gun blowing a hole in your head, but usually it's pretty good about identifying exactly whom you should be killing.

Mostly, though, the combat is quite fun. Running around causing mayhem and blasting away at the masses is just as enjoyable as it's ever been, and there's a good variety of guns and other instruments of destruction to play with.

The one part that isn't so good, unfortunately, is the melee combat. Basic fisticuffs and blunt-object beatings are merely a bit clunky, but if you try to get yourself into a fight while holding a gun at close range to someone punching you in the face, you'll lose every time, unless you run a good distance away, turn back, and start firing.

For some reason, the game just can't deal with aiming mechanics while you're face-to-face with an enemy; you're basically hosed. Vice City is a sizable open-world environment and driving around it can be a bit overwhelming at first.

Odds are that unless you've had the original Vice City regularly inserted in your PS2 for the last couple of years, you won't remember too much of the city's layout. But even though it'll take a while to figure out all the roads and side streets, there's plenty of familiar scenery and landmarks that appear just about where you remember them.

The game's minimap is about as useful as it's ever been in depicting where you are, and there is a larger map to check on in the pause menu. Still, it feels a bit antiquated, especially considering evolutions we've seen in recent games of this type, where the best possible paths for a mission are highlighted on the map.

Heck, even an arrow pointer telling you where to turn would be nice. Driving in the game is pretty much as it's been for years now.

The vehicle physics are perhaps a bit more exaggerated than they were in Liberty City Stories, and that's both a blessing and a curse. It's extremely easy to spin out while taking turns in many of the game's cars, trucks, and motorcycles, but at the same time, some of the jumps and ridiculous crashes you can have make those wacked-out physics worthwhile.

You will run into weird physics glitches from time to time, and you'll sometimes get stuck in pieces of the scenery. These issues aren't exactly new to the series, but they're as annoying as ever.

In addition to cars and bikes, helicopters make their return in Vice City Stories, and they're among some of the most enjoyable vehicles in the game. The flying controls are easy to handle, and flying around the city is often much quicker than trying to drive it (less)

Tak Switch Controls. Auto Shut Off: Induction cooker Shuts off in 1 min if no Vessel is detected (less)

Meet face to face over the Internet (Internet service required and sold separately) with co-workers and clients. The HP USB HD 720p Business Webcam is compatible with most popular instant messaging services.

Capture images and video in 720p high-definition resolution. Convenient webcam controls and integrated microphone right at your fingertips.

Tilt and pan lets you easily adjust and direct the webcam to you show what you want while maintaining a stable connection to your monitor. Easy-to-use launch utility helps you set-up and start a video chat.

Comprehensive software suite is designed to support 720p resolution. The simple interface lets you capture, edit, and add affects to images and video.

Zoom in and out, track faces, or upload images and content to YouTube. Specification Cable Length (imperial):4.

9 ft Connector Description:USB Image Sensor:CMOS Microphone:Yes Host Interface:USB Platform Supported:PC Mac Height:1.8"" Width:2.

5"" Depth:2.1"" Weight (Approximate):2.

54 oz (less)