Panasonic, announced their three sub-$200 cameras on Friday, which they avoided doing at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Two of the cameras, which would provide a slim and compact build at a cheaper price than the company's high-end slim and compact FX-Series, have been included in the FS-series. As far as the third camera is concerned, it will be part of LS-series, which though would be heaviest of Panasonic's point-and-shoot line, but would be the cheapest. It has been learnt that the LS-series camera could be availed at a suggested retail price of just $119.95.

The FS5 would be succeeded by the Lumix DMC-FS15, and will provide 12.1 megapixel captures, a 5x optical zoom, a wide-angle 29-mm lens and a 2.7-inch LCD screen filled with 230,000 pixels.

The Lumix DMC-FS7, which would offer 10.1 megapixel captures, 4x optical zoom, and would use a 33mm lens, along with a 2.7-inch LCD screen filled with 230,000 pixels, would succeed the FS3.

It has been learnt that both FS15 and FS3 will be available in late March at a suggested retail price of $199.95 and $159.95, respectively.

It should also be noted here that the latest FS cameras will be the premier in the series to feature the new Auto Focus Tracking feature that is seen in other Panasonic cameras and camcorders. The advantage of this feature is that the user can target and focus on a subject, then stay "locked" onto it even if it is moving.

“The Lumix DMC-LS85 will be the successor to the LS80. It will offer 8.1 megapixel captures, a 4x optical zoom, a 33-mm lens, a 2.5-inch LCD with 230,000 pixels and be powered by two AA batteries. The LS85 will be available in April for a suggested retail price of just $119.95,” said the company.

The company also claims that all of the new cameras will provide video recording in a standard-definition, 4:3 ratio at a resolution of 640x480, but will also be able to record in widescreen 16:9 standard-definition at a resolution of 848x480.