Filed under: Digital Cameras

We had it on good authority that Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds debut, the Lumix DMC-G1, was tracking for a November release at $799, and Panasonic USA just dropped some PR to exactly that effect. We’d prefer an exact calendar date to Panny’s vague “mid-November” timeframe, but we’re sure we’ll live. Alongside the camera Panasonic will be launching the Lumix G Vario 45-200mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. telephoto Micro Four Thirds lens for $350. Panasonic’s also still chatting up a G1 followup for 2009 that will include HD video capabilities, which probably should’ve made it into round one if you ask us.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Take this with a pinch of NaCl, but Adorama has it that Panasonic’s Yasunori Takase confessed to a US price tag on the newly unveiled Lumix DMC-G1. During a leisurely chat at Photokina, the higher-up noted that the Micro Four Thirds camera would hit US soil for $799, though he didn’t bother to mention an expected ship date. If you’ll recall, we found that the G1 would start shipping at the tail end of October for ¥80,000 (around $750); considering that, we’d say $799 sounds about right over on this side of the world.

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We just barely got our unsteady mitts on the upcoming Lumix G1, yet already Panasonic is teasing with something of a successor, currently dubbed the “G.” It uses the G1’s same micro four thirds body design, ditching the mirror and optical viewfinder in favor of case slimness, but adds a stereo microphone on top and record button on back for high-def video capture — rare stuff on a consumer digi-cam with a replaceable lens. No word on price or availability, but given the G1 isn’t slated to hit Japan until October we wouldn’t expect this one until sometime next year. Meanwhile, if you tend to prefer pictures of the non-moving variety, LetsGoDigital also has some test images taken by a pre-release G1. The 640×480 snaps themselves aren’t anything to get too excited about (unless you’re a Formula One fan), but do prove that the camera can indeed take pictures.

Read - Panasonic Lumix G
Read - G1 Test Photos

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We got to handle Panny’s new micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-G1, this evening. It’s obviously small for a interchangeable lens camera, but it’s not stunningly small. The build quality shows that Panasonic isn’t kidding around here: the camera is a hefty and solid, with a decent shutter click and no-nonsense manual controls. The 3-inch LCD also doesn’t disappoint, though the digital viewfinder is a tad disorienting, and precise focusing could be an issue. Yes, we fully recognize the irony of taking crummy photographs of a camera, but work with us here.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We got to handle Panny’s new micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-G1, this evening. It’s obviously small for a interchangeable lens camera, but it’s not stunningly small. The build quality shows that Panasonic isn’t kidding around here: the camera is a hefty and solid, with a decent shutter click and no-nonsense manual controls. The 3-inch LCD also doesn’t disappoint, though the digital viewfinder is a tad disorienting, and precise focusing could be an issue. Yes, we fully recognize the irony of taking crummy photographs of a camera, but work with us here.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Taking the wraps off of three cameras at once just isn’t good enough for Panasonic, so how’s about a fourth? The pocket-friendly LUMIX DMC-FX150 arrives in a trio of stylish hues (black, gold and silver) and features an admittedly absurd 14.7-megapixel sensor, 28-millimeter wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens, a 3.6x optical zoom and a host of manual controls to boot. This shooter can also capture shots in RAW format, and the usual suspects — you know, red-eye correction, optical image stabilizer, face detection, intelligent ISO, etc. — are all there. If this one fits the bill, expect to receive one of your own for $399.95 when picking it up next month.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Shortly after Samsung unveiled its summer stable of cameras, along comes Panasonic with a new trio of its own. Kicking things off is the zoom-infatuated DMC-FZ28, which features a remarkable 18x optical zoom, 10.1-megapixel sensor, Intelligent Auto Mode, Auto Focus and a 27-millimeter wide-angle lens. Moving on, we see the DMC-LX2’s rightful successor — the unimaginatively named LX3 — which lands in August alongside the aforementioned FZ28. Said shooter packs a 10.1-megapixel sensor, F2.0 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens and the ability to capture 720p movies at 24fps. Bringing up the rear is the pocket-friendly LUMIX DMC-FX37 (due in September), which touts a 25mm ultra wide-angle LEICA DC lens, 10.1-megapixel sensor (are you sensing a trend?), a 5x optical zoom and 720p movie mode. Ready for the sting(s)? Try $449.99, $499.95 and $349.95 in order of mention.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

Read - DMC-FZ28
Read - DMC-LX3
Read - DMC-FX37

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Panny’s Lumix DMC-TZ50 isn’t brand new or anything — after all, we first caught wind of this WiFi-equipped point-and-shoot late last month in Japan. Nevertheless, Panasonic is now announcing that said camera will be heading Stateside with 802.11b/g capabilities, access to T-Mobile HotSpot service and the ability to upload photos directly to Google’s Picasa Web Albums — exactly like we saw at CES. Specs wise, you’ll find a 9.1-megapixel sensor, 10x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens, 720p movie mode, SD expansion slot, video output, red-eye correction, optical image stabilization, the Venus Engine IV and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor to boot. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on when (or if) this technology will filter out to more Panasonic models, but folks interested in this here camera can pick one up next month for $449.95.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panny’s Lumix DMC-TZ50 isn’t brand new or anything — after all, we first caught wind of this WiFi-equipped point-and-shoot late last month in Japan. Nevertheless, Panasonic is now announcing that said camera will be heading Stateside with 802.11b/g capabilities, access to T-Mobile HotSpot service and the ability to upload photos directly to Google’s Picasa Web Albums — exactly like we saw at CES. Specs wise, you’ll find a 9.1-megapixel sensor, 10x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens, 720p movie mode, SD expansion slot, video output, red-eye correction, optical image stabilization, the Venus Engine IV and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor to boot. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on when (or if) this technology will filter out to more Panasonic models, but folks interested in this here camera can pick one up next month for $449.95.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panny’s Lumix DMC-TZ50 isn’t brand new or anything — after all, we first caught wind of this WiFi-equipped point-and-shoot late last month in Japan. Nevertheless, Panasonic is now announcing that said camera will be heading Stateside with 802.11b/g capabilities, access to T-Mobile HotSpot service and the ability to upload photos directly to Google’s Picasa Web Albums — exactly like we saw at CES. Specs wise, you’ll find a 9.1-megapixel sensor, 10x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens, 720p movie mode, SD expansion slot, video output, red-eye correction, optical image stabilization, the Venus Engine IV and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor to boot. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on when (or if) this technology will filter out to more Panasonic models, but folks interested in this here camera can pick one up next month for $449.95.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panny’s Lumix DMC-TZ50 isn’t brand new or anything — after all, we first caught wind of this WiFi-equipped point-and-shoot late last month in Japan. Nevertheless, Panasonic is now announcing that said camera will be heading Stateside with 802.11b/g capabilities, access to T-Mobile HotSpot service and the ability to upload photos directly to Google’s Picasa Web Albums — exactly like we saw at CES. Specs wise, you’ll find a 9.1-megapixel sensor, 10x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens, 720p movie mode, SD expansion slot, video output, red-eye correction, optical image stabilization, the Venus Engine IV and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor to boot. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on when (or if) this technology will filter out to more Panasonic models, but folks interested in this here camera can pick one up next month for $449.95.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Take Panasonic’s 9.1 megapixel TZ5 with 10x optical zoom and 3-inch LCD, slap in some 802.11b/g WiFi and what do you get? This, the Lumix DMC-TZ50. As with most WiFi cameras, the TZ50 can upload your pictures from any WiFi hotspot but is then locked into specific image sharing sites; in this case, Panny’s own Lumix Club. There is hope for a more open model, however, when the TZ50 goes global. After all, the Panasonic / T-Mobile WiFi demo we saw at CES tied images to Google’s Picasa. Ok, it’s not Flickr but it’s a start. Available May 16th in Japan for ¥49,800 or about $500.

[Via Impress]

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If Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FX500 skipped out on PMA in order to get fitted with a touchscreen LCD monitor and HD recording capabilities, we’d say it was certainly a smart move. This well-spec’d shooter sports a pocket-friendly design, a 10.1-megapixel sensor, a 25-millimeter ultra-wide-angle lens, 3-inch touchscreen, 5x optical zoom and a swank movie mode capable of logging clips at 1,280 x 720 at 30fps. For those worried about said feature chewing through their SD / SDHC card (or the 50MB of built-in memory), WVGA (848 x 480) and VGA (640 x 480) video modes are available as well. You’ll also find such niceties as optical image stabilization, red-eye correction, face detection and Auto Focus tracking for good measure. Drooling yet? Chew on the choice of black or silver and get your $399.95 ready to drop come May.

[Via PCMag]

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It hasn’t even been a full month since Panasonic’s PMA lineup was revealed, but the folks over at PhotographyBLOG have already had a chance to put the succulent Lumix DMC-FS20 through a series of paces. Upon whipping this shooter out, it was immediately praised for having a 4x wide-angle zoom and and a very pocket-friendly design, and thankfully for those looking into picking one up, the good news didn’t stop there. Small niggles such as the lack of a true optical viewfinder and noticeable noise at high ISOs were overshadowed with buckets of compliments. Put simply, the cam was seen as “almost identical to the FX55” (albeit at a lower price point), and overall, it managed to snag 4.5 out of 5 twinkling stars from the powers that be.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

It hasn’t even been a full month since Panasonic’s PMA lineup was revealed, but the folks over at PhotographyBLOG have already had a chance to put the succulent Lumix DMC-FS20 through a series of paces. Upon whipping this shooter out, it was immediately praised for having a 4x wide-angle zoom and and a very pocket-friendly design, and thankfully for those looking into picking one up, the good news didn’t stop there. Small niggles such as the lack of a true optical viewfinder and noticeable noise at high ISOs were overshadowed with buckets of compliments. Put simply, the cam was seen as “almost identical to the FX55” (albeit at a lower price point), and overall, it managed to snag 4.5 out of 5 twinkling stars from the powers that be.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Continue reading Panasonic gets official with PMA camera lineup

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Continue reading Panasonic gets official with PMA camera lineup

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We know how difficult it will be not to get your shorts twisted over Panasonic’s latest digital camera offering, the Lumix LS80, but please try. When a product is marked by such breathtaking features as 8.1-megapixel resolution, 4 x zoom, “MEGA O.I.S.” image stabilization, ISO up to 1600, SDHC card support, and 16:9 recording modes, it’s easy to get carried away — though we suggest simple breathing exercises to keep your pulse in check. The new model is available in stylish black, pink, or silver, no word on price or release date, so just keep your heart medication nearby.

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