Panasonic is going back to the smartphone arena this year with its new CM1 Lumix smartphone, which was announced recently in Germany at Photokina 2014.

Looking at the back of the handset, the CM1 looks like a slim Lumix point and shoot camera with a huge protruding lens. The back cover of the smartphone bears the textured leather finish used in most compact cameras. The phone uses a 1-inch 20MP sensor with f/2.8 Leica lens. The device is also capable of recording 4K video at 15fps and Full HD clips at 30 fps.
Flipping the device over, you’ll see a 4.7-inch 1080p display. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 801 chip with a 2.3GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. Other notable features of the CM1 include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, LTE Cat 4 connectivity and a 2600mAh battery.

Panasonic is targeting the affluent market for the CM1 by offering the handset for around €899 by November or more than $1000 at current exchange rates. There’s also no word on international availability yet.
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If you think that the Samsung NX1 is still a bit bulky for your taste, you should definitely consider Panasonic’s newly announced Lumix LX100.

The camera boasts a 12.8MP sensor with an 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 aperture lens. The LX100’s lens is composed of five aspherical lenses including two ED lens elements. It has a maximum ISO range of 25600 and is capable of recording UHD video at 30 fps in mp4 format. It is also capable of recording Full HD clips at 60fps in AVCHD Progressive or MP4 format.
At the back of the camera is a 2764-dot LCD electronic viewfinder with 0.7x equivalent magnification and a 3-inch display that is unfortunately, non-touch. The LX100 also features two dials at the top for basic modes and exposure settings. Other notable features of the LX100 include built-in Wi-Fi and NFC as well as in-camera Raw conversion.

The camera doesn’t have a built-in flash, but does have a hot shoe on which other accessories can be connected. Panasonic will start shipping the LX100 by November for $899.
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Panasonic’s Lumix line has always been known for its quality and performance. And the company’s upcoming GH4 compact system camera isn’t about to end the Lumix tradition.

The Lumix GH4 is a beast of a camera, especially when it comes to video recording. The camera was first unveiled at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and is capable of capturing both traditional 4K content and Cinema 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels) at 30 frames per second with a 100Mbps bit rate.

However, 4K video recording has its drawbacks. The large amount of space needed to record 4K content requires the GH4 to use the latest-generation card to capture 200Mbps videos internally.

Users can also record clean HDMI video with an external recorder. There’s an optional interface that mounts at the bottom of the GH4 that provides SDI output with support for 4K, time code, two XLR microphone inputs and a 13.8 volt terminal for external power.

Other notable specs of the GH4 include a 16MP CMOS micro four thirds sensor, ISO 200-25600, a 2.36M-dot OLED EVF, a 3-inch tilt-and-swivel OLED panel at the back, a 0.07-second focus speed, 12fps burst mode and a splash- and dust proof magnesium body.

The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is expected to launch next month. There’s no specifics yet on pricing but expect the camera to retail for more than its predecessor and will probably cost a little less than $2000.

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Panasonic has a new line of DSLM cameras that is designed for those looking for a camera with a stylish design partnered with performance.

The Panasonic Lumix GM1 sports a 16MP sensor that delivers both high quality HD movies and dynamic photos. It also features a micro technology design that allows the GM1 to take a small form factor. The body is made from metallic alloy and accentuated by aluminium dials.

The GM1 also features Wi-Fi connectivity that allows the camera to easily connect with smartphone and tablets; and gives the camera the ability to share a shot online. And when used with the Panasonic Image App, smartphones and tablets can now be used as a remote control for the GM1, which is ideal for taking group shots or in situations where it isn’t practical to shoot from the camera.

The camera also sports a 3-inch screen at the back as well as intelligent auto modes that provide ease to users without compromising image quality. A range of 22 creative filters also let users add a personal and artistic touch to images. A silent shutter is also included to enable users to take photos in places where photos are not allowed to be taken.

Lastly, the GM1 features a Light Speed Autofocus and Low-light autofocus that provides improved speed in extreme low-light conditions. Panasonic has yet to announce a release date for the Lumix GM1, but pricing is expected to be at $749.99.

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Panasonic recently introduced the Lumix DMC-XS3, a 14.1-megapixel digital compact camera packed in an ultra slim form factor that is just 14mm at its thinnest depth.

The XS3 features a 14.1-megapixel high sensitivity MOS sensor and f2.8 2mm ultra wide angle lumix lens with 5x optical zoom for higher picture quality and versatility. The camera’s DC Vario lens is composed of 6 elements arranged in 5 groups with 3 aspherical surfaces, which is complemented by the Venus engine which features high-speed digital signal output technology.

The camera can also capture Full-HD videos and can store them in MP4 format. It also features an Intelligent Auto (iA) mode that assists users in taking the best shot possible. There’s also a Mega Optical Image Stabilizer function that is integrated with the iA mode that suppresses hand-shake.

The Lumix DMC-XS3 also features a Creative Panorama function that allows users to shoot horizontal/vertical panoramic image with photo filters including retro, high-key, low-key, sepia, dynamic monochrome and cross process to name a few. There’s also a Creative Control and Creative Retouch function that offers 13 filter effects and a Beauty and Aesthetic Retouch that offers facial corrections and enhancements.

No word on pricing and availability yet, but we’ll update everyone once official word from Panasonic comes.

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Panasonic today announced its newest super zoom bridge camera – the DMC-FZ70 with its 20mm wide-angle to 1200mm (60x) long zoom.

The Lumix DMC-FZ70 features a F2.8-5.9 lens which is great for use in low-light conditions both in video and photos. The camera’s lens is comprised of 14 elements in 12 groups, including 6 aspherical lenses with 9 aspherical surfaces and 3 ED (Extra-low dispersion) lenses which suppress distortion at the wide end and color bleeding at the tele-end. At 20mm the lens captures a nearly 140% wider angle of view compared with a 24mm lens.

The DMC-FZ70 also features the Intelligent Resolution technology that allows the camera to extend the zoom ratio up to 120x equivalent while maintaining picture quality.

There’s also an optical image stabilization function that assures sharp and blur-free photos and videos even when in full zoom. The angular width that the camera can compensate for is more than 200% wider than previous models at the tele-end, which allows for superior handheld 1200mm super telephoto sharing. It also has an Active mode that allows for active video recording at wide angle.

To complement the FZ70’s lens is a 16.1 megapixel high-sensitivity MOS sensor and Venus Engine that deliver high speed response and high picture quality. The camera also comes equipped with Clear Zoom Microphone with Dolby Digital Audio Quality Recording which features a wind shield zoom microphone that minimizes wind noise by approximately 70% compared to other cameras.

The FZ70 can also record full HD 1080p videos in both AVCHD and MP4 formats. There’s a special button at the top of the device that lets users to instantly start recording videos while shooting photos. There’s also a creative video mode that lets users adjust shutter speeds and aperture when shooting videos.

Other notable features of the Lumix DMC-FZ70 include 15 filter effects under the Creative Control and Creative Retouch feature, panoramic effects, low-light sensor response and an Intelligent Auto mode that enables users to adjust defocusing area, exposure compensation and white balance by just moving the slider.

There’s no word on pricing and availability yet but we’ll update this post once all relevant information become available. 

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