Digital Photography Interface

Not wanting Fujifilm to feel lonely today, Panasonic has also come up with a bunch of their own new cameras for this fall, including the much-awaited successor to their Lumix LX3 compact/prosumer camera, the new Lumix LX5 and spiritual successor to the Lumix FZ30, the CMOS-touting prosumer Panasonic Lumix FZ100. Panasonic has also come up with a new basic rugged camera for those on a budget as well as a more consumer-oriented super-zoom (essentially a less feature-packed version of the FZ100)

The Panasonic Lumix FZ100 super-zoom and Lumix FX700 compact both sport Panasonic’s brand new CMOS sensor with 14 megapixels of resolution. This new sensor allows for high-speed shooting (isn’t everyone making at least one of these nowadays?) and improved high ISO performance, though I’m surprised Panasonic hasn’t included one of those sweep-style, auto panorama modes like Sony and (recently) Fujifilm have been offering.

Panasonic Lumix FZ100
(Prosumer super-zoom camera)

• 14 effective megapixels (CMOS sensor)
• 25 – 600 mm (f2.8 – f5.2) 24X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
• New Venus Engine FHD imaging processor
• 3 inch LCD (460k dots) with ability to flip out and rotate
  Electronic viewfinder with dioptric correction available
• Full manual controls with new jog dial and focus switch
• Hotshoe supports external flash units
  New port on the side also allows you to plug in an external microphone (ala Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds cameras)
• 11 FPS continuous shooting at 14 MP full-resolution;
  and up to 60 FPS at 3.5 megapixels
• Motion Deblur mode attempts to boost shutter speed ‘as high as possible’ by making use of both the camera’s Intelligent ISO/motion detection and Intelligent Exposure features
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) 50i/60i movie mode with stereo sound; AVCHD codec
  Lower resolution options ranging from 720p, VGA to QVGA available
  Exposure controls, wind filter, optical zoom and optical IS available while recording
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (410 shots per charge)
• Available in late August for $500

Panasonic Lumix FZ40
also known as Lumix FZ45
(Consumer super-zoom camera)

• 14 effective megapixels (CCD)
• 25 – 600 mm (f2.8 – f5.2) 24X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
• 3 inch LCD (230k dots); fixed position
  Electronic viewfinder with dioptric correction available
• Full manual controls with new jog dial
• 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with stereo sound; AVCHD Lite codec
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (410 shots per charge)
• Available in late August for $400

Panasonic Lumix LX5
(Mid-range compact camera)

• 10 effective megapixels (Sensor has been redesigned since the LX3 for better dynamic range and high ISO performance)
• 24 – 90 mm (f2.8 – f3.3) 3.8X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
• New Venus Engine FHD imaging processor
• 3 inch LCD (460k dots)
• Full manual controls with new jog dial
• Hotshoe supports external flash units
  New accessory port (first seen on the Micro Four Thirds Lumix GF1) allows an external electronic viewfinder EVF to be attached to the hotshoe
• New 1:1 square image aspect ratio (in addition to existing 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 widescreen options)
• New Step Zoom allows you to preset focal length to those commonly found on SLR lenses (ie 24mm, 28mm, 35mm and so on)
• 720p HD (1280 x 720) 50i/60i movie mode with sound; AVCHD Lite codec
  Exposure controls, wind filter, optical zoom and optical IS available while recording
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (400 shots per charge)
• Available in late August for $500

Panasonic Lumix FX700
(Touchscreen compact camera)

• 14 effective megapixels (CMOS sensor)
• 24 – 120 mm (f2.2 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
• New Venus Engine FHD imaging processor
• 3 inch touchscreen LCD (460k dots)
• Full manual controls
• 10 FPS continuous shooting at 14 MP full-resolution
• Handheld Nightshot mode takes 10 pictures in a row, combining them into one sharp photo with lower than usual noise (sounds familiar?)
• Motion Deblur mode attempts to boost shutter speed ‘as high as possible’ by making use of both the camera’s Intelligent ISO/motion detection and Intelligent Exposure features
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) 50i/60i movie mode with sound; AVCHD codec
  Wind filter, optical zoom and optical IS available while recording
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (300 shots per charge)
• Available in late August for $400

Panasonic Lumix TS10
(Rugged compact camera)

• Rugged design: Shockproof (1.5m/5 ft), waterproof (3m/10 ft), dustproof, freezeproof
• 14 effective megapixels (CCD)
• 35 – 140 mm (f2.2 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Mega OIS)
• 2.7 inch LCD (230k dots)
• Point and shoot; no manual controls
• 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound; MJPEG
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (300 shots per charge)
• Available in September for $250
• Comes in your choice of silver, black, red or blue