Panasonic announced a new line of its Lumix digital cameras today in Queenstown. The company did not announce a set date for the products' release, but a representative for Panasonic said the cameras would be available soon.The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3 is a “tough” 12.1MP digital camera and is waterproof to 12m, shockproof to 2m, freezeproof to -10 degrees celcius and dustproof, the company said.
The FT3 replaces the FT2 which was only waterproof to 10m, but otherwise was similarly capable in rugged terrain. The FT3 has a 6x zoom, an improvement on the FT2’s 4.6x. The FT3 is also capable of recording video in full HD and taking pictures in 3D using its 3D mode.
The company also announced the new Lumix S series on cameras, and showed off the S1 and S3 at the event. The S1 and S3 point-and-shoot cameras are designed for entry-level users, Panasonic said. The S1 is 12.1MP and the S3 is 14.1MP. Both can record video in 720p high definition and feature 28mm wide-angle lenses with 4x optical zoom.
The FH2 and FH5 are 20% slimmer than the FH1 and have 28mm LEICA DC lenses with 4x optical zoom. The FH series also now incorporates what Panasonic calls its Venus Engine VI, which automatically detects outlines, detailed texture and soft gradiation areas. The cameras are "super-fast", Panasonic said, with the FH5 having a slightly quicker shutter speed than the FH2.
At the higher end of the digital compact range are Panasonic's FH25 and FH27 cameras. Both have 16.1MP LEICA lenses and 8x optical zoom. They are an upgrade on the FH20 and FH22 and, like the FH2 and FH5, run the Venus Engine VI. The cameras have a 3" touchscreen interface and can record in 720p high definition.
The biggest touchscreen of them all is on the FX78, at 3.5", which also features 5x optical zoom. The auto-focus is considerably faster than its predecessor, the DMC-FX70, and it also records video in full HD where the FX70 could only film in 720p resolution. The FX78 also has a 24mm "ultra wide-angle" video recording.
The TZ18 and TZ20 are the sixth generation of cameras in Panasonic's TZ range. It has a 16x optical zoom - more than you're likely to ever need - and a 14.1MP sensor. The TZ20 can shoot pictures at 10 frames per second and the auto-focus is 49% faster than the TZ10, Panasonic said.