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DMC-LX3

There is a lot to cover here, so lets get straight into Panasonic’s latest camera releases. First up is the the Panasonic Lumix LX3.

The LX3 sports a really quick and really wide f/2.0 24-60mm Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens. This is probably the widest-aperture lens of any compact camera. This thing will be going head to head with Canon’s G9 for sure. However, rather than increasing the mega-pixel count to help make roads into Canon’s territory, Panasonic have gone for quality over quantity. Using a special 10.1-megapixel CCD, there should be lower noise in the images and more colour depth. This will actually give better images than some 14.7-megapixel cameras. Accompanying the impressive lens is the Venus Engine IV image processor which can support 2.5fps shooting at full resolution and has increased sensitivity to 6400 ISO. Other features for the LX3 include:

• 3-inch LCD monitor with a resolution of 460k dots
• Shoot in 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 widescreen mode
• Shoot HD video at 1280 x 720 resolution and 24fps
• Face detection and tracking mode (include faces in side view)
• Autofocus tracking
• Intelligent exposure
• Intelligent ISO selection

Available in black or silver, look out for the Lumix DMC-LX3 in August for an undisclosed fee.

DMC-FZ28

The next model up is the Lumix FZ28. This new model is an up-to-date version of the FZ18 released (all the way) back in 2007. The FZ28 is similar to its predecessor, for example, it sporting the same 18x zoom lens. However, the sensor is more powerful, clocking in at 10.1-megapixel CCD. The display is slightly larger, measuring up at 2.7-inches. Other improvements include:

• Venus Engine IV image processing engine
• Improved face detection
• Intelligent Auto functions including AF tracking
• Shoots 1280 x 720 HD video at 30fps and the zoom lens works during recording

Coming next month, there is no pricing information as yet, but it should be available soon.

DMC-FX150

We would have been silly for thinking that Panasonic was going to leave us without a new camera over 10.1-megapixels. Naturally, the Lumix FX150 comes to the rescue and boasts a 14.7-megapixel sensor with an f/2.8 3.6-x zoom Leica lens. Other features include:

• 2.7-inch 230k LCD monitor
• Venus Engine IV image processing
• Raw mode shooting
• Enhanced Intelligent Auto mode
• Improved face detection
• 11-area tracking AF
• 2fps continuous shooting at full resolution
• HD movie mode, in this case capable of shooting 1280 x 720 resolution at 24fps
• Two-channel parallel noise reduction

The FX150 is to become available, with no announcement on pricing as of yet.

DMC-FX37

Finally we find the Lumix FX37. Probably the one you’ve all been waiting for. This bad-boy takes the number one spot away from the FX35 as Panasonic’s top end luxury ultra-compact camera.

Although it is similar to its nearest rival, the new FX37 includes a 5x zoom Leica DC lens. Other than that, however, things remain pretty similar. The FX37 will be available with almost indistinguishable specifications, including:

• 2.5-inch 230k LCD monitor
• 10.1-megapixel resolution sensor
• Venus Engine IV processor
• Intelligent Auto mode
• HD movie recording

We should be able to see the FX37 in August in either black, silver, pink, blue or brown – however, the colour you end up seeing will ultimately depend on where you live; not all colours will be available everywhere.  No word on pricing has been provided at this time.

[Via Panasonic Press Release]

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