Panasonic North America CTO Eisuke Tsuyusaki and senior product manager, imaging, Darin Pepple will conduct a free public live webcast at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 23 (Panasonic Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/panasonic), about full HD 3D products for the home and photography tips on the company’s first 3D photo-capable Lumix GH2 digital DSLMicro camera.
Panasonic today announced the Lumix DMC-GH2, a hybrid touch-control camera featuring full High Definition (HD) video recording and compatibility with what the company says is the world’s first interchangeable 3D lens.
Compatible with the Micro Four Thirds System standard, the GH2 is newly designed with an easy-to-hold grip and includes a refined image processing engine and sensor that delivers fast, sharp photos, full HD video recording, and the ability to take 3D photos with Panasonic’s new interchangeable 3D lens.
“The LUMIX GH2 is Panasonic’s most professional-level DSLM camera yet, giving users the option to be more creative than ever, from recording video in full HD with cinematic effects to taking 3D photos with our new lens,” said Pepple. “At the same time, its compact size can fit in the palm of your hand and its faster auto focus and intuitive touch-control shooting make it possible for even new photographers to literally point-and-shoot for stunning images.”
Panasonic’s new compact 3D lens for the Lumix G Micro System features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses that are then processed with a 3D image processing system.
The Lumix GH2 will be available in black and silver models in early December in three different kit options for a suggested retail price of: $899.95 (Body only); $999.95 (Body with lens LUMIX G VARIO 14-42 mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S.); $1,499.95 (Body with lens LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S.).
The company also announced three new interchangeable lenses for the Lumix G Series, including the world’s first1 interchangeable 3D lens, the H-FT012. The lenses, all based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard, are compact while featuring high optical performance and are compatible with Panasonic’s LUMIX DSLMicro cameras, such as the newly-announced LUMIX DMC-GH2.
The new interchangeable 3D lens LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12 (H-FT012) features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses that are then processed with a 3D image processing system.
The new 3D-capable interchangeable lens allows instant 3D shooting (35 mm camera equivalent: 65 mm3)4, without time lag between left and right images – even when shooting objects in motion.
“Consumers can now enjoy shooting high-quality photos in 3D with this compact lens, from landscapes to people, while watching them back later on their 3D-capable VIERA televisions at home,” said Pepple.
What Panasonic called the world’s lightest interchangeable single focal length lens, the Lumix G 14 mm / F2.5 ASPH, features a 14mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 28 mm) wide angle and F2.5 brightness with sharp, high contrast image rendering. The compact LUMIX G 14mm lens takes advantage of a wide viewing angle and deep depth of field for excellent shooting performance in a variety of situations, from landscapes to snapshots to indoor shooting.
The high performance lens system combines six lenses in five groups, including three aspherical lenses, for a finished product that is compact with an overall length of 20.5mm. Thanks to its minimized distortion, this single focal length lens also excels in shooting subjects with straight lines, like architecture. The integration of a stepping motor and an inner focus drive system create a quiet and high speed contrast auto focus (AF).
The new handheld telephoto zoom lens Lumix G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. can photograph ultra-telephoto zoom shots at 300mm (35 mm camera equivalent: 600 mm), but is light enough to carry easily for everyday distance shooting, like sporting events. Because of its compact size, photographers can achieve a high compression effect in distance photography without any need for a heavy tripod. Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) suppresses blur by compensating for hand shaking that can severely affect zoom shots.
The telephoto zoom lens combines 17 elements in 12 groups including an ED lens. By incorporating the ED lens in the first lens group, the chromatic aberration is suppressed to render sharp, high contrast images with stable optical performance over the entire zoom range. The integration of a stepping motor with an exclusive zoom tracking control system and inner focus drive system create a quiet, accurate and high speed contrast AF.
The new Lumix G 14mm / F2.5 ASPH (H-H014) and Lumix G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS100300) each include seven blades to give the aperture a rounded shape. This rounded aperture produces an attractively smooth effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings. A strong metal mount is durable for heavy use, and multi-coated lens elements minimize ghosts and flare.
The new Panasonic LUMIX lenses will be available in November for suggested retail prices of:
LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12 (H-FT012): $249.95
LUMIX G 14mm / F2.5 ASPH (H-H014): $399.95
LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS100300): $599.95
— By Scott Hettrick