Hasta La Gadget!

Where there’s smoke, right? Just days after hearing that Panasonic’s newest Micro Four Thirds camera was on the way later this week, along comes this — an event poster in Paris that leaves little doubt about what’s to come. As the story goes, this shot was taken over in France, and it’s detailing an event that’ll actually take place tomorrow. If we had to guess, we’d say the world’s smallest mirrorless camera kit will be officially unveiled within the next 24 hours. We mean, wouldn’t you?

Panasonic’s Lumix GF2 Micro Four Thirds camera spotted on billboard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Right on schedule, Panasonic’s 13.2 megapixel Lumix Phone made its physical debut buried within NTT DoCoMo’s CEATEC booth. And by buried, we mean locked behind plexiglass and out of reach of our own hands. That didn’t stop the light-capturing mechanics of our cameras, however. We’re not sure where the “folding mechanism” mentioned in the press release comes from, but it looks to be a slider phone that keeps a numpad / text entry box out of view. Color options include black, pink, blue, and gold (though frankly, it looked more silver to us). Alas, that also means no chance to provide sample shots from the devices itself, but we do have a smattering of product photos from which you might derive glee — and that aforementioned video after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic Lumix Phone eyes-on (video)

Panasonic Lumix Phone eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like we’ll soon have another heavyweight to throw into the renewed cameraphone wars, as Panasonic has put up a teaser site for its first Lumix-branded phone. Lumix is of course Panasonic’s camera label, which counts among its luminary membership the likes of the GF1 and the newly refreshed LX5. The new phone shooter promises to beat both in terms of pure resolution with its 13.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, which is accompanied by a 3.3-inch LCD atop a 146-gram body. Much like Nokia’s N8 and its protruding sensor compartment, this Lumix handset will have to make room for its expanded imaging equipment, which is why it’ll offer a comparatively chubby 17.7mm thickness, to go along with a 116mm height and 52mm width. We’ll know more next week when CEATEC 2010 gets rolling over in Tokyo.

[Thanks, Anton]

P.S. — It’s also noteworthy that Panasonic’s press release indicates a folding mechanism for this handset, which, given current trends in Japan, makes it most likely to be a clamshell device. It’s also got some DLNA voodoo inside and is coming out by the end of this fiscal year (April 2011).

Panasonic teases a 13.2MP ‘Lumix phone’ for October 5 unveiling originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digg To say the Micro Four Thirds / mirrorless battle is heating up would be understating things greatly. It’s certainly the segment getting the most focus here at this year’s Photokina, and with Panasonic cranking out yet another, we don’t see any signs of it slowing down. The newfangled Lumix DMC-GH2 made its official debut yesterday, bringing with it an impressive list of specifications and compatibility with an oh-so-curious 3D lens that we peeked in prototype form back at IFA. When speaking to booth representatives here in Cologne, we learned that said lens will actually save both a 3D and 2D version of each picture you take, making it a far more viable option for someone who is just looking to test the 3D waters without giving up entirely on 2D. The camera itself felt sufficiently light, but it doesn’t seem much more compact than the GH1 before it. And at $900, we’ve got our hearts set on a bona fide DSLR — sorry, but it’s true. Anywho, hit the gallery below if you’re itching for a closer look at your maybe-possibly-probably next shooter (along with glimpses at the trio of lenses that were also revealed here at the show).

Panasonic Lumix GH2 and 3D interchangeable lens hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re tucked away in Leica’s high-brow design preview event here in Köln, and while it appears that the vast majority of those in attendance showed just to boast about their suit, we’re strictly here for the gear. That being said, let us be the first to formally introduce you to the now-official D-Lux 5 rangefinder. Or, sort of official D-Lux 5. Unlike the M9 ‘Titanium’ — which the company spent a solid two hours boasting about — the D-Lux 5 (a rebranded / tweaked LX5?) has been given nothing but a passing glance of affirmation, though we’re anticipating a more formal release with specifications and the like tomorrow. Leica aficionados have likely been hearing whispers of this beaut for the past dozen months, but at long last, the unicorn has apparently transformed into a Gypsy Vanner. Though, still a mysterious one.

In case that’s not exactly your cup of million-dollar tea, it appears that Panasonic’s DMC-FZ100 — deemed the world’s best megazoom by critics back in August — has been reborn as a Leica, though the shell doesn’t appear to have changed at all. Of course, we’ve seen Leica pull this rebranding trick before, but we’re sure the so-called V-Lux 2M is far superior in some way that we’ve yet to be informed about. Rounding out the round of mystique is the gently refashioned X1, which was seen sporting a far more luxurious casing compared to the original. Feel free to drown yourself in the images below, and keep it locked right here for more as we hear it.

Leica quietly showcases D-Lux 5, redesigned X1 and rebranded DMC-FZ100 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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