Hasta La Gadget!

Well what do we have here? We’ve just been handed a picture of what we’re told is Sony’s EX3 prototype 3D camera, with changeable lenses and a penchant for capturing life in the third dimension. That’s unfortunately all we really know at this point, but if this two-eyed beaut does go to market (and we hear that it most certainly will), it looks like Panasonic’s 3D camcorder will have some healthy competition. And hey, we’re all for having more options.

Update: A trusted source just chimed in with some specs, and it’s looking like Sony’s basically just crammed the guts of two PMW-EX3 studio cams into a single shell for this prototype. That’s not a bad thing: behind those proprietary hot-swappable lens cartridges are the same two three half-inch CMOS eyeballs that stream 4:2:0 MPEG-2 video at 1080p to SxS memory cards at 35Mbps per eye, or send uncompressed 4:4:4 footage over a new pair of HD-SDI outputs. Our source was pretty excited about how close together those eyes were, too — he whispered something about an industry-first 1.5-inch interocular distance, before vanishing into the darkness without a word on price or availability.

Update 2: The EX3 has three CMOS chips, not two. [Thanks, The Advanced Kind]

Sony EX3 prototype 3D camcorder spotted, destined for retail channels? (update: we’ve got specs) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic kicked off its 2010 3DTV run with an extremely limited, Best Buy only launch of the 50-inch VT20 package, but for those looking to upgrade — especially in size — with a new TV this year finally have some info to work off of. This year’s sets have more than just the extra dimension to offer, with improved black levels (especially over time), plus upgraded VIERA Cast networked features with Skype. The general launch kicks off the week of May 3 with the 50-inch TC-P50VT25 for $2,599, and closes with the largest TC-P65VT25 model in June for $4,299. Those MSRPs place them a couple of hundred bucks north of last year’s models, but a rep for great 3D and 2D performance should help anyone struggling over the upgrade — check for the rest of the prices in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic prices, dates full 3D plasma lineup — 65-inches for $4,299

Panasonic prices, dates full 3D plasma lineup — 65-inches for $4,299 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Curious timing, no? Nary a fortnight after Olympus announced an autofocus-related firmware update for its line of Micro Four Thirds cameras (the PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1), along comes Panasonic with an all-too-similar round of firmware fixes for their own MFT range. Slated to hit the interwebs on May 10th, a trio of new updates will purportedly bring improved autofocus performance with third-party lenses as well as recognition of the new 14-42mm kit zoom to the DMC-GF1, DMC-GH1 and DMC-G1. We’re also told that there will be improved flash performance for the latter two, and if you just so happen to be the proud owner of one of these, you can head on past the break for the full changelog.

Continue reading Panasonic’s DMC-GF1 / GH1 / G1 firmware updates improve autofocus performance

Panasonic’s DMC-GF1 / GH1 / G1 firmware updates improve autofocus performance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, check it. You’re out and about with mum and dad on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, eager to get whatever’s on the grill into your own grille. You’re pondering the origin of wildflowers, the middle name of America’s 18th president and how humanity functioned prior to the invention of Mighty Putty. You’re only ten years old, but your young eyes have lived to see a lot… so much, in fact, that you’re semi-seriously considering penning your own novella. Bang. Three inches to your left lies a mildly deformed swivel-screen laptop, and all you can think about is the gush of air that’s still rustling your fauxhawk. Turns out, a medical helicopter departing St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota forgot to bring their Panasonic Toughbook onboard before heading out, and if fate were feeling just a bit more cruel, that shock-mounted hard drive may have left you out for the count. But as it stands, you’ve got a fairly stupendous show-and-tell to deliver in class this week, and who knows — maybe that DIMM will work in your Nickelodeon Edition Mini 10.

Toughbook plummets from helicopter, narrowly misses future Toughbook user originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s out — the V-LUX 20 — what was rumor is now official courtesy of a Leica press release. The 12.1 megapixel superzoom with 25-300mm Leica DC-VARIO-ELMAR 4.1-49.2mm f/3.3-4.9 ASPH lens and integrated GPS is slated to ship to the UK in May for a suggested retail price of £495 (about $757, likely a bit less when priced Stateside). The matte-black finished compact sports a 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor, 720p/60fps Motion JPEG video recording, a 460,000 pixel 3-inch LCD, 11-point AF, SD/SDHC/SDXC storage, and plenty of options to drop into manual mode when you want a bit more control of the action. Nice huh? Just remember that the V-Lux 20 is a near exact replica (same lens, sensor, LCD, and GPS) of the DMC-ZS7 which lists for just $399, is smaller, and shoots HD video in the more sophisticated AVCHD Lite format. Yeah, we know.

Leica V-Lux 20 compact with 12x superzoom is pure brand extortion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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