Not to be outdone by Casio’s unveiling of its new 12.1 megapixel EXILIM digital camera, which the Tokyo-based electronics giant has lauded as offering a “world-leading 12.1 effective megapixels” of resolution performance, the tech boffins at Osaka-based Panasonic (a wholly owned subsidiary of Matsushita Electric) have quashed Casio’s boast by releasing their own 12.2 megapixel camera.
More pointedly, the new Panasonic DMC-FX100 Lumix is being pushed into the highly competitive digital camera market as “the World’s First 12.2-Megapixel 28mm Wide-Angle Premium Compact” offering, which is not only groundbreaking but also “beautifully designed and packed with high-end features.”
The DMC-FX100 comes equipped with a newly developed 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO ELMARIT lens offering up f/2.8 brightness and a 3.6x optical zoom and a 12.2-megapixel CCD designed to deliver stunningly detailed high-resolution images. The new lens unit is also imbued with seven elements across six groups, which include an EA (extra-high refraction index aspherical) lens and four lenses resplendent with five aspherical surfaces for the creation of high optical performance. Furthermore, the camera’s zoom ratio can be boosted through to 7x when in 3-megapixel mode – accompanied with Extra Optical Zoom to reduce image deterioration.
The DMC-FX100 also includes handy technology that automatically assists in the prevention of blurring, which, according to Panasonic, makes it the first manufacturer to have “successfully incorporated Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) into its compact camera.” Notably, OIS is a photography feature recognised worldwide as a standard requirement in high-end equipment. Specifically, the newly applied Mega OIS system in the DMC-FX100 cuts down on camera shake and resulting image blurring caused, in the main, by unsteady hands. Furthermore, Panasonic has also addressed motion blur with the inclusion of automatic Intelligent ISO Control, which detects whether a subject is moving and raises the ISO Control and shutter speed to compensate for movement speed and lighting.
Users will also benefit from advanced image procession thanks to the addition of the Venus Engine III, which delivers “super-fast response time” that can capture spontaneous moments through its speedy 0.009 second shutter release speed and 0.9 shutter interval speed. When placed into High-Speed Burst shooting mode the DMC-FX100 is also capable of capturing an impressive eight shots per second – and users also have access to “unlimited consecutive shooting” allowing for photos to be snapped in succession up to the capacity of the camera’s equipped memory card or onboard memory.
In term of playback enjoyment, users can rest assured that the DMC-FX100’s hi-definition 1920x1080 pixel photos and movies are beautifully crafted for viewing via the most modern of widescreen (16:9) televisions. From a movie image angle, the FX100 is able to record wide aspect VGA (640x480) and WVGA (848x480) full motion footage at 30fps (frames per second) – and high-definition (HD) motion imagery can be recorded at 15fps (1280x720).
Panasonic’s DMC-FX100 also includes the DMW-SDP1 HDTV Photo Player, which means users can simply connect it (with a loaded SDHC/SD memory card) via a component cable to a HDTV in order to easily view a slideshow of Lumix photos in 1080i high-definition quality.
As with Casio’s new 12.1 megapixel EXILIM flagship model, Panasonic’s 12.2 megapixel DMC-FX100 will arrive some time in July “elegantly finished” in either sleek silver metallic or cool black metallic colour choices.
Expected retail price information has not yet been confirmed for the DMC-FX100.
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