Panasonic Unveils G6 Micro Four Thirds and LF1 Compact Cameras
Panasonic this morning announced two new cameras: a Lumix G6 Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera and a Lumix LF1 high-end compact camera. Both cameras offer some pretty solid specs for photography enthusiasts.
First Off, the G6
The Panasonic G6 is a new mid-range mirrorless camera that features a 16.05-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor. ISO goes up to 3200, or 25600 with expansion.
It’s a pretty speedy camera, boasting a continuous shooting speed of 7 frames per second (in full res) and a startup time of just 0.5 seconds.
There’s 1080p HD video recording with stereo sound, and full-time autofocus and tracking autofocus while recording is in progress. The camera can also capture footage with cinema-like 24p.
In terms of connectivity, the camera has both Near Field Communication (NFC) and Wi-Fi built into it, which allow it to connect to smartphones and tablet computers for file transfers. This also opens the door to smartphones and tablets being used as remote shutter releases and remote monitors.
Other features include special shooting modes and editing features (e.g. Creative Panorama, Time-Lapse, Stop Motion, Clear Retouch, Creative Control), a swiveling 3-inch 1.44-million-dot OLED touchscreen,
The G6 will be available in three colors — black, white and silver — sometime soon. Pricing and availability have yet to be announced.
Lumix LF1, a High-End Compact
Large sensor compact cameras are “in” these days, and Panasonic wants in on the party. The new LF1 puts a respectable 12.1-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor (a size pretty common among high-end compacts) inside a small and sleek body. ISO goes up to 12800, and there’s 1080p HD video recording.
On the front of the camera is a Leica Vario-Summicron f/2.0 lens that has a 35mm equivalent range of 28-200mm — a 7.1x optical zoom. Turn it around, and you’ll see a 3-inch 920K-dot LCD screen and a 0.2-inch 200K-dot electronic viewfinder.
Like the G6, the LF1 also features Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, allowing for easy wireless data transfers and controlling. The camera can also utilize the GPS sensor of a smartphone or tablet to geotag photos with location information.
Like the G6, there’s no word yet on when the LF1 will be released or how much it will cost.
Oh, and There’s a New Lens Too
Finally, Panasonic also announced a new lens today: the Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6. It’s a Micro Four Thirds lens that offers a 35mm equivalent range of 28-280mm (a 10x optical zoom). There’s a Power OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) feature that helps you achieve sharper shots in low-light situations, and an inner focus drive system and stepping engine that helps with quiet and smooth autofocusing.
It can also support 240 FPS shooting for cameras that have high-speed shooting modes — the new G6 and the existing GH3, for example. Again, no word yet on pricing or availability.
