Tech News and Reviews
Posts tagged Panasonic
Panasonic reveals HDC-SDT750 3D camcorder, is super proud of itself
Jul 28th
Never mind the extensive leaks, Panasonic, you’ve got a right to be proud about the HDC-SDT750. After crowing about its end-to-end 3D experience, Panasonic has finally made its HDC-SDT750 camcorder official, which looks like it will be the first of its kind to hit the market. Sure, this is just a baby step: the 3D mode is enabled by snapping on an included 3D conversion lens that splits the image in twain to be recorded as right and left images by the standard 1080p sensor. That means each side will only be 960 x 1080, so you can’t quite shoot Avatar in your backyard just yet, but it should look fine on standard 3D televisions. Unfortunately, you can’t do much more with the 3D video right now other than pump it out over HDMI straight from the camera — at least with the 3D stills that you can snap you can load them onto an SD card and play them off of AVCHD-compatible Blu-ray players. Still, these are exciting times to be alive, and you can always shoot in 2D with the no-doubt great 3MOS camcorder underneath (which seems to be very similar to the HDC-HS700) while you wait for the rest of the planet to catch up. The SDT750 will be out in October for a hefty $1,399 asking price. PR is after the break.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 reviewed, premium features warrant its premium price
Jul 15th
Another entrant has entered the Micro Four Thirds ring, and it’s Panasonic delivering the Lumix DMC-G2 — a new shooter with similar still performance but, this time, some rather nice enhancements, the most major being a three-inch articulating touchscreen. You can control some aspects of the camera with a touch, perhaps most useful being tap-to-focus augmented by the camera keeping focus on whatever you tapped on, even if it moves around. But, a full suite of physical buttons and dials still await your fingers, enabling you to tweak settings without fiddling with menus. The 720p video recording now supports AVCHD, giving your SDHC or SDXC memory card a break, and there’s an input for an optional stereo mic. Ultimately still performance here is said to be identical to Panasonic’s more budget-minded DMC-G10, which clocks in $200 cheaper than the G2′s MSRP of $799, but lacks 720p video and the fancy touchscreen. Worth the extra cost? That depends on how deep your pockets are.
Panasonic’s HDC-TM35 HD camcorder is light, lady-friendly
Jun 5th
Leave it to Panasonic to yet again stake claim on a “world’s” achievement that generally isn’t on our radar. The company is again claiming it offers the world’s lightest HD camcorder, this time the HDC-TM35, sporting 1080i recording and hybrid image stabilization that allows you to “vigorously shake the rock” according to the infallibly auto-translated press release. It weighs just 185g, about the same as a BlackBerry Storm2 and 42 grams lighter than it’s predecessor, the HDC-TM30. According to that release, the cam intended for a female audience, who hopefully like white, violet, gold, or gray (shown after the break). Storage is to SDXC and videos are recorded in AVCHD format, which should give you plenty of room on that card to keep on filming until your arm gets tired. Panasonic isn’t announcing an official price, but it’ll be hitting Japanese boutiques on July 1.
Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs
May 21st
We managed to get an early look at Panasonic’s TV-friendly implementation of Skype back at CES in January, but the company has just now finally activated the app on all of its 2010 VIERA Cast-enabled TVs (including the VT25, VT20, G25, and G20 Series). To take advantage of it, however, you’ll also have to shell out $170 for Panasonic’s TY-CC10W webcam, which supports both VGA and 720p video, and packs four unidirectional microphones, an echo canceling system, and some beam-forming technology that promises to deliver clear audio over a typical TV viewing distance of three to four meters. Head on past the break for the complete press release, as well as Panasonic’s requisite old-people-don’t-get-technology ad for the TVs.
Panasonic’s 50-inch TX-P50VT20 plasma reviewed: ‘The best 3D TV to date’
May 14th
We can see a time in the future, the very near future, where reviews of 3D HDTVs will lose their novelty. But, for now, they’re still rare enough to warrant some attention, and so let’s take a look at TechRadar‘s take on Panasonic’s first 3D entry, the Viera TX-P50VT20. It’s a 50-inch, 1080p plasma that excels as an HDTV, delivering great quality images — even with SD content. When it comes to 3D the set similarly shines, supporting all of today’s various modes of delivering multiple perspectives in a way those active-shutter glasses can decipher. Indeed, it was only those glasses themselves that really scored low marks, said to be uncomfortable to wear and, with their tinting, doing some unfortunate things to the color balance. Still, if you absolutely must have 3D right now, this looks like the best way to do it… for the moment.
Panasonic announces pricing, availability for Lumix G2, G10
Apr 22nd
Panasonic already outed its new Lumix G2 and G10 Micro Four Thirds cameras back in March, but it’s just now finally gotten official with the pricing and availability for them. While there’s still no word on an exact release date, both cameras are now slated to be available in “late-May,” with the G2 running $799.95 in your choice of red, blue or black, while the black-only G10 will set you back $599.95. That will get you the same 12.1-megapixel sensor, Venus Engine HD II, and LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens on each, while the G2 boasts an added movable touchscreen — a first for a Micro Four Thirds camera. Full press release is after the break.
Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-G10 camera finally gets the review we’ve been waiting for
Apr 22nd
The Lumix G10 got pricing and a vague date yesterday, and now the first full review has finally graced the interwebs. Photography Blog put this $599, 12 megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera (and its 14 – 42mm kit lens) through a full suite of tests and came away generally impressed. The addition of 720p video recording makes this model an easy choice over the older G1, despite the subtraction of a few features and the tilting LCD. But, the upcoming $800 G2 offers all those features plus 720p video recording as well, making it perhaps a better choice for more serious shooters with deeper pockets. Still, the G10 looks to be a great option for those wanting affordable DSLR power and HD video recording in a (reasonably) svelte package.
Panasonic gets official with Lumix DMC-G2 and DMC-G10 Micro Four Thirds cameras
Mar 11th
Panasonic has the news day all to itself with its newfangled pair of Micro Four Thirds shooters, and in case you were wondering — yeah, this is the exact same duo that we saw slip out on Friday. Up first is the Lumix DMC-G2, which looks an awful lot like the G1 it replaces and is touted as the first interchangable lens system camera with touch-control shooting. Granted, we haven’t exactly warmed to the idea of using a touchpanel to fire off a shot, but hey, it is what it is. Other specs include a 12.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor, Venus Engine HD II technology, a 3-inch rear LCD and a 720p (AVCHD Lite) movie mode, though curiously enough a price and release date eludes us. Moving on, there’s the DMC-G10, which is supposedly the “world’s lightest” interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder; this one packs the same 12.1 megapixel sensor and Venus Engine HD II as on the G2, but the 3-inch LCD lacks tilt / swivel / touch options. We’re still waiting on pricing for this one as well, but now is as good a time as any to mention that both fully support those obnoxiously expensive SDXC cards. Huzzah!
Latest round of LG, Panasonic and Samsung Blu-ray players begin retail invasion
Mar 4th
We’ve already seen Sony’s newest Blu-ray players turn up at retail, and it looks like they’ve now been joined by LG, Panasonic and Samsung’s latest offerings. Those include the BD590, BD570 and BD550 from LG, the DMP-BD85 and DMP-BD65 from Panasonic, and a lone BD-C6500 from Samsung, although that’s just the first of more to come from the company. No surprises with the prices or specs, but you can check out a slew of in-the-wild shots at the link below, or head down to your local Best Buy (or other retailer) to see if you’re able to spot any of them first-hand yourself.
Panasonic slips Core i5 into ‘world’s lightest’ 12.1-inch Toughbook C1 convertible tablet
Mar 3rd
We tell ya — all this tablet talk sure has us feeling like it’s 2003. You know, minus all that Y2K hangover stuff. Anywho, Panasonic has today outed what it’s calling the planet’s lightest 12.1-inch convertible tablet PC, with the Toughbook C1 offering the line’s iconic rigidity while boasting 10 hours of battery life, an optional Gobi 2000 mobile broadband module and Intel’s decidedly potent 2.4GHz Core i5-520 processor. All told, the device weighs just 3.2 pounds with a single battery (3.7 pounds with twins), and there’s full support for digitizers and multitouch. Other specs include a shock-mounted, flex-connect 250GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a WXGA (1,280 x 800) LED-backlit panel, a triple hinge design and the ability to survive a 30-inch plummet. It’s available to (quite literally) smash iPads starting this June, though that $2,499 starting price may be somewhat off-putting to those without copious amounts of disposable income.
