Panasonic unveils LUMIX GH1

Just in case you didn’t know, Panasonic does digital cameras as well, and their latest model to be announced is the LUMIX GH1 Micro Four Thirds digital camera that boasts something most standard digital cameras don’t – HD recording capability. This will surely go a long way in blurring the lines between a High Definition camcorder and a digital camera, and could these new breed of devices eventually see the HD camcorder being pushed out of the window? We can’t really provide any answer to that, but one thing we do know – the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH1 is a creative HD hybrid device that is more than capable of capturing professional-level still photos as well as HD video performance without the complicated controls to scare away entry-level DSLR consumers.

What are some of the functions which the LUMIX GH1 delivers? For starters, it is compatible with the Micro Four Thirds System standard, and will be able to record High Definition AVCHD 1080p/24p video. Not only that, users will be able to benefit from a newly developed long-zoom interchangeable lens known as the LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. This lens is special as it was born out of the necessity to support HD movie recording, and it comes with a silent motor and continuous auto focusing (AF) capability to further help distinguish itself from DSLRs that offer HD video recording capabilities.

There is also a dedicated video record button located on the back of the camera that allows users to instantly begin recording videos, regardless of whether one is shooting still photos at that point in time, allowing you to creatively switch between videos and photo stills without missing a beat. You can also benefit from high-quality stereo sound in your videos thanks to Dolby Digital Stereo Creator that has been incorporated into the GH1. Other features include a Live View Finder system that lets you preview the effects of camera settings before snapping an image, a swivel 3″ high-resolution LCD display, Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine HD for outstanding processing capabilities, O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) and AF tracking among others. Photos are stored in the SD/SDHC format, so you won’t go wrong there with compatibility issues.

0 comments: