Anyone awaiting a new Micro Four-Thirds camera from Panasonic will be disappointed, but the company did announce six new point-and-shoot cameras today at CES 2010.
All of Panasonic's new Lumix offerings will support the superhigh-capacity SDXC card format, as well as SDHC and SD cards. The unveiled models include the brand-new Lumix FH series, as well as a touchscreen camera.
Lumix FH Series: Slim and Well-Rounded
Three FH-series models will be available in 2010, and all of the cameras will have slim frames (about an inch thick), wide-angle zoom lenses, and 720p high-definition video capture at 30 frames per second.
The highest-end FH series model is the 14-megapixel Lumix DMC-FH20, which offers an 8X-optical-zoom lens (28mm to 224mm), a 2.7-inch LCD, optical image stabilization, and Intelligent Auto mode.
The 14-megapixel Lumix DMC-FH3 has a less-powerful, 5X-optical-zoom lens (28mm to 140mm), but otherwise offers the same specs. The lowest-end FH series model, the 12-megapixel Lumix DMC-FH1, also offers the 5X-optical-zoom lens (28mm to 140mm) and the same basic specs.
Panasonic has not announced pricing or availability for the new Lumix point-and-shoots.
Lumix FP Series Adds Touchscreen Model
Panasonic also announced two additions to the existing FP series of cameras. Neither of the new FP models offers wide-angle lenses; both the DMC-FP3 and the DMC-FP1 have 4X-optical-zoom lenses that range from 35mm to 140mm.
The 14-megapixel, touchscreen-controlled Lumix DMC-FP3 serves up a 3-inch-diagonal touchscreen LCD, 720p high-definition video capture at 30 fps, and Intelligent Auto mode. The camera will have touchscreen-controlled playback navigation and touch-to-focus features.
A non-touchscreen model, the Lumix DMC-FP1, will also ship in 2010. It provides a 12-megapixel sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD, 720p HD video capture at 30 fps, and Intelligent Auto features. Pricing and availability are still in the works for the new FP models, as well.
Entry-Level Lumix DMC-F3
Rounding out the announcements is the wide-angle Lumix DMC-F3, a 12-megapixel model with a 4X optical zoom (28mm to 112mm), 720p HD video capture at 30 fps, a 2.7-inch LCD, and digital image stabilization.