Panasonic introduces 2006 camera, camcorder line-up

Panasonic gathered a large contingent of Asia Pacific consumer electronic journalists in Sydney yesterday to announce its 2006 first half line-up that includes six new Lumix digital still cameras and eight e.cam video cameras.

Digital still cameras | Video camcorders

The company is putting serious emphasis into its imaging product range as it aims to capture 10 percent market share globally. Panasonic execs base this goal on its success in the Japanese market, where they claim to hold the number two position behind Canon, and ahead of competitors such as Sony, Pentax, Nikon, Fuji and Casio.

On the technology front, Panasonic is heavily promoting its MEGA O.I.S. image stabilisation technology, which it first developed for video cameras 20 years ago, but now incorporates across its digital still camera range. MEGA O.I.S., which reduces the impact of hand shake, should allow you to reduce the shutter speed more than 3 steps compared to cameras without it. It is particularly handy for telephoto and low light images. This feature, along with a High Sensitivity shooting mode (the ISO automatically increases to 1600 to stop blurring on moving objects) gives Lumix cameras a one-two punch on image stabilisation and renders clearer images, according to Panasonic reps.

One of the more interesting features introduced across all new Lumix models is the High Angle mode, which repositions the LCD monitor for better views from below. This is very useful when you're trying to shoot while holding the camera above your head, such as when you're in a crowd.

New tech finding its way into the video camera line-up includes Anti Ground Shooting, which automatically stops the recording function when the camera is not held upright, and Quick Power On/Off, which starts and stops the device by simply opening and closing the LCD or electronic viewfinder.

Panasonic will also be entering the dSLR market this year, with a product announcement expected at the big PMA (Photo Marketing Association) convention coming up at the end of February in Orlando. In Sydney, Panasonic also showed off a compact home photo printer and a digital SD slide projector, but availability and pricing are yet to be confirmed for the Australian market.