Digital Home Thoughts: Panasonic Annouces Four New Cameras

"Panasonic announced four new additions to its Lumix point-and-shoot line of digital cameras. The top-end model is the Lumix DMX-LX3 that will debut in August for $499.95. The LX3 offers all of the convenience of a point-and-shoot camera along with a wide-range of manual controls for creative shots. The LX3 has a 10.1-megapixel CCD and uses a F2.0 ultra wide-angle LECIA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens. ISO settings can go as high as ISO 6400 in high sensitivity mode and the camera can shoot full resolutions bursts at 2.5 shots per second and at lower resolutions in High-Speed burst mode at six shots per second. The camera also features a 3-inch LCD and has the ability to shoot video. Other features include image stabilization, red-eye correction, intelligent scene selector, face detection and quick AF. Those looking for a higher megapixel count will like the Lumix FX150 with a 14.7-megapixel CCD and a 28, wide-angle LECIA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens."

Very nice line-up from Panasonic, we'll have to wait for the reviews to see how they actually perform. I am especially curious about the Lumix FX37 digital camera which features 10.1-megapixels and can shoot video in HD resolution. The camera’s lens is a 25mm ultra wide-angle LECIA DC unit and features a 5x digital zoom which effectively means it has a 25mm-125mm range. That seems pretty nice considering the price tag of just under $350.