AusCam recently had the opportunity to have a first look at the soon-to-be-released Panasonic range of high definition consumer camcorders and Lumix pocket still cameras. While your intrepid reporter only got to ‘play’ with two video and three still cameras from the range while tramping (well, bussing really) the wilds of Norfolk Island at great personal sacrifice, what was experienced was most impressive.

The top of this new line in video cameras is the 3 CMOS (“3MOS”) HC-X900M. It is clearly the leader of the pack, taking great images in AVCHD through its fast F1.5 29.8mm wide angle Leica Dicomar lens with 12x optical zoom. It has the best image stabilising system I have ever used, making a hand-held fully zoomed shot look close to a tripod-based equivalent. There is a multi-purpose ring right at the front end and this makes manual adjustment of focus, zoom, iris, white balance and shutter speed more user friendly. However, it is easy to accidently let your fingers get into shot until you become used to the configuration. The X900 can be converted for 3D use by the addition of an optional lens which should hit the market at about $399. Interestingly, 3D video can be viewed in 3D without glasses on the large sophisticated LCD screen of the camera.

Panasonic describe a whole lot of hi-tech internal innovations which go to make up this camera, most of which is unintelligible company-speak but the net effect is most impressive. The only quibble I had with this camera is that it doesn’t have the equivalent of a LANC control socket for an external zoom controller. A camera this good really deserves this last little bit of sophistication. It is due for release in April with an RRP of $1799.

Other new video cameras to be released include the single chip range of HD cameras featuring high range optical zooms from 21x (HC-V700) to 63x (HC-V10). This last mentioned offers iFrame or MP4 output formats and most of the new range come with wide angle lens as standard while some offer 2D to 3D conversion via HDMI to the TV or ‘true’ 3D using the optional conversion lens.

Finally for the more active are two small vertical cameras – the HX-DC2 & the waterproof HX-WA2 - that would comfortably fit in the hiker’s pocket and active life style.

Price range for the new cameras is expected to be from $1799 for the X900M to $249 for the HX-DC2

The new Lumix still camera range comprises all pocket-sized cameras with available pixels ranging between 12 & 14MP. The first in the range is the DMC-TZ30 (TZ =”Travel Zoom”) with 20x zoom, 24mm wide-angle lens as well as full HD AVCHD and MP4 recording. Two waterproof cameras the DMC-FT4 (to 12metres), the DMC-FT20 (to 5 metres) are included, both also have shock and dust proof capabilities.  The Lumix SZ series is for the less demanding physical environment while the novice photographer might find themselves more attracted to the FH and S end of the range.

All the still cameras just released will shoot some flavour of high definition video.  Additionally, virtually all have a great ‘miniature’ effect available which mimics the tilt-shift effect more usually achieved by a fancy, complicated and expensive lens setup. Additionally, of particular interest to travellers, the ‘panoramic’ setting allows for 360 degree shooting where a series of shots are automatically taken while panning with the button depressed, then all stitched together by the camera’s ‘smarts’.

All in all this whole new range – both video and still – are worthy of far more than a cursory look by the potential purchaser. Careful consideration and detailed comparison between models will take some time, given the range of attractive variations and combinations of features available. Prices range from $449 for TZ230 and FT4 down to $129 for the S2

By Frank McLeod

Dr Frank McLeod is a specialist physician who in his ‘day job' works in the area of Addiction Medicine. Frank reckons he ‘dribbled' into video as a way to get information across to his patients and their families in an accessible way that avoided information overload. From there, the monster just grew. With a long-time interest in things technical and gadgetry of all kinds, he had been writing tech review-type-articles on a casual basis for a medical publication for some time, when an introduction to David Hague led to his continuing this level of activity in the field of video.

Frank says that one of the parts he likes best about his involvement with Australasian Camcorder is the opportunity to play with other people's toys. The downside, he says, is having to give them back at the end of ‘playtime' that precedes publication of the resulting review.

"I suppose I want to present information from the non-professional point of view, which is not difficult, given that I am the only amateur punter in the camp," he says. With a strong commitment to the amateur video club movement, he is the Secretary of his local video club. In part because of this, and with a long time history as an avid DIY-er behind him, Frank has an interest in the do-it-yourself construction of devices for the amateur videographer and strongly wishes to continue this type of contribution as part of his future involvement with auscam