Panasonic Compact Digital 3D Camera
Panasonic has announced the LUMIX DMC-3D1, a new digital camera that employs two newly-developed lens units with folded optics design in a compact body that can capture 3D and 2D photos and videos.
The LUMIX 3D1, with a twin-lens design, features 25mm ultra-wide angle lenses with 4x optical zoom that offer the capability to record high resolution 8-megapixel 3D photo and 1920×1080 60i high quality 3D HD video using side-by-side method.
Its optics give users a wider range of composition possibilities with approximately 169% larger viewing space compared to that of 35mm cameras, says the company.
Featuring a unique shooting option, the new twin-lens system allows the LUMIX 3D1 to capture 2D images and video simultaneously. It can shoot 12-megapixel 2D photos and record 1920x1080i full HD 2D videos.
In conventional standard digital compact cameras, users must shoot in either photo or video mode and when photo mode is selected, video recording is interrupted. The twin-lens design of the LUMIX 3D1 breaks through these conventional barriers with two separate mechanisms for image capturing, allowing for dual shooting capabilities.
Additionally, the two-lens design allows users to record photo or video in different angles of view simultaneously. For example, users can record an entire party scene with one lens while zooming in on and capturing the photo of a specific person with another lens. Users can easily switch between 2D and 3D mode with the dedicated 2D/3D switch conveniently located on the back of the camera.
The 12-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor and the Venus Engine allow the LUMIX 3D1 to achieve high-quality images and process image sensitivity and speed. Multi-process Noise Reduction applies optimal noise reduction according to the brightness of different areas of an image, thus creating crisp and beautiful photos and videos, according to the company.
Both high frequency noise that occurs in the dark area, and low frequency noise in the light area of a photo are suppressed even though occurring simultaneously in a photo. As a result, images recorded in low-light situations are clear, even when recorded at a high ISO setting.
The LUMIX 3D1 boasts extremely fast consecutive shots at 8 fps (without auto focusing) and 4 fps (with auto focusing) in full resolution. Utilizing quad-CPUs the Venus Engine processes large amounts of 1920x1080i Full-HD data at high speeds in either AVCHD or MP4 formats.
Although using two sets of lens units and sensors, energy consumption of Venus Engine stays minimized to maintain the camera’s battery life for as long as that of a single lens compact digital camera.
The LUMIX 3D1 features a large 3.5-inch Smart Touch screen on the camera’s back which allows users to easily move through camera functions and recorded photos and videos.
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-3D1 will be available in December 2011 for a suggested retail price of $499.99.
