(FT4) Panasonic LC2 with H.264 movie recording and tiltable-LCD?


In the past days I found some rumors talking about a possible Panasonic LC2 announcement. I didn’t post anything because until today I didn’t believe them! BUT I just found a very new patent which shows a LC1 similar camera with tilting-display (which the Panasonic DMC-LC1 has not) and Video recording!

The filing date is 10/19/2009. That is the first proove that this patent is not referred to the older Panasonic DMC-LC1.
Small update: This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2008/002299 filed on Aug. 25, 2008. The entire disclosure of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2008/002299 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-222395.

Also the back design of the camera is very different:

The back shows”a release button 30, a mode switching dial 26, a cross key 27, a menu setting button 28, a set button 29, a viewfinder switching button 34, and a moving picture photography button 35.

Thea most interesting part of the very long text are:
“…The display unit 20 is a variable-angle monitor with which the angle can be freely changed with respect to the case 3a of the camera body 3, and the angle can be tilted upward by means of a hinge mechanism
“…further comprising a display unit configured to display a real-time image acquired by the imaging unit in the moving picture photography mode
“…two different methods can be used for focal point detection, namely, a phase difference detection method in which the above-mentioned focal point detection unit 5 is used, or a contrast detection method based on the image signal outputted from the imaging sensor
“…The compression method can be, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) in the case of a still picture. In the case of a moving picture, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) is used. Also, an H.264/AVC format in which a plurality of frames of image signals are compressed together can be used.

Sounds like Panasonic is really working on a the DMC-LC2! Let’s see if they will transform the drawings in a real camera :)

The “Old” Panasonic LC1 isn’t in Stock in most shops. But you can still find very few on Ebay US / Ebay UK / Ebay DE

(FT3) No GH1 successor until Photokina in September?


I am receiving more and more rumors confirming the Panasonic GH1 successor will not appear soon. Most of my sources do say a GH2 announcement is very likely planned for Photokina in September.

I know that’s bad news but I suspect the new Panasonic G1 successor will come with new video recording capabilities.

Don’t worry to much I also have some small good news for you!

The Panasonic TM700
Panasonic has ignored the CES stage as to now leave a month later, a fat cat out of the bag: The new consumer-top models with three image sensors (HDC-SD707, HDC-HS700 and HDC-TM700) will offer a true 1080p50 recording mode.
And what’s really interesting is the data rate of 28 Mbit! But how does this fit 1080p50 in the AVCHD standard? The AVCHD standard data rate is 17 or 24 Mbit. We didn’t get the answer.

Anyway a future Panasonic GH2 camera with 1080p60/50 and 28 Mbit data rate would be definitely an amazing camera which will probably be a worthy (if not more) competitor of the new Canon Rebel T2i video capabilities!

a little bit of everything…


On youtube this is one of the first videos made with the Olympus E-PL1

————————————————————
Matthew sent us this email:
Hi. Thank you for maintaining such a helpful site. I read it every day. Thanks to a post on your site I learned about the leather skins available for my E-P2 from Ebay and I thought you might like to see how mine looks now. I’m very happy with the results…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meltontoyonaka/sets/72157623404872480/

Thanks!
————————————————————
PRESS RELEASE: Introducing OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1 Camera Cases, Body Jackets, and Other Accessories (Imaging Rescource)
————————————————————
Last week most sold DSLR cameras in Japan (bcnranking)
————————————————————
Amazon DEAL: For the first time the Panasonic GH1 price breaks the $1,200 barrier!
————————————————————

(FT5) UPDATED! Panasonic teaser for a new MFT cameras and the LX3(or TZ ?) successor!

The teaser clearly shows a new MFT camera and a new compact camera!
Panasonic, a leading imaging brand, is pleased to announce that for the very first time it will attend this years Focus on Imaging show held at the NEC Birmingham from 7th-10th March.
Panasonic UK

We already told you two new cameras will come. Probably the successor and a TZ or LX compact camera.

UPDATE: This are the G1 and TZ7 silhuettes?
UPDATE2: Drew S. noticed something really interesting: “The silhouette of the new Panasonic compact camera shows the mode control dial to the left of the shutter button as you face the camera. The dial on the newly announced TZ (zs7/tz10) is to the right of the shutter button. So it appears that this is not from the TZ series.

The G1 and TZ7 silhouettes

Just a reminder: The G1 has been officially discontinued in Japan and the Panasonic LX3 price is continually dropping (now $371.70 at amazon)

Follow us on 43rumors!