Pricing and release information for the Panasonic DMC-GH1 Hybrid has been revealed, as part of the camera’s launch in Japan this week. The 12-megapixel Micro Four Thirds System camera will go on sale in Japan on April 24th, priced at around 150,000 yen ($1,530).
Apple stole headlines this week with a surprise update just seven days after refreshing their Mac line. The new 4GB iPod shuffle is even smaller than the original, using an in-line remote and VoiceOver spoken tracknames to get around the absence of a display. Apple also released iTunes 8.1, while rumors of a multitouch 10-inch netbook flourished as first Chinese then US press picked up on the capacitive panel trail.
Future owners of the GH1 may find this report from Nikkie useful. Prototype shown at PMA permits quick Auto-focusing methods to record videos while zooming. There are two ways of doing this, one of them is by triggering the AF button to gain focus after zooming in AFS mode (Auto-Focus single). The second way is by using continuously mode (AFC) which functions like a camcorder. The latter though proven useful but having difficulty in acquitting subjects. We happened to have both video clips to illustrate their finding.
We love to see gadget gets tested on the spot. Last week you’ve seen the Olympus Tough Styles get physically abused on video, and now we have another cool presentation from Panasonic booth at PMA 2009 showing off their first-gen rugged camera withstanding drop test, being submerge in the water, and resistant to sand damage.
As busy weeks go, this one has certainly been something to write home about (or at least a Week in Review about), with CeBIT, PMA and an Apple mega-announcement all taking place. ASUS arguably stole the former show in Germany, with the Eee PC 1008HA “Shell” once again proving that netbooks needn’t be the ugly cousins to expensive ultraportable notebooks. For our full CeBIT 2009 coverage, hit the tag.
Having used the Canon 5D Mark II for daily works, I was impressed by the Panasonic GH1’s video recording features; it’s capable of Full HD 1080P pixel resolution motion capture at 24hz; audio is equipped with a built-in stereo microphone that’s not picking up humming or zooming noise; and is the first digicam with interchangeable lens to provide a full manual video mode allowing adjustments for both aperture and shutter speed. On the opening day, we had a quick hands-on at the booth, but it wasn’t enough, so we returned to find out more on the continue AF speed and video mode in manual setting. [test video after the cut]
It’s 54-inches, it’s plasma, it’s just 1-inch thick and it’s got wireless HDMI – are you really all that surprised that the Panasonic Z1 Plasma HDTV is expensive? Early pricing for the Panasonic TC-P54Z1 suggests it’ll cost a cool $5,999.95 when it begins shipping in June.
Another star from PMA 2009 is unquestionably the Panasonic DMC-GH1 Micro 4/3 digital camera launched at the very first day of the show. The second-gen Lumix features the same 12.1MP Live MOS sensor from the 5–month old G1, adds Full HD 1080p movie recording with ability to continue auto-focusing, and has a built-in stereo mic for much superior audio recording. If you’re new to the Micro 4/3 concept, check out the video (after the cut) from Panasonic’s training field manager, Matt Fraser, who talked with SlashGear about the new GH1 and compared it to previous models.
Back in October Macbook event, Steve Job expressed his view on Blu-ray’s gimmick as a “bag of hunt”, its licensing were too complex and the company hinted to wait on prices to fall further before entering the market. Job was right about the complication; and today, the founders of Blu-ray have revealed plan to unify the Blu-ray standard licensing, which would result in much simplified registering process and lower Blu-ray products cost, by as much as 40 percent less.
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