SECAUCUS, N.J., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic today
announces a new addition to the LUMIX G Series of Compact Systems
Cameras (CSC), the LUMIX DMC-G3, the company's smallest and
lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder to
date*(1). This new class of CSC offers a lighter weight and smaller
size not seen in traditional DSLRs, thus providing greater
portability and creative control. The LUMIX G3 features a new
16.0-megapixel sensor that produces rich, true-to-life, high
quality images, plus 1920 x 1080 full-High Definition (HD) video
recording capability with stereo sound in AVCHD. The Panasonic
LUMIX G3 is the ideal hybrid, offering superb still and video
capabilities with easy-to-use features so users at any level can
create professional-quality images.
"With the LUMIX G3, Panasonic offers an extremely light compact
system camera that is easy to use, thanks to a touch-control LCD,
yet still maintains powerful and creative features to appease the
more advanced photographer," said Darin
Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer
Electronics Company. "With new features that enhance photo and
video quality, the LUMIX G3 offers exceptional image quality that a
photographer at any level would be excited about using to capture
their experiences."
For the camera traditionalist, the LUMIX G3 provides a
traditional DSLR-like experience with an external Mode dial for
quick access to common modes like Program, Shutter and Aperture
Priority, Manual. Additional dial settings include two Custom
Modes, Scene Modes and a Creative Control Mode. The LUMIX G3
provides a dedicated video button that can be used to switch to
video capture quickly without changing modes. Like most traditional
DSLRs, the LUMIX G3 provides a built-in flash and hotshoe for
connecting optional LUMIX flashes. For many, a traditional eyelevel
viewfinder is still a must have, so the LUMIX G3 meets this demand
with an eye-level electronic viewfinder that projects a high
resolution 1.44m-dot image with 100% field of view (800x600, 0.7x
magnification). In addition, color breakup has been improved when
compared to the LUMIX G2.
To enhance operability and ensure it's user-friendly, the LUMIX
G3 features touch-control shooting, which lets photographers focus
on the subject by simply touching it on the large, 3-inch
high-resolution LCD touch screen. Once locked on the subject by a
touch, the LUMIX G3 tracks the subject, even if it moves, with Auto
Focus (AF) tracking. In addition to its 23 Area Auto Focusing
Points, the LUMIX G3 features new Pinpoint AF. Pinpoint AF allows
extremely precise near–pixel-level focus point setting at the touch
of a finger. For example, unlike DSLRs that limit the number of
fixed hardware focus points, Panasonic's Pinpoint AF can be set by
touch control to very fine points anywhere on the LCD. With a new
Precision Contrast LightSpeed AF system, the LUMIX G3 is extremely
fast, measuring approximately 0.1 second (14-140mm ~0.1 sec.
14-42mm ~0.18 sec., 45-200mm ~0.15 sec.). The LightSpeed AF feature
is achieved by reducing the detection time for focusing by doubling
the Live MOS Sensor drives speed from 60 fps to 120 fps. Manual
control over focus is available in the LUMIX G3 and has been
greatly improved when compared to its predecessor, the LUMIX
DMC-G2. When magnification is first enabled at 4x by simply
touching the subject on the LCD, that subject is enlarged in a
small window allowing you to keep the rest of the image in view as
a framing reference. Beyond 4x, that small window fills the monitor
so even more control over focus fine-tuning can be achieved. This
handy feature is available from both the MF Assist (Manual Focus)
and AF + MF focus modes.
The Intelligent LCD has a bright 1,440,000-dot equivalent
resolution and rotates 180 degrees to the side and tilts 270
degrees up and down offering approximately 100% of field of view,
making it easy to operate and shoot at different angles. In
addition, the touch-enabled-screen operation excels not only for
shooting but also for playing back images with outstanding
visibility. Users can scroll through hundreds of images on the
screen, simply by thumbing through the thumbnails. Or, to play back
images one-by-one, the user drags the image across the screen as
though flipping a page in a book.
The LUMIX G3's newly developed 16.0-megapixel Live MOS sensor,
combined with the powerful Venus Engine FHD image processor,
contribute to the high-quality photo and video images. The
processor also provides selective noise reduction to create a more
naturally-balanced curve without deterioration of the image. In the
LUMIX G3, noise is significantly suppressed by more than 66%.
Notably in shooting at high ISO settings, S/N value is improved by
approximately 200% compared with the conventional 12.1-megapixel
sensor. The sensor performance improves by 6db at ISO 3200 and max.
9db at ISO 6400.
For added ease of use, the LUMIX G3 features Panasonic's iA(2)
and new iA Plus modes, which are enabled automatically once the iA
button is pressed. Panasonic's iA features, such as Intelligent
Resolution, MEGA O.I.S. (included in several lenses), Intelligent
ISO Control, and Intelligent Scene Selector are available when
shooting still images. However, Panasonic's new iA Plus mode adds
greater flexibility with real-time visual feedback between
automatic and manual shooting features:
- Touch-screen-slider-enabled background defocusing.
- Touch-enabled exposure control compensation.
- Touch-screen-slider-enabled white balance. A desired color
balance result under difficult lighting can now be achieved
visually from the LCD with a touch-enabled slider icon.
The LUMIX G3 offers rapid burst shooting control at various
rates and resolutions. Image capture at full-resolution
(16-megapixel) is possible at up to 4 frames per second with its
mechanical shutter enabled, or an even faster 20 frames per second
using the electronic shutter feature at a reduced resolution of 4
megapixels.
With an array of creative features, the LUMIX G3 offers users
the opportunity to express their creativity with settings like
Creative Control mode, which allows for images to be taken with
popular visual effects that previously required software post
processing. Effects include: Retro, High Key, Sepia and High
Dynamic. The conventional film mode has evolved with a new
effect control, Photo Style, which has Standard, Vivid, Natural,
Monochrome, Scenery, Portrait presets that allow finer adjustment
of contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction by each.
As with many interchangeable lens cameras, dust on the sensor
reduces image clarity. To eliminate this potential, the LUMIX G3
uses a Dust Reduction System that uses a supersonic wave filter in
front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000
times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles
effectively.
The LUMIX G3 utilizes the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) System mount,
offering greater size and weight reduction in the lens without
compromising performance and clarity. The LUMIX MFT System offers a
selection of 11 high-performance fixed focal length and variable
aperture G Vario zooms, including a highly-versatile 3D lens
capable of capturing both 2D and 3D images at the same time. There
are lens adaptors available for mounting older Leica M and Leica R
lenses, including prior LUMIX full Four Thirds lenses. An
innovative 14-140mm HD G Vario lens provides the best of video and
still-image shooting with a long 10x range and near silent
high-speed focusing. When connected to the LUMIX G3, ultra-fast
focusing and auto subject track AF can be achieved. Many LUMIX MFT
lenses come with MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization)
built-in. This feature helps prevent blurring from shaky hands.
Working together with this is the camera's intelligent ISO Control,
which reduces motions blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the
subject moves, helping to ensure sharp images.
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3, made of aluminum, will be available
in a variety of attractive colors, including black, red, white and
brown, starting in June 2011.
Suggested retail price of the LUMIX G3 with the 14-42mm Zoom Lens
Kit will be $699.99. For more
information about the Panasonic LUMIX G Series of compact system
cameras, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.
*(1) For an interchangeable lens system camera with a view
finder, as of May 12, 2011.
*(2) Some functions in iA mode may not be available depending on
the lens that is mounted.
* Design and specifications are subject to change without
notice.
* Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds and Micro
Four Thirds Logo marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Olympus Imaging Corporation, in Japan, the United
States, the European Union and other countries.
*The "AVCHD" is a high definition (HD) digital video
recording / playback format jointly established by Panasonic
Corporation and Sony Corporation.
About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
Based in Secaucus, N.J.,
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, is a Division of Panasonic
Corporation of North America, the
principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:
PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and
R&D operations. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent,
sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our
environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Company
information for journalists is available at
www.panasonic.com/pressroom.
SOURCE Panasonic