What a day it is for the Panasonic camera enthusiast with the company announcing the successor of Lumix DMC-FZ200 and the top end of the Lumix G series, Lumix DMC-FZ300 and Lumiax DMC-DX8 respectively. The good news is, these both are now splash and dustproof so pretty much ready for any weather conditions to let you capture the moment.
Lumix DMC-FZ 300
FZ300 a 24X superzoom successor to the FZ200 keeps that camera’s 25-600mm equivalent F2.8 zoom lens and 12MP Live MOS sensor, while adding a newer version of its Venus Engine image processor.
The LUMIX FZ300 is capable of recording smooth, high-resolution QFHD 4K video in 3840×2160 at 30p (60Hz) or 24p in MP4. Taking advantage of 4K video recording performance, users can capture fleeting photo opportunities at 30 fps in 8-megapixel equivalent resolution.
The autofocus system has been updated with Panasonic’s DFD (Depth from Defocus) technology which the company says reduces focus times to just 0.09 secs, and also improves its tracking focus ability. The FZ300 can also shoot continuous at up to 12 fps (6 fps in C-AF mode). The camera uses a Hybrid O.I.S. system providing 2-axis stabilization for stills shooting and 5-axis IS in video recording (though not in 4K). It packs a 1.44M dot OLED EVF and a fully articulated 3″ 1.04M dot touchscreen for composing your photo.
Lumix DMC-DX8
Panasonic has achieved some milestones with Lumix DMC-DX8, it’s the first Micro Four Thirds camera to break the 20MP barrier, and also has a ‘Dual IS’ feature that uses both sensor-shift and lens-shift IS (when available) for more effective shake reduction. The updated Venus Engine processor allows the GX8 to top out at ISO 25,600, shoot at up to 8 fps, and record 4K/UHD video.
GX8 provides a tilting 2.36M dot OLED viewfinder and a fully articulated 1.04M dot 3″ OLED touchscreen. A dedicated exposure compensation dial is included on the GX8’s top panel, and Wi-Fi and NFC are built in.
Like the FZ300 the GX is also splash and dustproof camera and uses the same autofocus system DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology to speed up focus acquisition to about 0.07 seconds and greatly improving tracking focus.
The FZ300 is expected to be available in October for $599.99 and GX8 will be available from August in all-black or black-and-silver variants for $1199.99 body only.
Stay tuned for more tech buzz.