Panasonic gave a minor surprise with its Lumix updates by unveiling its first 3D camera. It revolves around two 12.1-megapixel cameras, each with 25-100mm lenses, that together produce a stereoscopic 3D effect.
Full 3D shooting is limited to eight megapixels and doesn’t include videos. As with its rival, though, the lenses can also be used to experiment with 2D modes, capturing a wide-angle shot in one camera at the same time as it zooms to telephoto-like distance with the other. Users can even continuously record video from one camera as they shoot photos from the other.
Performance is relatively fast with a unique quad-processor layout that can shoot relatively quickly for a compact camera, at 4FPS of continuous shots with autofocus on or 8FPS without. Video recording peaks at 1080i. Still imaging’s standout feature is a multi-shot exposure mode to minimize blur beyond what the optical image stabilization can manage.
A 3.5-inch touchscreen serves as the main interface.
Panasonic ships the 3D1 in December and will match Fujifilm with a $500 out-of-the-box price.
