Currently, 3D shooting with an interchangeable lens system camera is possible only by using panorama systems or by combining two lenses and two CCDs.  However, these systems are not ideal and have difficulty capturing moving objects.  Panasonic’s new 3D lens for the LUMIX G Micro System features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses that are then processed with a 3D image processing system. Thanks to Panasonic’s advanced technologies in optical technology, image processing systems, and lens barrel design, the 3D lens will be compact in size.

This new compact 3D-capable interchangeable lens will be easy to handle and allow instant 3D shooting, without distortion or time lag between left and right images – even when shooting moving objects.

“The new Panasonic TA1 is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, extremely easy and intuitive to use, and yet it is still powerful enough to shoot full-HD video and high-quality photos,” said Chris Rice, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Designed to integrate easily with popular online social networks to quickly share videos, the TA1 can also be used as a Web camera, allowing users to make video chat calls – making this extremely portable video camera a truly versatile gadget.”

Measuring a mere 2.09 inch (w) x 0.70 inch (d) x 4.09 inch (h), and weighing just 0.25lb (with battery and SD card), the Panasonic TA1 is a compact and lightweight HD mobile video camera that records high-quality videos and photos. Complete with a wrist strap, making it ideal for carrying, the TA1 is perfect for shooting spontaneous videos and snapping photos. With an easy-to-use design, the TA1’s single-function buttons include: Power, Play, Record, Still Photo, LED Light (on/off) and Delete.  In addition, there is a center keypad for selecting additional settings.

The Panasonic TA1 can record still photos with up to eight Megapixels.  This high-resolution capability helps ensure clear, vivid images with sharp details and all data records to an SDXC/SDHC/SD Memory Card. The TA1 can also cut still images out of a video clip during editing. There is no need to connect any other device or to load the video into a PC for editing. To cut out and save a still image, simply press the Still Picture button when the desired image appears on the TA1’s 2.0” LCD monitor. A unique feature for mobile video cameras, the Panasonic TA1 includes a built-in LED light**, which comes in handy when shooting in dimly-lit situations, such as indoors.

The TA1 has an integrated USB terminal with pre-loaded software that allows recorded video clips and still images to be easily loaded into a PC, edited, and then uploaded to popular sharing websites. When the TA1 is connected to the PC’s USB slot, its built-in software, HD Writer PE 1.0, automatically launches, enabling one-touch loading of data into the PC for editing.  The TA1 records MPEG-4 AVC file format (MP4), which offers excellent PC compatibility and is ideal for viewing clear, high-resolution images on a PC or distributing them over a network.

Other features of the Panasonic HM-TA1 include:

* E.I.S. (Electrical Image Stabilization) to minimize hand-shake issues.
* Digital zoom up to 4x, helping to expand the user’s shooting range.
* Color effects enabling creative shooting, including Sepia, Monochrome, and Soft Skin. Sepia mode adds warmth to the captured images; SoftSkin produces realistic skin tones; and Monochrome mode transforms the appearance to create a cool ambience.
* USB-capable charging by connected the TA1’s USB cord to a PC***, eliminating the need to carry a separate cord or charger.

The Panasonic HM-TA1 will be available in three different color options, purple, dark grey and red in August 2010 with a suggested retail price of $169.95.

“With the addition of the SDX1, Panasonic has given consumers a versatile camcorder that can be used not only for high-quality video shooting, but also sharing these precious recorded moments with family and friends who may be far away,” said Chris Rice, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “We do our best to provide products that adapt to the ever-changing world of technology and this model does just that – it’s a camcorder that shoots high-quality video, using its incredible zooming capabilities and advanced optical technology – while providing consumers with the ability to make video calls from a computer.”

The Panasonic HDC-SDX1 also features a newly-developed HYBRID Optical Image Stabilization system (O.I.S.), an image stabilization system that provides optical and electrical hand-shake correction. This system specifically helps when zooming, making it possible to record beautiful videos. In addition to the HYBRID O.I.S. system, the SDX1 provides even more powerful hand-shake correction with O.I.S. Lock. By pressing the O.I.S. Lock button on the LCD monitor, the blur detection sensitivity is maximized and other camera movements are detected and corrected.

While compact in size and light in weight, the SDX1 is packed with advanced features. It has full-HD AVCHD recording capabilities with outstanding 1920 x 1080*4 image quality, and records in the PC-friendly MP4 format. Its 35.8mm wide-angle setting is optimal for recording portraits indoors, as well as sweeping landscapes and even allows for voices to be clearly recorded at far distances. The Intelligent Zoom function which was achieved with the Intelligent Resolution technology of the newly-evolved image processing LSI, makes it possible to take telephoto shots with zoom power up to 23x.

Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto (iA) mode automatically selects the most suitable of six shooting modes at the simple press of a button. These include Face Recognition, the new HYBRID O.I.S., AF/AE Tracking, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection and Intelligent Contrast Control.

* Face Recognition finds the registered faces of subjects and automatically optimizes the focus and exposure, while continuously tracking them as they move around within the LCD frame.
* HYBRID O.I.S. provides more accurate hand-shake correction with its four-axis blur detection, helping to steady images even when zooming or shooting a moving subject.
* AF/AE Tracking tracks a moving subject to make sure it’s recorded in optimal image quality. The normal Auto mode adjusts the focus and exposure for a subject at the center of the screen. With AF/AE Tracking, the user “locks on” to a subject by simply touching the LCD screen.
* Intelligent Scene Selector detects the situation and switches the scene mode accordingly.
* Face Detection captures faces beautifully even in dim or backlit scenes.
* Intelligent Contrast Control prevents blown highlights and blocked shadows to retain natural, highly-nuanced images with proper contrast.
* Touch Screen Operation with a 2.7-inch wide LCD monitor.

The Panasonic HDC-SDX1 will be available in black in September 2010 with a suggested retail price of $499.95. For more information on Panasonic camcorders, please visit www.panasonic.com/dvc.

“From the beginning, Panasonic has led the way into the 3D era with end-to-end solutions ranging from our critically-acclaimed Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma TVs and 3D Blu-ray Disc Players, to professional 3D camcorders and our work with Hollywood studios on the authoring of Full HD Blu-ray 3D video content,” said Richard Simone, Vice President, Panasonic Networking Group.  “The addition of the BDT100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player to our line-up marks one of many planned expansions of our 3D offerings designed to give consumers more options and greater access to the immersive world of 3D entertainment for the home.”

The BDT100 outputs stunning and immersive Full HD 3D imagery to compatible HD displays. The player also handles a wide variety of audio standards, and upconverts all standard definition video formats to 1080p, the highest-possible video resolution. For nearly 20 years, Panasonic has maintained a base in Hollywood, via Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, where it has actively studied and created high quality image reproduction technologies in tandem with a number of leading movie studios. Many of the advanced image technologies originally cultivated by Panasonic through this experience are incorporated in the DMP-BDT100. Based on these technologies, the DMP-BDT100 reproduces the ultimate in 3D images, rendering them extremely faithful to the original movies.

In addition to producing superb picture and audio quality, the DMP-BDT100, like the BDT350, also features VIERA CAST, Panasonic’s proprietary internet functionality, which brings a variety of streaming services including NETFLIX™, Amazon VOD™, Pandora®, Twitter and YouTubeTM Videos into the living room. Wireless LAN capability*1 eliminates the need to connect a LAN cable, so the DMP-BDT100 can be used without having to worry about the length of the cable.

Users can also watch 2D images (JPEG) and movies (AVCHD*2/MPEG2*2) from digital cameras and camcorders via the integrated SD card and USB slot, as well as 3D Content shot by a Panasonic HDC-SDT750 Camcorder.

Ease of use remains a major consumer concern and the BDT100 addresses the issue of boot up time by reducing the time to 0.5-second.

As a green innovation company, Panasonic also focuses on important environmental issues in its production system. For example, the single chip LSI, UniPhier, is used for image signal processing. Unification of this chip helps to lower power consumption and achieve a more compact design (reducing the DMP-BDT100 size by 1-17/32 inches*3) while also decreasing the burden on the environment by using limited natural resources more efficiently.

For more information on Panasonic’s Full HD 3D technology, visit www.panasonic.com/3D.

The LUMIX FX700 adopts full touch-screen operation, which allows for Auto Focus (AF) to be set by touching the 3.0-inch, 230,000-dot LCD screen.   Once a subject is locked with a single touch, the AF tracking function will follow the subject while moving.  With the Intelligent Scene Selector, the camera automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject selected.  All menus settings are now available with one-touch control for shooting images and videos.

The LUMIX FX700’s advanced 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens, a rarity for a compact camera of this size, makes it easy to capture many subjects due to the great depth-of-field provided by the extra light.  Additionally, photographers now have a wider range of composition possibilities with approximately 213% larger viewing space compared to that of a 35mm camera.

The LUMIX FX700 can also record HD video in the AVCHD format, which allows for almost double the recording time in HD quality compared to the conventional Motion JPEG format.  The LUMIX FX700 records in 1920×1080 full HD with enhanced picture quality and Intelligent Resolution technology.  Along with this high-quality HD video with a 5x optical zoom*1, the FX700 also features Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to record high-quality audio.

Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode is further advanced in the FX700 with the addition of Motion Deblur mode* by updating the motion detection (Intelligent ISO Control) and brightness control (Intelligent Exposure) to gain the highest shutter speed possible.  Combined with the outstanding brightness of the lens and the POWER O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer), the LUMIX FX700 reduces any blur either caused by handshake or a moving subject.  Intelligent Burst mode now determines the frame rate in burst shooting according to the speed of the subject’s motion, making it easy to capture any image.  Included in the iA suite of technologies is: POWER O.I.S., Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure.

The LUMIX FX700 features the new Venus Engine FHD image processor which includes advanced signal processing capabilities.  It also incorporates Intelligent Resolution technology, which examines three areas pixel-by-pixel, to automatically detect and enhance any degradation created during the digital zoom process.

Other features of the Panasonic LUMIX FX700 include:

·         Handheld Night Shot: Using the high-speed MOS sensor, this new mode shoots 10 consecutive shots to simulate and detect the perfect shot of any subject while simultaneously fixing the subject’s position.  Through the MOS sensor’s short shutter speed, exposure is increased while noise is reduced to create a blurless, beautifully- illuminated night shot without the use of a tripod.

·         Battery Life: The high-performance Venus Engine FHD is also highly energy efficient despite its high processing capabilities, extending the battery life up to 300 shots (CIPA) on a single charge.

The Panasonic LUMIX FX700 will be available in black in late-August for a suggested retail price of $399.95.

Panasonic’s popular Intelligent Auto (iA) mode makes it easy for anyone to take beautiful photos by offering a full suite of shooting-assist functions.  The LUMIX TS10 makes it extremely easy for consumers to engage this setting, with a dedicated iA button on the top of the camera. The MEGA O.I.S. helps reduce blur due to hand-shake and the Intelligent ISO control prevents a moving subject from being blurred by optimizing the shutter speed and ISO sensitivity setting, to produce sharp, clear images. Human faces are captured in focus and with correct exposure using the Face Detection mode and unwanted red-eyes are digitally corrected and backlight compensation automatically adjusted. Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects one of six Scene Modes – Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Night Scenery and Sunset – that best suits the shooting situation. The Quick AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject while the camera is in recording mode even before pressing a shutter button halfway.

The LUMIX TS10 can also shoot High Definition video in 720p Motion JPG and the image-processing Venus Engine IV features advanced signal processing technology for rendering high-quality images and videos. The camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities.

The Panasonic LUMIX TS10 features an easy-to-see, 2.7-inch 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD for comfortable viewing while both monitoring shots and playing back the results. The Intelligent LCD function detects the light condition and automatically boosts the LCD backlighting by 40% when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, and adjusts the frame rate when shooting in low-lit situations. Detecting the lighting condition precisely and automatically controlling the brightness with a total of 11 fine steps, this function gives the display the most appropriate clarity in any situation without using extra energy. The High-Angle mode makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as when shooting over a crowd.

The Panasonic LUMIX TS10 will be available in blue, red, black and silver in mid-September for a suggested retail price of $249.95. For more information on Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras, please visit: www.panasonic.com/lumix.

*1 When used according to Panasonic’s operating guidelines, waterproof to a depth of 10 feet and dustproof in accordance with “IPX8″ and “IP6X” ratings. Shockproof from a height up to 5 feet in accordance with the “MIL-STD 810F Method 516.5-Shock” test standard.  All components including the lens unit are evaluated to endure the temperature as low as -10 degrees C to make the T10 freezeproof.

The LUMIX FZ100 has an incredibly fast burst shooting in 14.1-megapixel full resolution at 11 frames per second with a mechanical shutter, and increases the frames per second to 60 in 3.5-megapixel recording.  Additionally, the LUMIX FZ100 features continuous Auto Focus up to five frames per second at full resolution for great action shots.  It also features Intelligent Burst shooting. The digital camera judges the appropriate shutter speed to suppress the motion blur according to the movement of the subject, rising as high as possible, activating the high sensitivity recording.

Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, a hallmark on all LUMIX digital cameras, now includes Motion Deblur mode*2. By updating the motion detection (Intelligent ISO Control) and brightness control (Intelligent Exposure) users can gain the highest shutter speed possible.  Combined with the outstanding brightness of the lens and the POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), the LUMIX FZ100 prevents any blur created from a handshake or a moving subject. The iA suite of technologies include: POWER O.I.S., Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure.  Panasonic’s iA is also available while shooting video.

Featuring a free-angle 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD, the LUMIX FZ100 features wide-angle viewing with Face Recognition functions that automatically remembers registered faces for future recording.  The Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects one of 6 Scene modes to best suit the shooting situation.

The LUMIX FZ100 also features Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator. This high-quality stereo sound offers realistic sounds and effects to any movie. For greater sound quality, the LUMIX FZ100 has a newly-created port for an optional stereo microphone (DMW-MS1) and a Wind Cut function is available to drastically reduce background wind noise.

The LUMIX FZ100 can record photos and HD video in AVCHD format on SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards. Additionally, My Color mode, first introduced in the LUMIX G Micro Systems cameras, is a special option that gives freedom to the user’s creativity.  With a variety of options including new Pin Hole, Film Grain, High Dynamic and High Dynamic B&W, the My Color mode makes it easy to create innovative images and videos using new intensive color, brightness and saturation levels.

Other features of the LUMIX FZ100 include:

·         Bundled Software – PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.2 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos.  Videos can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader, while also letting the user create a 360-degree rotation panorama file in .MOV files. The software is compatible with the Windows 7.

·         Happy Mode – An option in iA that optimizes color, saturation and brightness to make both photos and movies more vivid and true to the color of the scene you memorized.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ100 will be available in black in late-August for a suggested retail price of $499.95.

The LUMIX FZ40 features Intelligent Resolution technology which leads to optimum signal processing, giving images outstanding natural clarity, specifically focusing on the finer details. The Sonic Speed Auto Focus (AF) and high-speed start-up found on the FZ40 are at the industry’s fastest level, helping users to catch even the most fleeting photo opportunities.

The LUMIX FZ40 has upgraded intuitive manual and creative controls including the new jog dial which helps to elevate the camera’s operability. The jog dial is a focus button which allows users to change settings quickly including shutter speed and aperture, depending on the shooting conditions. Additionally, the new My Color mode which has been popular on LUMIX G Micro System cameras is available in both still and movie modes, and gives users creative freedom with a suite of options, including new Pin Hole, Film Grain, High Dynamic and High Dynamic B&W.

Panasonic’s hallmark Intelligent Auto (iA) mode automatically selects the most suitable Scene mode and remembers previously-registered faces. And the intuitive system also includes POWER Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.), featuring double the repression power compared to that of Panasonic’s previous image stabilization system, MEGA O.I.S. This system helps to eliminate blur resulting from hand-shake, a common problem when pressing the shutter button while taking photos or shooting video.

Users can now enjoy easy shooting of HD movies in AVCHD Lite with double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. Additionally, a separate and dedicated button located on the top of the camera allows users to instantly begin recording in video mode – so switching between capturing still photos and video is quick and seamless.

Other features of the LUMIX FZ40 include a 3.0-inch 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD with 100% field of view, high energy efficiency which extends the battery life up to 580 shots (CIPA) per charge, and a new Video Divide function with which users can separate a video they’ve shot into two sections to shorten or delete any unwanted parts. Also, the LUMIX FZ40’s Wind Cut function blocks out noise from background wind when shooting in video mode.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ40 will be available in black in late-August for a suggested retail price of $399.95. For more information about Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras, please visit: www.panasonic.com/lumix.

The Panasonic LUMIX LX5 is a unique compact digital camera in that it offers superb image quality along with a super-bright lens and increased creative modes.  The F2.0 lens is twice as bright as a F2.8 lens, making it easy to produce beautiful photos with a soft-focused background thanks to the shallow depth of field provided by the extra light. In addition to the newly-designed lens, the LUMIX LX5 features an image processing engine that combines technologies resulting in professional-quality photos, especially in low-light situations.  Like its predecessor, the LUMIX LX5 features the highly-acclaimed 10.1-megapixel CCD, but it has an expanded dynamic range by increasing the sensitivity and the saturation.

The newly developed Venus Engine FHD image processor enables higher-speed, higher-performance while compiling the Intelligent Resolution technology. The triple CPUs in this imaging engine dramatically speeds up processing while achieving exceptional noise reduction performance. With its high-sensitivity CCD and the brightness of the lens, minimum illumination of the LUMIX LX5 is as low as 3 lux while shooting video.

In addition to capturing high-quality still photos, the LUMIX LX5 can record HD videos in AVCHD Lite, a format that allows almost doubling the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. Creative video shooting modes include Creative Movie mode, where users can set shutter speed and aperture manually to make even more impressive movies. My Color mode and Film mode are available for more extended expression not only in photography but also in videography.  The LUMIX LX5 also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio and the 3.8x optical zoom is available while shooting video.

The LUMIX LX5 has also been redesigned externally – with a thicker grip making it easier to hold and a newly-incorporated turn-and-push jog dial achieves various selection and setting more quickly. The LUMIX LX5 also features a hot shoe, which allows for the attachment of a wide-variety of accessories, such as an optional Live View Finder which helps shooting under strong daylight with high visibility or an external flash. The 1:1 square format setting is added in the aspect ratio option which can be selected with the switch at the side of the lens barrel.

Other features of the Panasonic LUMIX LX5, include:

* The 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high resolution Intelligent LCD also redesigned by adopting High CRI (Color Rendering Index) backlight LED to greatly increase the color reproduction, making it more visible both in shooting and playing back images in any conditions from at dark night to under bright sunlight.
* Battery life is extended to shoot 400 photos (CIPA) per a single charge.
* A wide-variety of accessories, including a Live View Finder (DMW-LVF1), External Optical View Finder (DMW-VF1),  Wide Conversion Lens (DMW-LWA52), Conversion Lens Adaptor (DMW-LA6), MC Protector (DMW-MC52), ND Filter (DMW-LND52), PL Filter: DMW-LPL52, External Flashes, Leather Case (DMW-CLX5) and a Battery Pack (DMW-BCJ13).

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX5 will be available in late-August 2010 for a suggested retail of $499.95 and will be available in black and white models.

n3D will also offer special events such as this weekend’s running of the NASCAR Coke Zero 400, the local broadcast of the Yankees-Mariners series on July 10-11 and DIRECTV’s exclusive, national broadcast of FOX Sports 2010 MLB All-Star Game in 3D on July 13.

In addition to n3D, DIRECTV is also launching DIRECTV Cinema™ in 3D on channel 104, which is currently offering IMAX titles Deep Sea 3D and Under the Sea 3D and n3D On Demand on channel 105, which is currently delivering replays of ESPN’s 3D coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches. DIRECTV also launched ESPN 3D on channel 106 on June 11.

“The ability to bring high-quality 3D programming into the home is a huge advancement in the evolution of television,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president of Content Strategy and Development for DIRECTV. “Our innovative technology has allowed us to lead the industry in HD and we are continuing on that same path by establishing ourselves as the premier destination for the best 3D viewing experience available. We are proud to be partnering with Panasonic and are excited to deliver this new dimension of television to millions of DIRECTV HD customers across the country.”

“This is a major milestone in the young history of 3D home entertainment and Panasonic is very proud to work with DIRECTV to bring consumers this new TV channel dedicated exclusively to 3D programming,” said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman & CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America.  “We have launched our VIERA 3D TVs and Blu-ray 3D Player, and they have been very well received by consumers, but we know the key to the success of 3D for the home is the availability of content. The arrival of n3D powered by Panasonic underscores the fact that consumers will have access to a rapidly growing range of 3D TV programming including live major sports and entertainment events, as well as movies on 3D Blu-ray Disc in 2010.”

Panasonic is the exclusive presenting sponsor of DIRECTV’s n3D channel. In January at the Consumer Electronics Show, DIRECTV and Panasonic announced their plans to launch 3D TV channels and have since worked together to leverage relationships with programming partners and movie studios to obtain new and existing 3D content. For more information on DIRECTV’s 3D channels please visit www.directv.com/3D.

Last month, DIRECTV HD customers received a free software upgrade enabling them to have access to the 3D channels on DIRECTV.  DIRECTV HD customers will need a 3D television set and 3D glasses to view 3D programming on DIRECTV.

Panasonic is a global leader in the development of end-to-end Full HD 3D technology solutions including the world’s first Full HD 3D video camera that records to solid-state memory, Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc authoring, and the award winning VT-25 Series of Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma TVs and 3D Blu-ray Disc Players. For more information on Panasonic’s Full HD 3D technology, visit www.panasonic.com/3D.