panasonic

Quick Take: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

It isn't until you hold the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 that you realize just what an engineering feat it is.

Its Leica lens starts off at an ultrawide-angle 24mm and zooms in to 480mm. That's an incredible range for a lens in a body that's just 1.1 inches thick. That's actually thinner than its 16x predecessor, the DMC-ZS10. The lens is paired with Panasonic's Power O.I.S. optical image stabilization, which has been very good in the past, but I'll have to see how well it handles the extra zoom range.

The rest … Read more

2012 TVs: Every new HDTV compared

Here's nearly all of the information I've been able to get from CES and since regarding the shiny new TVs of 2012.

I know it's not every TV; minor brands aren't represented, and lack of information from some manufacturers (namely Samsung) prevents me from capturing a few midrange and entry-level models. But as of press time I'm confident that the chart above contains the most comprehensive, current information on forthcoming 2012 models available anywhere.

… Read more

Panasonic Lumix TS4 perfect for outdoorsy types with fat wallets

It appears Panasonic took a "why mess with a good thing" approach when it came time to update its top-of-the-line rugged model, the Lumix DMC-TS3.

Its replacement, the TS4, is just as durable, waterproof to approximately 40 feet, shockproof to approximately 6.6 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and dustproof. To go along with its strong build, there's a built-in GPS system, compass, altimeter, and barometer.

The rest of the camera's hardware--the 4.6x f3.3-5.9 28-128mm Leica lens, 12-megapixel high-speed CCD sensor, and 2.7-inch LCD--seem to be the same as on the … Read more

Panasonic Lumix ZS20 is world's thinnest 20x zoom camera

And the battle for the most zoom in the thinnest body continues.

This is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20, and as of its announcement, Panasonic claims it is the world's slimmest camera with a 20x optical zoom. The Leica lens starts off at an ultrawide-angle 24mm and extends to 480mm and fits inside a body that's just 1.1 inches thick. Of course, since it starts so wide, this might not be the longest lens we see this year; it just has the most zoom for its depth.

Of course, the ZS20 is more than just a long lens … Read more

Panasonic TVs 2012: Sleeker, better plasmas, more LCDs, and...passive 3D?

Panasonic is still serious about plasma, but in 2012 it will release more (and bigger) LCDs than ever, including one with passive 3D--complete with cheap glasses.

As usual CES provided a full look at the company's 2012 TV hardware plans and we covered them extensively in blog and video form, but the table below attempts to coalesce those plans in the most "scannable, glanceable" view possible. All of it came from the company's official CES press releases, although a few of the Notes were the result of follow-up conversations I had with company reps.

You won'… Read more

Tamron, Kenko Tokina boost Micro Four Thirds lens alliance

Tamron and Kenko Tokina, two third-party lens manufacturers, have thrown their weight behind the Micro Four Thirds alliance, helping Olympus and Panasonic during a major shift in the camera industry.

Olympus and Panasonic were the early entrants to a new class of interchangeable-lens cameras much more compact than traditional SLRs. They're both members of the Micro Four Thirds partnership that governs image sensors and lenses, meaning that Micro Four Thirds lenses can be used on either company's camera bodies.

The new membership, like that of third-party lensmaker Sigma before, means photographers can expect more variety for Micro Four … Read more

Update: Long-term plasma TV tests enter second 'year'

You asked for it, now you got it. After a few delays I've updated the results from my ongoing long-term testing of five 2011 plasma TVs by adding a sixth and publishing a new round of numbers.

One of the models tested has now accumulated nearly 3,000 hours of "on" time, equivalent to about a year and a half of normal TV watching, and a couple of others are also well into their second simulated year. New for this round I've also included measurements of the LG 50PZ950, the only 2011 LG plasma I've … Read more

Best mirrorless cameras for less than $1,000

Editors' note: This story was originally published in January 2012. The latest update reflects the addition of the Sony Alpha NEX-6 and NEX-5R.

The category of interchangeable-lens cameras subsumes a variety of capabilities and designs. There's the familiar dSLRs, large-bodied models that use a reflex mirror to enable the use of a through-the-lens optical viewfinder. Then there are Sony's SLT (Single Lens Translucent) models, which incorporate the same phase-detection autofocus system as dSLRs, but whose fixed mirror requires the use of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) rather than an optical one. And then there are the mirrorless models, which … Read more

Quick Take: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS9

Available only at Amazon.com, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS9 is nearly identical to the Lumix ZS8 we reviewed earlier. The only difference between the two models is the ZS9's stereo mic; the ZS8 records movie audio in mono only.

The ZS9 is also available only in black.