Panasonic's 3D lens for Micro 4/3 cameras (photos)

COLOGNE, Germany--Panasonic unveiled a $250 3D camera at Photokina show here. The lens fits onto its Micro Four Thirds-based compact cameras, showing stereo images that with proper equipment can be shown as 3D photos.

Panasonic's new GH2 camera, shown from the rear. The compact model is Panasonic's new flagship Micro Four Thirds design, a camera family that, unlike an SLR, uses no flip-up mirror to transmit light to the viewfinder when composing and to the sensor when photographing. Instead, the camera uses live view, including for autofocus chores.

Panasonic's new GH2 camera.

Panasonic's new GH2 camera sporting a 3D lens at Photokina.

How do you look at 3D still photos? With a 3D TV. Panasonic hopes you'll buy one of theirs to go along with your new 3D photos and videos.

Mamoru Yoshida, senior vice president of Panasonic's AVC networks group, speaking at Photokina.

Ichiro Kitao, director of Panasonic's digital still camera business unit, speaking at Photokina in Cologne, Germany.

Lenses are made of several optical elements. Here are the ingredients for Panasonic's new 100-300mm telephoto for its Micro Four Thirds cameras.

A lot of ingredients go into a compact camera, in this case the newly announced GH2 from Panasonic. This exploded version starts at the camera's front face, left, and traverses various subsystems through the back.