PANASONIC - LUMIX DIGITAL CAMERA

Panasonic celebrates 10 years of innovation in the digital camera world

Panasonic, a global leader in home appliances and digital devices, celebrates this year an important milestone as it marks the 10^th year since the company released the first LUMIX digital camera to the global digital camera market.

For the past decade, Panasonic, represented in the Philippines by Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corp. (PMPC), committed itself to introducing to the market and to digital camera enthusiasts top-quality products that are in support of its vision of “Creating a New Photo Culture in the Digital Era.” The past decade saw Panasonic changing the digital camera landscape when it introduced the LUMIX digital camera, which was met with substantial success in the market, and further pushed the company to propel the brand even further.

During the last 10 years, Panasonic went tirelessly in its mission to provide what consumers generally want in a digital camera amid a highly-competitive digital camera market, a camera that is user-friendly, fun to use, and most of all captures images in all its vivid detail and beauty.

Also, Panasonic expanded its camera business by pursuing efforts in three main areas such as collaborating with top camera, lens and photo equipment manufacturer Leica AG, using original and innovative ideas to incorporate in its new cameras and most recently, employing digital networking technologies in order to provide new ways of enjoyment for camera users.

Given these efforts, among the camera innovations that Panasonic LUMIX introduced to the market were the likes of optical image stabilization for compact digital cameras in 2003, the wide-angle lenses with an EA lens for super-thin compact cameras in 2006, the well-loved “iA” or “Intelligent Auto” mode in 2007, Lumix G mirror lens structure interchangeable lens system camera (2008) and other digital camera advancements that clearly caught the attention of both novice and professional camera users around the world.

Leading its 21^st Century digital camera revolution is the Panasonic DMC-GF2 from the LUMIX G Micro System based on the Micro Four Thirds standard.

This new camera with the new interchangeable lens system, another innovation from Panasonic, the DMC-GF2 boasts of a compact form factor yet still employs ease of use but without sacrificing the high image quality output that Panasonic LUMIX cameras are known for.

Touted as one of the world’s smallest and lightest compact cameras of its kind, the DMC-GF2 is essentially a smaller and even more compact version of its predecessor, the highly-successful DMC-GF1. This newer version has a built-in flash that adopts a new pop-up mechanism to prevent a “vignetting” effect, a 12.1-megapixel high-speed live MOS sensor and high-performance camera engine.

Its high-quality digital capabilities are not limited to just still photos but also extend to capturing videos in full AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) format for better clarity and lengthened video recording time. This new incarnation of the DMC-GF1 is extremely easy to use and understand by any camera user regardless of user level by virtue of its touch control and new Graphic User Interface (GUI). Focusing on a subject is easy by simply touching it on the large, 460,000-dot LCD screen while the innovative “Touch Q-menu” can be customized by the user by choosing which application he uses more often.

Of course, the “iA” or “Intelligent Auto” mode is still present allowing for a more intuitive and comfortable user environment. Durability is also a plus factor since the chassis is made of aluminum for a more stable and rigid structure, while the grip is designed to ensure a good hold despite the DMC-GF2’s slimness and compactness.

But despite these technological advancements credited to Panasonic’s clearly-innovative directions for its digital camera business, Panasonic will continue to develop groundbreaking innovations for the digital imaging market and Panasonic assures loyal LUMIX users that it will not stop innovating and exploring other creative ideas to make digital camera use an even more enthralling experience for them—in 10 years or perhaps even beyond.

Because Panasonic continues to search for more innovative ideas for a better life.