Panasonic Adds GH2 Digicam, 3D Lens

By Greg Tarr On Sep 23 2010 - 1:00pm

NEW YORK — Taking its 3D expertise to a new product segment, Panasonic announced this week the next edition in its Lumix G-Series Micro Four Thirds mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera line and a 3D lens to support it.

The GH2 will ship to dealers in late November at a $900 suggested retail for the body only or $1,500 for a kit with the camera and a 14-140mm lens. It is positioned as a complement to the G2, which will remain in the line.

Key features in the camera include a 16.05-megapixel high-speed Live MOS image sensor, Venus Engine VI FHD image processor, up to 12,800 ISO intelligent resolution, 5 fps burst shooting in JPEG, two RAW modes (compressed and uncompressed), and a variable angle articulating LCD touch-screen monitor panel.

The camera also includes a high-resolution 600 by 852 dot LCD electronic viewfinder, which was expanded slightly to accommodate 16:9 and 3:2 widescreen aspect ratio framing. Viewfinder images are processed by the Venus Engine IV to produce clearer images.

Video is captured in up to FullHD 1080 resolution at 24 to 60i frame rates, using advances in the image- sensor technology to deliver a smoother film-like appearance than was possible in the GH1. The video bit rate is said to be the full 23Mbps AVCHD spec.

The camera also includes a new multi-aspect ratiobracketing mode to capture pictures in four different dimensions from one exposure.

The GH2 will ship with firmware ready to accept a new 3D lens, said Darin Pepple, Panasonic imaging senior product manager.

The 3D lens with a constant f/12 aperture setting will carry a $250 suggested retail when it ships in November.

Using the lens, the GH2 will capture stereoscopic 3D still images, but not 3D videos, Panasonic said.

The lens will offer a twin-barrel optics capturing left- and right-eye image perspectives at a resolution of 3 megapixels for each eye.

Images can be played back by connecting the camera via the included HDMI input to a standard compliant 3D TV.

The 3D stereoscopic images can also be made into lenticular prints.