Panasonic's DMC-FT1, TZ7, TZ6, FX550, and FX40 cameras outed by French authority

We're not sure what's going in France at the moment but a bevy of new 12 megapixel Panasonic Lumix cameras have broken loose with or without corporate approval. Let's start with the rugged €399 DMC-FT1 (pictured). It features a 12 megapixel (1/2.33-inches) with a 28-128mm optically stabilized 4.6x zoom Leica lens and a 2.7-inch LCD. It'll survive drops of up to 1.5 meters, water to a depth of 3 meters, while surviving storage in the dustiest of apartments. It'll even shoot 720p video in "AVCHD Lite" format... whatever that is. Next up are the €429 DMC-TZ7 and its £329 DMC-TZ6 little buddy. The TZ7 couples a 12x optically stabilized zoom (25-300mm) with the ability to shoot 720p HD video in that same AVCHD Lite format and reviewable on a biggie (but relatively common) 3-inch LCD.

Also outed is the €299 FX550 with 5x zoom, 720p video capture, and a 3-inch touchscreen buzzing along with haptic feedback. It'll even handle aperture and shutter priority modes in addition to manual exposure for those who wish to push their amateur credentials to the edge. The €299 DMC-FX40 dials things back with a skinnier chassis and smaller 2.5-inch LCD while ditching the manual stuff. Check 'em all in the gallery.

Panasonic's DMC-FT1, TZ7, TZ6, FX550, and FX40 cameras outed in France

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

Read -- FT1
Read -- TZ7
Read -- TZ6
Read -- DMC-FX550
Read -- DMC-FX40

[pika2000 Posted Jan 27th 2009 5:10AM]

A compact slim digicam with internal zoom lens that can record AVCHD? Wow! Now I'm in dilemma, the DMC-F1, or the upcoming high FPS digicams from Casio. Decision decision.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 27th 2009 5:15AM]

Probably the 1st camera with a 3-inch touchscreen AND Haptic Feedback. Can't imagine what the GUI will look like, but knowing that companies like Nikon are pushing out touchscreen interface cameras like the S60 and Samsung TL24HD, it's probably going to be completely shit.

Just guessing here:
Probably resistive touch with unresponsive "flick" interfaces.

We need multi-touch capacitive AMOLED touchscreens on our 2009 point-and-shoots with finger friendly GUI's. If your gonna push out touchscreen cameras into the market, do it right.

[sibyy Posted Jan 27th 2009 5:25AM]

I was actually waiting on a refresh on the TZ series.

I own the TZ5 and it's a very good relatively compact camera with huge zoom for its size.
Only issue is shooting above ISO 200 is noisy as hell.

If there is sufficient improvement in image quality/noise in the TZ7/6 I'll consider upgrading.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 27th 2009 6:03AM]

Olympus execs must be nervous with a big-name competitor entering their traditional stronghold of the Shockproof, Waterproof, Tough Camera category.

Sony doesn't seem to be playing in this area at all these days. The more time goes on, the stronger I feel Panasonic is getting in the still camera market. There has to be some market share climbing here.

[wii Posted Jan 27th 2009 7:08AM]

The new video format has been announced officially at:

http://www.avchd-info.org/

Very interesting new cams from Panasonic.

[Adam Miarka Posted Jan 27th 2009 8:24AM]

oh TZ7...come to papa!

[SticksUWP Posted Jan 27th 2009 1:26PM]

Doesnt that picture look heavily photoshopped?

[Wwhat Posted Jan 27th 2009 1:42PM]

I see the tz7 has "et son Dolby Digital !" so dolby digital sound with its HD video, now that's somewhat novel.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 27th 2009 6:27PM]

That FT1 could be the answer to my woes. I have been looking around for a camera with the picture quality of the Sony T77 and the durability of the Olympus 1050...nikon crap..samsung crap...
but looks like its gonna be $$$ and at least $449 CAN. =[

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 19th 2009 10:16PM]

If by "novel" you mean a waste, then yes, it would be novel to have a Dolby Digital stream where a mono MP3 track would have totally sufficed.