Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZR1 catches Olympic fever
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 12th 2010 2:57PM
posted February 12th 2010 2:57PM
Well, it's Olympic season once again, and that can only mean one thing: a new round of tie-in products. One of the first to arrive on the scene is a new version of Panasonic's Lumix ZR1, which boasts an eye-catching red paint job complete with the official Vancouver 2010 logo. Otherwise, this one looks to be the same 12-megapixel point-and-shoot as before, with it packing an 8x optical zoom, a 25 mm wide-angle Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR lens, a 2.7-inch LCD, and the usual face detection and image stabilization features we've come to expect. No word on US availability for this one, but it looks like it's now available in Canada with an MSRP of $349.99 (or about $330US).
What a pretty camera!
I can't say I care for the obese rock monster Olympic logo. Hope Panasonic didn't pay too much for that.
Reminds me fo that McDonalds commercial, where they talk about their new olympic dipping sauce for chicken nuggets. "Now you can eat like an olympian" they say as someone pigs out on mcnuggets and fries and a coke.
I don't really think sweet cameras and rock monsters have anything to do with athleticism, but I guess it's good marketing or it wouldn't be so repeated.
ive seen that rock guy before somewhere in canada. what does it mean?
@dinnerwithtomedison It's an inukshuk (sp?). They were used as waymarkers in the frozen north of Canada by the Inuit. Actually quite irrelevant for the games being held in relatively mild-weathered Vancouver, since inukshuks aren't native to the area.
Also, this camera has been available here for well over a month at Future Shop.
@Biomusicology
I didn't know they are a reference to a real statue.
That's better than expected. The Olympics always has some fruity and ridiculous mascot, and I just assumed that what this was. At least it's referring to something real.
@(Unverified) Mmmm... Like the 2012 London Olympics.. the logo was more or less lifted from the graphics displayed during the opening of episodes of Saved by the bell...
...welcome to several months ago. They've been hawking these at Future Shop since before Christmas.