Posts Tagged ‘Panasonic’

Intel Core vPro processor family now available in Asia Pacific

Monday, April 6th, 2015

Intel Corporation has announced the availability of its 5th generation Intel Core vPro processor family in the Asia Pacific. The company also showcased a slew of gadgets using its wireless technology.

New clamshell and Ultrabook 2-in-1s, designed and built for business, boast improved performance, battery life and productivity benefits.

New clamshell and Ultrabook 2-in-1s, designed and built for business, boast improved performance, battery life and productivity benefits.

Intel wireless technology offers consumers freedom from wires in devices that include Intel Pro Wireless Display and optional Intel Wireless Docking capabilities.

Intel Core vPro processor-based devices promise built-in security and manageability capabilities that help protect data and enable remote IT access.

Below are more details from the press release.

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New arrivals: Panasonic Toughbook CF-LX3 rugged business laptop

Friday, January 17th, 2014

Panasonic claims the 14-inch Toughbook CF-LX3 is the lightest device of its kind for everyday mobile business computing. Available in Singapore now from S$2,499.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-LX3 has an uneven "bonnet" design on the surface of its magnesium alloy cover for greater strength.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-LX3 has an uneven “bonnet” design on the surface of its magnesium alloy cover for greater strength.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-LX3 is targeted at mobile business professionals combining functionality and portability in a light-weight, shock-resistant body.

By 2015, Panasonic expects the world’s mobile worker population to represent up to 37.2 percent of the total workforce with Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) seeing the largest increase in the total of mobile workers.

With up to 14 hours of battery life, Windows 8.1 Pro, Intel Core i5 vPro processor, built in optical drive, and weighing just 1.29kg, the Toughbook CF-LX3 combines premium performance with a light, durable, and ultra-sleek design.

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New arrivals: Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 rugged 7-inch tablet

Wednesday, January 8th, 2014

Panasonic claims the 7-inch Windows 8.1 Pro fully-rugged tablet is the lightest and thinnest device of its kind . Available in March 2014. Price TBA.

Update (16 January, 2014):

Panasonic has launched the Toughpad FZ-M1 tablet (together with the Toughbook CF-LX3) in Singapore. It will be available in March 2014 at S$2,600.

The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 fully rugged 7-inch Windows 8.1 Pro tablet offers power, flexibility and durability for maximum mobile workforce productivity.

The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 fully rugged 7-inch Windows 8.1 Pro tablet offers power, flexibility and durability for maximum mobile workforce productivity.

Panasonic introduced during 2014 International CES the latest member of its Toughpad family of rugged, enterprise-grade tablets.

The tablet runs Windows 8.1 Pro, on an Intel Core i5 processor, making it easy to integrate into enterprise and government environments.

The Toughpad FZ-M1 has multiple configuration options enabling it to be customised to meet the unique needs of mobile users in various markets such as field services and sales, retail, supply chain and logistics and government.

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IT Show 2013 promotions: Panasonic notebooks and tablets

Friday, March 8th, 2013

Panasonic is at IT Show 2013 at Marina Bay Sands at Level 1, Booth 1528.

Click to view or download Panasonic promotions during IT Show 2013.

Click to view or download Panasonic promotions during IT Show 2013.

Check out Panasonic’s business notebooks and ruggedised tablets.

The FZ-G1 runs on Windows 8 while the FZ-A1 runs on Android 4.0 (S$1,499).

Their latest is the Windows 8 Pro Ultrabook CF-AX2 which debuts at IT Show 2013 at S$2,899.

The monitor flips over to convert the Ultrabook into a tablet. IT Show 2013 at Marina Bay Sands at Level 1, Booth 1528.

Happy Father’s Day

Sunday, June 17th, 2012

Yay, it’s Father’s Day today! To all fellow fathers out there – Happy Father’s Day!

DIY ice-cream for Father’s Day. Photo taken with Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 using “Cute Dessert” Scene Mode.

DIY ice-cream for Father’s Day. Photo taken with Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 using “Cute Dessert” Scene Mode.

And for those looking to do something different for your father or the father of your children, here’s something you can try – especially if he’s allergic to dairy products or diabetic.

Delicious & healthy! No post-processing on the photo except cropping and resizing. I’m impressed with the sharp focus (despite being hand-held) and vibrant colours.

Delicious & healthy! No post-processing on the photo except cropping and resizing. I’m impressed with the sharp focus (despite being hand-held) and vibrant colours.

Thankfully I’m neither of these but it was fabulous to be served with a big dollop of this home-made ice-cream first thing in the morning of Father’s Day.

So here’s the how-to, courtesy of mamatimes.wordpress.com.

Keep a couple of bananas until the skin turns slightly black cos some netizens say they have to be really ripe. Slice them up and put them in the freezer.

You can add other fruits, like strawberries. Just toss them into the freezer. Once frozen, throw the lot into a food processor and you’re done.

What’s left is the dressing up and topping. You can add rainbow candies, grounded peanut or chocolate chips or powder. Enjoy!

New MIL camera: Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

Panasonic has launched a new Micro Four Thirds mirrorless interchangeable lens (MIL) camera.

It is available now at S$1,099 for either the single-lens or twin-lens kits (details within).

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5 comes in five colours: Black, White, Red, Brown, and Gold (limited edition).

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5 comes in five colours: Black, White, Red, Brown, and Gold (limited edition).

The LUMIX DMC-GF5 is the latest member of the LUMIX G Micro System.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5 remains compact despite having a built-in pop-up flash.

The GF5 remains compact despite having a built-in pop-up flash.

As an MIL camera, it marries the image quality and lens-changing flexibility of DSLRs with the compactness of point-and-shoot cameras.

The DMC-GF5 includes a built-in flash, 12.1-megapixel High Sensitivity Live MOS sensor and an improved Venus Engine for image processing.

Maximum ISO settings reach a maximum of 12,800.

The DMC-GF5 has a 920,000 dots, 3-inch touch display, which allows the user to choose where to focus and to release the shutter upon focus.

When powered off, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5X is compact enough to fit in the trousers pocket.

Compact enough to fit in the trousers pocket.

Touch zoom is also available simply by mounting the LUMIX G X Power Zoom Lens (H-PS14042 lens or H-PS45175).

The DMC-GF5 uses Contrast Auto-Focus (AF) to capture and lock on to fast-moving subjects within 0.9 seconds.

There are 23 scene modes with pre-canned settings for various photographic situations.

A Creative Control mode increases filter options to 14 from 6 in the DMC-GF3.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5 has a 920,000 dots, 3-inch touch display.

The GF5 has a 920k dots, 3-inch touch display.

The new filters are: Soft Focus, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, One Point Color, Cross Process, Low Key, Toy Effect and Star Filter.

The existing six filters are the conventional Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, High Dynamic, and Miniature Effect filters.

A dedicated video record button records 1920 x 1080 Full HD video with stereo sound, in either AVCHD or MP4 format.

The DMC-GF5’s Intelligent Auto (iA) mode includes AF Tracking, Face Recognition, Intelligent D-range Control, Scene Selector and ISO Control.

Nice muscular design in the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5.

Nice muscular design in the GF5.

iA Plus mode adjusts exposure compensation and white balance for superior image output.

A newly added angle detection sensor makes it possible to tell whether the photo was taken horizontally or vertically, whatever lens is used.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF5 is available now and is priced at S$1,099 for either of two kits:

  • GF5X: Body with 14-42mm LUMIX G X lens
  • GF5W: Body with 14mm F2.5 pancake lens, and 14-42mm standard kit lens

Note: the Micro Four Thirds lens has a crop factor of 2, so a 14-42mm lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 28-84mm.

Panasonic camcorders: Spring/Summer 2012 line-up

Friday, March 16th, 2012

For camcorders, Panasonic has a line-up of 9 new models that will hit the shelves in April. These comprise the HC-X900 & HC-X900M, HC-V700, HC-V500 & HC-V500M, HC-V100, HC-V10, HX-WA20, and HX-DC2.

Panasonic's Summer/Spring line-up of camcorder ranges from the compact HC-V10 to the flagship HC-X900M.

Panasonic's Summer/Spring line-up of camcorder ranges from the compact HC-V10 to the flagship HC-X900M.

Panasonic’s nine new camcorders for Spring/Summer 2012 features advanced lenses; high sensitivity sensors; sophisticated Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) capabilities; and powerful image-enhancing engines.

HD Writer video editing software is included with all models.

Flagship HC-X900 and HC-X900M

Panasonic HC-X900

Panasonic HC-X900

The re-engineered F1.5 LEICA Dicomar lens of the flagship HC-X900 and HC-X900M enables bright image rendering, high corner-to-corner resolution and Nano Surface Coating Technology to significantly reduce ghosting and flaring, which minimises distortion and degradation of contrast.

The advanced 3MOS Sensor is capable of high-speed processing of massive number of pixels – approximately equivalent to four times the pixel count of Full-HD – using pixel shift technology with submicron accuracy, to produce high-detailed images with excellent colour reproduction.

Panasonic HC-X900M

Panasonic HC-X900M

The newly-developed, ultra-high speed Crystal Engine Pro II can also dramatically reduce noise by 40% compared to the previous models to record clear, stunningly beautiful images even in dim lighting.

The new Hybrid O.I.S.+ corrects horizontal, vertical, yawing and pitching movements made by the hand during recording; while its five-axis correction capability takes care of any rolling motions resulting from walking.

3D shooting is enabled by the 3D Conversion Lens, creating the realistic depth, texture and dimensionality of 3D.

HC-V700

Panasonic HC-V700

Panasonic HC-V700

The HC-V700 features a 28mm wide angle for recording in tight spaces such as indoors.

The 46x Intelligent Zoom extends ultra-telephoto shooting beyond the range of the 21x optical zoom; while the HYBRID O.I.S.+ suppresses blurring across an entire zoom range even for handheld zoom shots in high magnification, to ensure crisp and beautiful images..

Images taken in 2D can also be converted to 3D with the new 2D to 3D Conversion Function.

HC-V500 and HC-V500M

Intelligent Zoom is up to 50x, using the LSI “Crystal Engine PRO” image processing engine.

Panasonic HC-V500 & HC-V500M

Panasonic HC-V500 & HC-V500M

Hybrid O.I.S.+ and five-axis correction are also available.

Advanced Highlight Playback function enables quick viewing of recorded images. The Intelligent Index System detects zooming, panning, scene changes and faces in recorded images as “highlights” and then automatically plays back the detected highlight scenes – and scenes that the user has personally selected – according to a set time interval.

HC-V100 and HC-V10

Panasonic HC-V100

Panasonic HC-V100

Both models are compact and lightweight, and feature high optical zooms stabilised by the POWER O.I.S.

The HC-V100 has an 42x Intelligent Zoom, as well as Power O.I.S., with a continuous recording time of up to 165 minutes on a fully charged battery; while the HC-V10 has an even more powerful 63x optical zoom lens that can be “enhanced” to 70x.

HX-DC2 (monitor folded in) & HX-WA20

HX-DC2 (monitor folded in) & HX-WA20

HX-WA20 and HX-DC2

For active outdoor use, check out the new waterproof (up to 3m) and dustproof HX-WA20.

It can record fast moving sports motion at 240 fps (640×360 px) or 480 fps (320×180 px) for 15 seconds, and then playback in slow-motion at 60 fps at ¼ or ⅛ of the original speed, allowing analysis of golf swings etc.

Both the HX-WA20 (16.4 MP) and HX-DC2 (14.4) shoot Full-HD, HDR stills and 5x optical zoom.

Lumix compact cameras: Spring/Summer 2012 line-up

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Panasonic has a line-up of 10 new Lumix compacts comprising 4 from the High Zoom series, 2 from the Tough and Active series, and 4 from the Stylish Casual series. Prices are yet to be announced but they will be available in April.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ30 pays a visit to the Mont Saint-Michel.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ30 pays a visit to the Mont Saint-Michel.

The slew of 10 new models features optical zoom LEICA DC lens starting from ultra wide angles, ultra-thin aspherical lens system. as well as nano surface coating technology for superior image quality.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-SZ1, SZ7, TZ25 and TZ30 from the High Zoom series.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-SZ1, SZ7, TZ25 and TZ30 from the High Zoom series.

4 new High Zoom LUMIX cameras

The four new travel companions comprises the LUMIX DMC-TZ30 (14.1 MP) and TZ25 (12.1 MP), as well as the slimmer LUMIX DMC-SZ1 (16.1 MP) and SZ7 (14.1 MP).

The TZ30 comes with a powerful 20x optical zoom and an upgraded built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) for the avid traveller.

Starting from a wide angle of 24mm to the maximum zoom at 480mm, the TZ30 sports a 20x optical zoom LEICA DC lens, up from 16x in its predecessor.

The GPS allows geo-tagging for photos taken in 203 countries.

The DMC-SZ7 has a 14.1-megapixel MOS sensor with full-HD video recording while the DMC-SZ1 has a 16.1-megapixel CCD sensor and HD?? video recording.

The more modest 10x optical zoom starts from a wide angle of 25mm and zooms to 250mm.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FT4 and FT20 from the Tough and Active series.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FT4 and FT20 from the Tough and Active series.

2 new Tough and Active LUMIX cameras

For the more adventurous photographers with a more active lifestyle, there is the LUMIX DMC-FT4 (12.1 MP) and FT20 (16.1 MP).

The all-weather DMC-FT4 is fully protected against water immersion (up to 12m), dust and sand, as it is strengthened with inner rubber padding and reinforced glass.

It is also freeze-proof, enduring temperatures down to -10 degree Celsius.

With shock-resistant material on the exterior and folded optics and supplementary dampener to protect its lens unit, the FT4 is dust-proof up to a height of 2 metres

The FT4 is also equipped with a built-in GPS.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FH6, FH8, FX80 and S2 from the Stylish Casual series.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FH6, FH8, FX80 and S2 from the Stylish Casual series.

4 new Stylish Casual LUMIX cameras

For casual users looking for a stylish and compact shooter, there is the LUMIX DMC-FH6 (14.1 MP), FH8 (16.1 MP), FX80 (12.1 MP) and S2 (14.1 MP).

The DMC-FX80, DMC-FH8 and DMC-FH6 are all slim, because of the LEICA DC Vario-Summarit lens rated at F2.5.

The 5x optical zoom ranges from 24mm ultra wide-angle to 120mm.

The DMC-FH8, DMC-FH6, and DMC-S2 are capable of recording dynamic HD video in 1280 x 720 p at a smooth 25p (PAL) in MP4 (FH8) or Motion JPEG (FH6).

The DMC-FX80 is capable of full-HD recording at 1920 x 1080 50i (PAL) videos in AVCHD (MPEG-4/H.264) format.

Compact camera winners at the XXI TIPA 2011 awards

Saturday, April 30th, 2011
Compact digital cameras took up seven out of 40 categories evaluated by the 29-member magazines of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) this year. Winners include Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Samsung, Fujifilm and Panasonic.

Compared to the four categories for DSLR cameras, there were seven categories for compact digital cameras.

Founded in 1991, the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) comprises 29 independent photo & imaging magazines from nine European countries plus Australia, Canada, China, USA and South Africa.

This is the 21st installment of the annual awards.

The winners for the seven compact digital camera categories are tabulated below.

Category / Winner TIPA citation
Best General Compact Camera 

Best DSLR Entry: Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i / Kiss X5

Nikon
COOLPIX P300

The Nikon COOLPIX P300 is a stylish compact camera with a remarkably powerful f/1.8 lens, starting at 24mm (35mm equivalent) with 4.2x optical zoom. High Refraction Index glass further ensures sharp images with high contrast. Combined with its powerful 12.2 Megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, this camera gives excellent image quality even in dim lighting conditions. The P300 can film in Full HD (1080p), but also in slow motion with a recording speed of up to 120fps.
Best Expert Compact Camera 

Best DSLR Advanced: Nikon D7000

Olympus
XZ-1

The Olympus XZ-1 has one of the fastest zoom lenses in its class, the iZuiko f1.8-2.5 6.0-24mm (28-112mm equivalent angle of view in 35mm cameras.) Rather than succumb to the continuing Megapixel race, the light-reception area of each pixel of the 1/1.63-inch, 10 Megapixel CCD has been doubled. The XZ-1’s AF illuminator, Dual Image Stabilisation, Low-Light mode that automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity up to ISO 3200 and the compact size all add up to an exciting “candid” camera that also offers advanced manual controls.
Best Premium Camera 

Best DSLR Expert: Olympus E-5

Fujifilm
FinePix X100

Fujifilm’s FinePix X100 offers unrivalled image quality for a compact camera, thanks to its APS-C format CMOS sensor and Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 lens. The Hybrid Viewfinder uniquely combines the ‘bright frame’ window-type optical viewfinder found in high-end film cameras, and the electronic viewfinder system of fixed single lens or digital compact system cameras, offering the user ‘the best of both worlds’. Added to the package is a newly-developed EXR Processor, which combines all the latest Fujifilm image processing technology.
Best Compact System Camera
Entry Level 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Samsung
NX100

The Samsung NX100’s new body design drastically revises the ‘DSLR look-alike’ concept found in other compact interchangeable lens cameras, and is a bold step from the company’s previous NX10/11 designs. This brings it into direct competition with other Compact System Cameras. Impressive features include a vivid 3-inch AMOLED screen, an APS-C size sensor and a line of high-tech iFunction lenses. This promising new series of optics blazes new viewing and camera control paths by allowing the user to program numerous functions right from the lens.
Best Compact System Camera
Expert 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Panasonic
Lumix DMC-GH2

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a true ‘hybrid’ photo and video camera, where video is no longer just an additional function. The DMC-GH2 features full HD 1920×1080, 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) smooth, high quality video recording with 60p (NTSC) / 50p (PAL) output in addition to the high quality photo, a world’s first for cameras in this category. The DMC-GH2 can be operated through an intuitive touch control screen. For example, just tapping a subject on the screen will make the camera focus with a speed that rivals the best DSLR’s on the market.
Best Superzoom Camera 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Canon
PowerShot
SX230 HS

The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS features a 12.1-Megapixel HS System with high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, and a 14x optical zoom (28-392mm equivalent) with optical image stabilisation. A 3-inch LCD screen, with 100% frame coverage, makes for easy viewing and menu control. TIPA members were impressed with features such as Full HD 1080p video with Dynamic Image Stabilizer, a new GPS function (including supplied Map Utility software) and a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor coupled with Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor that reduces noise levels even at the higher ranges (up to ISO 3200).
Best Rugged Compact Camera 

Best DSLR Professional: Pentax 645D

Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FT3 / DMC-TS3

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3/FT3 is waterproof to a depth of 12m and dust-proof equivalent to the IPX8 and IP6X standard. It has an integrated GPS function, ideal for photographers who want to shoot in the great outdoors and record their exact position during that shoot. The camera has a built-in compass, altimeter and barometer to show and record altitude, barometric pressure and orientation data. The barometer also works as indicator for depth underwater. Thanks to its location awareness, the internal clock of the camera is automatically adjusted to the local time.

Carl Zeiss joins the Micro Four Thirds Standard

Monday, February 7th, 2011
Another high-end lens maker, Carl Zeiss, has joined the Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group. More choice for users of Panasonic or Olympus Micro Four Thirds digital cameras.

Logo of Carl Zeiss Carl Zeiss has joined the “Micro Four Thirds System Standard Group”, announced Olympus in its press release.

Logo of Micro Four Thirds

Initiated by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008, the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) is a standard for lens mounts that is tailored to digital system cameras. The standard defines the sensor size, the lens mount together with the communication protocol, the aspect ratio and the flange back distance, as well as the optical requirements for production and construction.

Distagon lens from Carl Zeiss
The renowned lens-maker will make lenses designed specifically for MFT cameras, providing direct compatibility for MFT users, instead of depending on lens-mount adapters.

Carl Zeiss AG is a 165 year-old manufacturer of optical systems, based in Germany and founded in 1846 by Carl Zeiss.