Panasonic LUMIX G10, the world's lightest digital interchangeable lens system
camera with a viewfinder

Compact and easy-to-use, the LUMIX G10 shoots high-quality photos and HD video and is an approachable alternative for consumers new to interchangeable lens cameras

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 8 /CNW/ - Panasonic Canada Inc. announced today an addition to its Panasonic LUMIX G Series, the LUMIX DMC-G10. The world's lightest(1) digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder, this camera packs a host of advanced digital camera functions designed to be easy-to-use for consumers new to this camera format. The new compact and portable LUMIX G10, which can record High Definition (HD) video in addition to high-quality still images, joins the LUMIX DMC-G2, also introduced today, as part of the Panasonic LUMIX G Series.

"The LUMIX G Micro System has revolutionized the photography industry since the release of the Panasonic G1, the world's first interchangeable lens system camera based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard," said Doug Borbath, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Canada Inc. "As we continue to expand this award-winning LUMIX G Series with cameras like the G10 that have easy-to-use features and compact size, we expect to attract new users who are looking for a step-up from their point-and-shoots."

The LUMIX G10's incredible compact body and portable design, uses a mirror-less structure as part the Micro Four Thirds System standard which eliminates a number of components found in conventional interchangeable lens cameras, including the mirror box and optical viewfinder unit. This innovative structure allows for the LUMIX G10 to be the world's lightest system camera in a compact digital camera design. Adding to its lightweight body, the LUMIX G10 will come equipped with the newly announced LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens which offers a versatile zoom range of 14-42mm (35mm camera equivalent: 28-84mm) - making it suitable for shooting a wide-range of scenes, from dynamic landscape to portrait.

Panasonic designed the LUMIX G10 to be easy-to-use. The iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, a shooting assist function that has been extremely popular in LUMIX compact cameras, offers automatic optimization according to the scene in both photo and video recording. This mode is helpful for beginner users unfamiliar with interchangeable lens system cameras. With the new dedicated iA button, which illuminates when engaged, activating this mode is even easier and can be used to shoot photos and videos.

When shooting still photos, iA offers the following: MEGA O.I.S., which helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control, which reduces motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves; Intelligent Exposure optimizes exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights, and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced properly; Intelligent Scene Selector detects the most common shooting situations - Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery, Close-up and Sunset - and switches to the appropriate Scene mode automatically - no setting changes needed.

The LUMIX G10 can record 1280 x 720 HD video in Motion JPEG, QVGA, VGA and WVGA formats. Users can enjoy recording HD videos while taking advantage of the high quality lens and the flexibility to change to other lenses. Even users new to recording videos will find the LUMIX G10 makes it easy. Panasonic's iA for video offers the following: Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using high-powered zoom; Face Detection(2) automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion; Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows; Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Close-up, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality.

With Auto Focus (AF) Tracking, the LUMIX G10 can lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves - making it easy to get beautiful, clear shots of moving subjects, such as children and pets. Simply aim, lock, and shoot. The Face Recognition function remembers registered faces to give an appropriate AF/Automatic Exposure (AE) on those people. In playback, you can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using Category Playback. The contrast AF system adopted by the LUMIX DMC-G10 is not only accurate and easy to use, but also very fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF modes, including AF Tracking, 1-area AF, Face Detection AF/AE and 23-area AF.

The LUMIX G10's Live View Finder, with a resolution of 202,000-dot equivalent, 1.04x (0.52x) retains the look and feel of an optical viewfinder and displays information about its settings that users can see without removing their eye from the subject. The 60 fps Live View is powered by the Live MOS sensor, which takes signals directly from the image sensor and sends them continuously to the LCD, in real time. Both the Live View Finder and LCD provide approximately 100 per cent field of view. This allows the user, when composing a shot, to check the framing accurately from corner to corner. The three-inch 460,000-dot high-resolution Intelligent LCD with wide viewing angle automatically controls the brightness according to the situation.

The 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and the new Venus Engine HD II help to separate chromatic noise from luminance noise and apply the optimal noise reduction to each, so users can capture clear images even when shooting at high ISO sensitivity levels. The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD II, which has been re-engineered to incorporate the new image processing technology Intelligent Resolution, enables the recording of beautiful photo and HD video with high quality signal processing. With Intelligent Resolution technology, three areas are automatically detected - outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation. The outlines in images are enhanced effectively to give edges increased clarity, while simultaneously giving a moderate accentuation to the textured areas so they look finely detailed. For the soft gradation areas, the improved noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to achieve a smoother effect. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel-by-pixel, resulting in images that are naturally clear.

All Panasonic LUMIX G Series digital cameras are equipped with an efficient Dust Reduction System. If dust or other foreign matter gets inside the LUMIX G10 while changing lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in photos. The Dust Reduction System helps eliminate this possibility by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter effectively repels dust and other particles.

Other features of the LUMIX G10 include:

    
    -   My Colour mode with a total of seven preset effects - Expressive,
        Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette. Also
        includes Custom mode, which lets users manually set the colour,
        brightness and saturation levels. For beginners, the LUMIX G10's
        full-time Live View function lets users see how settings will affect
        the images before they shoot, making it easier to capture the exact
        mood or atmosphere desired.
    -   There are 26 scene modes including Peripheral Defocus mode, which
        lets consumers take a photo where the foreground is in focus and
        background is blurred - or vice versa. This popular effect can be
        intimidating for a beginner, but in Peripheral Defocus Mode, by
        simply selecting the objects to be blurred and focused using the
        camera's keypad, it is simple for photographers of any level.
    -   Exposure meter can be displayed in the P/A/S/M shooting modes. The
        correlation between shutter speed and aperture is shown with a
        colour-coded warning system that alerts users when the settings are
        not in the proper range. For those new to system camera digital
        photography, this makes it easy to learn proper settings both
        visually and logically, enhancing their photography skills.
    

The Panasonic LUMIX G10 is compatible with Micro Four Thirds System lenses, allowing users even higher levels of performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera. In addition to LUMIX G lenses, the LUMIX DMC-G10 and LUMIX G Micro System can use any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds standard via an optional mount adaptor DMW-MA1 and with the prestigious Leica M/R Lenses via DMW-MA2M or MA3R.

Pricing and availability for the Panasonic LUMIX G10 will be announced at a later date. It will be available in black.

    
    (1) As of March 8, 2010.
    (2) Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with full-face
        portrait on the shooting menu in advance.
    

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Some functions may not be available depending on the lens that is mounted.

Lenses that are not compatible with the contrast AF function can be used with manual focusing.

Panasonic and Lumix are registered trademarks of Panasonic Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Panasonic products are marketed in Canada by Panasonic Canada Inc. (PCI). PCI is an affiliate of Panasonic Corporation (PC) of Japan, one of the world's largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business, and industrial use. Consumers seeking more information on the company's products can call Panasonic's Customer Care Centre at 1-800-561-5505 or access Panasonic's home page at www.panasonic.ca.

For further information: Ryan Lockhart, Environics Communications, [phone], [email protected]; Stacey Flowers, Environics Communications, [phone], [email protected]