Panasonic has released three camcorders capable of shooting high definition video and 16MP stills, and in one case offering waterproofing and a 5x optical zoom. The Panasonic HX-WA10, Panasonic HX-DC10 and Panasonic HX-DC1 each shoot full 1080p video and impressively high res stills while being impressively compact.

The Panasonic HX-WA10 offers a fully waterproof casing, being able to descend to 3 meters underwater and offers a 16MP sensor to shoot stills. With a 5x optical zoom and 2.7 inch LCD screen there’ll be plenty of use for the camcorder on dry land as well, especially as it boasts an Intelligent Auto mode much like the still cameras on offer from Panasonic.

The design for all three models is very similar, looking akin to the Sanyo Xacti range of upright, pistol grip-style models. This makes each camcorder extremely simple to operate with one hand and balances out shake using an Electrical Image Stabiliser.

The Panasonic HX-DC10, although missing the waterproof functionality, does offer a larger LCD screen at 3 inches but otherwise remains largely the same specs-wise. The Panasonic HX-DC1 has a slightly smaller 14MP sensor, but has the same zoom and screen size as the HX-DC10.

UK prices and specs have yet to be confirmed, check back soon for more details.