Panasonic has announced the DMC-LX1, the world?s first digital camera with a 16:9 CCD incorporating a 28mm Leica lens.
The LX1 is the first model in Panasonic?s new LX series, featuring an 8.4MP CCD and 4x optical zoom with a focal length equivalent to 28-112mm in a 35mm camera.
A switch on the lens barrel enables users to switch the aspect ratio from 16:9 to both 3:2 and 4:3. Meanwhile, 5.5MP 16:9 images can utilise an extended zoom range up to 5x.
Problems with camera shake can be rectified thanks to the MEGA OIS (optical image stabiliser), designed to compensate for movement. In addition, the LSI Venus Engine II processor enables a fast shutter release time of 0.01 seconds, as well as rectifying problems such as chromatic aberration.
Images can be composed on the large 2.5-inch LCD screen, which has a resolution of 207,000 pixels and includes a Power LCD function to boost brightness by 140%.
A joystick on the DMC-LX1 can be used to manually adjust the focus and exposure, and enables quick access to settings including white balance, compression, picture size and sensitivity. Manual focus displays the depth of field, as well as enlarging the central section of the screen, to enable a better view.
Other features offered by the DMC-LX1 include a burst mode of 3.4fps at maximum image size and a selection of AF options including 9-point, 1-point normal speed, 3-point, Spot and 1-point high speed, the latter not hindered by screen freeze. In an industry first, the camera includes a movie mode that can capture 30fps images at 858 x 480 in 16:9 format.
The Panasonic DMC-LX1 will retail at £449.99, find out more by calling 08705 357357 or by logging onto www.panasonic.co.uk

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 Specifications

Dimensions (W x H x D): Approx. 105.7 x 55.8 x 25.6 mm ( 4.16 x 2.20 x 1.01 inch )
Weight: Approx. 185 g. ( 0.41 lb) Approx. 220 g with Battery and SD Memory Card ( 0.49 lb)
Camera Effective Pixels: 8.4 Megapixels
Image Sensor: 1/1.65″(16:9), 8.61 Mega Total Pixels CCD Primary Color Filter
Optical Zoom: 4 x
Extra Optical Zoom: 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 5x for 5.5Mega, 2Mega 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 5.1x for 4.5Mega, 2.5Mega, 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 5x for 4Mega, 5.6x for 3Mega, 2Mega, 1Mega
Digital Zoom: 4 x ( Max. 16 x combined with Optical Zoom without Extra Optical Zoom) (Max. 22.5x combined with Extra Optical Zoom)
Focal Distance: f=6.3-25.2mm (35mm Equiv.: 28-112mm in 16:9 aspect mode
Lens: LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT, 9 elements in 8 groups, (3 Aspherical Lenses / 3 Aspherical surfaces)
Aperture: Wide: F2.8 – F8.0 Tele:F4.9 – F8.0
Optical Image Stabilizer: MEGA O.I.S. (Mode1 / Mode2)
Focusing Area: Normal: Wide 50cm / Tele 120cm ? infinity, Macro/Auto mode: Wide 5cm/Tele 30cm – infinity
AF Metering: 1 point / 1 point high speed / 3 points high speed / 9 points / Spot
Focus: Auto Focus System: Normal/Macro, Continuous AF: On/Off, Manual Focus
AF Assist Lamp: Yes
ISO Sensitivity: Auto/80/100/200/400
White Balance: Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Halogen/White Set1/2, White Balance Adjustment ( 150K step, -1500 – +1500 K) (except for auto WB)
Exposure: Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual, Program Shift (P mode)
Exposure button: (Joystick Operation)
Exposure Compensation: 1/3 EV step, -2 – +2 EV
Backlight Compensation: Yes (at auto mode)
Auto (AE) Bracketing: +/- 1/3 EV -1EV step, 3 frames
Light Metering: Intelligent Multiple/ Center Weighted/ Spot
Scene Mode: Dial: Auto, P (Program) mode, A(AperturePriority) Mode, S(Shutter Priority) Mode, M(Manual) mode, SCN1, SCN2 (Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, Night Portrait, Fireworks, Party, Snow, Self-Portrait, Food, Baby, Soft Skin, Candle, Starry Sky), Moving-image, Playback
Shutter Speed: Auto : 1/4 – 1/2000sec, Program AE : 1 – 1/2000sec, Aperture Priority AE / Shutter Priority AE : 8 – 1/2000sec, Manual : 60 – 1/2000sec.
Self Timer: 10 sec / 2sec
Auto Review: 1sec/3sec/zoom
Review: 1x / 4x / 8x
Contrast: Low, Standard, High

Picture Adjustment:
Sharpness : Low, Standard, High,
Saturation: Low,Standard, High
Noise Reduction: Low, Standard, High
Color Effect Mode: Cool, Warm, Black & White, Sepia

Recording Format
Still Image: JPEG(Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.2 standard), DPOF corresponding, Picture with audio: JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif2.2 standard)+ QuickTime
Motion Image: QuickTime Motion JPEG

Recording Image Size
Still Image: 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 3840 x 2160 pixels, 3072 x 1728 pixels, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 3248 x 2160 pixels, 2560 x 1712 pixels, 2048 x 1360 pixels, 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 2880 x 2160 pixels, 2304 x 1728 pixels, 2048 x 1536 pixels, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 1280 x 960 pixels
Motion Image: 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels, 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels
Image Quality: RAW / TIFF / Fine / Standard
Motion Image: 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels, 30 fps / 10 fps, 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels, 30 fps / 10 fps, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 fps / 10 fps, Max. recording time depends on Memory Card Capacity
Burst Shooting Mode: Full-Resolution Image, 3 frames/sec or 2 frames/sec, Full-resolution: Max. 9 images (Standard mode), Max 5 images (Fine Mode)
Unlimited consecutive shooting: Yes
Still Image Rec. with Audio: 5 sec
Audio Dubbing: Max. 10sec
Real-time histogram: Yes
Composition Guide line: Yes
Scene Mode Help Screen: Yes
Auto Angle Detection: Yes
Flip Animation: Yes
Built-in-Flash: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced On/Off, Flash output Adjustment (1/3EV step, -2 – +2 EV), Wide: 0.6 – 4.1m, Tele: 0.3 – 2.3m (ISO Auto)
LCD Monitor: 2.5″ Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (207 k Pixels)
Field of View : approx. 100%, Power LCD mode
Playback mode: 25-thumbnail display, 16-thumbnail display, 9-thumbnail display, Zoomed playback (16x max.), Image Rotation (except for RAW), Slide show (duration is adjustable, also manual controllable), Playback of favorite pictures, Resizing (selectable number of pixels), trimming, protection, DPOF print setting
OSD language: Japanese,English,German,French,Italian,Spanish
Recording Media: SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard
Microphone: Yes
Speaker: Yes
Interface: DC Input, A/V Output (NTSC/PAL), USB
Direct Print: PictBridge
Power: Li-ion Battery Pack (3.7V, 1150mAh) (Included), AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
Battery life (approx.): 240 pictures (CIPA Standard)
Included Software: LUMIX Simple Viewer, Photo Fun Studio, ArcSoft PhotoBase, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft Panorama Maker, USB Driver
Standard Accessories: Battery Charger, Battery Pack, Battery carrying case, SD Memory Card (32 MB), Lens Cap, AV Cable, USB Connection Cable, AC Cable, Strap, CD-ROM