2009 New models

[dampfnudel]

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/panasonics-dmc-ft1-tz7-tz6-fx550-and-fx40-cameras-outed-by/

It looks like the DMC-TZ6/TZ7 will be called the DMC-ZS1/DMC-ZS3 in North America according to this site. I wonder what the new "AVCHD Lite" format is all about?:confused:

[Jayayess1190]

Might have to buy the Z3, but will first wait to see if Canon brings out any cmos compacts like they said they would.

[dampfnudel]

I was thinking of getting a Sony flash HD Camcorder, but maybe replacing my TZ3 with a ZS3 would be the better option. Of course that depends on the HD video quality, including using it in low light (indoors).

[blue_tooth2k]

if canon upgrade it's A720 is or SX110 is with all the ZS3 features (minus proprietary battery), i'll buy the canon... because i like AA battery more than proprietary...

that's my 2 cents

[S_p_i_d_e_r]

Still no P/A/S/M (or at least A/S) and no RAW :(

[Nautilus]

Argh!! My TZ15 is less than a year old. Erm...will wait for the reviews.

[JPW2020]

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/panasonics-dmc-ft1-tz7-tz6-fx550-and-fx40-cameras-outed-by/

It looks like the DMC-TZ6/TZ7 will be called the DMC-ZS1/DMC-ZS3 in North America according to this site. I wonder what the new "AVCHD Lite" format is all about?:confused:

AVCHD is an HD movie format,which I understand uses the MPEG4 and H.264 format ,so I would guess that AVHD lite is likely to be a more compressed version of the same to give smaller file sizes which no doubt panasonic will claim to be of equally high quality.


Given that to me the one disappointing aspect of the FZ50 is that its Movie Mode is claimed to be high quality(though not HD) but in fact is very poor indeed,it will be interesting to see how this new format stacks up

[dampfnudel]

AVCHD is an HD movie format,which I understand uses the MPEG4 and H.264 format ,so I would guess that AVHD lite is likely to be a more compressed version of the same to give smaller file sizes which no doubt panasonic will claim to be of equally high quality.


Given that to me the one disappointing aspect of the FZ50 is that its Movie Mode is claimed to be high quality(though not HD) but in fact is very poor indeed,it will be interesting to see how this new format stacks up

According to the previews below, the HD video quality looked very good. It might be premature to say for sure, but AVCHD Lite could be another nail in the coffin of conventional HD camcorders (the other nails being current economic conditions & casual users desire to merge their photo & HD video needs into one small device).

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/10087.html

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3869&review=panasonic+lumix+dmc-zs3

[Turn]

if canon upgrade it's A720 is or SX110 is with all the ZS3 features (minus proprietary battery), i'll buy the canon... because i like AA battery more than proprietary...

that's my 2 cents


i agree, hurry up Canon.

[dampfnudel]

I wonder if the new Canon PowerShot SX200 IS uses the AVCHD Lite format as well. Anyway, the ZS3 records at 60 fps vs. only 30 fps on the SX200 so the ZS3 may be the better of the two.

[shane33]

any idea on release date ide like to get the Zs3

[kodi]

The release date in Japan is March 6, 2009, under the model number Lumix DMC-TZ7. You may visit this for the scheduled release dates of Panasonic products: http://panasonic.jp/schedule.html

[John_Reed]

Would be nice to see said scheduled release dates in English? Any English language translations of that page available?

[kodi]

The model is released today as scheduled. You may try google translate to translate the page.

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=zh-TW&u=http%3A%2F%2Fpanasonic.jp%2Fdc%2Ftz7%2Findex.htm l&sl=ja&tl=en

[Cyberwlf]

I went Canon once...well twice, bought two diff PowerShots, G9 being one. Never again. Went straight back to Lumix. Found the Canon's weak offerings by comparison. The new TZ's look the business once again (didn't like TZ4/5, but 6/7 look to be proper upgrades).