14 DAY TRIAL // I am no longer sure which one was the first to offer 12 megapixels - Casio or Panasonic? - but that is not so important anymore (UPDATE: The first to offer 12 megapixels was neither Casio nor Panasonic, it was Sony with the DSC-W200). The basic idea is that Panasonic has also one compact camera with 12 megapixels, 12.2 to be more precise, a model part of their Lumix lineup.
The interesting thing is that, aside from the huge resolution, the Lumix FX100 also boasts a superior 28mm lens (well, technically speaking, the lens has a picture angle equivalent to that of a 28mm lens mounted on a 35mm full-frame camera), which is suitable for landscapes and architecture.
Moreover, the Leica DC Vario Elmarit features a constant f/2.8 aperture over the entire focal range (3.6x optical zoom), enabling users to take photographs in low-light conditions. And since we're talking about low-light photography, it's worth noting the presence of the Mega O.I.S, which allows for longer than recommended shutter times. Panasonic is touting another stabilization system called the Intelligent ISO Control, which of course is just a marketing hype. What happens is that the camera raises the ISO values, with an obvious impact on noise, when it detects a moving subject.
Resolution wise, Panasonic gives users the possibility to shoot in a 1920 x 1080 mode, which is perfect for full-screen viewing on a wide-screen (16:9) TV. The FX100 also records wide aspect VGA (640 x 480) and WVGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second and wide-aspect HD (1280 x 720) motion images at 15 frames per second.
Image processing is provided by the Venus Engine III, which ensures a quick 0.009 second shutter release time lag (the time between pressing the button on the camera and the photo being taken) and shutter interval as short as 0.9 seconds. Additionally, in burst shooting, the camera is able to take images at a rate of 2 frames per second at full resolution for an unlimited number; or, in other words, until your memory card runs out of space.
Unfortunately, there are no words on pricing and availability, so we'll have to wait for more information from Panasonic.
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