Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm F2.8 Lens

Panasonic announces an optically-stabilized 12-35mm F2.8 Micro Four Thirds lens. The 12-35mm lens is equivalent to the 24-70mm focal length on full frame cameras while maintaining a constant F2.8 maximum aperture. The lens includes a nano surface coating for suppression of flare and ghosting, and has a near silent operation during video shooting. The 12-35mm is extremely compact at less than 3″ and weighs in at under 12oz (~300g).

(via 43rumors, pics by DSLRmagazine)

Giant Inflatable Girl Scares Tokyo Crowd

Panasonic decided it’d be a brilliant marketing idea to make a giant sized inflatable version of spokesmodel Ayase Haruka wielding their new Lumix FX700. The idea backfired a bit as the crowd turned out “confused and scared” instead. Ayase herself found it hard to mask her shock. Not sure how to explain the giant balloon model, she simply asked reporters to snap shots of it instead of her because it was really “unique.”

(via Superpunch)

Tricycling Robot Goes for Guinness Record

Sports cars have long tested their 24-hour endurance on the Le Mans racing circuit in France. Now a Panasonic robot named Mr. Evolta will try to claim the distance record for a remote-controlled car, pedaling along furiously at 1.3 kilometers per hour (0.8 mph), powered by two AA Evolta batteries. The batteries have a greater capacity than other alkaline cells, according to Panasonic, thanks partly to a thinner battery wall and smaller internal features so more of the battery’s volume can be used for the active ingredients.

(via PopSci)

Panasonic 8MP Lumix DMC-FZ30

Panasonic is proud to introduce the 8-Megapixel, 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 35mm to 420mm on a 35mm film camera) LUMIX DMC-FZ30 inheriting MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) as an up-and-comer to its creative super zoom FZ double-digit line. The DMC-FZ20, released in 2004, has been internationally acclaimed for meeting the needs of the market by realizing the ideals of users.