Panasonic outs Lumix pair

The Gadget Show  Monday 08 March 2010

Panasonic Lumix G2 – touchscreen compact

Panasonic has added two new faces to its ultra-compact Lumix G digital SLR range. The Lumix DMC-G2 and G10 both use the mirrorless Micro Four Thirds sensor system to keep the size down, featuring the same 12.1MP sensor found in existing Lumix G cameras and the newly upgraded Venus Engine HD II processing engine.

The real innovation, however, lies elsewhere. The G2 (pictured) claims to be the “first interchangeable lens system camera with touch-control shooting”, and Panasonic certainly hasn’t gone about things in half measures. Instead of giving you the choice of replacing physical button presses with on-screen button presses, the G2’s interface adds whole new features based around touch.

Shots can be taken with a single press anywhere on the 3in screen, with the G2 doing all the work of focusing on the area you’ve pressed, setting up the shot through Intelligent Auto and releasing the shutter. You can also shift focus while shooting 720p video by tapping a different point on screen.

The G10, meanwhile, strikes one or two features off the list to stake its claim as the smallest ever Lumix G camera. It has all the same touch appeal as the G2, however, but on a fixed rather than articulated lens.

The G2 and G10 will be tempting high-end compact users looking to step up from June, with prices expected to be around the £500 mark.