Peter J. DeCrescenzo
Veteran
Panasonic press release for the new LUMIX DMC-ZS7 (TZ10) compact camera:
http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/first_half_new_production2010_2.html#1
It will be interesting to see how/if these features are implemented in the next version of the GH1 (the current GH1 has the "Venus Engine HD" [not "II"]).
EDIT: The take-away for me is that Panasonic now has new, faster, more powerful technology for use in any new cams they release. A "video centric" cam (such as a successor to the GH1) will hopefully put this power to great use (e.g.: real-time, high quality down-scaling of full-sensor res imagery down to HD res without pixel binning or line skipping, etc.) We shall see ...
From today's press release:
"...
2. Intelligent Resolution Technology Compiled in the New Venus Engine HD II Assures High Picture Quality for Both Photo and Movie
The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD has been re-engineered to compile the new image processing technology "Intelligent Resolution". It enables the recording of beautiful photo and high-definition movie with higher quality signal processing.
With the Intelligent Resolution technology, 3 areas — outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clearness while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. To the soft gradation part, superior noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way for it. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording.
The Intelligent Resolution technology also realizes the Intelligent Zoom, which virtually extends the optical zoom ratio to its approx. 1.3x equivalent maintaining the picture quality even combining the digital zoom.
Details of an image in high sensitivity recording tends to be lost in the noise reduction process; however, the Intelligent Resolution works to keep them.
At the same time, the multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine HD II supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as approx. 0.006 second and the camera's quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities together with the Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus) that lets you lock on the subject minimum in approx. 0.35 (wide-end) / 0.41 (tele-end) second* and the short startup time of approx. 1.28 second. The high performance Venus Engine HD II is also energy efficient to feature an extended battery life up to 300 shots (CIPA) per a single charge. ..."
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http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/first_half_new_production2010_2.html#1
It will be interesting to see how/if these features are implemented in the next version of the GH1 (the current GH1 has the "Venus Engine HD" [not "II"]).
EDIT: The take-away for me is that Panasonic now has new, faster, more powerful technology for use in any new cams they release. A "video centric" cam (such as a successor to the GH1) will hopefully put this power to great use (e.g.: real-time, high quality down-scaling of full-sensor res imagery down to HD res without pixel binning or line skipping, etc.) We shall see ...
From today's press release:
"...
2. Intelligent Resolution Technology Compiled in the New Venus Engine HD II Assures High Picture Quality for Both Photo and Movie
The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD has been re-engineered to compile the new image processing technology "Intelligent Resolution". It enables the recording of beautiful photo and high-definition movie with higher quality signal processing.
With the Intelligent Resolution technology, 3 areas — outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clearness while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. To the soft gradation part, superior noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way for it. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording.
The Intelligent Resolution technology also realizes the Intelligent Zoom, which virtually extends the optical zoom ratio to its approx. 1.3x equivalent maintaining the picture quality even combining the digital zoom.
Details of an image in high sensitivity recording tends to be lost in the noise reduction process; however, the Intelligent Resolution works to keep them.
At the same time, the multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine HD II supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as approx. 0.006 second and the camera's quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities together with the Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus) that lets you lock on the subject minimum in approx. 0.35 (wide-end) / 0.41 (tele-end) second* and the short startup time of approx. 1.28 second. The high performance Venus Engine HD II is also energy efficient to feature an extended battery life up to 300 shots (CIPA) per a single charge. ..."
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