Steve Smull
Active member
Panasonic's upcoming D90 competitor is due in 2009.
They are doing some really innovative things in the interchangeable lens still camera space, such as the new G1, which is the world's first electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens camera. It uses the Micro Four Thirds compact lens system.
http://www.dpreview.com/Previews/PanasonicG1/
I have a strong hunch they will also go the other direction and offer a video capable large sensor camera next year as well, which will be a direct competitor to the D90 and it's successors. The D90 is of course still based on the dated DX sensor size, so 2009 ought to be really exciting. Let the leapfrogging begin!
Here's a teaser about the near future:
Photokina 2008 Interview: Panasonic
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0810/08100201_panasonicinterview.asp
The G1 has generally had a very positive reception, but one question that comes up time and again is why doesn't it offer movie capture?
"We're aware of the need for video capability on interchangeable lens camera, so we will be introducing it. This is simply a matter of timing, but it is certainly our plan to do so in future models".
So adding video capability would have delayed the entire project. What's actually holding things up?
"The new HD lens has a dedicated system for autofocus in movie video recordings, and the movement of the aperture is totally different for HD lenses; it has to be working continuously. This all takes time to develop. PMA [early March '09] is our target for the HD camera; that's the target anyway...[laughter] We've already displayed a mock up, but we have to exceed the performance and quality of the HD video modes already shown on new DSLR cameras."
They are doing some really innovative things in the interchangeable lens still camera space, such as the new G1, which is the world's first electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens camera. It uses the Micro Four Thirds compact lens system.
http://www.dpreview.com/Previews/PanasonicG1/
I have a strong hunch they will also go the other direction and offer a video capable large sensor camera next year as well, which will be a direct competitor to the D90 and it's successors. The D90 is of course still based on the dated DX sensor size, so 2009 ought to be really exciting. Let the leapfrogging begin!
Here's a teaser about the near future:
Photokina 2008 Interview: Panasonic
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0810/08100201_panasonicinterview.asp
The G1 has generally had a very positive reception, but one question that comes up time and again is why doesn't it offer movie capture?
"We're aware of the need for video capability on interchangeable lens camera, so we will be introducing it. This is simply a matter of timing, but it is certainly our plan to do so in future models".
So adding video capability would have delayed the entire project. What's actually holding things up?
"The new HD lens has a dedicated system for autofocus in movie video recordings, and the movement of the aperture is totally different for HD lenses; it has to be working continuously. This all takes time to develop. PMA [early March '09] is our target for the HD camera; that's the target anyway...[laughter] We've already displayed a mock up, but we have to exceed the performance and quality of the HD video modes already shown on new DSLR cameras."
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