Panasonic’s newest slim and stylish touch-screen digital camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 (the successor to DMC-FX500), features 12.1-megapixel resolution, 25mm ultra-wide-angle LEICA DC lens with F2.8 brightness, 5x optical zoom, large 3-inch touch sensitive LCD screen and newly developed Venus Engine V processor that includes twin CPUs to boast approximately 2.4x processing capability.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 may look like Just Another Ultra-Compact Camera, but it has two features that most cameras in its class do not.
The first is a 3-inch touchscreen LCD display.
While many camera manufacturers have touchscreen cameras, the FX580 is somewhat unique in that it doesn’t force you to use the touchscreen for everything — there are “regular” controls too.

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FX580 features:

• 12.1 effective megapixel CCD

• 3-inch LCD screen display (230,000 pixels)
• 25mm ultra-wide-angle LEICA DC lens with F2.8 brightness and 5x optical zoom
• New touch-screen interface and conventional operation system with the cursor key for intuitive control
• Panasonic’s new advanced iA (Intelligent Auto) mode incorporates a system of technologies, including MEGA O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, Face Detection, Face Recognition, AF Tracking, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Scene Selection
• Panasonic’s newly developed Venus Engine V processor
• High sensitivity up to ISO 6400
• Records High Definition (1280 x 720p) motion images at 30 fps
• New Panorama Assist scene mode allowing users to shoot a number of consistent photos, either vertically or horizontally, by aligning them according to a guide that overlaps the screen
• Bundled PanoramaMaker software

The DMC-FX580’s touch-screen is a hybrid operation system combining the new touch-screen interface and a conventional operation system with the cursor key for intuitive control, and it comes in an aluminum body in silver and black colors.

The Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FX580is available now with huge savings for $209.95 - that’s 40% less (you save $140.00)!

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 is a 12.1-megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera, which offers a more compact form factor than its predecessors, the G1 and GH1. The Lumix GF1 looks more like the Olympus E-P1; however the GF1 also offers a pop-up flash, a feature that I sorely missed on the Olympus E-P1.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1’s Venus Engine HD records stunning high-resolution 12-megapixel images using its advanced Live MOS Sensor. This sophisticated LSI circuit separates chromatic noise from luminance noise and applies the optimal noise reduction to each, helping to capture clear and beautiful images even when shooting at high ISO levels.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 also comes fully-equipped with a built-in flash and a large, 3.0-inch Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle and a 460,000-dot resolution. The Intelligent LCD offers automatic backlight control, which when combined with its high-resolution, helps improve visibility in all light environments – from sunny outdoors to low-light interior settings.

New for the LUMIX G Series, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 is compatible with an optional Live View Finder (DMW-LVF1), which provides the full-time live view function boasting 100% field of view regardless of the attached lens. To further expand the LUMIX G Series system, Panasonic Micro Four Thirds digital cameras can be used with Four Thirds System interchangeable lenses via an optional mount adaptor DMW-MA1 and with the prestigious Leica M/R lenses using Panasonic’s DMW-MA2M DMW-MA3R. These adapters give the user access to the unlimited number of lens properties.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 will be available in early October 2009 with the option of two kits – both with a suggested retail price (SRP) of $899.95. One kit option includes the newly-announced LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH, a compact and lightweight “pancake” lens, while the other kit features the LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. The optional Live View Finder DMW-LVF1 has an SRP of $199.95; while the DMW-MA2M and DMW-MA3R both have an SRP of $249.95. All new accessories will also be available in early October.