Panasonic presents Lumix DMC-LX1 with 16:9

Panasonic today unveiled the world's first wide angle compact camera with a 16:9 ratio CCD. The full manual compact Lumix DMC-LX1 has a 8.6 megapixel 1/1.65" CCD and is the first camera in the Lumix 16:9 wide LX series. By using a slider switch located on the lens barrel a user will be able to select 3:2 or 4:3. Other features include 4x optical zoom, Venus Engine II, five AF modes, 16:9 wide VGA movie mode at 30fps and two-mode Mega Optical Image Stabilization.

The lens unit is comprised of 4x optical zoom LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT Lens and renders superb picture quality. Like other LUMIX cameras, what distinguishes the DMC-LX1 from the rest is MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), a key feature Panasonic considers should be standard in all digital still cameras. Unintentional handshake, the major cause of digital camera mis-shooting, is controlled by MEGA O.I.S. to allow every user to take clear, beautiful images even indoors or at nighttime. The newly incorporated Extra Optical Zoom extends the zoom ratio by using the center part of the high resolution CCD to achieve 5x for 5.5-Megapixel 16:9 image recording with minimal deterioration.

More specifications and photos at DP Review