CES 2014: Panasonic LZ40, SZ8, ZS35 and ZS40 cameras revealed

Panasonic has officially announced four new compact and bridge cameras at CES 2014 along with the availability details of a Leica lens for the Micro Four Thirds mount.

The Consumer Electronics Show is usually an event used by Panasonic to put out its latest compact and bridge cameras. The 2014 edition makes no exception, despite the fact that the offer is smaller than what we have seen in 2013.

Either way, Panasonic is present at CES 2014 and it believes that photography fans need to see the Lumix DMC-LZ40, SZ8, ZS35 and ZS40 cameras, as well as the Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 lens for Micro Four Thirds.

Panasonic LZ40 42x zoom bridge camera becomes official during CES 2014

Panasonic LZ40 is a new bridge camera with a 40x zoom lens and a 20-megapixel CCD sensor.

Panasonic begins its CES journey with the new Lumix DMC-LZ40 It is a superzoom bridge camera for the budget that offers an interesting set of specifications.

The Panasonic LZ40 comes packed with a 20-megapixel 1/2.3-inch-type CCD image sensor with built-in optical image stabilization technology and a 42x zoom lens capable of recording 720p videos.

This bridge shooter offers a 35mm lens equivalent of 22-924mm, which should get you closer to the action which happens in distant locations.

Panasonic LZ40 does not fare so well in low-light conditions as the maximum ISO sensitivity stands at 1600. However, it can be boosted to 6400 using built-in settings, while the flash might do the trick in most scenarios.

Framing the shots can be done using a 3-inch LCD screen, while the specs sheet also include a maximum shutter speed of 1/1500th of a second and an aperture range between f/3 and f/6.5.

Its power comes from a 1,250mAh battery allowing users to capture up to 320 photos on a single charge.

Unfortunately, the release date and price details remain unknown, meaning that you will have to stay tuned to find out this information.

Panasonic SZ8 announced with WiFi and 12x zoom lens in a compact body

Panasonic SZ8 has a more compact body than the LZ40, but it features built-in WiFi.

Since the LZ40 does not have WiFi and it can be considered a rather big camera, Panasonic proposes the Lumix DMC-SZ8. This compact shooter features a 12x zoom lens offering a 35mm equivalent of 24-288mm.

It comes packed with integrated WiFi, so that it connects to a smartphone or tablet in order to share photos and videos instantly. Speaking of which, the Panasonic SZ8 captures content using a 16-megapixel CCD sensor.

Framing the shots and movies is done via a 3-inch 460K-dot LCD screen. The camera features OIS technology therefore the photos and videos will not appear blurry. However, the maximum video recording resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels at 30 frames per second.

Just like with the LZ40, the SZ8 does not have a launch date, or a price, yet, so stick with us to find these out soon.

Let the pro-level fun begin: Panasonic ZS40 supports RAW shooting and geo-tagging via built-in GPS

Panasonic ZS40 is a compact camera with bridge-like zooming options. Its main advantages are WiFi, GPS, NFC, and a built-in electronic viewfinder.

CES 2014 is not over yet for Panasonic, as the Japanese manufacturer has also announced the exciting Lumix DMC-ZS40, a compact camera with RAW, GPS for geo-tagging, and WiFi support.

The new Panasonic ZS40 features an 18-megapixel 1/2.3-inch-type CMOS sensor with Venus image processor and ISO sensitivity of up to 6400.

Professionals who like to travel will surely enjoy the fact that they can capture photos in RAW format and be content with the new Hybrid Optical Image Stabilizer Plus technology that compensates for hand and camera shakes.

Alongside WiFi, the compact shooter also provides NFC, 23 focus points, and a 30x optical zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 24-720mm.

The list of goodies continues with a fixed 3-inch 920K-dot LCD screen and a built-in electronic viewfinder to frame shots like a pro.

Videos are recorded in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats at 1920 x 1080p resolution. Sadly, Panasonic has completely forgotten to bring availability details at the Las Vegas-based event, so potential buyers will have to wait for the info to come out in the open in the following weeks.

The new Panasonic ZS35 offers 20x optical zoom and a tilting screen

Panasonic ZS35 may be lacking some of the best features found in the ZS40, but it features a tilting screen, which is a “must-have” tool for a lot of photographers.

If the ZS40 is too much for you to handle, then Panasonic has unveiled a similar, but lower-end camera, called Lumix DMC-ZS35.

It features a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, 24-480mm lens with 20x optical zoom, 21 focus points, and built-in WiFi, while RAW, GPS, and NFC support is nowhere to be seen.

Nevertheless, the advantage over the ZS40 consists of the Panasonic ZS35’s LCD screen, which is tiltable by up to 180 degrees. The EVF has also disappeared from this camera, which should be much cheaper than the ZS40.

Unfortunately, the company has not announced any prices, so it is unclear how much the cameras will cost and when they are coming to the market.

Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 lens finally gets a release date and a price

The Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras will be released in Q1 2014 for $1,599.

Panasonic has closed its digital imaging announcements with the availability details for a product that has been introduced last year: the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras.

This lens offers a 35mm equivalent of 85mm and it is coming on the market in Q1 2014 along with its bright aperture. The price will stand at $1,599, meaning that the Leica 42.5mm f/1.2 will become one of the most expensive optics for MFTs.