Pixiq

Panasonic unveiled four new cameras in its Lumix range today, of which three are 3D enabled. But the new TZ20, FX77, and FT3 have an awful lot more going for them than just their 3D capabilities, from lenses by Leica, to HD movie mode, and the ability to upload directly your images to FaceBook or your films to YouTube. And the non-3D TZ18 looks pretty sweet, too.

TZ20 and TZ18 – travel companions extraordinaire

The TZ20 and its slightly less well-specced younger sibling the TZ18 both come with 24mm ultra-wide angle lens and a 16x optical zoom. They’ve both 14mp sensors, whilst the TZ20 has a Venus Engine FHD processor the TZ18 has the Venus Engine VI processor.

Panasonic Lumix TZ20

Both come with intelligent auto mode (which compact camera doesn’t anymore?), taking care of focusing, exposure, and ISO; there’s even a doo-dad to layer images when shooting at night and get the best out of the available light. Not forgetting image stabilisation to help stop things from being a blurry mess.

The TZ20′s video capability is a bit better than the TZ18′s, but the TZ18′s 720p HD-mode isn’t to be sneezed at.

There’s in-built GPS in the TZ20, so you’ll always be able to pin-point where a picture has been taken, and the screen on the TZ20 is touch responsive, too.

FX77 – touch-tastic

The lens on the FX77 is a 24mm ultra-wide f2.5 with 5x optical zoom number. There’s a 12mp sensor with an engine that can also process full HD video.

Slick and stylish FX77

It is fully touch-screen operational: touch the screen to focus, touch the screen to release the shutter, and the menu is entirely accessible from the screen, too. intelligent auto mode takes care of just about everything, and if it doesn’t, then it’ll be backed up by intelligent scene selection.

There’s the option to organise your images in-camera, as well some editing functions, too. This one sounds like a pretty nifty device.

FT3 – outward bound

It’s got the 28mm Leica lens with 4.6x optical zoom, 12mp sensor, HD-movie mode, intelligent auto mode, 3D capability, and ability to upload direct to FaceBook and YouTube. So what else does it have to offer?

The almost-anything-proof FT3

You can drop it (shockproof to 2m); you can go swimming with it (waterproof to 12m); you can trek through the Sahara with it (dustproof); and you can take it out in the cold (resistant to -10C). It’ll remember where you did all of these things with its GPS function, its compass, its altimeter, and its barometer.

They’ll all be available in March. More information from Panasonic.