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Panasonic reporting record L moung lineup preorders
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Right before start of new financial year Panasonic Imaging Division director Yosuke Yamane San during meeting with Panasonic Lumix ambassadors told about record preorders of new Panasonic cameras and lenses. Unfortunately, he noted, he can't disclose numbers, but they almost reached sales of one undisclosed m43 camera during June 2011 weekend, but he also added that numbers will match if we will count only deep night time during mentioned 2011 period.

    Yamane San also thanked all Lumix Ambassadors and especially UK Ambassadors for playing key role in such big rise of compact and full frame cameras produced by Panasonic, for proposing really unique features like paid V-Log codes and video modes and for good private suggestions on how to kill any independent m43 cameras communities. Due to such huge success Panasonic will stop providing free bodies and lenses and instead will be charging 100% premium for all members of Ambassadors program, as it'll allow whole program to reach levels typical only for devoted Apple fans.

  • 5 Replies sorted by
  • EnoEno

    Panasonic did a comprehensive survey and found that the vast majority of their user base are using only MF for video in their cameras. "AF was never a priority for us, who needs such a small niche feature anyway?" ...a Panasonic rep. spoke in an interview.

    But basically because (the three BBB's) all other ILC camera companies out there have it (and it's working surprisingly well), Panasonic finally decided to explore this possibility further.

    My trusted sources told me they are planing to enable PDAF with another paid update, later this year. Panasonic took this approach of basically offering unusable AF performance until now, course they thought their users prefer MF anyway. And to keep the camera cost as low as possible from the start, this option will come at a hefty + price at a later date.

    As a bonus, this update will also let photographers use their expensive TTL flashes operate at shutter speeds faster than 1/60 in any automatic or semi-automatic modes + the AWB with flash will finally work properly like on any other camera brand does.

    Panasonic are also in debate to offer subscription monthly based payment offer, for those who can't afford the initial Leica like price of this small niche PDAF feature. This way, if you want a good and reliable AF in you camera but only afford it for the summer season, it may be possible to have it for a limited period of time starting at a later date.

  • Glenn7Glenn7

    Finally. Really glad for Panasonic.

    Sad thing is that Nick will need to start working again.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Panasonic are also in debate to offer subscription monthly based payment offer, for those who can't afford the initial Leica like price of this small niche PDAF feature. This way, if you want a good and reliable AF in you camera but only afford it for the summer season, it may be possible to have it for a limited period of time starting at a later date.

    Each time you write something, some Panasonic manager without ideas can read this, and if this happens:

  • driftwooddriftwood

    ....

  • EnoEno

    @Vitaliy_Kiselev

    If they get funny ideas, there are always other manufacturers to chose from. :)

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