Nine new Panasonic Lumix cameras; several include near-field communication support

Panasonic's making quite a splash at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year, debuting no less than nine fixed-lens cameras and six Full HD-capable camcorders, one of them wearable. We've just published previews of four of the cameras, and we're just wrapping up our coverage on the fifth model as we speak. First up: the Panasonic TS5.

 

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 updates last year's rugged, weather-proof flagship.

We really liked the look and feel of last year's LUMIX TS4, the top-of-the-line rugged, weather-proof camera for Panasonic. And while its image quality was good at wide angle, it suffered from lens flare and exposure issues -- especially on land. So the arrival of the next generation has us hopeful that these problems were fixed, and adventure seekers finally have a camera that delivers good photos and stands up to the elements.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS5 will be available in March in orange, blue, silver and black. Pricing information was not available at press time. More details can be found in our Panasonic TS5 preview.

 

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LZ30 follows just a short half year after the LZ20.

Last July, Panasonic introduced the LUMIX DMC-LZ20 as an affordable, entry-level long zoom with a 21x optical range. About half a year later comes the Panasonic LZ30, a 35x optical superzoom that ups the stakes -- not only with increased reach, but also with Intelligent Auto (iA) mode that lets the camera do the bulk of the work in capturing great images by merging Panasonic's Optical Image Stabilizer, Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure all in one setting.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LZ30 will ship in March 2013. Pricing and colors haven't yet been stated. Learn more about this model in our Panasonic LZ30 preview.

 

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-SZ3 is perfect for pocket or purse.

With the LUMIX DMC-SZ3, Panasonic refreshes its compact travel line with an affordable, slim, long-zoom camera designed for stashing in your pocket or purse so you'll always be at the ready for capturing moments or making art when the muse calls. The Panasonic SZ3 features a 10x optical zoom (20x digital intelligent zoom) lens, ranging from 25-250mm (in 35mm equivalency), 10 frames-per-second continuous burst shooting (at 3 megapixels) and several creative filters and modes.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-SZ3 ships in March in blue, black and white; we don't yet have details on pricing. Read our Panasonic SZ3 preview for more details.

 

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS30 looks to be a significant upgrade over the ZS20.

Boasting a 20x optical zoom, full HD video recording and advanced WiFi capabilities -- including using your connected smart device as a real-time viewfinder and remote -- the Panasonic ZS30 hopes to build a do-everything pocket camera. It looks like a significant upgrade to its popular predecessor, the Panasonic ZS20.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS30 ships in March 2013 in black and white, and again, information on its pricing is not yet available. More details in our Panasonic ZS30 preview.

 

The stylish Panasonic LUMIX DMC-XS1 is just 14mm thick.

We're just putting the finishing touches on our preview of the 16.1 megapixel Panasonic XS1, but briefly, this model is just 14mm thick, and yet fits in a stabilized 5x optical zoom lens, and a 2.7-inch LCD monitor. It'll be available from March in white, black, or red body colors, and pricing hasn't yet been disclosed. Watch for our preview shortly!

Other cameras announced today include the Panasonic FH10 (similar to the XS1, but larger and with no creative filters), Panasonic F5 (again similar, but entry-level and with a 14.1 megapixel sensor), Panasonic ZS25 (related to the ZS30, but no Wi-Fi, GPS, or touch screen, a lower-res LCD, and a smaller 16.1 megapixel sensor, among other changes), and Panasonic TS25 (described as a little brother to the TS5, waterproof to 23 feet, shockproof from 4.9 feet). We'll follow up with previews of these models soon, along with coverage of the numerous Full HD camcorders...