Panasonic introduces hybrid smartphone-camera with HUGE sensor

Panasonic has introduced the Lumix DMC-CM1, a cross between an Android smartphone and camera that is unlike most other devices on the market today.

The CM1 was unveiled at the Photokina trade show in Cologne. It has an f/2.8 Leica lens and a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor, the latter of which is typically found in Panasonic’s higher-end camera models.

The company explains that the 1-inch sensor will help the camera take photos in low-light conditions and shoot ultra-high definition video as well. In terms of effect on the physicality of the device, the lens and its metal ring (which controls aperture and shutter settings) leads to the CM1 being 21 mm thick and 204 g heavy—a considerable amount more than most smartphones on the market today. 

Also worth noting about the CM1 is that it has a 4.7-inch, 1080p touchscreen and a switch to allow the user to easily flip to camera mode at a moment’s notice. The device runs on a 2.3-GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor and features 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in storage. It also has a microSD card slot to allow expansion up to an extra 128 GB, a handy feature for when the user is shooting 4K video.

The camera-phone will be positioned to compete directly with Samsung’s Galaxy K Zoom, which also has a large built-in lens.

While the CM1 certainly sounds impressive on paper, not everyone is convinced. Tech Radar’s Marc Flores says hybrid models don’t really draw a major audience. 

“We've tried this before, and it didn't work out so well,” he wrote. Flores added that anyone in search of a good camera should simply buy a dedicated device and learn the tricks professionals use rather than purchase the CM1 in hopes that it would make a difference in their on-the-go photos.

The CM1 will go on sale in France and Germany this November at a price of 900 Euros ($1,167 USD). These two nations will serve as test markets to determine customer reaction and whether Panasonic should pursue the idea further.

Story via BBC

Images via TheVerge