Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ28 is a 10.1 Megapixel super-zoom camera with DSLR-styling and an 18x optically-stabilised zoom range. Announced in July 2008, it comes one year after the Lumix FZ18. The new model is strongly based on its predecessor, but features higher resolution, a larger screen, HD movie recording and quicker burst mode, along with a number of tweaks to the controls, viewfinder, menus and auto systems.

The AF Tracking function is the latest component to be added to Panasonic’s iA system, and allows users to lock focus on a moving subject. The camera then automatically tracks the subject as it moves, keeping it in focus without the need to hold the shutter halfway down. AF Tracking makes it easier to capture moving subjects and spur-of-the-moment action shots. The AF Tracking technology also improves Face Detection (up to 15 faces), by providing continuous adjustment of the focus and exposure, even if the face is turned away from the camera.

The FZ28 is a bridge-style compact camera, looking just like a true DSLR at first glance, but featuring a non-interchangeable lens instead. The Panasonic DMC-FZ28 offers an increase to 10 megapixels, larger 2.7-inch LCD screen, new Venus Engine IV processing engine which promises better low-light performance, and updated iA (intelligent auto) mode with newly added AF Tracking function.

Major DMC-FZ28 Features:

• 10.1-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 3648 x 2736 pixels
• Leica DC-VARIO ELMARIT 18x zoom, equivalent to 27-486mm on a 35mm camera
• Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) system to help prevent camera shake and blurring
• Venus Engine IV LSI for robust camera operations
• JPEG and RAW still image capture
• Full-Resolution Burst capture at 2.5fps (total of 3 images in Fine mode)
• Face Detection AF technology for great portraits
• Macro focus with autofocus down to 0.39 inches (wide)
• 2.7-inch TFT color LCD monitor with 230K pixels of resolution
• Eye-level color electronic viewfinder with 201K pixels and dioptric adjustment
• Intelligent Auto, Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual modes
• Five Advanced (Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Macro) and 17 Normal scene modes
• Four programmable Custom modes
• High Speed and Low Speed Continuous or “Burst” modes
• QuickTime movies WVGA (848×480), VGA (640×480) or HD (1280×720) at 30fps w/audio
• Shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 8 seconds in Shutter priority, (up to 60 secs. in Manual/Starry Sky modes)
• Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow synchro and red-eye reduction modes
• Intelligent Multiple and Spot exposure metering
• TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
• Approx. 50MB of internal memory, plus SD/SDHC/MMC memory card slot
• Plug-n-Play USB 2.0 High-speed, Mass Storage compliant
• PictBridge Direct-Print compatible
• Li-ion rechargeable battery and rapid charger included

The exterior design is nearly identical to the DMP-BD35. Compared with the sleek and glossy designs of Samsung and LG, the DMP-BD60 looks pedestrian, as if it has a job to do, rather than attract attention. The disc tray is in the center of the unit, behind an automatic flip-down door, and farther right is a manual flip-down panel that reveals an SD card slot, a USB port, and some minimal playback controls.

VieraCast is Panasonic’s proprietary online content portal, available on its Blu-ray players and some HDTVs. As of publication time, the available services on VieraCast include YouTube, Picasa, weather, and stock quotes; Amazon Video On Demand is slated to be available in May. The inclusion of Amazon’s streaming service contrasts to competing Samsung and LG Blu-ray players, which offer Netflix streaming on all their players. Both online video services have different strengths and weaknesses. Netflix streaming is free with a subscription, but has a somewhat limited selection of content with few new releases; Amazon has more new releases, but it costs about $4 per rental. Which service is “better” is to some extent a matter of personal preference, but we find Netflix’s service more attractive, especially since your subscription can be used to rent new Blu-ray releases.

A lot of the buyers don’t pay too much attention to the remote control when they are purchasing television or disc players. The remote control for the DMP-BD60 doesn’t change much from the previous remote controls. The top of the remote houses the volume and channel buttons. This can take some time getting used to since most remotes have them in the middle or the bottom. However, there is separate volume button for your receiver. This is particularly convenient if you have receiver set up and don’t have a universal remote control. The numeric buttons are right below the channel and volume buttons. The playback function buttons and directional buttons are in the middle. The menu buttons surround the directional pad. The bottom of the remote houses the special function buttons like Viera Cast and set up buttons. Overall, it’s a solid remote control. It’s not Harmony but you can do much worse.

The DMP-BD60  includes an SD Memory card slot and USB slot, making it easy for the consumer to view and share both digital still images and HD video recorded with an HD camcorder in the AVCHD format.

In order to produce the ultimate picture quality, the Panasonic’s DMP-BD60 Blu-ray players employs high precision 4:4:4 signal technology, which working in tandem with PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus processes each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the horizontal direction, to compliment vertical direction processing. P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD) is another technology that contributes to the superior picture quality of the Blu-ray players. P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimal processing to every pixel.

Tightness is not a problem with these phones because of the vinyl-wrapped metal headband. This is great because it’s impossible to overextend them–you just bend them back into shape with no trouble.  The Sheckler Signature model of these phones is the least expensive by at least 20 dollars when I bought it (maybe his sponsorship contract ended?). The red color had gotten lots of compliments and the skater’s signature isn’t out of place at all.

New from Panasonic Japan comes the retro style RP-HTX7 with leather style headbands and high quality piano painted large, closed headphones. Not to be confused with conventional looking headphones, these are stylish lookers. Large aperture 40mm drive unit for clear sound reproduction and powerful bass. Cord length of 1.2 meters suitable for remote and non-remote portable players. Unlike the basic American version, the Japanese RP-HTX7 also comes in original Japanese color combinations (ie. light blue, beige headband) with a 2 meter extension cordng and additional accessories.

Specifications

• Type: Encapsulated, Dynamic
• Driver Unit: 40mm
• Magnet: Neodymium
• Impedance: 40 ohms
• Sensitivity: 99 dB/mW
• Power Handling Capacity: 1000mW
• Frequency Response: 7 – 22,000Hz
• 1.2m cord with gold-plated stereo straight mini-plug

Accessories
2 meter Extension Cord, Stereo Standard Plug, Carrying Pouch

While Mini DV still remains the digital recording format of choice, there are many people who are naturally graduating towards DVD. Many of these are relatively new to the camcorder world having simply skipped the whole tape era. Others prefer the ease of recording onto a disc and wirelessly slipping it into a DVD player.

Either way, DVD is slowly edging its way into the foreground and becoming increasingly competitively priced. Panasonic’s VDR-D250 is not the company’s cheapest DVD recorder but offers a reasonable price and a generous clutch of features.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

Superior color, detail and gradation: 3CCD Camera System; Special high-performance imaging engine Crystal Engine; Capture even complex motion with precision: high quality MPEG 2 Engine; Extremely beautiful still pictures: 2.3-Megapixel Still Pictures Recording; Pull distant subjects right up close with 10x optical zoom; Shoot wide, view wide: high picture quality Wide Mode (16:9) and 2.7″ LCD; Choose the media you want with multi-format ease: DVD-RAM, DVD-RW; DVD-R; Select the recording mode to match your needs: XP, SP, LP Mode; Easy operation with One-Touch Navigation & Joystick Control; Find out what each icon means: Help Mode; Index screen for simple searching: Quick Search & Access with Disc Navigator.

Panasonic’s Viera range is now firmly established as a front-running flat-screen brand. The manufacturer’s early missteps, such as the use of low-resolution screens and a lack of digital video connections, have now been consigned to the dustbin marked ‘past mistakes’, as this new model shows. It’s fully prepared for the rapidly approaching high-definition revolution, sporting two HDMI inputs and boasting a 1,024×768-pixel resolution on its 42-inch plasma panel. But Panasonic hasn’t forgotten about the present either — there’s a built-in digital tuner providing access to Freeview.

Panasonic has managed to shave a few centimetres off the frame either side of the screen, and also, in a trick worthy of creepy magic man David Copperfield, made the speakers disappear. Don’t worry, they’re there, it’s just that you can’t see them.

The screen’s frame flows smoothly into the stand, making for a product that certainly looks the part. It might be too much for some, in fact: the stand is huge, and it makes for an imposing spectacle that will dominate most living rooms. The upside of this is there’s plenty of space on its glass shelves for DVD players, satellite receivers and the like — and of course if you don’t like the stand you can always opt for the pedestal version instead. The cabinet stand also has plenty of cable management to help keep the clutter from leads and cables out of sight, which is handy if you’re after that clean, no-mess look.

As is made evident by the Cinderella Man HD-DVD, the quality of high-definition content on the TH-42PX60U is unparalleled. When the conventional Cinderella Man DVD is played in Progressive-Scan 480p, the championship fight scene is still very clear, but obviously not to the extent of the HD-DVD. It is important to note that the TH-42PX60U does not display the visual artifacts easily noticeable on lower-tier plasma displays with a conventional input source.

The ATSC tuner pulls in digital broadcasts from all around town. When we watched the Evening News in high-definition, the image was very clear, and the news anchors’ faces had accurate flesh tones. When they cut to reporters out in the field, the detail of their surroundings was excellent. When we changed the channel to view the same program in regular definition, the picture was somewhat fuzzy. The image degradation is probably caused by the lower bandwidth emitted by local stations for their analog channels.