Panasonic has announced two interesting hybrid models using AVCHD Lite with 17Mbps 1280x720 60p recordings: DMC ZS3/TZ7 and the waterproof TS1.

ZS3/TZ7 has a 25-300mm zoom, and that's a very useful range for camcorder use. With stereo mics, dolby digital, working zoom during movie, and feature like wind cut mic, HDMI output, it could well work as a viable camcorder.

DMC-ZS3/TZ7

DMC-TS1

AVCHD Lite is limited to 720p instead of 1080i.

the first one looks like a still camera, no pic of the second one.

60p is pretty cool!

Yes indeed, the Waterproof ones mine. I got dibs

ZS3/TZ7 - yeah, no need for clumsy wide angle adapter!


TS1 (available in a few colors):


Even this has 28mm wide angle zoom - something HD camcorders should address.

Lumix site updated http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...00000000005702

TS1 review! http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/10084.html & ZS3 http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/10087.html

They didn't try the movie mode?

I know it, were are the movie samples. Heres another review of the ZS3 that talks about movie mode but no movie samples http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/d...+lumix+dmc-zs3