Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Compact Camera [DMC-ZR1 12.1 Megapixels, 8x Optical Zoom Point & Shoot]

Panasonic have unveiled a new Lumix point and shoot compact camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1, which, according to Panasonic’s press release, sports a 25mm ultra wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens which just happens to be the world’s thinnest aspherical lens in measuring in at just 0.3mm in thickness.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 compact point and shoot camera, which measures in at just 1″ in thickness, apart from offering a 8x optical zoom wide angle lens (equivalent to 25-200mm on a 35mm film camera) comes with a 12.1 megapixel CCD sensor as well as Panasonic’s new POWER O.I.S optical stabilization and, as you’d expect from a compact point and shoot, packs in a veritable host of features such as facial recognition, Intelligent Auto Mode and numerous scene modes such as Scenery, Portrait, Panorama, Sports and which, incidentally, additionally includes a High Dynamic mode.

“The ZR1 answers the call of consumers looking for a truly pocketable digital camera, while still featuring a zoom more powerful than typical compact cameras,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company who introduced the Lumix DMC-ZR1. “We know consumers want to catch every shooting opportunity, and with the ZR1, this is possible through unique features such as the ultra-wide-angle lens and Panasonic’s popular iA Mode.”

Capable of also capturing video footage at up to 1280 x 720 resolution, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1, which comes with 40MB of integrated storage capacity whilst also accepting additional capacity in the form of SD/SDHC memory cards, is set to release from September and will retail at just shy of $279.