Panasonic entered the smartphone market

[GaryLH]

http://connect.dpreview.com/post/6758994772/panasonic-lumix-dmc-cm1-camera-review

Dp review posted a review of this phone from their "connect" website affiliate. Interesting writeup. I wonder if Sony will do something similar one day?

For me, it is too expensive, given digital rot.

Gary

 

[Bill58]

They're a little late to the party, aren't they?

 

[lynnb]

One big reason camera phones have devoured the digicam market is connectivity. Specifically, how easy it is to share/upload pictures direct from the phone to social media and to send pictures straight to the phones of friends and family members. I find it amazing that these capabilities and features weren't even mentioned in the dpreview connect review!

 

[Addy101]

It is a smartphone, it has the same connectivity as every other smartphone. For those who like the idea, here are some more reviews:
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_cm1_review/
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/panasonic-lumix-dmc-cm1-camera-phone-review-26772
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/panasonic-cm1/panasonic-cm1A.HTM

I'm not convinced. A camera with full smartphone connectivity would be better then a smartphone with a protruding lens. IMHO of course. I'm with Techradar on this.

 

[GaryLH]

Panasonic decided to release it in US after all. Still more than I would like to pay... $999 pre-orders are now available at b&h and adorama. Here is the b&h link

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...1_lumix_16gb_unlckd_camera_phone_blk_slv.html

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

They're a little late to the party, aren't they?

Being late to the party is not necessarily a bad thing so long as u bring a product that has appeal plus it doesn't hurt to have great marketing team.. Example apple iPod was maybe two years late to the party.

That being said, I don't think this is going to be a product that will have mass appeal especially when it is 999 unlocked and no carrier seems to have added it their N number year contracts.. US consumer is used to the heavily discounted phone under locked contract unlike other parts of the world where everything is sold unlocked.

Gary