Panasonic Makes a Multitasking 3D Photo, Video Camera

Panasonic today announced the twin-lens Lumix DMC-3D1 digital still camera (DSC).

ZoomTypically, you would use the two lenses to capture 3D images, but there is another use for dual-lenses: the camera allows the user to shoot video with one lens and use the other for a fully functional digitalcamera (including zooming) at the same time. In those moments when you hate to have to make a decision between a video or pictures, you could use this camera and get both You could also take two photos at once but with each lens at a different zoom setting.

At $500 MSRP (available in December), the Lumix DMC-3D1 isn't exactly cheap, but you get a 12-megapixel DSC that takes up to eight pictures per second (four with autofocus) and 1920x1080i video in AVCHD or MP4 formats. 3D pictures are taken in 8 megapixel resolution. The DSC lens includes a 25 mm wide angle lens and a 4x optical zoom. Panasonic claims that the battery life of the Lumix is comparable to that of a single-lens camera.