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New Slimmer FX7

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DerRatte

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I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page (Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about this new model?

Mike
 
FX-7 is nearing its end of product life in the market, but its replacement mordel is not yet due in the next few months. So Pana added two new colours (White and bright red) to the product range. Its a comon practice in Japan, as well as Pana, to spice up the existing product by brighter colours (of its case).

I bet you must be reading about this, or do you ahve the direct link to the source of the replacement model of FX-7?


DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
 
No, its not the two new colors. There is an actual new model that is a slimmer version of the FX7. Panasonic Japan has not updated their website yet, but they are currently running commercials in Japan advertising a new slimmer FX7. My friend in Japan (who also is into photography) has told me that she recently saw the commecial, and confirms that it is indeed a new slimmer version.

Here is a link to a commercial of the new slimmer model. Unfortunately, you cant tell from this one, but I have another commecial saved on my computer where you can clearly see the top of the camera, and it is much thinner than my silver FX7.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/da/index.html

What do you guys think?

Mike
SunnyYip said:
I bet you must be reading about this, or do you ahve the direct
link to the source of the replacement model of FX-7?


DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
From what I have read on the sites, there are no mentioning of FX-7 sucessor. FX-7 is still the flagship of Pana's ultra-slim cameras.

Pana does sucessfully engineered even slimmer OIS lense system with zoom lense, but those were meant for camera phones. (No leica there.) Well, there are no pratical reason to stop those to be implemented in a proper camera though.

The ads I downloaded is about the launch of the two new colours in Mar. I am sure an even slimmer camera will be exciting news for prospective buyers, but I personally think an upgrade of the FX-7 to fix some short-comings in the FX series will be more welcoming to the existing users.

Thanks for the heads up. Lets wait for the sucessor to come to our stores.
DerRatte said:
Here is a link to a commercial of the new slimmer model.
Unfortunately, you cant tell from this one, but I have another
commecial saved on my computer where you can clearly see the top of
the camera, and it is much thinner than my silver FX7.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/da/index.html

What do you guys think?

Mike
SunnyYip said:
I bet you must be reading about this, or do you ahve the direct
link to the source of the replacement model of FX-7?


DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I looked at the pictures of the FX7 at the website. To me it doesn't seem any slimmer than the existing FX7. I can still see the slight protrusion of the LCD.

Baskar B
 
The New Slim FX7 is real. I now have visual proof of it. I did a screen capture of a Japanese commecial, and I will post the image to my server shortly. It looks to be almost 30 percent thinner than the current FX7.
Baskar B said:
I looked at the pictures of the FX7 at the website. To me it
doesn't seem any slimmer than the existing FX7. I can still see
the slight protrusion of the LCD.

Baskar B
Click to expand...
 
Ok, this is a screen capture off a new Panasonic Commercial in which they advertise the new "Lumix Slim FX7" which appears to be 20% or so thinner than the current model.



Look at how much less the screen protrudes from the back of the camera, and notice how the zoom ring now covers almost the entire top thickness of the camera. Sorry for the small pic size, but that was the original video size.

Let the speculation begin!

Mike
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
 
thats amazing. %30 is a big deal. that puts it right there with the pentax 5i in terms of depth.. which is little as it is.

i wonder if the slimness also equates to somewhat better battery life, too.
DerRatte said:


Look at how much less the screen protrudes from the back of the
camera, and notice how the zoom ring now covers almost the entire
top thickness of the camera. Sorry for the small pic size, but that
was the original video size.

Let the speculation begin!

Mike
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
So I'm a bit sceptical that this exists as oppses to sleight of hand or airbrushing on screen. But lets suppose for a monent its true.

Slimmer usually means smaller battery in the majority of cases. Sorry.

As for the camera it would be great, but I'd think that if Panasonic achieved a 30% reduction in size, they'd call it a new model and make a fuss. So it they do have a camera 30% slimmer than the FX7, I'm pretty sure it will have its own designation.

Also, the only way I can imagine they'd slim the camera that much would be to have a new folding mechanism for the lens. If that means a lower lens quality, then its actually a backward step.

However, if they can do it with no reduction in pic quality - well then sign me up for one!

So lets see if this thing exists.
michaelmichael said:
i wonder if the slimness also equates to somewhat better battery
life, too.
DerRatte said:


Look at how much less the screen protrudes from the back of the
camera, and notice how the zoom ring now covers almost the entire
top thickness of the camera. Sorry for the small pic size, but that
was the original video size.

Let the speculation begin!

Mike
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Allright, I just got confirmation from another friend of mine in Japan that he has indeed heard about this new Slim FX7, and that it is coming out soon for the Japanese market. He has no idea if it will be sold outside of Japan though. He said that Panasonic appears to be calling it simply "Slim 7", but that the camera still is branded as an FX7.

Why Panasonic hasnt updated their webpage yet is odd, but it is probably because it has not been released yet.

By the way, in the commercial for the "Slim 7", they explicitly say in Japanese that it is a new slimmer FX7. It appears to my eyes that most of the slimming was done to the LCD screen, to reduce the protrusion from the body of the camera.

I have no clue if the lens is any different, but my guess would be that it is the same lens unit to save costs, in effect simply shrinking the camera around the existing lens.
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
 
I took was a page on the Japanese Panny website referring to the process of the FX7 was created. I was curious so I used web translator. Awkward but helful.

The page seems to say thatother than the protruding LCD, the thickness of the FX7 is due to the OIS unit. So maybe this rumored slim FX7 is true, an FX7, just without OIS (and thus not needing to accomodate its size).

(Original page in Japanese)
http://panasonic.co.jp/ism/design/html/vol11/concept/index.html

(Translated using a translation engine)

http://www.worldlingo.com/wl/translate?wl_lp=JA-EN&wl_fl=2&wl_rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpanasonic.co.jp%2Fism%2Fdesign%2Fhtml%2Fvol11%2Findex.html&wl_url=http%3A%2F%2Fpanasonic.co.jp%2Fism%2Fdesign%2Fhtml%2Fvol11%2Fconcept%2Findex.html

(Actually the whole thing is kinda interesting. Original base page is here, just translate each of those link pages):
http://panasonic.co.jp/ism/design/html/vol11/index.html
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
 
Can you ask him if the slim FX7 has OIS. If you read my post below, Panansonic's story of the FX7 design seems to suggest that the LCD on the FX7 protrudes becuase the neeed to accommodate the OIS unit. Apparently that is also the reason the lens mechanism protudes slightly in the front as well (where the aluminum ring is around the lens cap).

So if the have been able to put the LCD back within the body and thus reduce thickness, one could assume that they did so by taking out the OIS - or maybe they made some advance that allowed them to reduce its size?
DerRatte said:
Why Panasonic hasnt updated their webpage yet is odd, but it is
probably because it has not been released yet.

By the way, in the commercial for the "Slim 7", they explicitly say
in Japanese that it is a new slimmer FX7. It appears to my eyes
that most of the slimming was done to the LCD screen, to reduce the
protrusion from the body of the camera.

I have no clue if the lens is any different, but my guess would be
that it is the same lens unit to save costs, in effect simply
shrinking the camera around the existing lens.
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Knowing they are able to implement OIS in their mobile phone cameras, it is tempting to figure the same miniaturisation is back migrated to the digicam business.
skagen said:
So if the have been able to put the LCD back within the body and
thus reduce thickness, one could assume that they did so by taking
out the OIS - or maybe they made some advance that allowed them to
reduce its size?
DerRatte said:
Why Panasonic hasnt updated their webpage yet is odd, but it is
probably because it has not been released yet.

By the way, in the commercial for the "Slim 7", they explicitly say
in Japanese that it is a new slimmer FX7. It appears to my eyes
that most of the slimming was done to the LCD screen, to reduce the
protrusion from the body of the camera.

I have no clue if the lens is any different, but my guess would be
that it is the same lens unit to save costs, in effect simply
shrinking the camera around the existing lens.
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
skagen said:
The page seems to say thatother than the protruding LCD, the
thickness of the FX7 is due to the OIS unit. So maybe this rumored
slim FX7 is true, an FX7, just without OIS (and thus not needing to
accomodate its size).

(Original page in Japanese)
http://panasonic.co.jp/ism/design/html/vol11/concept/index.html

(Translated using a translation engine)

http://www.worldlingo.com/wl/translate?wl_lp=JA-EN&wl_fl=2&wl_rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpanasonic.co.jp%2Fism%2Fdesign%2Fhtml%2Fvol11%2Findex.html&wl_url=http%3A%2F%2Fpanasonic.co.jp%2Fism%2Fdesign%2Fhtml%2Fvol11%2Fconcept%2Findex.html

(Actually the whole thing is kinda interesting. Original base page
is here, just translate each of those link pages):
http://panasonic.co.jp/ism/design/html/vol11/index.html
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
After searching for a few hours, I found the thinkness of the new model:

The current FX7 is 24.2mm thick according to Panasonic. The new "slim 7" FX7 is 19.9mm, according to this ad:



If you look in the upper left hand corner, you will see the thickness specified as 19.9mm.

Man, if they were able to shave approximately 4.3 mm off the thickness, and maintain the OIS system, this is one hot camera!
skagen said:
The page seems to say thatother than the protruding LCD, the
thickness of the FX7 is due to the OIS unit. So maybe this rumored
slim FX7 is true, an FX7, just without OIS (and thus not needing to
accomodate its size).

(Original page in Japanese)
http://panasonic.co.jp/ism/design/html/vol11/concept/index.html

(Translated using a translation engine)

http://www.worldlingo.com/wl/translate?wl_lp=JA-EN&wl_fl=2&wl_rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpanasonic.co.jp%2Fism%2Fdesign%2Fhtml%2Fvol11%2Findex.html&wl_url=http%3A%2F%2Fpanasonic.co.jp%2Fism%2Fdesign%2Fhtml%2Fvol11%2Fconcept%2Findex.html

(Actually the whole thing is kinda interesting. Original base page
is here, just translate each of those link pages):
http://panasonic.co.jp/ism/design/html/vol11/index.html
DerRatte said:
I just noticed on Panasonic Japan's website that a new slimmer
version of the FX7 has been introduced, known simply as the 'Slim
FX7'. It looks like its about 20 percent thinner, but identical in
terms of features and looks. It doesn't seem like they have updated
thier website yet for it, but the model at the top of the page
(Ayumi Hamasaki) is advertising the new one.

http://panasonic.jp/dc/

There is also a commercial that I have seen with her endorcing the
new Slim FX7, and they show a view from the top, and it really
looks quite a bit thinner. Does anybody know anything more about
this new model?

Mike
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
If you look at that picture below, you will notice, if you zoom in, that the MEGA OIS engraved print in red exists at the exact same spot as your standard FX7. So even though its blurry, the image below does say "MEGA OIS" probably. So if that is a picture of the real, actual camera, then OIS is safe and still there...
DerRatte said:
After searching for a few hours, I found the thinkness of the new
model:

The current FX7 is 24.2mm thick according to Panasonic. The new
"slim 7" FX7 is 19.9mm, according to this ad:



If you look in the upper left hand corner, you will see the
thickness specified as 19.9mm.

Man, if they were able to shave approximately 4.3 mm off the
thickness, and maintain the OIS system, this is one hot camera!
Click to expand...
 
Yes, you can even see that in the ad, they are showing a demonstration of the OIS system. Also, you can see the OIS button on the top of the camera, still in the same place.

Im going to try and dig up some more info.

Mike
michaelmichael said:
DerRatte said:
After searching for a few hours, I found the thinkness of the new
model:

The current FX7 is 24.2mm thick according to Panasonic. The new
"slim 7" FX7 is 19.9mm, according to this ad:



If you look in the upper left hand corner, you will see the
thickness specified as 19.9mm.

Man, if they were able to shave approximately 4.3 mm off the
thickness, and maintain the OIS system, this is one hot camera!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Man if that thing has OIS and the Leica lens quality is not compromised then that will be one hella camera. I'd definitely get one, even though my FX7 is only 3 months old and I'm quite happy with it.

Smaller size and same quality is always better to have!
DerRatte said:
Im going to try and dig up some more info.

Mike
michaelmichael said:
DerRatte said:
After searching for a few hours, I found the thinkness of the new
model:

The current FX7 is 24.2mm thick according to Panasonic. The new
"slim 7" FX7 is 19.9mm, according to this ad:



If you look in the upper left hand corner, you will see the
thickness specified as 19.9mm.

Man, if they were able to shave approximately 4.3 mm off the
thickness, and maintain the OIS system, this is one hot camera!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
The current (old FX7) has been discontinuted. It recently went down to £199 on the bt-shop website but is out of stock. When I enquired about when more were due in they confirmed that it had been discontinued.

I guess the newer model must be due for release this spring/summer.

Anyone else heard similar?
skagen said:
Smaller size and same quality is always better to have!
DerRatte said:
Im going to try and dig up some more info.

Mike
michaelmichael said:
DerRatte said:
After searching for a few hours, I found the thinkness of the new
model:

The current FX7 is 24.2mm thick according to Panasonic. The new
"slim 7" FX7 is 19.9mm, according to this ad:



If you look in the upper left hand corner, you will see the
thickness specified as 19.9mm.

Man, if they were able to shave approximately 4.3 mm off the
thickness, and maintain the OIS system, this is one hot camera!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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