HONG KONG : Panasonic is continuing its push into digital photography with a slew of imaging goodies.

At the Panasonic 2008 Optical Seminar held in Hong Kong last week, the Japanese electronics maker unveiled four wide-angle compact cameras, two high-definition (HD) camcorders and two Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC) memory cards.

Those seeking a stylish camera with a high pixel count can consider the 14.7-megapixel FX180, which boasts a 28mm wide-angle lens with a maximum optic zoom of up to 100mm.

Stepping down in resolution to 10.1 megapixels while increasing its wide angle coverage to 25mm is the ultra-slim FX38, which also features the Leica DC Vario-Elmarit F2.8 lens.

And those into landscape photography might fancy the rugged FZ28 with an 18x optical zoom lens and 27mm range. You can also take telephoto shots on the FZ28 at 486mm (35mm film camera equivalent).

The RAW format-enabled LX3 is the one that created the most fanfare at the launch. Bucking the trend of escalating megapixels found in most new cameras, Panasonic capped the LX3's upgraded 1/1.63-inch CCD to a modest 10.1 megapixels. That, it claims, improves the camera's performance in dynamic range and ISO sensitivity.

In matching the Japanese brand's technology savoir faire with a little help from its friends at Leica, the 24mm-60mm Vario-Summicron lens with a maximum aperture of F2.0 reduces digital noise when photographing in low-light conditions without the LX3's built-in flash.

In addition, digital single-lens reflex (SLR) photographers who prefer composing their shots through a viewfinder will favour the LX3's optional accessories of a detachable viewfinder and a leather carrying case, which recreate the subtle look and feel of shooting with a compact rangefinder.

Also making its debut at the event are the SD100 and HS100 full-HD camcorders, which are driven by the world's first 3MOS sensor, an HD crystal engine for power efficiency and new Leica Dicomar lens.

By increasing its circuits from one to three for the processing of each colour component in the RGB (red, green and blue) spectrum, the rendering of colours is maximised with little detail loss. The sensitivity of light received through the lens is also heightened for better recording in dim situations.

A manual ring surrounding the lens on both camcorders prompts creative possibilities when recording with the five key settings to zoom, select focus, set white balance, regulate light and control shutter speed.

The SD100 accepts SD and SDHC cards for video storage while the HS100 holds up to 35 hours of videos when recording to its 60GB hard drive and 32GB Panasonic SDHC card.

Based on first impressions of the pre-production models, it is unlikely that Panasonic's latest HD-enabled gadgets - slated for launch between this month and September in Singapore - will be anything of a letdown.