Panasonic Marries Lumix Brand with Android in the New DMC-CM1

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Panasonic is re-entering the smartphone market with a BANG! The company just announced the new Panasonic DMC-CM1, a point-and-shoot camera built into an Android smartphone device.

Panasonic DMC-CM1

While the point-and-shoot cameras business has been steadily declining over the last few years because smartphones can shoot pretty darn good photos these days, Panasonic is accommodating both industries with the DMC-CM1. First of all, it’s a pretty good smartphone: 16GB of local memory, a 4.7 inch screen, a 2.3Ghz Snapdragon quad-core, all great stuff for a smartphone to have. The deal breaker is the camera feature.

It’s a 20-megapixel sensor, and unlike most smartphone image sensors, which are microscopic, this is a generous one inch in size. The lens is a f/2.8 Leica DC Elmarit, and it comes with a mechanical shutter and a manual control ring. Of course, you can trigger auto functions as well.

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No word yet on prices yet, but expect it to be in line with various other smartphones in cost, so around $600 to $750. Stay tuned for a full review…