How has Panasonic led the digital camera industry?LUMIX 15th Anniversary Interview 1st

Slim compact "LUMIX FX" will advance

-Congratulations on the 15th anniversary of LUMIX.

The time of 15 years is shorter than other companies' camera manufacturers, but I think it was a very dense 15 years.

--- 15 years ago, what was the person in charge of Yamane?

At the AVC Product Development Center, I was developing digital cameras and movies elements.30 % of the same team are also involved in the engine development of LUMIX Unit 1, and I was in charge of designing AF signal processing in parallel with element development.

--- At the beginning of the announcement, the collaboration with Leica has become a major news.The reason is?

When I entered, it was three weeks late, rather than a delay in the lap.At the time, Panasonic had a technique built to the camera, including a movie professional equipment.However, it was basically the accumulation of technologies on video aircraft, lacking knowledge of still images and photos.In order to set and develop lens performance standards in the digital era, we proposed to cooperate with Leica Camera.

--- That relationship is still going on.

yes.From that time to the present, Leica's top management has changed to eight people, but the brand power has been passed down, and that idea has not changed.I feel like it is true.

--- What else was Panasonic's strengths in addition to Leica's optical technology?

I have been in charge of the development of camera shake correction since the time of the movie, and thought that it could be used for still digital cameras.Initially, the mainstream was to make a camera shake correction = effective when shooting telephoto, but I came to think that it would be effective for a three -fold zoom lens of a combination camera.

Nevertheless, the movie is a correction tailored to the bread tilt, and the main subject should stop.On the other hand, in the case of still, it is necessary to stop the entire screen.The FX1 was equipped with the first compact camera blurring correction, but the FX7 (released in 2004) equipped with Venus Engine 2 was installed by studying the camera shake correction for digital cameras.The degree of perfection has increased, such as the FX7 as the AF is also quite faster.With the FX7 hit, LUMIX's domestic market share has achieved 17 %.

--- At this time, the slim compact market was large, and there was momentum in the FX system.

The evolution of the lens is also boosting.27 with FX1 while built -in optical camera shake correction.The length of the lens barrel, which was about 5mm, is 20 in FX7.It is 25mm.This is the result of a lot of research, such as the adoption of ultra -biased asphersye lenses made by Yamagata factory, how to attach optical design and image sensor to the lens barrel.The difference of 8 mm leads to styling of FX7, which is well -balanced even now, and then NO by model up to FX40..I got one share.

There is another element that contributed to slim compact styling.I removed the viewfinder.By installing a camera shake correction, you can take enough photos without blurring even when shooting while looking at the back monitor.Compact cameras will be used not only by older camera users but also by young people.Then, can you use it enough without a viewfinder?It was realized from the idea.The collection of such hypotheses was FX7.

- -Speaking of FX, 28mm wide angles were ahead of the industry.Can you tell me the background?

As a result of the user research, it was found that there were many situations where both people did not enter during group photos and did not keep the distance from the subject.In addition, the whole view cannot be framed well when shooting a landscape on a trip.Until then, 35mm is the second standard angle of view.Not only semi -professionals but also amateurs thought that 28mm would be different photos.The 28mm lens of the FX01 was realized while struggling with lenses and molding techniques.

--- Whether you are a camera shake correction or a wide angle, each company has followed.In the world of compact digital cameras, Panasonic was a leader in the industry.

It was three weeks late, and the consciousness that "I can't survive without advancedness" was the source.I think it was 15 years since I had a sense of crisis and continued to show my originality.