Panasonic demos Micro Four Thirds HD camera

Panasonic on the eve of the Photokina expo revealed a test version of a Micro Four Thirds camera with HD video capture. Similar in body style to the just-announced Lumix G1, the new camera would serve as a bridge between high-end compact cameras and full DSLRs with a large sensor and swappable lenses but also a dedicated video button and stereo audio recording. Few extra details are available, though the camera has a similar control scheme to the G1 with a separate dial for priority shooting modes.

The company hasn't yet said if or when it plans to produce this second camera, though the device already has Lumix badging and may represent a higher-end companion to the G1 or its eventual replacement. Official details for the G1 will be announced in October, though it's unlikely that this will include announcements of any additional Micro Four Thirds cameras. [via DPReview]