Panasonic’s impressive 1-inch sensor cameraphone to hit UK in December

Panasonic’s fresh off the line Lumix DMC-CM1 cameraphone will be released on December 1st in the UK after it was initially announced exclusively for only two European countries, France and Germany. Panasonic stated this decision was based on the “high demand” manifested by UK buyers since the device was announced. “Due to high demand, Panasonic is pleased to announce that it will be launching a limited number of the much anticipated DMC-CM1, premium compact camera with smartphone technology, in the UK. The CM1 was planned to initially launch in France and Germany only, but due to high interest a number of cameras will be available in the UK from 1st December,” states the official press release. 

The Lumix DMC-CM1 features the same 1-inch 20MP imaging sensor employed by the Lumix DMC-FZ1000 camera, seven times the size of other high-end smartphone cameras. This highly capable camera features a f/2.8 Leica DC Elmarit lens that will enable 4K video recording in a heartbeat. The DMC-CM1 lets you toggle between camera and smartphone modes at a push of a button.

The powerful imaging unit is backed by an impressive hardware which comes with a 4.7-inch full-HD display, 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB internal memory, microSD slot up to 128 GB, NFC connectivity, Android 4.4 KitKat and a 2,600 mAh battery. Panasonic has yet to disclose the official pricing for UK, but we do know that the Lumix DMC-CM1 currently retails for €899 ($1,115 / £710) in France and Germany. It will be interesting to see if the handset will upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop in the immediate future, as it would benefit from a wider array of features. The CM1 will be available for purchase online through Panasonic Direct and a number of selected UK retailers. While the price might be a little bit steep, the Lumix DMC-CM1 is nothing short of a powerhouse which will play both smartphone and camera roles very well.