Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

Peer into the future, without the crystal ball

We kicked off 2012 by visiting not-so-beautiful Las Vegas to attend CES, with the hope of getting a head start on the exciting new products that will launch over the coming year. While we’ll continue to highlight gadgets revealed there on a regular basis, one of the best parts about being on the ground at [...]

Sibling pedigree

You might not consider a grip the most identifiable feature of a new camera, but for the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 ($699), that’s exactly the case. The successor to the mighty successful GF1, a camera we’ve recommended time and time again here at GP, the GX1 certainly packs a wallop: 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor, [...]

No Screen Protectors Required

While every other tablet maker has been focused on cramming components into ever-shrinking casings, Panasonic has been hard at work applying the engineering tricks of their Toughbook laptop line to an even more portable device. The result is a newly announced Panasonic Toughbook Android Tablet. Specifics like pricing and what version of Android the device [...]

Three, Two, One

Panasonic’s much-lauded line of GF continues its westward expansion with the new Lumix GF3 ($700), and like the GF2 that came before it, the GF3 is even smaller and easier to use. Inside is a 12MP sensor with a faster processor for ultra-fast autofocus, built-in photo styles and processing filters. Slotted a step up from [...]

3D's a Crowd

If you watch any TV, you’ve probably seen some commercial touting how 3D technology will revolutionize the way you live. Most likely it also involved Dolphins or some other funny sea creature. When you put all of the marketing-laced messaging and cliché imagery aside, though, it is true that 3D can provide a captivating home [...]

The High-Def Sequel

How do you create a follow-up to one of the most groundbreaking and beloved cameras in recent history? First, don’t mess with it – stick with incremental improvements. And thankfully, Panasonic has done exactly that. The conservative, but welcome updates include: an improved 12.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor paired to a faster Venus Engine FHD [...]

Is 3 a Company?

When it comes to shooting on the go, one camera that rarely leaves my side is the Panasonic Lumix GF1. In combination with the versatile, tack-sharp 20mm (40mm effective) pancake lens, it fits nearly all my shooting needs. Interestingly, Panasonic’s recent announcement of the LUMIX G 12.5mm 3D Lens 12.5mm (~$389), the world’s first interchangeable [...]

The Kitchen Sink

The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 ($499) is one helluva spec monster, and priced just right for the budding shooter who wants the kitchen sink without the cost of a DSLR + lenses. Some of the DMC-FZ100′s features: a whopping 24x optical zoom (25-600mm equivalent), CMOS sensor, 14.1 megapixel with the world’s fastest full resolution burst [...]

A Camcorder Even Spielberg Would Use

Eager to make the leap from flat, unsaturated, amateur looking home videos? Well, good news. Panasonic pulled back more of the curtain on the soon-to-be-fabled AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds HD (Price: TBD) camcorder and we couldn’t help ourselves from sharing what they sent over. The AG-AF100 will not only bring professional grade video quality to [...]

Get Wireless Sound with Your Shiny New 3D TV

The biggest barrier holding back most men from amping up their home audio experience after price is set up inconvenience. Panasonic’s decided to release the SC-ZT2 ($850) “7.1-channel” home theater system to eliminate this hassle and provide an enticement for buyers to upgrade their television to one of the manufacturers new 3D models. Consisting of [...]

Hello My Lumix, Hello My Touchscreen, Hello My Four Thirds Cam

Building on the already successful line of Micro Four Thirds based cameras, Panasonic has announced their latest DSLR, the Lumix DMC-G2. Based on its venerable predecessor G1 body, the Lumix DMC-G2 will feature a new touch control shooting interface, 12.1 megapixel sensor, 720p HD video (AVCHD lite format), live view finder, a 460k dot 3.0″ [...]

As Good As Their Plasmas

We’re willing to bet that for most of you, you’re electric shaver is either a Gillette, Norelco, or Braun. But we both know you love options, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading Gear Patrol, and we’ve got a higher end option for you, the Panasonic ES-LA63 Electric Shaver. This rechargeable shaver is designed specifically for wet/dry [...]

Why Less Is More When Shopping For A Whopping New TV

Since its commercial deployment over half a century ago, no bit of household technology has enraptured the attention and the desires of man like the television. After all, we are exceptionally visual creatures. A man must love his TV; if not, he is genetically conditioned to go out (hunt) and get one (gather) that he [...]

The Benefits Of A Home Phone On Your Cell Phone Technology promises to solve many of the world’s major problems and plenty of its small ones. Take for example, the act of using your cell phone as a main phone line at home, which I know many guys do. Unfortunately, the sleek and compact traits [...]

Waterproof and shockproof gadgets are becoming a regular sight in electronics. That’s a good thing. The Panasonic SDR-SW20 uses a rugged compact body with waterproofing that lets you use it underwater (up to five feet). It’s shock-proofing lets it withstand four foot drops and is dustproof to boot. Its rugged tape-less design makes it perfect [...]