panasonic convention 2019
A feast for the senses I
t’s easy to understand why Panasonic chose to invoke the senses as the overarching theme of the convention.
With products ranging across all five sensory areas, the convention was a well- organised whirlwind tour of the company’s main offerings – cameras, audio equipment, cooking appliances, batteries, male and female grooming products, Blu-ray players and, of course, TVs. There was a lot to take in, but perhaps the most obvious place to start would be with those TVs. We have perhaps become slightly blasé about the astonishing technology which surrounds us in daily life, but if you wanted a reminder of the ability of technology to impress, I’d suggest you take a look at the quartet of 4K OLED TV’s from Panasonic slated for release across June and July this year. And if you had to pick one, try the GZ2000,
featuring a custom-made Professional Edition 4K OLED panel which incorporates custom hardware improvements by Panasonic. According to the company, the GZ2000 is the world’s first OLED TV to support both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, as well as HLG Photo, the new still image format which brings still photography into the HDR world. Furthermore, it is the world’s first TV with built-in upward-firing speakers capable of delivering Dolby Atmos® immersive audio with total ease and convenience. The total audio system has also been tuned by engineers from Panasonic’s acclaimed audio brand, Technics. Yasushi Murayama, head of Panasonic’s
European TV business, says: “Thanks to our customized Professional Edition OLED panel and our most powerful processor ever, together with the uncompromising sound combination of Tuned by Technics and Dolby Atmos, the GZ2000 is the most complete television we have ever made.” It’s hard to disagree. The company’s cameras were equally
impressive – of particular note the LUMIX S1R full frame mirrorless camera, with an impressive
suite of features designed for the professional photographer including a 47.3 Megapixel full- frame CMOS sensor, the Real View Finder with 5760K OLED display and its 6-stop Dual Image Stabilisation for still and video mode. The company’s Technics brand was well
represented, with its turntables and headphones taking centre stage. For those who make their living making music, the new SL-1200MK7 Direct Drive Turntable would most likely be the pick of the range. This new model inherits the traditional design of the same series and maintains the same operating ease, reliability and unrivalled durability of its predecessors in the 1200 series, while adding a coreless direct drive motor and other sound-enhancing technologies. It also features new DJ play functions, such as reverse playback. The SL-1210MK7 is launched as the first new standard DJ turntable in approximately nine years. There’s obviously a great sense of pride in
Panasonic being a Worldwide Olympic Partner of the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, and also in the company’s green credentials, an important consideration for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of CE devices and appliances. Panasonic’s sustainable battery brand, eneloop, and its green messaging is gaining momentum, with a number of recently announced initiatives taking place. The Panasonic eneloop range offers ready-
The LUMIX 12R - the professional photographer's camera of choice
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to-use rechargeable batteries that have gained popularity due to their greener footprint, and level of quality and reliability. The batteries, which are manufactured in Japan, are pre- charged with solar energy and can be used up to 2,100 times (depending on battery type). They are used worldwide in both personal
and professional settings and are a more cost- effective and environmentally friendly alternative to disposable batteries. And in case you were wondering about the
carbon footprint of the manufacturing process, wonder no more – the company reported recently that it has achieved Zero-CO2 status at its factories in Belgium and Japan, bringing it closer to the goals announced in its Environment Vision for 2050, namely CO2-neutral production across all of its factories around the world. Panasonic Energy Belgium (PECBE) and Panasonic Eco Technology Center (PETEC) in Japan simultaneously reached the status of Zero-CO2 production in January this year. Of course, Panasonic is also known for its
grooming products for both women and men, and there were a number of new products announced including the 2-in-1 Trim & Shave ES-WF62 for the face, bikini area and underarms, and the Wet & Dry compact lady shaver ES-WL50 suitable for the entire body. Rounding out the conference, the company announced the introduction of its new microwave ovens, extending its small kitchen appliance range for healthy fresh food. According to the company, new technological innovations and outstanding designs embody Panasonic’s Experience Fresh philosophy, ensuring the preparation of food is as enjoyable as its consumption. With all the technology on display, and in
particular those spectacular TVs, Panasonic has laid down a strong marker for 2019, and it will be fascinating to see how the summer launch of the 4K OLEDs works out for the company. Based on the evidence on show in Frankfurt, it should go very well indeed.
April 2019
Taking as its theme “Feel Smell See Hear Taste”, and hosted by Yosuke Matsunaga, Managing Officer, Appliances, Europe, Panasonic’s 2019 Convention took place in February at the imposing KAP Europa conference centre in Frankfurt-am-Main.
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