The Panasonic Lumix 3D1 is the world’s smallest 3D camera for stills and video with twin lenses. The 3D1 employs folded optics to squeeze two identical 4x optical zoom lenses into a thin body, which work together to capture stills or Full HD video in 3D.

It’s also possible to capture stills or video in 2D by simply flicking a switch on the back of the camera. Indeed this is the only control on the rear of the camera with every other function operated by a large 3.5in touch-screen display. The top surface is kept clean with just the power and video record buttons flanking the shutter release with a zoom collar.

Cleverly each lens can be used independently to capture 2D stills at different focal lengths (say a wide shot and a close-up), or 2D stills with one and 2D video with the other. Just make sure you’re telling the subject which lens to look into! There’s quick continuous shooting too at 8fps without AF or 4fps with AF.

Further details were limited at the time of writing, but the Lumix 3D1 looks like being one of the most exciting 3D cameras to date, and significantly reduces the size required for capturing 3D video. I’ll update this page with more information as it becomes available, but in the meantime I’d love to hear what you think in the Cameralabs forums.

PS – you may also be interested in the Lumix GX1 announcement. See my Panasonic GX1 preview for full details.