Latest Lumix

...Model name? They have about 10 different Lumix models at any time.

So Panasonic thinks vibrant colours are an important feature. I and many others like me do not. However, we do consider menus in languages other than Japanese an essential feature, which Panasonic insists on removing from the cameras it sells in Japan.

Just forget Lumix cameras if you are a foreigner. Panasonic does not want you as a customer.

Just forget Lumix cameras if you are a foreigner. Panasonic does not want you as a customer.

You post this EVERY time there is something about Panasonic cameras. We get it. You don't like Panasonic.

Most foreigners in Japan don't think English menus are an important feature for a camera, since the vast, vast majority of foreigners in Japan aren't English speakers. Non-Japanese language menus are very far down my list of priorities when buying a camera, so I am perfectly OK with Panasonic...

I am with Smorkian.

Most foreigners in japan don;t care about english menues, neither do most foreigners that been here for a bit.

One thing many english speakers forget here, All foreigners speak one common language here and that one is japanese. Know many foreigners here who can't speak a word of english, even though their countries are rumoured to teach english to everyone.

Seen a review of that model on TV and it seems to be aimed at the ladies. Some interesting features though.

As for the colours, take your pick.

well i speak English and love my LUMIX. Great image quality and very easy to use.

hey dudes GT said OTHER languages, not english, just saying

I am a proud owner of a Lumix camera that I purchased in NYC about 3 years ago, primarily because it was actually manufactured in Japan. On both of my trips to Japan, I was rewarded with excellent pictures. I was even able to find a new battery in Akihabara. I will replace this camera with another Lumix. John, Juneau, Alaska

I too find it annoying that they remove other languages from the menu. I can read the menu in Japanese, but I prefer English. Removing this preference from local models is a little bit short-sighted. Sony and Panasonic seem to assume that the only people using other language electronics in Japan will get the 'overseas model' at greater expense.

I heard that they remove the other languages from Japanese models is that some Japanese accidentally change the language and then they can't read it to change it back.

Sorry, I'm with GT in this point and don't understand the bashing by the others...First, communicating in Japanese is very different from reading small kanjis when you are in a hurry. Second, most of what I learnt about photographing and computers is throuh the Net, in English, even though I'm from Germany. Third, if you just want to point and shoot, sure, Japanese or even Chinese or whatever is enough. But to fully make use of the product without too much trial and error it sure helps to have the menu in your prefered language. Btw, on my Pentax K-x bought in Japan I even have German, but still prefer English.

I bought my Lumix camera (Japan model) here in Japan...from YD....menu's in Japanese and English.

I think hindsight nailed haha I cud see that happening

Mines in English and Japanese just like my Sharp TV's. Got them at DeoDeo in SanA.

Smorkian, do most Japanese happen to know the kanji for aperture and some other photographic technical words? I have often found that Japanese, not just foreigners who think they can read Japanese, have trouble with technical words in Japanese. On a stereo if they use kanji on the controls, many Japanese will tell you the takai control adjusts volume when, in fact it adjusts treble.

You are right, I do not like Panasonic, and with reason. I have dealt with their service department, and they basically told me to get lost, and that was in the country of "O kyakusan wa kamisama".

If Panasonic releases PR in English, they should leave the English and other languages on the camera. If not, they should release the PR in Japanese only, so that only those who can read Japanese menus are informed.

If the current Lumix cameras do, as some suggest, contain English and other language menus, then progress has been made. If so, I would not be so vain as to suggest it is purely as a result of my complaints. I am sure others complained, too, but I may have done a little towards changing their attitude and improving their product.

If all foreigners living in Japan should read kanji, why shouldn't all Japanese living in foreign countries learn their languages? As far as I know Japanese menus never been removed from export models.

Nowadays, many ATMs are offering menus in English, Portuguese, Chinese and Korean. I regard this as progress. No doubt Smorkian does not.

Some people who use camera want to use more of the features provided than just the fully automatic mode.

Panasonic banned non-Japanese menus in 2010. If your model is pre-2010 then you might have English menus.

Panasonic banned non-Japanese menus in 2010. If your model is pre-2010 then you might have English menus.

thanks for the tip. That's good to know. I have some Lumix products pre-2010 and they all have English menus, so I was wondering what people were complaning about.

What does it matter? Get a DSLR camera instead. Worth the money.

Smorkian, do most Japanese happen to know the kanji for aperture and some other photographic technical words? I have often found that Japanese, not just foreigners who think they can read Japanese, have trouble with technical words in Japanese.

I don't know the kanji for aperture myself, but my cameras all have dials for aperture control when in aperture priority or manual mode (it's of course automatic in other modes). The sort of camera that might have something like aperture buried in a menu where kanji might be necessary is the sort of camera that's not designed to be used in anything other than a full auto/program mode anyway.

Nowadays, many ATMs are offering menus in English, Portuguese, Chinese and Korean. I regard this as progress. No doubt Smorkian does not.

You assume incorrectly. It's great if multilingual support could be offered for Chinese, Korean, and English for all electronics in Japan but I don't think its by and large necessary. It is an added expense to have to support these languages as others have mentioned, and there's always the possibility that it could prove more confusing to a Japanese customer. Since the market for a Lumix sold in Japan is 99% likely to be a Japanese speaker, why waste resources catering to that remaining 1% of the market?

When is the waterproof, shockproof TS3 coming out? The TS2 had some good reviews so I think I'm gonna switch over from Canon, unless Canon comes out with a better waterproof, shockproof offering before the TS3.

Smorkian says: "I don't know the kanji for aperture myself." What other kanji don't you? Maybe there are things you are missing in the menus, not to mention the manual.

"It is an added expense to have to support these languages as others have mentioned," Actually, the added expense is removing them.

"Since the market for a Lumix sold in Japan is 99% likely to be a Japanese speaker." A Japanese speaker is not necessarily a Japanese reader.

"Why waste resources catering to that remaining 1% of the market?" I thought the customer was meant to be a god in this country. Also, if you anger the customer, it is not only your cameras he will not buy. Creating PR in English in Japan is more of a waste of resources.

The xenophobic attitude displayed by Panasonic will not benefit them. It will, however, benefit Korean and Chinese manufacturers. Time will tell.

Geez, GT, you don't give up on this, do you? I think you feel about Panasonic like I feel about Lotte losing to Seibu - not that that happens! :)

It sounds like you are the only one angered by Panasonic. I don't think they are going to change your corporate strategy because of a random foreigner ranting on JT.

What other kanji don't you? Maybe there are things you are missing in the menus, not to mention the manual.

What other kanji do I need? ISO, white balance, AP, SP, M, Bulb, single/burst mode, focus zone, metering mode - it's not rocket science, and I've never read the manual on any of my cameras yet I still manage to take publishable pictures. I really think you are making way, way too big of a deal about no English in the Lumix menus.

Actually, the added expense is removing them.

No the added expense is supporting a feature in your camera. If you have English manuals and menus some will have an expectation of English support, reasonably or not. By making the product sold in Japan Japanese only they eliminate that problem. It's a smart move.

Smorkian,

"I really think you are making way, way too big of a deal about no English in the Lumix menus." You are the one making to big a deal about someone making reasonable and valid criticism.

If you have English manuals and menus some will have an expectation of English support, reasonably or not. By making the product sold in Japan Japanese only they eliminate that problem. It's a smart move.

I don't think that's the reason they took it out. I think they're trying to prevent people from selling the cheap cameras sold in Japan overseas. I don't like their decision but I still got Nikon, Canon, Pentax. Casio, Fuji, and Ricoh to choose from. I'll give my money to them.

Yep. If Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Ricoh can provide English menus for their cameras sold in Japan, why not Panasonic and Sony? For that reason, those four are the only cameras I would consider here. If you want to use a camera for more than just point and shoot and take advantage of every feature, you do have to be able to that menu on the LCD.