Given Panasonic's active involvement in the field of digital photography, we were expecting nothing short of a brand-new Micro Four Thirds DSLR to be released at Photokina, and sure enough, that's exactly what the Japanese company did, making official the GH2 model, a hybrid touch-control mirrorless digital camera that follows in the footsteps of the GH1 but delivers plenty of interesting improvements, including here the fact that's compatible with the world's first interchangeable 3D lens.

The GH2 is built around a new 16.05-megapixel multi-aspect LIVE MOS sensor for higher image resolution and improved signal-to-noise ratio, that also allows for high speed burst shooting at 5 frames per second in full resolution using a mechanical shutter.

The brand-new Venus Engine FHD processor manages multiple signals at a high speed, making it possible to record high resolution consecutive shots and full HD video recording and also features advanced signal processing capabilities, including the separation of chromatic and luminance noise for clear images, prevention of color mixture and selective noise reduction for more crisp photos and video recording.

Plus, the LUMIX GH2 also features faster AF, reducing detection time for focusing to approximately 0.1 second by doubling the drive speed from 60 frames per second to 120 frames per second.

As mentioned before, its extensive video recording capabilities represent one of the major selling points of the new Panasonic GH2, the new camera being able to record full HD 1920 x 1080 videos in smooth 60i, doubling the sensor output from 25p/24p to 50p/60p.

The camera also supports 1080/24p native mode at 24 Mbps, the highest in AVCHD format, while also featuring a new Cinema mode that lets users record video in cinema-like gradation, as well as a Variable Movie mode that supports video shooting in variable frame rate – 80, 160, 200 and 300 percent.

The LUMIX GH2 combines the easy-to-see free-angle Intelligent LCD with the newly developed Multi Aspect Wide Screen LVF (Live View Finder) for more comfortable shooting from any angle.

The LUMIX GH2's large 3.0-inch 460,000-dot high-resolution Intelligent LCD can rotate 180 degrees side to side and tilt 270 degrees up and down and allows users to touch the subject on the LCD to adjust AF, select the area of focus appropriate mode (e.g., portrait) and even enlarge an image (1x, 5x or 10x) by dragging it on the screen.

The new Multi Aspect Wide Screen LVF in the LUMIX GH2 features a display area of 1,530,000-dot equivalent resolution, 100 percent field of view and 0.71x magnification, as well as Live View at 60 frames-per-second because of the Live MOS sensor, which processes signals directly from the image sensor to the LCD in real time.

Last, but certainly not least, we'll also have to mention that the LUMIX GH2 can shoot in 3D (35mm camera equivalent: 65mm) when used with the world's first interchangeable 3D lens LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12 (H-FT012), also announced today.

The Panasonic LUMIX GH2 will be available in black and silver models in early December in three different kit options for a suggested retail price of $899.95 (Body only), $999.95 (Body with lens LUMIX G VARIO 14-42 mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S.) and $1,499.95 (Body with lens LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S.).