Panasonic’s ‘Asia Pacific Lumix G Seminar 2011’ held in Chiang-Mai, Thailand, saw the launch of two ILCCs – the Lumix G3 and GF3, and the Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 Aspherical lens.
Twenty-two editors from the Asia Pacific region attended this two-day seminar which was held on 20th and 21st June 2011, at the palatial Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi at Chiang-Mai, Thailand. The seminar was addressed by Hirotaka Murakami san, MD, Panasonic Management, Thailand; Tomozo Matsumoto san, Sr. GM, Overseas Sales and marketing; and Motoki Nakahara san, Group GM, Asia Pacific.
After explaining the key features of the new equipment, each participant was provided with a Lumix G3 and a GF3, alongwith a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6, a 14mm f/2.5 lens, and a super-fast 25mm f/1.4 Leica DG Summilux Aspherical lens on the second day – all on returnable basis of course! On day one, the participants were taken to a Paper Umbrella Center at Sankampaeng, where everyone had a great opportunity to photograph the artisans hand-manufacturing and colourfully painting the umbrellas.
The next stop to try out the new cameras was the Phra Tard Doi Suthep Temple, an amazingly beautiful temple in Chiang-Mai. This was followed by a visit to the Maetaman Elephant Camp where we witnessed and photographed elephants performing their daily duties. And of course, there was ample opportunity to try each and every feature of the Lumix G3 and the GF3 within the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Hotel where we were put up at. We also had the opportunity to video-shoot Muai Thai Fighting using the two cameras.
This was followed by a group gathering where participants offered their opinions on the features and feel of the new equipment. The two-day program ended with a sumptuous farewell dinner at a French restaurant.
Rohinton Mehta