By Matthew Henry

SYDNEY: Panasonic will launch the Buy N Fly consumer promotion next month to support its Lumix digital still camera range, offering free domestic flights to customers who buy selected Lumix cameras.

Consumers who purcahse a Lumix FX12, FX30, TZ2 or TZ3 digital camera at participating retailers between 1 July and 30 September will be eligible to receive a free return flight to selected destinations within Australia, the company announced today.

“To encourage high customer traffic in the promotional period, we will be providing strong advertising support,” said Panasonic category marketing manager, Alistair Robins.

“Channel 9’s Getaway will feature the promotion. In addition, the four-page guide will appear in a range of magazines including Cleo, Who Weekly, Better Homes and Gardens, Men’s Health and Sunday newspaper supplements. The guide will highlight the promotion and key Lumix black box technologies such as Intelligent ISO and Mega OIS, with the focus on how they help you take better pictures.”

Customers who purchase a new FX or TZ series Lumix camera will also be eligible to enter their photos in the Lumix Sharp Shots competition to go into the running to win two round-the-world business class tickets plus $5,000 spending money.

To enter the competition, customers will need to upload their selected photos to the Lumix.com.au website before 30 October 2007 (the website will go live on 1 July).

The winning entry will be judged by professional photographer Peter Eastway, the editor of Better Photography magazine, who will also post tips on the website to help budding photographers take better shots.

Eastway was the second photographer ever to be dubbed a Grand Master of Photography by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography as part of its honours system and will post his own photos on Panasonic’s online gallery taken with Lumix cameras.

“As well as enjoying and being inspired by these stunning photographs, visitors to the site can apply to the practical photo tips linked to each image to hone their photography skills,” said Panasonic marketing executive, Matt Mannall.

Panasonic will provide catalogue and in-store promotional support to retailers throughout the duration of the promotion.