Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

The DMC-L1 benefits from a new LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens equipped with an aperture ring, focus ring and zoom ring, for easy, direct aperture setting. With a focal length range equivalent to 28mm (wide) to 100mm (medium telescopic) on a 35mm film, the Leica D lens provides exceptional results with everything from portraits to landscapes. This bright F2.8-3.5 lens allows maximum use of the out-of-focus techniques only possible with an SLR camera.

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FEATURES

Easily Accessible Controls and Intuitive Operation

The DMC-L1 features analog-like controls that feel comfortable and instantly familiar. You can easily adjust settings with the touch of a fingertip, check them with a quick glance, and set the exposure intuitively. Turn the aperture ring with your left hand (which supports the lens) and operate the shutter speed dial with your right hand (holding the camera body). These two controls adjust the exposure, which is critical in picture quality. For photographers who consider the way a camera feels an important part of photo shooting, the DMC-L1 is a revolutionary digital camera. It's easy to use and feels just right in your hands. Each time you make a 1/3-EV step adjustment of either the shutter speed or the aperture, the camera responds with a reassuring click.

Lever-operated light metering mode and drive mode

The systems switching the light metering and drive mode use independent mechanical levers. Our light metering mode lever lets you instantly select intelligent multiple metering, center weighted metering or spot metering. While the drive mode lever allows one-touch selection of single-frame shooting, burst shooting, auto-bracket shooting, or the self-timer.

The First Leica Lens Specifically Designed for a Digital SLR

The LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 ASPH. comprises 16 elements in 12 groups, with two glass molded aspherical lenses that feature large diameters and high dimensional precision. Other advanced features include a carefully applied multi-coating to prevent flare and a circular aperture that produces a beautiful dimensional ambience. The focusing system is entirely internal, so the external length of the lens doesn't change during focusing. In addition, the 14-50mm focal length is equivalent to 28-100mm on a 35mm film format. From wide angle to zoom, this lens does it all. You can take incredible portraits and expansive landscape photos. The minimum focusing distance is just 29 cm over the entire zoom range, so you can capture 0.32x close-ups (35mm equivalent).

Taking Hand Movement Out of the Picture with MEGA Optical Image Stabilization

The LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT is the first Leica D lens 1 and first Four Thirds™ lens to incorporate Panasonic's advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilization. More often than not, blurry photos are caused by slight hand-shake (not poor focusing performance, which is a common misconception). This technology compensates for hand-shake to help prevent blurring, so you can catch clear, sharp shots every time you shoot. There are also two image stabilization modes to suit your needs. In Mode 1, the image is corrected continually, so you can see the image clearly on the LCD monitor. Mode 2 corrects the image 2 the instant you press the shutter button providing higher quality pictures.


Four Thirds™ Standard

The ability to shoot while viewing the LCD monitor is an advantage offered only by digital cameras. With a viewing angle that approaches 100%, the LCD monitor makes it easy to frame shots and gives you a wealth of information at a glance. This lets you check the colors after adjusting the white balance or view the changes from exposure compensation before you shoot. You can also compose your shots without having to look in the viewfinder when using a tripod. By combining the Live MOS sensor's full-time image output with a mirror-raising mechanism, the DMC-L1 provides a preview function that displays the exact same image signal on the LCD monitor that the sensor receives through the lens. It is also possible to display a preview of the image using the aperture preview button, to check the depth of field before you shoot.

Dust Reduction System Helps Protect the Inside of the Camera

If dust collects on a digital camera's imaging sensor, every photo the camera takes will be affected. Dust entering the camera while changing the lens is one of the biggest problems with digital SLR cameras featuring interchangeable lenses. We help solve this problem with our dust reduction system. A special Supersonic Wave Filter is positioned in front of the imaging sensor, between the low-pass filter and shutter. Every time the camera is switched on, this filter generates supersonic vibrations at a rate of around 30,000 per second to shake off dust and other particles from the sensor. The area between the sensor and the filter is completely airtight; and the dust is collected by a dust absorption section below the filter.

1. As of June 21, 2006.
2. Mode 2 cannot be used when mounted on a camera of another brand.

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PICTURES

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SPECIFICATION

Sensor	• 4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor'), NMOS type • 17.3 x 13.0 mm active area • 7.9 million total pixels • 7.5 million effective pixels • 5.6 x 5.6 µm pixel pitch • RGB (Primary) color filter array • Fixed low pass filter (anti-alias filter) • Supersonic Wave Filter (dust protection)
Image processor	Venus Engine III
Image sizes	• 3136 x 2352 (L) - 7.4 MP • 2560 x 1920 (M) - 5.0 MP • 2048 x 1536 (S) - 3.0 MP
Image sizes (3:2)	• 3136 x 2080 (L) - 6.5 MP • 2560 x 1712 (M) - 4.5 MP • 2048 x 1360 (S) - 2.5 MP
Image sizes (16:9)	• 3136 x 1760 (L) - 5.5 MP • 1920 x 1080 (S) - 2.0 MP (HDTV)
Aspect ratios	• 4:3 (native) • 3:2 (Live View only) • 16:9 (Live View only)
File formats	• RAW + JPEG • JPEG (EXIF 2.2) - three quality levels
Lenses	• 4/3 standard lens mount • Optimal with Leica/Panasonic 4/3 lens with aperture ring • Range of 4/3 lenses available • Multiply focal length by 2 for 35 mm equiv. FOV
Auto focus	• 3-point TTL Phase Difference Detection • Automatic or manual point selection • EV 0 to 19 (ISO 100) detection range
Focus area selection	• Automatic • Manual
Focus modes	• Single shot AF • Continuous AF • Manual focus
Manual focus	Focus by wire
AF assist lamp	Yes, dedicated lamp
Image stabilization	• With Kit lens • Mode 1 (continuous operation) • Mode 2 (shutter release only)
Extended optical zoom	• M size 1.2x • S size 1.5x (frame crop with no magnification)
Digital zoom	• 2x • 4x (frame crop with magnification)
Exposure modes	• Program AE (with shift) • Aperture priority AE • Shutter priority AE • Manual
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600
Metering system	• 49-zone multi-pattern (viewfinder mode) • 256-zone multi-pattern (live view mode) • Range (viewfinder mode): 0 to 20 EV (50 mm F2, ISO 100) • Range (live view mode): 0 to 16 EV (50 mm F2, ISO 100)
Metering modes	• Digital ESP • Center-Weighted Average • Spot (2%)
AE Lock	• AEL/AFL button • With shutter release half-press
AE Bracketing	• 3 frames • 1/3, 2/3 or 1.0 EV steps
Exposure steps	1/3 EV
Exposure compen.	• -2.0 to +2.0 EV • 1/3 EV steps
Shutter speed	• 60 -1/4000 sec • Bulb (up to 8 mins) • Flash X-sync 1/160 sec
Aperture values	Depends on lens: 1/3 EV steps
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Shade • Incandescent • Flash • Custom 1 • Custom 2 • Kelvin temp (2500 - 10000 K)
WB fine tuning	Yes
WB Bracketing	None
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Image parameters	• Color mode (Standard, Dynamic, Nature, Smooth) • Saturation (5 levels) • Contrast (5 levels) • Sharpness (5 levels) • Noise reduction (5 levels) • Monochrome (Standard, Dynamic, Smooth) • My Film (2 memories)
Drive modes	• Single • Continuous H (3 fps) • Continuous L (2 fps)
Continuous buffer	• 6 RAW images • Unlimited JPEG images with a fast card (9 minimum)
Self-timer	• 2 sec • 10 sec
Flash	• Manual pop-up • 2 position (straight ahead / bounce) • TTL auto / manual • Guide no. 13 • Sync modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction, Slow syncro with red-eye reduction, Slow syncro, 2nd curtain slow syncro, Fill-in, Off • Flash power: Up to +/- 2EV in 1/3 EV steps
Flash X-sync speed	1/160 sec
External flash	Hot shoe
Viewfinder	• Eye-level TTL Optical Porro Finder • Field of view 95% • Magnification 0.93x with a 50mm lens and -1 dioptre • Eye point 18 mm at -1 dioptre • Dioptre adjustment -3 to +1 dioptre • Focusing screen: Fixed type • Mirror: Quick return mirror • Eye cup: Interchangeable type EP-5/6 (EP-5 supplied) • Eye piece shutter built-in (activated by lever)
Viewfinder info	• Aperture • AE Lock • Shutter speed • Exposure compensation / digital meter • AF Lock • AE Bracketing • Flash mode • SD card activity • Frames remaining
DOF preview	Yes, button (Live View only)
Orientation sensor	Yes
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT LCD monitor • 207,000 pixels • 100% frame coverage
Live view on LCD	• Live view using main sensor • 100% frame coverage • No viewfinder in live view mode • AF available (mirror drops and raises) • MF with 4x or 10x mag.
Playback functions	• Single • Magnify (2 - 14x) • Index (4, 9, 16, 25 frames) • Calendar view • Rotation • Light box view • Slide show • Histogram (Lum / RGB) • Highlight & Shadow point warning
Editing	• RAW development • JPEG editing (B&W, Sepia, Red eye reduction, Color saturation, Resize)
Storage	• SD card (Secure Digital) • Supports SDHC cards (2 GB+)
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 (High Speed) • Video Out (NTSC / PAL)
Vertical / battery grip	None
Power	• 1500 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery • Supplied charger / AC adapter • Dummy battery (connects to AC adapter via cable)
Dimensions	146 x 87 x 77 mm (5.7 x 3.4 x 3.0 in)
Weight (no batt)	530 g (1.2 lb)
Weight (inc batt)	606 g (1.4 lb)
Supplied accessories	Battery Charger/AC adaptor, Battery Pack, Eyepiece Cap, Body Cap, Video Cable, USB Connection Cable, AC Cable, DC Cable, Strap, CD-ROM

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