Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
Encyclopedia
The Lumix
DMC-L1 was Panasonic
's first digital single-lens reflex camera
, and was announced in February 2006. This camera adheres to the Four Thirds System
lens mount standard, making it the first non-Olympus
Four Thirds
camera, and thus confirming that the Four Thirds System is a semi-open standard such that compatible camera bodies can be built by different companies.
The Lumix DMC-L1, together with the Olympus E-330
(with which it shares some technology), were the first DSLRs that featured live view, a capability later copied by other manufacturers. Live view makes it possible to preview the image on the LCD screen while composing the picture, and is particularly useful for high- and low-angled shots when it is uncomfortable or not feasible for the user to bring the eye to the viewfinder.
The camera was introduced with a new Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14–50mm f/2.8–3.5 lens (a 28-100mm 35mm equivalent), the first Leica lens for the Four Thirds System, and the first Four Thirds lens with image stabilization
. The image stabilization can allow 2–3 stops lower shutter speed, and the quality of the lens is such that its value may exceed that of the camera body, and helps explain the relatively high combined introductory price of US $2000. Panasonic introduced two additional lenses under the Leica
brand name for the camera and Four Thirds System, being a 25mm f1.4 Summilux (50mm 35mm equivalent) without image stabilization) and an extended version of the kit lens out to 150mm (28-300mm 35mm equivalent) with image stabilization.
The Lumix DMC-L1 has an overall shape and viewfinder location reminiscent of a rangefinder camera rather than an SLR, and features a shutter speed dial on the body and an aperture ring on each lens, also similar to pre-digital 35mm film rangefinders and SLRs. Another design feature is the built-in flash
which has a two-position operation: the first push of the open button puts the flash pointing 45 degrees up to provide bounce flash, a feature that was mentioned in The New York Times in an article on brilliant ideas , and a second push of the button has the flash point directly away from the camera for full flash effect.
The Leica Digilux 3
, Leica's first interchangeable-lens DSLR, was presented in September 2006 and is based upon the same design as the Lumix DMC-L1.
The Lumix DMC-L1 was succeeded by the Lumix DMC-L10
, announced in August, 2007.
Panasonic no longer supports the Lumix DMC-L1 and has abandoned the standard Four-Thirds system in favor of a Micro Four-Thirds system that, with an available adapter, can still accommodate the three Four-Thirds Leica lenses developed for the Lumix DMC-L1 and the Leica Digilux 3
. A fairly wide selection of Olympus standard Four-Thirds Zuiko lenses remains available, however.
Lumix
Lumix is Panasonic's brand of digital cameras, ranging from pocket point-and-shoot models to digital SLRs.Compact digital camera DMC-LC5 and DMC-F7 were the first products of the Lumix series released in 2001. They are equipped with Leica lenses....
DMC-L1 was Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
's first digital single-lens reflex camera
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
, and was announced in February 2006. This camera adheres to the Four Thirds System
Four Thirds System
The Four Thirds system is a standard created by Olympus and Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera design and development.The system provides a standard that, with digital cameras and lenses available from multiple manufacturers, allows for the interchange of lenses and bodies from different...
lens mount standard, making it the first non-Olympus
Olympus Corporation
is a Japan-based manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscope and thermometer businesses. Its global headquarters are in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, while its USA operations are based in Center Valley, Pennsylvania,...
Four Thirds
Four Thirds System
The Four Thirds system is a standard created by Olympus and Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera design and development.The system provides a standard that, with digital cameras and lenses available from multiple manufacturers, allows for the interchange of lenses and bodies from different...
camera, and thus confirming that the Four Thirds System is a semi-open standard such that compatible camera bodies can be built by different companies.
The Lumix DMC-L1, together with the Olympus E-330
Olympus E-330
The Olympus E-330 is a DSLR launched on 30 January 2006, using the Four Thirds System lens mount standard. Its main feature is its live image preview functionality, permitting an image to be previewed on the LCD screen. While live image preview is not new in compact digital cameras, the E-330 is...
(with which it shares some technology), were the first DSLRs that featured live view, a capability later copied by other manufacturers. Live view makes it possible to preview the image on the LCD screen while composing the picture, and is particularly useful for high- and low-angled shots when it is uncomfortable or not feasible for the user to bring the eye to the viewfinder.
The camera was introduced with a new Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14–50mm f/2.8–3.5 lens (a 28-100mm 35mm equivalent), the first Leica lens for the Four Thirds System, and the first Four Thirds lens with image stabilization
Image stabilization
Image stabilization is a family of techniques used to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera during exposure. Specifically, it compensates for pan and tilt of a camera or other imaging device. It is used in image-stabilized binoculars, still and video cameras, and astronomical...
. The image stabilization can allow 2–3 stops lower shutter speed, and the quality of the lens is such that its value may exceed that of the camera body, and helps explain the relatively high combined introductory price of US $2000. Panasonic introduced two additional lenses under the Leica
Leica
Leica Camera AG, a German optics company, produces Leica cameras. The predecessor of the company, formerly known as Ernst Leitz GmbH, is now three companies: Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems AG, producing cameras, geosurvey equipment, and microscopes, respectively...
brand name for the camera and Four Thirds System, being a 25mm f1.4 Summilux (50mm 35mm equivalent) without image stabilization) and an extended version of the kit lens out to 150mm (28-300mm 35mm equivalent) with image stabilization.
The Lumix DMC-L1 has an overall shape and viewfinder location reminiscent of a rangefinder camera rather than an SLR, and features a shutter speed dial on the body and an aperture ring on each lens, also similar to pre-digital 35mm film rangefinders and SLRs. Another design feature is the built-in flash
Flash (photography)
A flash is a device used in photography producing a flash of artificial light at a color temperature of about 5500 K to help illuminate a scene. A major purpose of a flash is to illuminate a dark scene. Other uses are capturing quickly moving objects or changing the quality of light...
which has a two-position operation: the first push of the open button puts the flash pointing 45 degrees up to provide bounce flash, a feature that was mentioned in The New York Times in an article on brilliant ideas , and a second push of the button has the flash point directly away from the camera for full flash effect.
The Leica Digilux 3
Leica Digilux 3
The Digilux 3 is a digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by Leica on 14 September 2006. The Digilux 3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 are identical cameras, using the Four Thirds standard lens mount and featuring a 7.5 Megapixels live view N-MOS sensor, but the Digilux 3 has improved firmware...
, Leica's first interchangeable-lens DSLR, was presented in September 2006 and is based upon the same design as the Lumix DMC-L1.
The Lumix DMC-L1 was succeeded by the Lumix DMC-L10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10
The Lumix DMC-L10 is Panasonic's second digital single-lens reflex camera , a follow-up to the previous Lumix DMC-L1 model. It was announced in August 2007, and, like the Lumix DMC-L1, this model uses the Four Thirds System lens mount standard and contains some basic parts provided by Olympus...
, announced in August, 2007.
Panasonic no longer supports the Lumix DMC-L1 and has abandoned the standard Four-Thirds system in favor of a Micro Four-Thirds system that, with an available adapter, can still accommodate the three Four-Thirds Leica lenses developed for the Lumix DMC-L1 and the Leica Digilux 3
Leica Digilux 3
The Digilux 3 is a digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by Leica on 14 September 2006. The Digilux 3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 are identical cameras, using the Four Thirds standard lens mount and featuring a 7.5 Megapixels live view N-MOS sensor, but the Digilux 3 has improved firmware...
. A fairly wide selection of Olympus standard Four-Thirds Zuiko lenses remains available, however.