Digital Still Camera
DMC-L1
LUMIX DMC-L1 Breaks New Ground:
Panasonic's First Digital SLR Camera with Interchangeable Lens
Panasonic is pleased to announce the development of our first interchangeable-lens
digital SLR camera, the LUMIX DMC-L1. State-of-the-art digital and optical technologies
developed for our compact digital cameras have been crystallized to make LUMIX a top
camera brand while helping establish a new photographic culture for the digital age.
Panasonic is drawing on these leading technologies, and the emotional excitement of
true-to-life photographic images, as we announced in our entry to the digital SLR market
in 2005.
The DMC-L1 being introduced today is an entirely new kind of digital SLR camera. It
is operated much like a traditional film camera but provides a variety of innovative
features that increase the fun of shooting photos. While the DMC-L1 is digital, it has a
classic design that will remind users of traditional analogue cameras. These
characteristics, together with a shutter speed control dial on the camera body and an
aperture ring on the LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens (also being
introduced), distinguish the DMC-L1 from conventional digital SLRs in both design and
operation.
Because it is digital, the DMC-L1 can offer features such as a full-time Live View
function through the large 2.5” high-resolution LCD, which offers a shooting style
different from conventional digital SLRs that have only an optical viewfinder. The full-time
Live View is made possible by the new Live MOS sensor, developed using Panasonic's
originalνMaicovicon™ technology. Used in the DMC-L1, the 4/3-type Live MOS sensor
with 7.5 million pixels provides both the outstanding image quality of a CCD and the low
energy consumption for which CMOS sensors are known. The DMC-L1 also
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incorporates the Venus Engine III image processing LSI, which teams up with the Live
MOS sensor to achieve stunning picture quality and responsive performance, with
features such as rapid consecutive shooting.
The DMC-L1 further incorporates a Supersonic Wave Filter that serves as a dust
reduction system, so you don't have to worry about dust entering the camera during lens
changes.
The LUMIX DMC-L1 debuts as a state-of-the-art digital SLR camera that maintains
the intuitive control and operability of familiar analogue cameras, unlike digital SLRs that
simply offer extended functions and specifications. The DMC-L1 is a finely crafted, truly
satisfying camera that makes it easy for people who have never even used a digital
single lens reflex camera to take beautiful shots and gives professionals a powerful tool
for creating photographic masterpieces that visually express the emotions of their
subjects.
A shutter speed dial on the camera body and an aperture ring on the lens barrel
To enhance the sense of camera control, the DMC-L1 features a shutter speed dial
on top of the camera body. The LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens (also
being introduced today) is equipped with an aperture ring, in addition to a focus ring and
zoom ring, for easy, direct aperture setting.
Full-time Live View for a whole new style of digital SLR shooting
By combining the full-time image output function of the Live MOS sensor and a mirror-up
mechanism, the DMC-L1 achieves a full-time Live View function that displays the image
on the LCD directly from the sensor signal. This function can be selected in both Auto
Focus and Manual Focus modes. In Manual Focus, it allows the user to enlarge an
image within the frame and then select the area focusing. This makes it easy to check
the focusing condition on the large 2.5-inch, high-resolution, 207,000-pixel LCD. The
depth of field can also be easily checked by pressing the Aperture button.
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High-image-quality, low-energy-consuming 4/3-type Live MOS sensor with 7.5
million pixels
The Live MOS sensor used in the DMC-L1 not only makes full-time Live View
possible, it also helps capture the beautiful images of a CCD sensor with delicate
gradation and a wide dynamic range. And it suppresses energy consumption as only a
CMOS sensor can do. Noise is also minimized thanks to a special processing
technology that runs on voltage as low as 5 V.
Venus Engine Ill LSI: High image quality, quick response, low energy consumption
The Venus Engine III is an image processing LSI that was newly developed to
maximize the performance of the Live MOS sensor. While inheriting the earlier Venus
Engine’s high resolution, superior color reproduction and detailed gradation, the Venus
Engine III also reduces noise to the level expected from a digital SLR camera, to help
render smooth images. The Venus Engine III improves camera responsiveness too,
supporting high-performance consecutive shooting and a short shutter interval. Despite
the considerably higher performance, the Venus Engine III consumes only 80% as much
power as the Venus Engine II. This combines with the Live MOS sensor’s low energy
consumption to provide longer battery life.
Dust reduction system to prevent annoying contaminants
The most critical and annoying problem with digital SLRs with interchangeable
lenses is the possibility of dust getting inside the camera during lens changes,
contaminating the image sensor. If this happens, professional cleaning is often required.
The DMC-L1 takes care of this problem by incorporating a Supersonic Wave Filter dust
reduction system. The system uses supersonic vibration to instantly shake off any dust
that might otherwise affect the image.
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Panasonic original home networking
Like all LUMIX models, the DMC-L1 is compatible with the SD Memory Card. It also is
compatible with the mass-storage SD standard based on FAT32, including the upcoming
super-high-capacity SD Memory Cards of more than 2 GB (SDHC). Panasonic invites
you to explore new ways to enjoy photos at home. Take shots with your LUMIX camera,
view the images on a Panasonic plasma display, save them onto discs with a DVD
recorder, and print them with a photo printer connected to the TV…It's all part of
Panasonic's pursuit of a new photographic culture for the digital age.
Media Contact
for US media
Panasonic Corporation of North America
Will Safer
Tel: +1- 201- 392- 6124
Email: saferw@us.panasonic.com
Peppercom
Sara Whitman
Tel: +1- 212- 931- 6121
Email:swhitman@peppercom.com
for Europe media
Panasonic Europe Ltd.
Brendon Gore
Tel: +44- (0)208- 899- 2217
Email: Brendon.Gore@eu.panasonic.com
for Japan media
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Akira Kadota
Tel: +81- 3- 3578-1237
Fax: +81- 3- 3436- 6766
Panasonic News Bureau
Tel: +81- 3- 3542- 6205
Fax: +81- 3- 3542- 9018
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