Panasonic Expands Lumix SLR Line with DMC-L10

October 24, 2007: Panasonic Australia will expand its range of DSLR cameras with the release next month of the Lumix DMC-L10.
Featuring more conventional styling, a vari-angle LCD screen, a 10.1 megapixel Live MOS image sensor and an interchangeable Leica lens, the new camera brings the advantages of live viewing to photographers, allowing them to frame and check their shots before capturing the image. The Live MOS sensor delivers the same high image quality as a CCD sensor with the low power consumption of a CMOS sensor. By incorporating 2.2μm pixel technology, Panasonic has mass-produced a miniaturised circuit with the same light receiving area as a 7.5-megapixel sensor but higher light-capturing efficiency.

The free-angle LCD supports a wide range of viewing angles, two of which are shown below.

The LCD can rotate through 270 degrees, making it easy and convenient to shoot from high or low angles. The LCD has an automatic brightness level control, which adjusts to make the screen usable in both sunlit and dark environments. In ‘Live View’ mode, users can easily check the image on the camera after making exposure compensation adjustments or adjusting white balance, but before taking the shot. With manual mode, any part of the subject can be enlarged for focus checking and users can view and adjust horizontal and vertical guidelines to assist composition.

Top panelt view.
The Venus Engine III image processing LSI has been developed by Panasonic to maximise the performance of the Leica D lens and Live MOS sensor. It provides high quality image rendering and high speed response and supports the addition of Face Detection for the first time in a Panasonic DSLR. The system will focus, set auto exposure and can detect up to 15 human faces simultaneously. It can be combined with Panasonic’s Intelligent ISO Control, which measures the movement of the subject and sets the ISO level accordingly.
A new ‘Film Mode’ mimics the effects of analog film and users can select from nine modes including Standard, Dynamic, Nature, Smooth, Nostalgic, Vibrant, Standard B/W, Dynamic B/W and Smooth B/W. Contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction can be adjusted within each setting. In Live View mode, you can confirm the look of the settings before you capture the shot. Live View also allows exposure to be metered and set using the Live MOS sensor for 256-segment multi-zone metering. The viewfinder uses high-speed TTL full-aperture 49-zone light metering. Centre-weighted-metering and spot metering is also available.

Camera controls.

The DMC-L10 also has a Dual AF function with Contrast AF and Phase Difference AF, giving users greater freedom of choice. Contrast AF, which is selectable in Live View, includes six AF modes – Face, 9-point, multi-point, 3-point, 1-point and spot. Face detection allows precise focusing through the combination of selectable AF and the large LCD for shot confirmation. When shooting with the optical viewfinder, 3-point Phase Difference AF is ideal for high speed shooting of moving subjects.

The SSWF dust reduction filter assembly.
The new camera comes with a Supersonic Wave Filter system that prevents dust from collecting on the sensor and degrading photo quality. Each time the camera is switched on, this filter generates perpendicular supersonic vibrations at an effective rate of around 30,000 vibrations per second, preventing dust from accumulating. The DMC-L10 also supports an Advanced Scene Mode, which allows users easily tune settings according to a situation or specific photographic idea. For instance, when selecting the Portrait or Sports mode, users can further define whether the scene is outdoors or indoors. When using the Landscape mode, users can specify if it is a nature or an architectural shot.
Three aspect ratio settings are provided: 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9. Images captured in 16:9 format have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which complies with High Definition standards, making them ideal for playback on today’s widescreen flat panel TVs. The DMC-L10 will be available from photographic specialist retailers in a kit containing the camera body and interchangeable lens, battery pack, battery charger/AC adaptor, AC cable, video cable, USB connection cable, software CD-ROM, strap, lens hood, lens storage bag, body cap, lens cap, lens rear cap, eye piece cap, magnifier eyecup and operating instructions. RRP is $2199. For more information on the Panasonic DMC-L10, visit www.panasonic.com.au or contact Panasonic on 132 600.

Effective Pixels:

10.1 megapixels