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| Click photo for more images of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10. |
Panasonic has announced a new consumer digital SLR. The 10.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-L10 offers some features that are unusual in a DSLR, including face-detection technology, a 2.5-inch LCD that works as a viewfinder and can flip out and rotate 270 degrees, and an especially broad selection of automatic scene modes. The camera uses a Live MOS sensor and Panasonic's Venus Engine III processor, and follows the Four Thirds sensor-format and lens-mount standard, with full support for the Leica lenses that are designed for use with Panasonic's Four Thirds SLRs. The L10 also implements Panasonic's Supersonic Wave Filter system to keep dust off the sensor.
Designed to appeal to photo enthusiasts who are experienced with advanced point-and-shoots, the L10 provides a combination of manual controls and some of the automatic tools typically found in compact cameras. These include a face-detection system that adjusts autofocus and auto exposure, and can detect up to 15 human faces simultaneously, as well as an Intelligent ISO Control setting that analyzes subject movement and sets the ISO and shutter speed to capture a sharp image. Panasonic puts five automatic scene modes on the camera's main dial, in addition to manual, priority, programmed automatic, fully automatic, and custom mode options.
The L10's five Advanced Scene Modes each provide access to sub-modes that are designed for more specific scene types. For example, the Advanced Portrait mode provides Outdoor, Indoor, and Creative options. When a scene mode is active, photographers who are learning how to use SLR controls can hit the camera's Display button to see a brief description of how the mode is changing settings to achieve its effect.
Another unusual feature on this camera is its Film Mode button. This simply provides direct access to nine photo effects that are intended to imitate the look of various films. Unfortunately, Panasonic doesn't say which particular film each mode is meant to imitate, so if you're feeling nostalgic about Tri-X or Provia, you'll have to try the modes out and see which one best matches the look you want.
While a number of current digital SLRs offer live LCD viewing, the L10 stands out by providing a screen that flips out and rotates, and automatically adjusts its brightness to remain viewable in changing light levels. In manual mode, it makes a magnifying function available to aid focusing. The screen can also display a live histogram and show white balance and exposure adjustments as they're made.
The camera's optical viewfinder is more run-of-the-mill. It's a pentamirror finder with a fixed focusing screen instead of a higher-quality pentaprism, and provides an approximately 95% view with 0.92x magnification. However, Panasonic puts a 1.2x magnifier in the eyepiece to improve the view, and the finder provides a nice data display in the eyepiece, showing ISO and white balance settings in addition to other settings typically shown there.
Among the L10's other notable controls are selectable 9-point, 3-point, and spot autofocus; selectable image aspect ratios that include a 16:9 option; and white-balance fine-tuning. The camera's top ISO setting is 1600, and its shutter speeds run from 1/4000 to 60 seconds, with an 8-minute Bulb mode. The L10's drive mode shoots at an unremarkable 3fps or 2fps, but Panasonic says it can capture an unlimited series of JPEGs (or a burst of three RAW files).
The L10 will be available in October 2007 in a kit with the new Leica D Vario-Elmar 14mm-50mm F3.8-5.6 Mega O.I.S. lens for a $1,299.95 retail price. The Leica lens will be available separately for $699.95 starting in November. Mounted on the L10 or another Four Thirds SLR, this optically stabilized lens provides the same angle of view as a 28mm-100mm lens on a 35mm camera.
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