PMA 2004: Panasonic leaves it until the second day of PMA to launch
its new DMC-LC1 Lumix camera. The 5-megapixel DMC-LC1 has a digital brain
but the heart and soul of a finely crafted 35mm camera, right down to
its controls. Zoom, focus and aperture are manually controlled by ring
settings on the lens; shutter speed is controlled by a dial located on
the top of the unit. The new DMC-LC1 incorporates a finely crafted, F2.0
- 2.4 Leica DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens (13 elements in 10 groups) with zoom
capability equivalent to 28 - 90mm on a 35mm camera. The Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LC1 is scheduled for March, 2004 delivery. It will have a manufacturer's
suggested retail price of $1,599.00
Press Release:
Panasonic Introduces New 5-Megapixel Lumix(TM) Digital Still Camera
With Leica Lens and Full Manual Controls
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LAS VEGAS, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Once again Panasonic revolutionizes the world of digital photography with the new DMC-LC1 Lumix camera. The DMC-LC1 has a digital brain but the heart and soul of a finely crafted 35mm camera, right down to its controls. A true breakthrough in digital camera craftsmanship, the 5-megapixel DMC-LC1 brings a traditional photographic experience to the digital world, evoking the look, feel, precision, and responsiveness of a 35mm camera. Zoom, focus and aperture are manually controlled by ring settings on the lens; shutter speed is controlled by a dial located on the top of the unit. And, like all of Panasonic's Lumix models, the DMC-LC1 features a high-performance Leica lens for extraordinary image rendering.
The DMC-LC1 combines unrivalled Leica optics with Panasonic's most advanced digital electronic technology to create a camera that allows photographers to experience a new level of creative expression. The camera's full manual operation serves as a natural extension of the photographer's hands and eyes.
Leica lenses retain a legendary reputation for creating images that capture the most delicate nuances of light and shade, the elusive ambience of "air," and subtle gradations of color. The new DMC-LC1 incorporates a finely crafted, F2.0 - 2.4 Leica DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens (13 elements in 10 groups) with zoom capability equivalent to 28 - 90mm on a 35mm camera.
Beyond the lens, Panasonic converts the optical data into digital information with unmatched processing speed. Panasonic's innovative Venus Engine LSI handles all image processing functions simultaneously -- from displaying the image on the LCD to writing data to the memory card -- as soon as the CCD captures the image signal. The result is superb image rendering and outstanding responsiveness.
The DMC-LC1 can capture image in the RAW format as well as Super Fine/Fine/Standard JPEG and QuickTime® motion JPEG images. Often referred to as a "digital negative," the raw file format stores uncompressed data directly off the camera's CCD with no in-camera processing. This raw image can then be manually manipulated in a photo editing program. Adobe announced at PMA today a free, updated version of the Camera Raw plug-in, which will provide integrated support of the Panasonic raw format within Adobe Photoshop® CS, the latest version of Adobe's professional image editing product.
The DMC-LC1 features a built-in USB port and SD Memory Card/Multimedia Card slot, offering consumers networking versatility with PCs and a wide variety of compatible SD-enabled devices.
Other features include:
- Built-in pop-up flash which can tilt 45 degrees to create a bounce
flash. The camera can also accept and synchronize with optional
external flash units. Auto-flash and manual flash settings. - Red-eye compensation.
- Large 2.5-inch LCD.
- 3.2x optical and 3x digital* zoom.
- Burst shooting mode.
- Real-time histogram.
- Auto bracketing mode automatically takes three or five shots at
different exposures. - Remote shutter helps prevent even slight shaking or vibration caused
by contact with the camera. - Three light metering modes: Intelligent Multiple/Center Weighted/Spot
- Microphone and speakers for audio recording.
- Included accessories: Battery charger/AC adaptor, battery pack, SD
Memory Card, AC cable, DC cable, lens cap, A/V cable, USB driver, USB
connection cable, lens hood, hood cap, MC protector, remote shutter,
strap, SD viewer software, ArcSoft editing software: ArcSoft
PhotoBase(TM), ArcSoft PhotoImpression(TM), ArcSoft PhotoPrinter(TM)
and ArcSoft Panorama Maker(TM).
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 is scheduled for March, 2004 delivery. It will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,599.00
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 Specifications
Lens | Leica DC Vario-Summicron 13 elements in 10 groups (2 Aspherical lenses) |
Optical Zoom | 3.2x |
Digital Zoom 1 | 3x |
Camera Effective Pixels | 5.0 Megapixels |
CCD (Image Sensor) | 2/3" 5.2 Megapixel CCD Primary Color Filter |
LSI Type | Venus Engine� LSI |
Recording Image Size (Pixels) | 2560 x 1920 2048 x 1536 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 Motion Image: 320 x 240 |
Motion Image (Quick Time� Motion JPEG) | 30 or 10 fps (320 x 240 pixels) 2 |
Aperture | F2.0-2.4 |
Focal Distance | f=7.0-22.5mm (35mm equiv: 28-90mm) |
Focusing Area | AF: 1.97 feet-Infinity MF/AF-Macro:0.98 feet-Infinity |
Focus | Hybrid Auto Focus System with
AF Sensor Normal/Macro (Ring) Spot AF On/Off Manual Focus (Ring) |
ISO Sensitivity | Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 |
White Balance | Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Halogen/ Flash/B&W/White Set White Balance Adjustment (except for Auto and B&W Modes) |
Exposure | Program AE (Program Shift (P mode)) Aperture Priority AE Shutter Priority AE, Manual |
Exposure Compensation | 1/3 EV Step, � 2 EV |
Auto (AE) Bracketing | +1/6EV-1EV Step, 3 or 5 Frames |
Light Metering | Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot |
Shutter Speed | 2 - 1/4,000 sec.: Program AE,
Aperture Priority AE 8 - 1/2,000 sec.: Shutter Priority AE, Manual |
Self Timer | 10 seconds / 2 seconds |
Picture Adjustment | Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation |
Image Quality | RAW/Super Fine/Fine/Standard |
Mega Burst� Consecutive Shooting | Full-resolution image: Standard Mode: Up to 9 images at 2.7 or 1 frames/sec. Fine Mode: Up to 5 images |
Still Image Recording with Audio | 5 seconds |
Audio Dubbing | Maximum of 10 Seconds |
Flash | Built-in |
Built-in Flash Mode | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction Slow Sync., Forced On/Red-eye Reduction Flash Output Adjustment (1/3EV step, -2 +2EV) 1.64 - 15.75 feet (Wide) 1.64 - 13.12 feet (Tele) (ISO 100/ISO Auto) |
External Flash | Yes (Metz SCA 3502 Compatible) |
LCD Monitor | 2.5" Diagonal Polycrystalline
TFT LCD Display (211k pixels, Transflective Type) Field of view: approx. 100% |
Viewfinder | 0.44" diagonol Color EVF (235k
pixels) Field of view: approx. 100% |
Built-in SD Card Slot | Yes |
Recording Media | SD Memory Card Multimedia Card |
Microphone | Built-in |
Speaker | Built-in |
Interface | DC Input, A/V Output, USB |
USB Port | Yes |
Power Supply | Lithium-ion Battery Pack (7.2V,
1400 mAh)(Included) Battery Charger/AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC)(Included) |
Battery Life 3 | Up to 360 pictures/180 minutes
with LCD Up to 440 pictures/220 minutes with EVF |
Included ArcSoft� Software 4 | ArcSoft� PhotoImpression� ArcSoft� Panorama Maker� ArcSoft� PhotoBase� ArcSoft� PhotoPrinter� |
Other Included Software | SD Viewer for DSC 5 |
Included Accessories | Battery Charger/AC Adapter Battery Pack 16MB 6 SD Memory Card AC Cable DC Cable Lens Cap Lens Hood Hood Cap A/V Cable USB Cable MC Protector Remote Shutter Strap CD-ROM |
Dimensions (H x W x D) | 3.21'' x 5.30'' x 4.0'' |
Weight | 1.38 lbs |
Footnotes
- As digital magnification increases, resolution significantly decreases.
- Max. recording time depends on Memory Card capacity.
- Shooting once every 30 seconds, flash in operation for every shot, 77°F(25°C) ambient temperature.
- Each ArcSoft® program requires Microsoft®Windows®98, Windows®98SE, Windows®Me, Windows®2000, Windows®XP or Macintosh®OS 9 - OS X (Classic mode).
- Requires Microsoft®Windows®98SE, Windows®Me, Windows®2000 or Windows®XP.
- MB means one million bytes. Usable capacity will be less.
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