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

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

  1. As digital magnification increases, resolution significantly decreases.
  2. Max. recording time depends on Memory Card capacity.
  3. Shooting once every 30 seconds, flash in operation for every shot, 77°F(25°C) ambient temperature.
  4. Each ArcSoft® program requires Microsoft®Windows®98, Windows®98SE, Windows®Me, Windows®2000, Windows®XP or Macintosh®OS 9 - OS X (Classic mode).
  5. Requires Microsoft®Windows®98SE, Windows®Me, Windows®2000 or Windows®XP.
  6. MB means one million bytes. Usable capacity will be less.

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