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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC40


Review Posted 5/1/2002



Click to take 360-degree QTVR tour of the Lumix DMC-LC40 Zoom
Click to take a 360-degree QTVR tour of the Lumix DMC-LC40


The Panasonic DMC-LC40 is the second in the Lumix line to use a 4-megapixel image sensor and a LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON zoom lens. This compact and lightweight camera shares many of the same features found in the top-of-the-line DMC-LC5 model. The CCD employs a complementary color filter specifically designed to optimize the performance of the lens's F2.0 brightness. Panasonic also developed new Pure Color Engine LSI circuitry to work with the DMC-LC40's lens systems. It converts the CCD output signal into an RGB signal at an early stage and extracts the low frequency luminance component, resulting in superb color reproduction.

To capture sudden events as they unfold, Panasonic wanted to develop a fast, responsive digital camera that could take consecutive pictures nearly as quickly as a motor-driven film camera. The new MEGA BURST™ recording feature, a Panasonic exclusive, combines four frames per second with undiminished quality from frame to frame. Users can shoot up to a maximum of eight frames (depending on image quality setting) and the last frame will be just as clear and crisp as the first. This is achieved thanks to Panasonic's new High Speed Multitasking Image Processing technique, which replaces traditional serial signal processing methods with a more advanced parallel processing technique.

The Lumix cameras feature a memory card slot that is compatible with either SD Memory Cards or a MultiMediaCard™. A 16MB SD Memory Card is included with the DMC-LC40. About the size of a postage stamp, the SD card features great flexibility, excellent security and fast data transfer. The medium allows for the quick, easy exchange of images, music, video and slide presentations among a growing number of SD Memory Card-enabled devices, including audio products, camcorders, memo recorders and handheld computers and PDAs.



Panasonic Lumix LC-5

Lumix DMC-LC40 Features at a Glance

  • 4-Megapixel CCD yields up to 2240 x 1680 pixel images
  • LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 3x f/2 zoom (33 - 100mm 35mm equiv)
  • 1.8-inch color LCD
  • 320 x 240 QuickTime Movie mode w/audio up to 75 secs
  • Auto, Program AE, Aperture-priority, Shutter speed-priority and Scene exposure modes
  • Auto Exposure Bracketing of 3 or 5 frames
  • Multi or Spot metering
  • Built-in multimode flash
  • ISO sensitivity; Auto, 100, 200 or 400 fixed
  • Five second audio notes can be attached to images
  • A/V output with selectable NTSC or PAL video
  • Epson PRINT Image Matching compatible
  • Secure Digital or MultiMediaCard removable storage
  • Lithium rechargeable battery 1400mAh and charger included

The Lumix LC40 will be available soon with a street price of $699.


Physical Views



Panasonic Lumix LC-5

Panasonic Lumix LC-5

Panasonic Lumix LC-5 Panasonic Lumix LC-5

Panasonic Lumix LC-5

Panasonic Lumix LC-5





Panasonic Lumix LC-5

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC40 compared in size to a standard CD.




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Lumix DMC-LC40 Specifications
CCD Imager 1/1.76" CCD w/Complementary Color Filter
3.9 million effective pixels
Lens LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 7-21mm f/2-2.5 ASPH.
(equivalent to a 33 - 100mm zoom on a 35mm camera)
Construction: 8 elements in 7 groups w/2 aspherical lenses
Digital Zoom Maximum 2x (variable)
Aperture Range f/2 - 8 ( adjustable in 1/3 steps EV)
Shutter Speeds 1/1000 sec. - 8 sec.
ISO Auto or fixed 100, 200, 400 (equivalent)
Recording Mode(s) Still image: EXIF TIFF (uncompressed RGB), EXIF JPEG, DCF (design rule for Camera File system), EPSON Print Image System (PIM), QuickTime® Motion JPEG (Movie Mode)
Adjustable Resolutions 2240 x 1680
1600 x 1200
1120 x 840
640 x 480

320 x 240 QuickTime Motion JPEG
records up to 75 seconds per video clip
Still image recording with audio 5 seconds
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Print Reserve, All print reservation, Date/time; Trimming
Sequence 4 frames/second (up to 4 images in FINE or 8 in STANDARD quality)
Viewfinder Optical real image viewfinder with zoom function and diopter compensation; Field of view 82%
LCD 1.8" color PS-TFT LCD (110,000 pixels) for viewing, reviewing or editing images. Brightness is adjustable +/- 3 steps
Focusing System Auto/Macro, Spot AF Switching
Focusing Ranges Normal: 11.8" (30 cm) - infinity
Macro: Wide: 2.4" (6 cm) / Tele: 7.9" (20 cm) - 19.7" (50 cm)
Exposure Control Fully automatic (AUTO)
Program AE (P)
Aperture-priority (A)
Shutter speed-priority (S)
Scene Mode
Exposure Compensation +/- 2EV in +/- 1/3 EV steps
Auto Exposure Bracketing 0.25 - 1 EV step, 3 or 5 images
Metering System Multiple or Spot
White Balance System Automatic, daylight, overcast sky, halogen light, fluorescent light, flash, manual set
Flash Built-in, Guide number ???
Range: Wide-angle approx. 0.1 m (3.9") - 4.5m (14.7'); Telephoto approx. 0.2 m (7.9") - 3.5m (11.4') (ISO 100)
Flash Modes Automatic; flash on; flash off; red-eye reduction; slow synch w/red-eye reduction
Flash Exposure compensation ± 2 EV in 1/4 EV steps
Flash Charging Time Less than 6 seconds (at normal temperature)
Removable Media Card Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia Card (MMC)
16MB SD card included
Selftimer/Remote 10 or 2-second delay
Outer Connectors USB 1.1; DC IN; A/V output (video is PAL/NTSC selectable)
Auto-connect USB Compatible with Windows 98 rev2/ME/2000 Pro/XP
MacOS 9.x/OSX
Image Playback Index display, up to 16X enlargement, Slide-show, Scene rotation
Operating Environment Operation: 32° F - 104°F (0°C - 40°C) 30-90% Humidity
Storage: -4° F - 140°F (-20°C - 60°C) 10-90% Humidity
Power Supply Lithium-ion rechargeable battery 1400 mAh, 7.2V, 110-240V AC adapter/battery charger (included); charging time in the camera: approx. 2 hours
Date/Time Calendar Simultaneous recording into image date
Calendar Automatic up to the year 2031
Size 3.03 (H) x 4.1 (W) x 2.6 inches (D)
77 x 105 x 65.6mm
Weight 14.1 oz / 400 g. (without battery)
Package Contents LC40 camera, Li-Ion Battery, AC Adaptor/charger, 16MB SD Memory Card, Lens Cap, A/V Cable, USB Cable, Strap, Software CD-ROM (ArcSoft PhotoBase™, ArcSoft PhotoImpression™, ArcSoft PhotoPrinter® Pro, ArcSoft Panorama Maker™, SD Viewer, PictureStage Image Uploader)

NOTE: These Specifications are as represented by the manufacturer.









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