Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 Review

The LC1 features a high-performance Leica DC Vario-Summicron zoom lens with a fast F2.0 - F2.4 maximum aperture. The zoom lens is controlled by a manual lens ring and covers the 35mm equivalent of 28mm to 90mm.

This is an all-glass lens constructed of 13 elements in 10 groups, with 2 dual-sided aspherical lenses. A special multi-coating process on all surfaces reduces the surface reflection of each lens to diminish ghosts and flare, dramatically improving image clarity.

The LC1 employs a hybrid Auto Focus system with an external AF sensor (see picture of lens above, AF sensor is in upper right.) The Focus control is on the lens, normal AF, manual or AF-Macro is possible with a Spot AF option via the menu system. When using MF you can select to have the center of the frame enlarged or the entire frame enlarged to aid in critical focusing.

The AF working range is from 60cm - infinity in Normal mode. Manual Focus or AF-Macro covers from 30cm - infinity. Closer macro focus is possible using the optional DMW-LC69 Close-up lens.

The lens has three manual control rings for (1) zoom focal length, (2) manual focus distance / AF / AF-Macro, and (3) aperture setting. The focus and aperture rings have an "A"utomatic position with a dial lock or they can be unlocked and operated manually.

Included with the LC1 outfit is a wide angle lens hood and hood cap. The lens is threaded for 69mm filters and add-on lenses. Also included is a multi-coated 69mm filter for lens protection.

Panasonic offers an optional DMW-LW69 Wide Conversion lens, DMW-LND69 Neutral Density filter and DMW-LC69 Close-up lens.

The built-in flash opens to two positions -- bounce flash at 65° or fully extended. The flash hotshoe accepts optional external flash units and provides full TTL control of the optional Panasonic DMW-FL28 flash, Leica SF-20 / SF-24D and is Metz SCA 3502 compatible.

The flash has modes for Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Forced On/ Red-eye Reduction, Forced On/Off. The flash output is adjustable +/-2.0EV in 1/3EV steps. The working range is from 1.6 - 15.8 ft (0.5 - 4.8m) Wide and from 1.6 - 13.1 ft (0.5 - 4.0m) Tele at ISO 100/ISO Auto.

The eyelevel viewfinder is a 0.44-inch color TFT LCD with a resolution of 235,000 pixels, it provides for a field of view of approx. 100%. It has dioptric adjustment and its brightness is settable via menu. Press the EVF/LCD button to swap displays and press the DISPLAY button to control the amount of information displayed.

On the back is a huge 2.5-inch Transflective Polycrystalline TFT LCD display with 211,000 pixels of resolution. It provides a field of view: approx. 100%. The EVF or LCD can be used for framing, review and menu operations.

Controls on the back: the OPEN button pops-up the internal flash, press once to put it in the bounce position, press again to fully extend into normal flash position. The EVF/LCD button swaps the active display output. The DISPLAY button toggles the amount of information overlayed on the display (normal, info+histogram, grids or none). The next button performs three functions (1) Exposure Compensation, (2) AE Bracketing or (3) Flash Exposure Compensation. On the far right is the camera Power switch.

The FUNCTION button calls up a user-programmable Shortcut Menu of four functions that are activated by pressing the 4-way controller while in record mode. The MENU button calls up and dismisses the onscreen menu system. The 4-way controller is used to make menu selections, change camera settings, enable selftimer, activate quick review mode and select pictures during review. The Command Dial is located around the 4-way controller, it's used to change settings in record mode, in playback it enables index or zoom review modes. The TRASHCAN button is for deleting images.

Controls on the top: The shutter release with the Metering mode selector dial built around it. The Flash mode button. The shutter speed dial with the Operational Mode Dial (Record Single, Record Burst, Playback) built around it.

USB v2.0 port, it's Mass Storage compliant with newer operating systems (Windows Me, 2000, XP) and PictBridge direct-print compatible.

A/V Out sends audio and video to a TV set, the format is selectable for NTSC or PAL.

The AC power adapter can be connected to the DC IN port.

The included DMW-RS1 wired remote control plugs into the AV Out/Remote port to trip the shutter when doing long exposures on a tripod.

Still images, movie clips and audio files are stored on removable Secure Digital or MultiMedia Card flash memory cards. Panasonic supplies a 16MB size SD card so the first thing you need to buy is much bigger one. We tested it with a spacious and speedy Transcend 512MB SD card.

Powered by a high-capacity 7.2v 1400mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery and comes with a compact rapid charger / 110-240V AC power supply. A fully charged battery provides enough power to capture up to 360 pictures/180 minutes with LCD, or 440 pictures/220 minutes with the EVF. Playback time is approx. 340 minutes. Charging time is approx. 110 minutes.