Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5 Review

Click to take a 360-degree QTVR tour of the Lumix DMC-LC5

Panasonic has developed a relationship with world-renowned Leica Camera of Germany, to incorporate Leica lenses in its entire 2002 Lumix digital still camera line. The top-of-the-line DMC-LC5 features a 4.0 Megapixel (3.9 megapixel effective) CCD imager, USB port and a SD/MMC memory card slot. It was designed to emulate a film camera's "feel," ideal in size, weight and balance, and with consideration made for every control button, knob and switch. The sharp and fast LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 3x (33-100mm) zoom lens renders images with more warmth, subtlety and expressiveness. Traditionally, the use of more pixels translates into more detail but less light sensitivity. To counter this Panasonic uses an innovative gapless lens to boost light-collecting efficiency. The size of the pixels has also been increased to 3.25 microns, allowing them to receive an extra margin of light.

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.

For precise, instant focusing, a new hybrid auto focus system in the DMC-LC5 shatters the myth of a digital camera's slow response. This system cuts focusing time to less than half that of previous Panasonic cameras. Images and movie clips are stored on either SD Memory Cards or a MultiMediaCard. A 32MB SD Memory Card (about the size of a postage stamp) is included. The DMC-LC5 is also packaged with a long-life, 1400mAH rechargeable Lithium Ion battery to ensure that users will always have the power to capture all of those unexpected, once-in-a-lifetime shots.

Lumix DMC-LC5 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)
• Large 2.5-inch color LCD with detachable/folding hood
• 320 x 240 QuickTime Movie mode with audio
• Auto, Program AE, Aperture-priority, Shutter speed-priority and Manual exposure modes
• Auto Exposure Bracketing of 3 or 5 frames
• Focus Bracketing, Flash and exposure compensation
• Multi, Center-weighted averaging or Spot metering
• Built-in flash and flash hot shoe for external flash units
• Auto focus, macro focus and manual focus with ring
• 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
• Looks, feels and operates like a regular camera

The Lumix LC5 will be available soon with a street price of $799.