Panasonic DMC-L1

Reviewed September 2006

Characteristics

The Panasonic DMC-L1 is equipped with a NMOS (or Live MOS) sensor, developed by Panasonic. This type of sensor offers the low energy consumption of the CMOS but uses an A/D converter that resembles that of the CCD. This is the same sensor as is used in the Olympus E-330.

The sensor measures 17.3 x 13.0 mm and is composed of 7.9 million pixels of which 7.5 million are effective when capturing the maximum image size. As with some other recent Panasonic cameras, the DMC-L1 allows varying the area of the sensor used to capture the image according to the image proportions:

It is worth noting that the selection of image ratios only operates when the Live View mode is used, the reflex view only capturing 4:3 ratio images.

Each of the image sizes of the L1 can be set to any one of three JPEG compression levels:

• Super Fine, which offers the highest image quality in a compressed format.
• Fine, which applies a stronger compression.
• Standard, which applies the strongest compression so as to record more images in a given memory space.

In addition, an option in the menu offers the possibility of capturing images in RAW format as well, a format that saves the RAW output of the sensor without any post-processing, but which records the all camera settings in addition to the image. The RAW image must then be processed using the powerful software Panasonic provides with the camera (see the Interface and Software section of the review for more information about the bundled software).

The NMOS sensor's sensitivity starts at 100 ISO but it can be pushed to 200, 400, 800 or 1600 ISO. Alternatively, it can be set to Auto, allowing the camera to increase sensitivity as dictated by the quantity of ambient light.

Equipped with a Four Thirds mount, the DMC-L1 is compatible with all Olympus Four Thirds lenses. At this time Panasonic offers only a single lens for the DMC-L1, a Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50 mm f2.8-3.5 equipped with Panasonic's Mega O.I.S. image stabilizer, and which, when the size of the sensor is taken into account, corresponds to 28 to 100 mm in the 35 mm format.

The range of shutter speeds of the DMC-L1 covers from 1/4000 second down to a maximum of 8 minutes. The camera can automatically select the shutter speed from 1/4000 second down to 60 seconds when the shutter speed dial is set to . With the shutter priority or Manual modes, however, selecting shutter speeds from 1/1000 to 1/4000 second, or from 2 to 60 seconds requires the use of the Command dial, the setting appearing in the viewfinder or the monitor. The B mode (Bulb) is only accessible when the L1 is set to the Manual mode — selected when neither the aperture ring nor the shutter speed dial are set to — and requires the use of the optional remote control, (DMW-RSL1).

As explained in the Ergonomics section of this review, the DMC-L1 is equipped with numerous external controls which offer direct accesses to many capture settings. The remaining settings are contained in the menus.

The menu system is divided into four sections, each identified by a tab on the left side of the screen: Rec, Setup, Custom and Play. Whatever the camera mode, the same menu is presented at all times, but the settings of some of the external controls can preclude access to some of the options of the menu.

The first section, Rec, contains the following options:

• Film Mode serves to select the type of post-processing. Each of the settings can be modified for contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction:
  • Standard: is the default setting.
  • Dynamic: increases contrast, sharpness and saturation.
  • Nature: enhances the primary colours red, green and blue.
  • Smooth: lowers the contrast.
  • Standard B&W: records images in black and white.
  • Dynamic B&W: captures images in black and white with a stronger contrast.
  • Smooth B&W: captures a black and white image with a lower contrast.
  • My Film 1 and My Film 2: serves to memorize two sets of preferred settings.

• Pict. Size: selects the image size (L, M, S when set to 4:3 or 3:2 aspect ratios; or L, S when using 16:9 aspect ratio).
• Quality: serves to set the compression level (Super Fine, Fine or Standard).
• RAW Rec.: decides if the image is also saved in RAW format.
• Aspect selects the aspect ratio: 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9. This option is only selectable when the L1 is set to the Live View mode.

• Ex. Opt. Zoom: Extended Optical Zoom serves to increase the apparent power of the zoom when an image size less the maximum is selected. When this option is enabled, the DMC-L1 uses the full sensor and crops the image it captures to be comparable to what a longer focal length would capture, avoiding the image degradation that occurs when an interpolation is used. This allows for a 1.2X increase in the zoom power when the image size is set to M format, at the 4:3 and 3:2 aspect ratio, and 1.5X at the S size at all aspect ratios. The symbol is shown on the monitor when the function is active.
• D. Zoom: On or Off. The DMC-L1 is also equipped with a standard digital zoom (2X and 4X) which interpolates the image to the currently selected image size, causing an overall loss of image sharpness.
• Self-Timer: selects the self-timer delay (10 or 2 seconds).
• AF Assist Lamp: On or Off, controls the AF assist lamp. The effective range of the lamp is from 1.5 m to 3 m (5 - 10 ft) when the zoom is at the wide angle end.
• OIS Mode serves to select the optical stabilizer mode:
  • Mode 1: continuous stabilization.
  • Mode 2: stabilization only when the image is captured.
• Auto Bracket serves to set the way bracketing operates: over 3 or 5 images, and in increments of 1/3 EV over a range of ±2 EV; and the capture order (0/+/- or -/0/+).
• AF/AE Lock: decides the way the AFL/AEL button functions (AF only, AE only, or AF and AE).
• Burst Rate: serves to set the burst speed (3 fps or 2 fps).
• Flash Sync.: serves to set the flash synch, at the start of the exposure (1st curtain), or just before the end of the exposure (2nd curtain).

The next section of the menu, Setup, contains options that serve to set basic functions on the L1. This section of the menu is detailed in the Interface and Software section of the review.

The third section is called Custom and it contains options to set personal preferences for the DMC-L1:

• Custom Set serves to set a group of presets, or custom settings: Normal (uses basic settings), Factory (returns all settings to factory settings) or 1 of 3 personalized settings (SET 1, SET 2 or SET 3).
• Cust. Set Mem.: serves to set preferred settings into any of three memories (SET 1, SET 2 and SET 3). This makes it possible to have complete presets for commonly repeated subjects, such as studio portraiture.
• Func 1 Set and Func 2 Set: serves to set the function assigned to FUNC. 1 and 2, which are located on top of the camera, next to the shutter release. Available functions are: Exposure, Film Mode, Picture Size, RAW Rec., OIS Mode, Burst Rate, Flash Sync. , Custom Set.

• Direc. Exp. Comp.: allows setting the exposure compensation simply by turning the Command dial.
• LCD Auto: If set to On then when taking pictures with the Viewfinder, the LCD monitor turns off when the shutter release is pressed halfway.
• AF Frame decides how the focus works:
  • Auto lets the camera pick the focus point from any one of the 3 points.
  • Centre uses only the centre point.
  • Select allows the user to choose the focus point with the right/left arrows of the directional control.

• AF + MF: allows fine tuning the focus using the manual focus ring when the L1 is set to auto focus mode.
• AF/AE Lock Hold: decides if the AF/AE button locks when pressed once and unlocks when pressed again, or if it only locks when maintained pressed.
• AF LED: On or Off. When On, the focus point briefly lights up red in the viewfinder.
• Focus Priority: On or Off. When set to On, the shutter will not release until the camera has focused.
• Colour Space: selects either sRGB or Adobe RGB, a standard that is more suited to printing.
• Long Shutter NR: turns On or Off the noise reduction processing applied to long exposures.
• Mirror Up: On or Off. When On, the viewfinder's mirror is raised just before the self-timer's countdown reaches the end, minimizing camera shake.
• Display Set: decides the information displayed when the DISPLAY is pressed when the L1 is set to Live View (Rec. Info, Histogram, Guide 1 or Guide 2)
• Pixel Refresh: this function is similar to one found on Olympus cameras, it analyses the data coming off the sensor, checking its operation, and the operation of the image processor. It should only be used about once a year.
• No Release Without Lens: prevents the shutter release from operating if there is no lens attached to the camera.

The fourth and last section of the menu, Play, presents options that relate to the playback and printing of images:

• Slide Show: starts the automatic playback of all the images on the memory card, or of those that have previously marked as "favorites". The on-screen time of images can be preset (1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds) or can be done manually.
• Favorite: allows tagging one or more images as favorites, and then deleting all those that are not, or playback only favorite images using the slide show function.

• Rotate Disp.: allows automatically rotating vertical shots in playback.
• Rotate: serves to change the orientation of an image in 90° increments to the left or right.
• DPOF Print: serves to select images that will be printed on a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatible printer or by a DPOF service. Images can be set to be printed individually or as part of an index, and the number of prints to make of each can be selected, as well as whether or not the date should be superimposed on the image.

• Protect: prevents selected image from being accidentally deleted.
• Resize.: allows resizing an image to a smaller size, and then either overwriting the original, or saving it as a new image.
• Trimming: allows trimming an image that has been magnified on the monitor, and re-saving it at the nearest image size as a new image, or overwriting the original with the trimmed version.
• Aspect Conv.: serves to convert an image from 16:9 to either 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratios.
• Format: serves to format the memory card.

The DMC-L1 is compatible with SD (Secure Digital) and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity). The card slot is located in the right side of the camera, protected by a door that is as solid as the rest of the camera. A card is ejected by pressing it on its edge. In North America, the DMC-L1 is retailed without a memory card, as is generally the case with digital SLR cameras.

Nevertheless, the chart below offers image capacities using an optional 1 GB SD card:

The DMC-L1 has two external connections, which are tucked away behind a soft rubber door at the base of the camera on the left side.

The connection closest to the front of the camera has a dual function A/V Out, which can be set to produce an NTSC or PAL signal as determined in the Setup menu; and connection for the optional wired remote control (DMW-RSL1).

Next to it, closer to the back of the camera, is the USB (High Speed) port for which the protocol must be select when the connection is made: PC (Mass Storage) to connect to a computer, or PictBridge to connect with a PictBridge compatible printer.

The DMC-L1 is powered by a Li-ion battery (CGR-S602A) which is housed in the grip. The battery is recharged with a charger (DE-972A) supplied with the camera kit. Recharging the battery takes approximately 130 minutes.

In addition, an AC adapter (K2GJ2DZ00028), also supplied with the kit, makes it possible to power the DMC-L1 directly from household current. The adapter replaces the battery, and its wire can be pushed through a small side door that allows closing the battery compartment cover.