Panasonic DMC-L10

Reviewed October 2007

Characteristics

The DMC-L10 is equipped with an NMOS sensor that measures 17.3 x 13.0 mm (Four Third format) and which is composed of 11.76 million pixels, of which 10.1 million are effective during image capture.

The sensitivity range of the NMOS sensor starts at 100 ISO, and when the camera is set to P, S, A or M, it can be manually adjusted to 200, 400, 800 or 1600 ISO, or even set to Auto ISO. Moreover, the Auto ISO mode's highest sensitivity can be limited to 200, 400, 800 or 1600 ISO. Used in the other mode, all of them Scene modes, the modes control the ISO sensitivity.

Matching its sensor, the DMC-L10 is equipped with a Four Third lens mount, making the camera compatible, amongst others, with Olympus Four Thirds lenses.

The Lumix DMC-L10 is currently offered in a kit that includes a Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50 mm f3.8/5.6 zoom that is equipped with Panasonic's Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) system.

This lens, when mounted on the camera, becomes the equivalent of a 28 to 100 mm on a 35 mm camera.

The shutter speed range of the L10 covers from 1/4000 second to 60 seconds. In addition, the Manual mode adds an untimed B (Bulb) mode that can be as long as 8 minutes. To control the exposure time efficiently, however, the optional remote control (DMW-RSL1) has to be used.

Images can be captured using different aspect ratios, but only when the Live View mode is used, as only the 4:3 aspect ratio is available when the TTL optical viewfinder is used:

The DMC-L10 is capable of capturing RAW format images, using Panasonic's proprietary *.RAW file format at the highest image resolution of each aspect ratio. RAW images are unprocessed by the camera, and have to be opened using the software Panasonic includes with the camera (see the Interface and Software section of the review for a look at the software).

In addition, each image size can be saved in JPEG format, at either of two compression settings:

• Fine, compresses the image the least, giving priority to the image quality.
• Standard, uses a stronger compression, which allows storing more images in a given memory space, but at a lower image quality.

Furthermore, when the RAW format is used, it is possible to also record a JPEG copy along with it — RAW + JPEG — and the JPEG version of the image can be set to be Fine or Standard.

Although the FUNC button can be used to control a handful of settings, most of the camera's settings can be found in the menu system of the DMC- L10, the menu shown when the MENU/SET button is pressed, irrespective of the camera's mode.

With the camera set to the Program mode, or one of the other advanced modes, the menu is divided into 4 sections, each identified by a tab on the left side of the screen: REC., Setup, Custom Menu and Play. Moreover, when the camera is set to the SCN mode dial position, an additional tab appears in the first position, labeled Scene Mode, which serves to choose one of the 5 scene modes, and when the Mode Dial is set to the C position, an additional tab offers the choice of any of the 3 customized shooting modes.

Whether the camera is set to a capture mode, or to the Playback mode, 4 sections remain identical. However, access to some of the options is linked to the currently selected shooting mode. The P, S, A and M modes offer the greatest selection of options, while the Auto mode limits the options in the REC. section to 4 (format, picture size, quality and flash mode). The following is a complete list of all the options available in the REC. section of the menu:

• Film Mode serves to choose the post capture processing applied to JPEG images (see the Ergonomics section of the review).
• Aspect: allows selecting the image aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9. This option is only offered when Live View is active.
• Pict. Size: to select the image size according to the aspect ratio in use (see above).
• Quality serves to select the image quality: JPEG Fine, JPEG Normal, RAW+JPEG Fine, RAW+JPEG Normal or RAW.
• O.I.S. Mode: serves to select the Mega O.I.S. stabilization mode (Mode 1, 2 or 3, as explained in the Ergonomics section of the review).

• EX. Opt. Zoom "Extended Optical Zoom": (only accessible when Live View and the JPEG format are used) this option makes it possible to take advantage of the full resolution of the sensor to produce the effect of a longer zoom without image degradation caused by interpolation. The Extended Zoom is only available when the image size is less than the maximum available at all aspect ratios, and is accessed by the symbol on the monitor.
• D. Zoom: (only accessible when Live View and the JPEG format are used) allows the use of a standard interpolating 2X or 4X digital zoom. The use of the digital zoom engenders a lower image quality.

• Flash: serves to select the Flash mode, just like the option offered in the FUNC menu (see the Ergonomics section of the review).
• Flash Sync.: to select whether the slow sync occurs at the beginning of the exposure (1st curtain), or just before the end (2nd curtain).
• Flash Adjust: allows adjusting flash exposure compensation over ±2 EV in 1/3 EV increments.
• Multi. Exp: this option is used to create superimposed images (multiple exposures) using 2 or 3 images captured using Live View. The system makes it possible to preview the effect so as to frame correctly, and an automatic exposure compensation system can be used to ensure that the resulting image is correctly exposed.
• Burst Rate: serves to set the Burst Rate (3 frames per second or 2 frames per second).
• Auto Bracket: serves to select the bracketing step (±2 EV in 1/3 EV increments).
• Self-timer: to select the delay time of the Self-timer (10 seconds, 10 seconds with 3 images captured at a 2 second interval, or 2 seconds).
• Mirror Up: to choose if the mirror goes up automatically at the beginning of a self-timer exposure to avoid vibrations, or not.
• Color Space: to choose the colour space used by the images, sRGB being desirable for computer uses, AdobeRGB being intended for professionals.
• Long Shtr NR: to select whether or not images captured using long exposure times or at high ISO settings are processed for noise reduction.

The next section of the menu, Setup, contains basic camera settings for the DMC-L10. This section of the menu is detailed in the Interface and Software section of the review.

The third section, Custom Menu, contains all the customization options of the camera:

• Cust. Set Mem.: serves to register a current set of camera settings into one of three memories (C1SET 1, C2SET 2 and C3SET 3) that can be recalled later by selecting the C position on the Mode Dial.
• AF/AE Lock: to choose if the AFL/AEL button locks the focus and exposure, or only the focus, or only the exposure.
• AF/AE Lock Hold serves to select how the AFL/AEL button operates: locking the selected parameters (see above) when pressed and held, or like a switch, locking the parameters when pressed and released, and unlocking them when pressed again.

• ISO Limit Set: serves to set the maximum ISO increase the camera can do when Auto ISO is used (200, 400, 800 or 1600 ISO).
• Dial Set.: serves to change the functions assigned to the Front and Rear dials (exposure compensation, aperture or shutter speed selection).
• Focus Priority: allows selecting whether of not the camera's shutter can only be released once the lens is focused, or if it can be released when the subject is not yet in focus.

• AF Assist Lamp: to choose if the AF Assist lamp comes on automatically when ambient light conditions are too low for the auto focus to operate reliably. The range of the AF Assist lamp is from 1 to 3 meters (3.3 to 9.8 ft).
• AF + MF: allows fine-tuning the focus with the manual focus ring of the lens when the DMC-L10 is set to auto focus.
• AF LED: to decide whether or not the focus point lights up in red in the viewfinder.
• Live View AF to select the auto focus used in the Live View mode: Face Detection, 9-area AF, Multi AF, 3-area AF, 1-area AF or Spot AF (see the Ergonomics section of the review).
• Pixel Refresh: serves to check and automatically adjust the sensor and the image processing functions. This option should only be used when a problem is detected, or to check the camera once a year.
• Display Set: this function controls the type of information that will be displayed when the DISPLAY button is pressed in the Live View mode (Rec. Info., Histogram, Grid 1 or Grid 2).
• Menu Resume: On or Off. When On the camera returns to the last used menu position.
• Shoot W/O Lens: On or Off. Allows deciding whether or not the camera will allow the shutter release to operate when there is no lens mounted on the camera, or when it is mounted incorrectly.

The last section of the menu, Play, contains options that are related to image review and printing:

• Slide Show: to start an automatic slide show of all the images on the memory card, or of those that have been tagged as Favorites. The on-screen time of images can be selected (1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds, or manual).
• Favorite: to select images as favorites. It is then possible to erase all other images, or see favorite images as a slide show.
• Rotate Display: allows for the automatic rotation of vertically captured images so that when reviewed they are presented vertically.

• Rotate: serves to rotate images in 90° increments to the right or left.
• DPOF Print: serves to choose images that will be printed on a DPOF compliant printer, or by a DPOF service. Prints can be selected individually, or photos printed as Index prints, and with or without the capture date superimposed on the print.
• Protect: serves to select images that should be protected against an accidental deletion.

• Resize: serves to make a smaller size copy of an image, which can then be saved by overwriting the original, or saved as a new image (not available when an image is captured using the RAW format).
• Trimming: allows saving a part of an image that has been magnified on the monitor at the nearest image size. That image can then be saved by overwriting the original, or as a new image (not available when an image is captured using the RAW format).
• Aspect Conversion: allows converting 16:9 aspect format images to 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratios (not available when an image is captured using the RAW format).

The DMC-L10 is compatible with SD (Secure Digital) and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory cards. The memory card slot is located on the right side of the camera and covered by a door that is as solidly built as the rest of the camera.

In North America the camera is normally retailed without a memory card, as is normally the case with dSLR cameras.

The chart below provides approximate image capacity using a 2 GB SD card:

The DMC-L10 is powered by a square-shaped rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (DMW-DLA13PP). which is housed inside the grip area of the camera. The battery is recharged using the charger included with the camera (DE-A38F). a process that requires approximately 130 minutes.

An optional AC-DC adapter (DMW-DCC1) is available to power the DMC-L10 from household current. The adapter fits in the battery's compartment and its wire fits through a slot on the right side of the camera, allowing the battery cover to be closed.

The DMC-L10 has two external connection, both of which are covered by a small flexible plastic door located directly above the SD memory card slot cover door.

The one closest to the front of the camera is intended for use with the optional wired remote control (DMW-RSL1).

While the gold-plated connection closer to the camera's back has two functions: USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Port, the protocol for which is selected when the camera is connected directly to a computer and the memory card is recognized as a removable hard disk; or PictBridge, to connect to a Pictbridge compliant printer. The second function of the jack is as a Video Out (NTSC or PAL). The function of the port is dictated by the cable used, both of which are included with the camera.