Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1

I am late in submitting my review on this camera, but felt compelled to do so by my well over a year of using it. I have many cameras, both digital and film and have used many others so I do have preferences built up over time for what features I enjoy in a camera.

Let me start by saying every camera has something I won't like about it and I accept that. The Lumix has so many rights, the few wrongs are insignificant to me.

It has provided utlra-sharp images which compete with my 6 and 8 megapixel cameras and it's built rugged and compact.

Image Quality - Top notch
Large LCD View Screen
RAW Mode
Manual like the old film cameras with dials on the lens
Flash has 2 positions including a 45 degree angle for bounce usage
Camera included a wired remote, and lens hood and a UV filter !

The AF - Macro dial gets bumped frequently, but now I check for it before shooting.
Battery life is not prime, but I carry 2 batteries with me so problem solved

Just about everything.

Non needed so far (fingers crossed)

Mainly thanks to the Leica-lens this is a very good camera. Those that are accustomed to the Lerica M6 -manual handling will find a reliable friend in the Panasonic part of the camera. The menu and the functions are clear and easy to follow; in the Programme-position the camera trustfully does what it has to do, however a slight over-exposure appears. The camera is not a speedy Formule-1 machine!

-Lens, bright and detailed. -Handling is easy -Good for black and white photography as well -

-Slight overexposure in Auto-position -Not fast in writing - Electronic View Finder is horrible, like all EFV's - Energy-consumption is high; you need a spare battery - price a bit high, however cheaper than it's Leica twin

none

not needed yet

I had been putting off going digital simply because I found the cameras shody, the quality compromising, and the depreciation value too alarming. I normally use a Contax G2 rangefinder, so SLRs were out of the question. I'd been flirting with the Leica Digilux 1 before but it proved to be a far cry from what I call a camera. Then came the LC-1, and it magically fit all the categories in my wish list. I had to own one, as soon as it hit the market and got the first rave and sneering reviews. Basically, I wanted something that gives me the range finder feel, crisp picture quality, but without the fuss of interchangeable lenses. I got it all, and am happy with it. To my surprise, it is bulkier than the G2, although somewhat lighter. Picture quality, white balance, and exposure are spot on. With digital cameras I usually start with adjusting AE to -2/3 or -1 to get deeper shadows and full-bodied texture. With the Lumix, it's all perfectly set without +/-. It is no Point and Shoot, the lens is bulky, feels more like an SLR (without the clickety rattle of course). But it's worth the extra cargo: the Leica lense delivers nicely. I tried night shots from tripod, and it was less noisy than I expected (ISO 100, may I add; ISO 400 does get fuzzy). Overall, it is a prime shooter for the top amateur or a handy backup for the pro when a D1 or similar is too intrusive. Bit pricy but the quality features make up for it in the long run. And, it is the first digital still camera that looks timeworthy, and hopefully will not date as rapidly as other models.

Robust build, great design. 2.5 in LCD is superb, light and crisp. Menu and settings are the best ever - logical, well laid out, no fuss, handy. Quick start-up, no shutter lag - feels like a REAL camera. Outstanding lense, free of CA and distortion, fast in the whole zoom range, and goes to 11! Manual dials and rings are a real feat for the photog - the fastest way to adjust focus, zoom and exposure.

EVF is difficult to get used to, and is hard to use in manual focus mode. AF and AF macro are too close on the focus ring, and it's easy to incidentally flick the ring over with your finger - and produce blurred images. RAW files take ages to save.

Contax TVS digital Contax G2 Canon G5 Olympus C-5060

Not needed so far.

It is a joy to use... in every way: The great lens, the very good menu and the big and great display. All is made to concentrate the mind on taking pictures...

excellent picture quality very fast lens very good construction simple to use

The price is a little bit high - buy it at internet shops!

not needed

I purchased this camera after carefully reviewing all available information about the DMC-LC1 as well as the Leica version, the Digilux 2. I was looking for a digital camera that would allow me to shoot candids of people with minimal intervention on the part of the camera. I wanted to be able to pre-focus the lens and set all values manually, thereby overriding the lag time produced by digital exposure and focusing. The DMC-LC1 has more than met my expectations. Although the pixel count is not as high as the current crop of consumer SLRs, it is certainly high enough for 8" x 10" prints. Furthermore, the Leica lens is astounding in its ability to reproduce color and detail. I rarely need to use Photoshop levels adjustments with this lens. When I select automatic levels adjustment, nothing happens, because the camera images are already perfect. I am very pleased with this camera. It is an ideal solution for any photographer who desires control over the outcome. I don't use the electronic viewfinder, prefering instead to use the large LCD panel for all composition. I can shoot 100 images and select the best three, then start over. The savings in time and materials has already paid for the camera.

Astonishing lens quality. No mirror noise, vibration. Fast response times, allowing the user to capture the 'decisive moment'. Robust build and feel. Very good design. Large LCD.

Pixel count is lower than the current crop of SLRs, but this is irrelevant to 99% of users. Electronic veiwfinder is a step in the right direction, but difficult to use. Cost for some people seems high, but the Leica lens really is better than anything else out there.

Nikon pro cameras and lenses for many years. N70 F5 FM3a 20-35 2.8 AF 80-200 2.8 AF 50 1.4 AF

Not needed so far.