14 DAY TRIAL // Great news for the four thirds fans as Panasonic has announced their new DSLR, the LUMIX DMC-L10. I'll skip the part of the press release which touts it as "the company's first SLR with Face Detection" and get right to the important specifications.
The new L10 is powered by a Live MOS sensor with 10.1 megapixels and has a completely new 2.5 inch Live View LCD which can rotate 270 degrees, enabling versatile shooting options and making it easy and convenient to shoot from high or low angles. There's also the usual Supersonic Wave Filter system that prevents the so-called "dust bunnies" from collecting on the sensor.
The Live View mode is also present and it's no surprise, but users now have contrast AF, which works just like the system in compact cameras. However, the DMC-L10 is not the first to implement contrast AF as Nikon's D300 also features it.
Other features of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-L10 include the Film Mode, which allows users "to choose a setting which mimics the effects of analog film" and the Venus Engine III. There are nine modes available to choose from: Standard, Dynamic, Nature, Smooth, Nostalgic, Vibrant, Standard B/W, Dynamic B/W and Smooth B/W.
Overall, the new Lumix DMC-L10 doesn't seem like a big upgrade compared to the DMC L1. Yes, it's true that you get a 2.5 inch Live View LCD which can tilt or swivel, Face Detection technology and the contrast-based AF, but it all depends on your needs. Speaking of the contrast AF, note that only the new lenses support it. If you are a pro or an advanced enthusiast it's unlikely that the DMC-L10 will tempt you. On the other hand, if you are just investing in a DSLR system Panasonic's new camera might just have what it takes to make the ride easier.
Aside from the body itself, the manufacturer has also announced the Leica D Vario-Elmar 14- 50mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./ MEGA O.I.S., which is a more affordable version of the Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens. The most important difference is the slower aperture of f/3.5 at the wide end and f/5.6 at the tele end, which affects its low-light capabilities.
The lens also features the Mega O.I.S stabilization system that allows for slower than recommended shutter times. Moreover, it is also compatible with the contrast AF technology found on the new DMC-L10. Construction wise, the new Elmar comprises 15 lens elements in 11 groups, including two aspherical lenses and two ED (extra-low dispersion) lenses to spherical and chromatic aberrations.
The new lens will be sold together with the new DMC-L10, but it will also be available separately.
The last product on yesterday's list is the mega-zoom Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm/ F3.5-5.6 ASPH./ MEGA O.I.S., which has a picture angle equivalent to that of a 28-300mm lens mounted on a 35mm camera. This one is also compatible with the contrast AF technology found in the DMC-L10. Spherical and chromatic aberrations are controlled with four aspherical lenses and an ED (extra-low dispersion).
Leica also informs that the Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm/ F3.5-5.6 ASPH./ MEGA O.I.S. is the first to incorporate Extra Silent (XS) technology, which seems to be Canon's equivalent of the USM and Nikon's equivalent of the SWM.
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