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Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LC1 digital camera. Courtesy of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. Panasonic USA shows Lumix DMC-LC1
By Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Friday, February 13, 2004 - 17:42 EST)

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. has announced its Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 digital camera at the Photo Marketing Association trade show in Las Vegas.

The DMC-LC1 was first shown in Japan last October, at which time it was predicted to go on sale this spring. The LC1, which features manual controls for zoom, focus and aperture on the lens barrel, as well as for shutter speed on the top of the camera, will ship this March with a planned price of $1599. Full specifications follow below; the DMC-LC1 features a 2/3" 5.2 megapixel image sensor and F2.0 - F2.4 Leica DC Vario-Summicron 3.2x optical zoom lens with an equivalent focal range of 28 - 90mm.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LC1 digital camera. Courtesy of Matsushita, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
CCD 2/3" 5.2 megapixel CCD Primary Color Filter
Camera Effective Pixels 5.0 megapixels
Lens Leica DC Vario-Summicron, 13 elements in 10 groups (2 aspherical lenses)
Optical Zoom 3.2x
Digital Zoom 3x
LSI Type Venus Engine LSI
Recording Image Size (Pixels)
2560 x 1920
2048 x 1536
1920 x 1080
1600 x 1200
1280 x 960
640 x 480
Motion Image: 320 x 240
Motion Image (QuickTime Motion JPEG) 30 or 10 fps (320 x 240 pixels)
Aperture F2.0-2.4
Focal Distance f/7.0 - 22.5mm (35mm equivalent: 28-90mm)
Focusing Area
AF: 1.97 feet - Infinity
MF/AF-Macro: 0.98 feet - Infinity
Focus Hybrid Auto Focus System with AF Sensor, Normal/Macro (Ring), Spot AF On/Off, Manual Focus (Ring)
ISO Sensitivity Auto / 100 / 200 / 400
White Balance Auto/Daylight/Cloudy/Halogen/ Flash/B&W/White Set White Balance Adjustment (except for Auto and B&W Modes)
Exposure Program AE (Program Shift (P mode)), Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV Step, +/- 2 EV
Auto (AE) Bracketing +/- 1/6 EV - 1 EV Step, 3 or 5 Frames
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot
Shutter Speed
2 - 1/4,000 sec.: Program AE, Aperture Priority AE
8 - 1/2,000 sec.: Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Self Timer 10 seconds / 2 seconds
Picture Adjustment Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation
Image Quality RAW / Super Fine / Fine / Standard
Mega Burst Consecutive Shooting Full resolution image - Standard Mode: Up to 9 images at 2.7 or 1 frames/sec.; Fine Mode: Up to 5 images
Still Image Recording with Audio 5 seconds
Audio Dubbing Maximum of 10 seconds
Flash Built-in
Built-in Flash Mode Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Flash Output Adjustment (1/3EV step, -2 +2EV), 1.64 - 15.75 feet (Wide), 1.64 - 13.12 feet (Tele) (ISO 100/ISO Auto)
External Flash Yes (Metz SCA 3502 Compatible)
LCD Monitor 2.5" Diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (211k pixels, Transflective Type), Field of view: approx. 100%
Viewfinder 0.44" diagonal Color EVF (235k pixels), Field of view: approx. 100%
Built-in SD Card Slot Yes
Recording Media SD Memory Card, Multimedia Card
Microphone Built-in
Speaker Built-in
Interface DC Input, A/V Output, USB
USB Port Yes
Power Supply Lithium-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 1400 mAh)(Included), Battery Charger/AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC)(Included)
Battery Life Up to 360 pictures/180 minutes with LCD, Up to 440 pictures/220 minutes with EVF
Included ArcSoft® Software ArcSoft® PhotoImpression™, ArcSoft® , Panorama Maker™, ArcSoft® PhotoBase™, ArcSoft® PhotoPrinter®
Other Included Software SD Viewer for DSC
Included Accessories Battery Charger/AC Adapter, Battery Pack, 16MB 6 SD Memory Card, AC Cable, DC Cable, Lens Cap, Lens Hood, Hood Cap, A/V Cable, USB Cable, MC Protector, Remote Shutter, Strap, CD-ROM
Dimensions 3.21" x 5.30" x 4.0"
Weight 1.38 lbs
More Photos
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LC1 digital camera. Courtesy of Matsushita, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LC1 digital camera. Courtesy of Matsushita, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LC1 digital camera. Courtesy of Matsushita, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
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Original Source Press Release:

PANASONIC INTRODUCES NEW 5-MEGAPIXEL LUMIX(tm)DIGITAL STILL CAMERA WITH LEICA LENS AND FULL MANUAL CONTROLS

LAS VEGAS, NV (February 13, 2004) - Once again Panasonic revolutionizes the world of digital photography with the new DMC-LC1 Lumix(tm) camera. The DMC-LC1 has a digital brain but the heart and soul of a finely crafted 35mm camera, right down to its controls. A true breakthrough in digital camera craftsmanship, the 5-megapixel DMC-LC1 brings a traditional photographic experience to the digital world, evoking the look, feel, precision, and responsiveness of a 35mm camera. Zoom, focus and aperture are manually controlled by ring settings on the lens; shutter speed is controlled by a dial located on the top of the unit. And, like all of Panasonic's Lumix models, the DMC-LC1 features a high-performance Leica lens for extraordinary image rendering.

The DMC-LC1 combines unrivalled Leica optics with Panasonic's most advanced digital electronic technology to create a camera that allows photographers to experience a new level of creative expression. The camera's full manual operation serves as a natural extension of the photographer's hands and eyes.

Leica lenses retain a legendary reputation for creating images that capture the most delicate nuances of light and shade, the elusive ambience of "air", and subtle gradations of color. The new DMC-LC1 incorporates a finely crafted, F2.0 - 2.4 Leica DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens (13 elements in 10 groups) with zoom capability equivalent to 28 - 90mm on a 35mm camera.

Beyond the lens, Panasonic converts the optical data into digital information with unmatched processing speed. Panasonic's innovative Venus Engine LSI handles all image processing functions simultaneously -- from displaying the image on the LCD to writing data to the memory card -- as soon as the CCD captures the image signal. The result is superb image rendering and outstanding responsiveness.

The DMC-LC1 can capture image in the RAW format as well as Super Fine/Fine/Standard JPEG and QuickTime(r) motion JPEG images. Often referred to as a "digital negative," the raw file format stores uncompressed data directly off the camera's CCD with no in-camera processing. This raw image can then be manually manipulated in a photo editing program. Adobe announced at PMA today a free, updated version of the Camera Raw plug-in, which will provide integrated support of the Panasonic raw format within Adobe Photoshop® CS, the latest version of Adobe's professional image editing product.

The DMC-LC1 features a built-in USB port and SD Memory Card/Multimedia Card slot, offering consumers networking versatility with PCs and a wide variety of compatible SD-enabled devices.

Other features include:

  • Built-in pop-up flash which can tilt 45 degrees to create a bounce flash. The camera can also accept and synchronize with optional external flash units. Auto-flash and manual flash settings.
  • Red-eye compensation.
  • Large 2.5-inch LCD.
  • 3.2x optical and 3x digital* zoom.
  • Burst shooting mode.
  • Real-time histogram.
  • Auto bracketing mode automatically takes three or five shots at different exposures.
  • Remote shutter helps prevent even slight shaking or vibration caused by contact with the camera.
  • Three light metering modes: Intelligent Multiple/Center Weighted/Spot
  • Microphone and speakers for audio recording.
  • Included accessories: Battery charger/AC adaptor, battery pack, SD Memory Card, AC cable, DC cable, lens cap, A/V cable, USB driver, USB connection cable, lens hood, hood cap, MC protector, remote shutter, strap, SD viewer software, ArcSoft editing software: ArcSoft PhotoBase(tm), ArcSoft PhotoImpression(tm), ArcSoft PhotoPrinter(tm) and ArcSoft Panorama Maker(tm).

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 is scheduled for March, 2004 delivery. It will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,599.00.

About Panasonic
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, Division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, markets a broad line of digital and other consumer electronics products. Based in Secaucus, N.J., Matsushita Electric Corporation of America is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Additional information on Matsushita Electric Corporation of America and Panasonic is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom or through the company's toll-free fax-back system at 888-734-7490.

* As digital zoom increases, resolution significantly decreases.
** Manufacturer's suggested retail price. All prices are in U.S. dollars.


Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.
Summicron is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.
The Leica DC lenses are manufactured using measurement instruments and a quality assurance system that have been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company's quality standards.

QuickTime® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Adobe Photoshop CS is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

ArcSoft, the ArcSoft logo, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft PhotoPrinter , ArcSoft Panorama Maker, and ArcSoft PhotoBase are trademarks of ArcSoft, Inc.

All specifications are subject to change without notice.

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