Digital Camera Information

Because it is digital, the DMC-L1 can offer features such as a full-time Live View function through the large 2.5” high-resolution LCD, which offers a shooting style different from conventional digital SLRs that have only an optical viewfinder. The full-time Live View is made possible by the new Live MOS sensor, developed using Panasonic’s originalνMaicoviconâ„¢ technology. Used in the DMC-L1, the 4/3-type Live MOS sensor with 7.5 million pixels provides both the outstanding image quality of a CCD and the low energy consumption for which CMOS sensors are known. The DMC-L1 also incorporates the Venus Engine III image processing LSI, which teams up with the Live MOS sensor to achieve stunning picture quality and responsive performance, with features such as rapid consecutive shooting.

The DMC-L1 further incorporates a Supersonic Wave Filter that serves as a dust reduction system, so you don’t have to worry about dust entering the camera during lens changes.

The LUMIX DMC-L1 debuts as a state-of-the-art digital SLR camera that maintains the intuitive control and operability of familiar analogue cameras, unlike digital SLRs that simply offer extended functions and specifications. The DMC-L1 is a finely crafted, truly satisfying camera that makes it easy for people who have never even used a digital single lens reflex camera to take beautiful shots and gives professionals a powerful tool for creating photographic masterpieces that visually express the emotions of their subjects.

A shutter speed dial on the camera body and an aperture ring on the lens barrel

To enhance the sense of camera control, the DMC-L1 features a shutter speed dial on top of the camera body. The LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens (also being introduced today) is equipped with an aperture ring, in addition to a focus ring and zoom ring, for easy, direct aperture setting.

Full-time Live View for a whole new style of digital SLR shooting, the same as the Olympus Evolt-330

By combining the full-time image output function of the Live MOS sensor and a mirror-up mechanism, the DMC-L1 achieves a full-time Live View function that displays the image on the LCD directly from the sensor signal. This function can be selected in both Auto Focus and Manual Focus modes. In Manual Focus, it allows the user to enlarge an image within the frame and then select the area focusing. This makes it easy to check the focusing condition on the large 2.5-inch, high-resolution, 207,000-pixel LCD. The depth of field can also be easily checked by pressing the Aperture button.

High-image-quality, low-energy-consuming 4/3-type Live MOS sensor with 7.5 million pixels

The Live MOS sensor used in the DMC-L1 not only makes full-time Live View possible, it also helps capture the beautiful images of a CCD sensor with delicate gradation and a wide dynamic range. And it suppresses energy consumption as only a CMOS sensor can do. Noise is also minimized thanks to a special processing technology that runs on voltage as low as 5 V.

Venus Engine Ill LSI: High image quality, quick response, low energy consumption

The Venus Engine III is an image processing LSI that was newly developed to maximize the performance of the Live MOS sensor. While inheriting the earlier Venus Engine’s high resolution, superior color reproduction and detailed gradation, the Venus Engine III also reduces noise to the level expected from a digital SLR camera, to help render smooth images. The Venus Engine III improves camera responsiveness too, supporting high-performance consecutive shooting and a short shutter interval. Despite the considerably higher performance, the Venus Engine III consumes only 80% as much power as the Venus Engine II. This combines with the Live MOS sensor’s low energy consumption to provide longer battery life.

Dust reduction system to prevent annoying contaminants

The most critical and annoying problem with digital SLRs with interchangeable lenses is the possibility of dust getting inside the camera during lens changes, contaminating the image sensor. If this happens, professional cleaning is often required. The DMC-L1 takes care of this problem by incorporating a Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system. The system uses supersonic vibration to instantly shake off any dust that might otherwise affect the image.

Panasonic original home networking

All of us here in the Camera Division at Canon USA are getting ready to spend the next 10 days in Florida working hard at the PMA show, so time for web monitoring has been somewhat scarce lately. In any event, as promised, Canon Inc. in Japan has indeed been actively investigating the claims of banding under certain conditions with the EOS 5D since the first reports surfaced shortly after the camera was delivered to the market. Here is what we have been told so far:

“There may be cases where random noise or pattern noise [banding] stands out in images taken at high ISO settings. This is because the noise component is also amplified at high ISO settings. Various measures are taken to reduce noise, but the fact is that it cannot be entirely eliminated technologically. We are continuing to work on reducing noise even further.”

“The following shooting techniques can reduce or prevent the occurrence of noise.”
* Whenever possible, use low ISO settings (ISO 800 or lower)
* For subjects that do not move, use One-Shot AF mode

“Horizontal line noise may be somewhat more noticeable for the following six lenses when compared to other lenses, but horizontal line noise with these lenses can be reduced by replacing parts.”

EF85mm F1.8 USM — Part No. YG2-0199-000
EF16-35mm F2.8L USM — Part No. YG2-2011-129
EF17-40mm F4L USM — Part No. YG2-2081-009
EF20-35mm F3.5-4.5 USM — Part No. YG2-0268-009
EF24-85mm F3.5-4.5 USM — Part No. YG2-0299-009
EF28-200mm F3.5-5.6 USM — Part No. YG9-2059-170 or YG9-2059-179

“Going forward, we will continue to work on even further noise reduction in the development of both cameras and lenses from now on. It would be difficult to completely eliminate noise, but we will continue to make efforts to reduce it.”

The D200 is a fairly large and very well built digital SLR. It has a magnesium alloy body with plastic and rubber on top, and it feels very solid in your hands. The camera does suffer a bit from “button clutter”, and I’m not a big fan of the lack of a mode dial, either. The D200 has a large and beautiful 2.5″ LCD display, which strangely enough was the first thing that caught my eye when I unboxed the camera. Being a digital SLR, every accessory imaginable can be had — for a price. That includes lenses, flashes (via the hot shoe or flash sync port), viewfinder attachments, and a battery grip (which doubles the already great battery life).

The D200 is not aimed toward beginners, as the lack of automatic or scene modes attests. The D200 may be a little intimidating to new users, as well. Enthusiasts, however, will be thrilled with the manual controls and custom functions, of which there are too many to list here. I like how you can store four sets of camera settings, and the recent menu is a handy feature that no one has done before. The only thing that I really missed were the nice advanced white balance controls that Canon offers on their D-SLRs.

As you might expect, camera performance is first rate. The D200 starts up instantly, focuses quickly, and there’s no shutter lag or delay between shots. The continuous shooting mode was amazing, especially with a high speed memory card. Low light focusing was excellent thanks to the built-in AF-assist lamp. The battery life on the camera was very good, as well — I never had to charge it in three months of use.

Photo quality was excellent as well. Photos were properly exposed, with vivid colors and low purple fringing and noise levels. As is typical with D-SLRs, images are very smooth, and some folks may want to sharpen things up a bit. My only real photo quality complaint is that noise levels are higher than I would’ve liked at ISO sensitivities above 640. They’re not horrible by any means, but after just reviewing the Canon EOS-5D, I’m a bit spoiled. Then again, the 5D costs $3299 and the D200 is $1699.

There are a few negatives to mention, though. First up is the price — yes, the D200 is cheaper than the EOS-5D, but it’s also $300 more than the EOS-30D, itself a very capable camera. Next is the software bundle: I’ll be frank here — it sucks. PictureProject is fine for your $350 Coolpix, but D200 users deserve better. If you plan on using the RAW image format you’ll need to either pony up for Nikon Capture or Adobe Photoshop CS2, since PictureProject cannot actually edit the properties which make RAW worth using in the first place. For the price of the D200 they should just include Nikon Capture for free.

And those are really the only negatives that I can come up with. The most annoying of those is the noise issue, though with something like NeatImage you can clean up the yuck fairly well. If you’re using a D200, it’s probably safe to say that you own Photoshop CS2, so the crummy software bundle isn’t as a big of a deal.

All things considered, though, the Nikon D200 is a heck of a camera. I really enjoyed using it, and I would recommend it to anyone, whether you’re just starting out with a D-SLR, or if you’re upgrading from an older Nikon D-SLR.

What I liked:

* Excellent photo quality, redeye not a problem (though see issue below)
* Built like a tank
* Large, bright, and sharp 2.5″ LCD
* Full manual controls, and then some
* Super fast performance, amazing continuous shooting mode
* Tons of custom settings; camera can store four sets worth
* Handy “recent menu”
* In-camera help system
* AF-assist lamp
* Superb battery life
* USB 2.0 High Speed supported
* All the expandability you’d expect from a D-SLR

What I didn’t care for:

* Images a bit noisy at higher ISO settings
* Expensive
* Included software doesn’t allow for RAW image manipulation; Nikon Capture should be included, and not $100
* Suffers a bit from button clutter; can be difficult to use
* Zoom and scroll feature harder to use than it should be

Some other digital SLRs worth looking at include the Canon EOS-5D and EOS-30D, Fuji FinePix S3 Pro, Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D, Nikon D70s, Olympus EVOLT E-500, and the Pentax *ist DS2.