Panasonic DMC-L1

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When the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 was announced, and later when the apparently identical Leica Digilux 3 was unveiled, many observers noted similarities between their design and that of the Leica M-series cameras. The flat front panel, the flat top, the shutter speed dial, the two widely separated windows along the top of the front, the rounded right side, and the generally clean design make them look much more like Leica rangefinders than like the Olympus EVOLT E-330, a camera to which they are much more closely related. And that's a good thing – the E-330 is not nearly as pleasant to look at as a classic Leica, or the L1 for that matter. The L1 has a pleasant, classic look that is more attractive than most cameras.

 

The similarities to Leica rangefinders are less notable now that there is a real digital Leica rangefinder, the M8. The Panasonic L1 looks great next to an Olympus, and most other DSLRs, but next to the M8, it looks bloated and clumsy. The simple remedy is to keep it away from the M8 – at $5,000 without a lens, the real digital Leica will be a rare sighting anyway.

Size / Portability (7.0)

It seemed when the Four-Thirds format was announced that the smaller format, with proportionally shorter focal-length lenses, might be smaller than other DSLRs. So far, only the Olympus E-400 fulfills that promise. The L1 does not.

 

At 5.74 x 3.42 x 3.15 inches, the L1 is pretty big for a DSLR, and at 18.7 ounces, it's not light, either. The standard lens, the 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5, is about 3 inches in diameter and at minimum almost 3 ¾ inches long. It weighs 17.3 ounces, almost as much as the camera.

 

We found the lens and camera comfortable to hold, and not bad to have hanging from a shoulder strap. Like all DSLRs, the L1 really can't be carried as an afterthought, dropped in a coat pocket, backpack or purse. It more or less demands a camera bag. Though the L1 is sturdy, it is not uniformly sealed against dust and dirt. Users should take care to keep it clean.

Handling Ability (8.25)

The L1 feels comfortable to grip for users with average or big hands. The neck strap lug will get in the way of some users’ right index fingers, but the surface and contours of the camera are comfortable and easy to grip. The lens is the obvious grip for the left hand, and the rubber rings on it are comfortable and secure. The position of the eyepiece, and the way it projects from the back of the camera add to viewing comfort. Live LCD focusing is also very comfortable.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (8.0)

The L1 doesn't have a mode dial, and doesn't need one. The aperture ring on its lens has an “A” setting; when it is set there, the camera is in shutter-priority mode. The shutter speed dial also has an “A” setting; when the aperture dial is set to an f-stop, and the shutter speed is set to “A,” the camera is in aperture-priority mode. When they're both set to “A,” the camera is in Program mode. When neither is set to “A,” the L1 is in manual mode. The arrangement harkens back to the first automatic cameras, which used similar arrangements.

 

The shutter speed dial and aperture rings are large and easy to set. Both have click stops at 1/3 EV increments. The shutter release is smooth and actuates with a very short movement. Again, the shoulder strap will get in the way for many users. The camera's other buttons are well-made, with good tactile feedback. The 4-way controller is a group of 5 distinct buttons, rather than the single dish-shaped controller common on digital cameras, but the buttons are nicely proportioned and convenient. The control dial works well. It is small, but both its face and its edge are textured, and turning it with the right thumb feels very natural.

Menu (6.5)

The L1's menus are standard Panasonic style. They are presented in a tabbed interface, and each tab has multiple pages. The text is large and white, overlaying a textured gray background. Our typical complaints about Panasonic menus apply with the L1 – some obscure options appear high on the menu pages, while more useful stuff is lower down the list. A prime example is the first item in the Record mode menu: Film Mode, which is a color, saturation, contrast, and noise adjustment. Most users won't change this setting often. In general, we find that these settings reduce the amount and quality of data in an image, so we discourage their use.

A separate menu comes up in Playback mode.

Ease of Use (6.5)
The L1 is a straightforward camera to use. The controls are generally well-labeled. The lack of a mode dial suggests that it's a camera meant for users who prefer manual shooting. Since the camera does not have custom presets or a simple mode, migrating from a simple point-and-shoot won't be as easy as it would be to most entry-level or even mid-range DSLRs, although the inclusion of a live preview LCD will certainly help the adjustment. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 will feel more familiar to users who are comfortable with film SLRs.