Lumix
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lumix is Panasonic's range of digital cameras, from pocket point and shoot models to digital SLRs. Many Lumix models are fitted with Leica lenses, and some are effectively Leica cameras without the brand name and with different exterior styling. Panasonic produces all of Leica's digital cameras in Japan.
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[edit] Model lines
DMC-LC: An older line of Lumix cameras, no longer in production. This line consisted mostly of midrange, medium-size cameras.
DMC-LS: Panasonic's cheapest line, budget plastic compact cameras powered by two AA batteries. The LS line includes the LS1, LS2, LS60, and LS75 (March 2007).
DMC-LZ: A budget line, but more advanced and with more user control than many other digital compact cameras. The most notable feature is a 6x (37-222 mm) optical zoom range, instead of the 3x range provided by most digital compact cameras. The LZ line includes the LZ1, LZ2, LZ3, LZ5, LZ6, and LZ7 models (Feb 2007).
DMC-FX: The ultra-compact series of the Lumix brand. The FX line is a midrange camera line, consisting of relatively typical cameras. The FX01 was the first ever ultra-compact (considering Ricoh R series as compact) with a true wideangle 28-102mm lens, sharing now (20 Jan 2007) this feature with its siblings FX07 and FX50, as well as with the Canon SD800 IS (IXUS 850 IS in Europe). Unlike most of the other Lumix lines, the FX series tends to have a more stylish look (as opposed to the generic silver or black), likely due to its target use of social photography. The FX line includes the FX1, FX5, FX2, FX7, FX8, FX9, FX01, FX10, FX12, FX30, FX50, and FX07 models.
DMC-LX: A high-end compact/ultra-compact camera line, with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio CCD sensor (most non-SLR digital cameras and the "Four Thirds" system use a 4:3 ratio CCD sensor, while most DSLRs and older film cameras typically a 3:2 ratio), full manual exposure and focus controls (with joystick control rather than focus ring), and RAW recording, unusual in compact cameras. Includes the 8-megapixel LX1 and the 10-megapixel LX2 (Feb 2007).
DMC-FZx (excluding DMC-FZx0 models): "compact" ultra-zoom higher-end cameras. These cameras are described as compact but are relatively large, have extensive controls (although models earlier than the FZ7 do not have manual focus), and long zoom ranges (12x) with an extending lens. The series comprises FZ1, FZ2, FZ3, FZ4, FZ5, FZ7, and FZ8.
DMC-FZx0: bridge semi-SLR cameras. These high-end cameras resemble digital SLRs in many ways, but have a non-interchangeable, non-extending zoom lens. The later models from the FZ30 are large and heavy. have a wide zoom range (12x) and extensive manual controls, including fully manual focus and zoom rings on the lens. The range comprises the FZ10, FZ20, FZ30, and FZ50.
DMC-TZ: The TZ line includes the TZ1, TZ2, and TZ3, compact, point and shoot 10X zoom cameras with image stabilization and Panasonic's new Venus III engine. The TZ1 uses folded optics, with a prism, to provide longer zooms in a smaller body.
DMC-L: Panasonic's dSLR line. The first model in this line is the L1. It uses the Four Thirds System lens mount and can display live image view on the LCD screen, unlike most dSLRs; the Olympus E-330 also has this capability.
[edit] Leica model crossover
Some Panasonic and Leica cameras are basically the same. The differences, other than the obvious exterior styling, are in the camera firmware. Different application software is also supplied by the two companies with the cameras.
The Leica and Panasonic cameras produce the same RAW image, but will process white balance, noise reduction, etc. differently. Lumix cameras are less expensive than their Leica counterparts due to the companies' marketing strategies and production economics.
 Lumix L1 |
 Leica Digilux 3 |
 Lumix FZ50 |
 Leica V-Lux 1 |
 Lumix LX1 |
 Leica D-Lux 2 |
 Lumix FX01 |
 Leica C-Lux 1 |
[edit] Pros and cons
[edit] Advantages over other brands
Optical image stabilization (O.I.S.) is standard on all Panasonic cameras except the early LC series. Many point and shoot zoom models have 28 mm-equivalent wide-angle capability instead of the more usual 35 mm.
Many Lumix models have a high-angle viewing mode which allows the LCD screen to be seen when raised above head height, in a crowd for instance.
Some newer Lumix models support 16:9 widescreen format: The DMC-LX1 and LX2 have a native 16:9 sensor, and DMC-TZ series, the DMC-FX(01/07/10/12), and DMC-FZ(7/50) have the capability to crop to this aspect ratio in-camera.
Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lenses are used in all the cameras, except the lower end LS and LZ series which use Panasonic-branded lenses.
[edit] Disadvantages over other brands
Some reviewers noted that pre-2006 models were prone to image noise. The latest models using the Venus III image processing engine produce less noisy results. This is achieved by applying a fairly aggressive low-pass filter to the chrominance information whilst retaining much of the luminance information. Although good in theory, the result is criticized for resulting in an excessively soft image at higher ISOs compared with equivalent models from other brands, with an appearance sometimes described as the "water colour effect". That said, most reviewers also agree that this is not noticeable on normal print sizes.
