Lumix
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lumix is a sub-brand of Panasonic, offering a range of digital cameras from pocket point and shoot models to digital SLRs. Lumix cameras feature lenses designed by Leica and many Lumix models are essentially Leica cameras without the brand name or exterior styling. Additionally, Panasonic produces all of Leica's digital camera offerings 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: A "budget" line of compact cameras, the LS series is Panasonic's cheapest line. The LS line includes the LS1 and LS2 models. These are plastic entry level cameras that are powered by two AA batteries.
DMC-LZ: Although still a "budget" line, the LZ series is a bit more advanced and allows for more user control than most other digital compact cameras. The most notable feature of this line is a 6x (37-222mm) optical zoom range, whereas most digital compact cameras include only a 3x range. The LZ line includes the LZ1, LZ2, LZ3, and LZ5 models.
DMC-FX: The ultra-compact series of the Lumix brand. The FX line is a midrange camera line, consisting of typical cameras. 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 and FX01 models.
DMC-LX: The LX line (as of July 2006) consists of the compact 8-megapixel LX1 model and the 10-megapixel LX2. The LX series is a high-end compact/ultra-compact camera line, and includes notable features, such as a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio (most digital cameras use a 4:3 ratio, while older film cameras typically used a 3:2 ratio), full manual exposure and focus controls (through an innovative joystick control, rather than the traditional focus ring), and RAW recording, a feature almost unheard of in compact cameras.
DMC-FZ: The FZ line actually consists of two distinct classes of cameras, the "compact" ultra-zoom FZx series, and the bridge camera semi-SLR FZx0 series. The ultra-zoom FZx series, which consists of the FZ1, FZ2, FZ3, FZ4, FZ5, and FZ7 are higher end ultrazoom cameras, which have large (although moderately compact) bodies, extensive controls (although only the FZ7 has manual focus), and long zoom ranges (12x) with an extending lens. The FZx0 models, consisting of the FZ10, FZ20, FZ30, and FZ50 are high end bridge cameras, which resemble digital SLRs in many ways, but use only a single, non-interchangeable, non-extending lens. In the newest models, the FZ30 and FZ50, the FZ line is notable not only for its long zoom range (12x) but also its large formfactor and hefty weight, and for its extensive manual controls, including fully manual focus and (on the FZ30 and FZ50) zoom rings on the lens.
DMC-TZ: The TZ line consists of the TZ1, a compact, point and shoot 10X zoom camera with image stabilization and Panasonic's new Venus III engine. Panasonic refers to the camera in advertising as "World Smallest Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom" for 1-megapixel digital still cameras or higher as of 14th February, 2006. An interesting feature of the TZ1 is the high-angle mode which allows for the LCD screen to be seen when raised above one's head, in a crowd for instance. The camera also features the first use of "folded optics" which uses a prism to allow for longer zooms in a smaller camera.
DMC-L: The L line is Panasonic's dSLR line. The first model in this line is the L1. It uses the Four Thirds System lens mount and feature the unusual ability on dSLRs to display live image view on LCD screen, like on the Olympus E-330.
The 16:9 widescreen format of the DMC-LX1 is now available in selected newer models such as the DMC-TZ series, the DMC-FX01 and the DMC-FZ7.
[edit] Leica Model Crossover
These cameras are basically the same devices under different brand names. The differences, other than the obvious exterior styling, is the software boxed with the cameras and the actual firmware in the cameras. The only performance difference between the models is the way each camera handles on-board white balance, noise reduction etc. leaving no difference between the RAW image data produced by either brand (see RAW image format). Lumix will almost always be a less expensive camera most likely because of Panasonic's large production volume.
| Lumix L1 vs. Leica Digilux | |
Lumix L1 |
Leica Digilux 3 |
| Lumix FZ50 vs. Leica V-Lux | |
Lumix FZ50 |
Leica V-Lux 1 |
| Lumix LX vs. Leica D-Lux | |
Lumix LX1 |
Leica D-Lux 2 |
| Lumix FX vs. Leica C-Lux | |
Lumix FX01 |
Leica C-Lux 1 |
[edit] Pros & Cons
The O.I.S. or optical image stabilization comes standard on almost all of Panasonic's cameras (all but the early LC series). This, as well as the use of 28mm lenses (vs. the standard 35mm) on their point and shoot models have helped set the brand apart. Unfortunately many professionals have reported that Panasonic utilizes somewhat noisy CCD sensors, making their cameras hard to work with at high ISO settings (see film speed). It should be noted that Leica lenses are used in all the cameras, except the lower end LS and LZ models.
