Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- User Rating: 
Summary for Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- in love
Notes on Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- I love this camera. I've used Canons and Nikons in the past, especially D30s and D40s, and I much prefer using the L1. I almost always shoot manual, and find the actual, physical controls on this to be a great improvement over all the buttons on the Canon. The design/navigation of the menu is also the nicest I've seen on a digital camera (have also owned Sony and Fuji). Picture quality is outstanding. Plus, I admit I really like walking past people carrying their omnipresent Canons and Nikons, while I'm sporting a much rarer Lumix.
The single biggest flaw with this is the viewfinder. It really is too dark - a problem common to many dSLRs which don't use pentaprisms like film SLRs. It can be worked around, but it's a real annoyance.
Also, be aware that this is not a small, inconspicuous camera.
Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- User Rating: 
Summary for Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- Poor lowlight performance, great for landscapes!
Notes on Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- I bought this camera when Amazon had them for $799. I thought it would be a good camera to re-familiarize myself with manual controls and a higher degree of involvement with photography. I was also in love with the design and layout of the controls and the body.
I will not get into an analysis of the pros and cons of this camera; there is enough information out there to provide anyone with a sense of how the L1 measures against the competition. I will however, contribute a few observations.
Even though the viewfinder is dark and small, you adapt to it fairly well. I used the camera on a 4 day trip to Colorado and found it a lot better to manage than I initially thought.
This camera requires patience and a willingness to try different things. If you just stick it in Auto, you miss the whole point of using this unique instrument. A tweak here, an adjustment there, and you are rewarded with rich, detailed and well balanced images.
You will be stunned at the quality of images this camera produces. Outdoor shots are beautifully rendered, bokeh is quite good, and the 14-50mm Leica lens is a joy to use, albeit a tad unforgiving when the wrong settings are used.
7 megapixels is more than most people need.
Low light performance is really poor. The AF hunts and hunts, high ISO performance is relatively noisy (But why would anyone shoot above ISO800 anyway?) and the built in flash only works well at close range. One cool feature is the bounce-flash feature, which returns well lit and not washed out portraits, but only at a reasonable distance.
I have a Nikon D300 SLR that I use for more professional applications. I however prefer to use the L1 as a walk around, fun camera. It behaves very much like an analog camera.
Perhaps one shouldn't think of this camera's challenges as shortcomings, but of how far digital photography has advanced and even gone beyond film in performance and flexibility.
As long as lighting conditions are good, this camera shines!
Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- User Rating: Summary for Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- Wonderful
Notes on Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- I 've been taking pictures for 25 years with different cameras (OM 1O, EOS 10, LUMIX dmc-fz20, EOS 400d...) and I wanted something special for my 40's. This machine is absolutly perfect. Actually, this was design and created with Leica (this is exactly the same camera as the Leica Digilux 3). Some will say it's only a 7.5MP SLR camera! Indeed, but perfectly "adjusted". You can use Zuiko lenses which are great.
I do recommand this Panasonic dmc-L1!
Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- User Rating: Summary for Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- Great camera!
Notes on Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- considering that you can get the camera for much cheaper than what it originally was priced its a great bargain. You first get a DSLR with a live view, bounce flash and great analog controls then the 2.8 14-50mm (28-100mm equivalent) Leica lens with Mega OIS. And with the four-thirds system that is steadily gaining popularity you really cant go wrong.
Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- User Rating: Summary for Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- Fantastic camera
Notes on Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with ...- I was lucky enough to get this camera from Amazon in December for $800. I don't understand people who say the picture quality is not superb because the lens is sharp as a tack. I have been shooting mostly HDR images on a tripod, the depth of field is incredible. The only things I have found lacking are the battery compartment door is flimsy, the shutter speed dial should have a lock, auto-bracketing should go to +/- 2 EV not just one and finally the RAW capture should not include JPEGS, it is a memory hog. Other than that, the controls, the fit and finish, everything about this camera is great. Until I can afford the Leica M-8, I am sticking with this.
