Lumix
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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 that have been developed and designed by Leicas German optics engineers but are produced in Japan and some are effectively Leica branded cameras without the brand name and with different exterior styling. Panasonic produces all of Leica's branded digital point and shoot cameras in Japan. Leica manufactures its own traditional cameras: the Leica M8 digital rangefinder and the Digital Modul R, a digital camera back for the Leica R9 SLR.
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[edit] Model lines
DMC-LC: No longer in production. Consisted mostly of medium-size, mid-range cameras.
DMC-LS: Panasonic's cheapest line, budget plastic compact cameras powered by two AA batteries. Includes the LS1, LS2, LS60, and LS75 (March 2007).
DMC-LZ: Budget, but more advanced and with more user control than many other digital compact cameras. The most notable feature is a 6× (37–222 mm) optical zoom range. Includes the LZ1, LZ2, LZ3, LZ5, LZ6, and LZ7 (Feb 2007).
DMC-FX: Ultra-compact mid-range, relatively typical cameras. The FX01 was the first ever ultra-compact (considering Ricoh R series as compact) with a true wide-angle 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), targeted at social photography. Includes the FX1, FX5, FX2, FX3, FX7, FX8, FX9, FX01, FX10, FX12, FX30, FX50, FX07, FX100, FX33, FX55, FX35, and FX500. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 was announced as the world's slimmest camera with a 28mm equivalent wide-angle lens. The Panasonic Lumix FX35 equips with 25mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Lens. The FX500 is the first Panasonic to feature a touch-screen interface.
DMC-LX: A compact/ultra-compact high-end 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, typically 12× with extending zoom lens. Includes FZ1, FZ2, FZ3, FZ4, FZ5, FZ7, FZ8 and FZ18 (18x zoom).
DMC-FZx0: Bridge digital 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 (12×) 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: Compact, point and shoot 10× zoom cameras with image stabilization and Panasonic's Venus III image processing engine and VENUS Engine IV in the latest TZ4, TZ5/TZ15 models released March 2008. Includes the TZ1, [[Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1, TZ2,TZ3,TZ4, TZ5 (Known as the TZ15 in Asia) and TZ50. The TZ1 uses folded optics, with a prism. TZ1's successors use a traditional design without folded optics, hence the barrel extends further out during operation[1]. The TZ series stands out against other compact digital cameras by achieving a 10x optical zoom with a 28mm* wide angle lens in a small compact body. *equivalent to 35mm camera.
DMC-L: Panasonic's dSLR line. 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. Includes the L1 and L10.
[edit] Model History
| Type | Venus Engine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus I | Venus Plus | Venus II | Venus III | Venus IV | |
| Ultra-Compact, Wide-angle | FX01 | FX50 (FX7) / FX30 / FX 55 (FX33) / FX100 | FX35 / FX500(25mm) | ||
| Ultra-Compact, 16:9 CCD | LX1 | LX2 | |||
| Ultra-Compact | FX7 (FX2) | FX8 / FX9 / FX3 | FX12 (FX10) | FS3 / FS5 / FS20 | |
| Compact, Wide-angle, Large Zoom | TZ1
TZ2 / TZ3 |
TZ4 / TZ5 | |||
| Compact, Medium Zoom | LZ1 / LZ2
LZ3 / LZ5 |
LZ6 / LZ7 | LZ8 / LZ10 | ||
| Compact | LS1 / LS2 | LS60 / LS75 / LS80 | |||
[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.
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[edit] Promoters
In Japan pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki promotes the Lumix cameras with her songs. She announced on May 8th, 2007 that Panasonic is releasing a Ayumi Hamasaki x Hello Kitty x Lumix collaboration camera, a Leica FX-30 which sells for ¥54600 (about USD$455).
[edit] References
- ^ Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Review, Digital Camera resource page, Jeff Keller, April 7 2007. Accessed on line April 28, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Lumix - official website
- Leica camera - official website
