[Lightstalkers] new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:53:49 +0000

hey, does anybody know if panasonic and leica are about to replace their cool point and shoot cameras (the lumix DMC LC1 and the digilux 2) with new models? B&H cut down the price for the panasonic to $1000 and i don't want to buy it and see the new model come out after a week..... cheers

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 12:12:21 +0000

I just noticed the same thing, as I am always trying to talk myself into buying a leica. No idea, though.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 16:14:32 +0000

I was looking at the panasonic yesterday at B&H. The guy was discouraging me from the Leica as he said the panasonic was the exact same camera without the Leica logo. I went in intending to buy a much less expensive Leica point and shoot (the minilux I think)which the guy told me has been off the market for 6 months. It seems to me after inspections of both B&H and Photocare, digital cameras at least of the point&shoot variety are dropping like flies. I talked to Olympus rep and was told my C-8080 has been off the market for like 3 months which I had no idea. So I would not be surprised if either of the models you mentioned were to disappear in the near future.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 21:08:05 +0000

I was just in there myself today, because I have been telling myself all summer i would finally buy a digital camera. The Panasonic is in fact the same camera as the Digilux and has always sold for rather less, as a result. I checked both cameras out thoroughly and was tempted by the fact that the Panasonic version was so cheap. The only difference I noted in teh cameras was that the EVF viewfinder (like a mini television or LCD monitor in place of an actual viewfinder) was a bit warmer in color than the Leica, but that might have been set in the menu.

The camera is beautiful, it fits like a leica (almost) in the hand, the lens is great, and I love the fact that I can shoot the thing just like one of my Leicas -- insofar as the controls are setup (shutter speed, aperture, the dials etc). I was tempted. But the files, though really really good, are not as good, say, as the files you get from the D70. A bit noisy. The camera is not as fast (but that is OK, really, if you are used to working with rangefinders as opposed to SLRs), but the main thing that bugged me was that stupid viewfinder and the fact that after firing the shutter, the image would black out for what seemed to be a rather long moment before it was restored to normal view. Of course, the rangefinder's advantage is precisely that unlike an SLR this sort of thing doesnt happen, you always see what you are shooting when you shoot it and after. Course, this is not meant to be a digital rangefinder except in the feel and controls, but it bugged me. I have to say I could probably get used to the viewfinder (and the diopter was actually capable of a broader range of adjustment than the one found on the Nikon SLRs), but frankly, with Nikon and Canon SLRs now available for less than 1000 bucks, and giving you better files, I just wonder if the camera is worth it. Had the viewfinder been different, the files a little less noisy, the basic design would have won me over. I am hoping one day one of these companies will come up with something along these lines that is better and cheaper.

I have read that the Panasonic DMC LC1 is to be followed up by an LC2 in 2006 and Leica says it will have a genuine digital rangefinder in 2006 as well. So that is probably why the price has come down, adn I bet Panasonic will fix that viewfinder because lots of reviewers have criticized it.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 20:06:38 +0000

guys,
its not a rangefinder like you're discussing, but its impressive. check it out: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0507/05072003panasonic_lx1.asp
with all the specs on this, it would certainly suggest panasonic will be rolling out something to replace the LC1 v soon.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 22:07:34 +0000

It is impressive but it has no viewfinder. I still think an optical viewfinder is crucial, certainly if you're going to use it in any professional capacity. The Olympus 7070 has an optical viewfinder and the 8080 has an electronic one. For the street shooters and those using on assignment, it's still the Olympus 7070 that's best, seems to me. I want one. I'll get one I think.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 09:31:33 +0000

Paul, I got one just before I left NYC, and I have to say that I am very satisfied with it. And if the focus is prepared with a half press, there really is no shutter lag, though of course preparing the focus gives you a delay. However, you can also shoot with Manual focus, set the focus sort of like with the old manual cameras, using your aperture as a guide for depth of field, and then you have no problems at all (though as I understand it, digital cameras work better at wider apertures, so shooting at f16 with maximum depth of field is not an option). The LCD monitor is nice and sharp, the viewfinder a bit small but the diopter has a greater range of adjustment than the D70, so if you are half blind like me you can see very well with this thing, and the feel of the thing is well done. For street shooting it is a superb little camera. i wish it would give me the ability to shoot at 800ISO and render clean files (even at 400, it is a bit noisy, and that is as high as it will go), that is my only criticism at the moment.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 09:49:01 +0000

Great! Did you get the 7070 or the 8080? The 8080 is an evf right, and the 7070 optical right? I prefer the optical I think. I'm a little put off by the electronic viewfinder.
Anyway, my mind is made up. I'm even tempted to replace my D100 with a few Olympus' though that may be foolish.
Cheers.
WOOFERS is finished and due for publishing in about three weeks.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 12:12:57 +0000

YEah, the c7070. It is optical and I happen to be pretty satisfied with it. It is discreet, I can shoot some nice stuff without drawing attention to myself (and unfortunately right now in DR that is a must, because people have develped a bad taste for violent assault and robbery.) It is an excellent compromise at only 379 dollars.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:26:43 +0000

Check out how to minimize lag in Olympus cameras by using hyperfocal distance:

http://wrotniak.com/photo/c5050/c5050-leica.html

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 09:46:34 +0000

Thanks J! for posting that great link, that is exactly what I was doing with the c7070 though I hadnt worked it out yet with such precision. I think that the c7070 allows you to preset the focal distance manually much more easily than the older cameras discussed in that article, but essentially that is the way to go. Just like the good old days with zone focussing! I am beginning to feel more comfortable already with digital.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 09:57:33 +0000

Hey Jon, how do you think the C7070 would hold up as a main assignment camera? I'm well used to the pre-focus techniques as I applied it to my Hexar shooting, and to a certain extent also with my D100. I am very seriously thinking of making the switch to a few C7070's over my Nikon system using the various add ons, flash and extension cord and converters etc.. Some very accomplished shooters have done so quite successfully after all. Besides, I need to ease up on my shoulder as I have an ongoing sports injury and I like the idea of a small capable quiet inoffensive camera system.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 10:08:58 +0000

I've been using the Panasonic LC1 extensively for about ten months and have been extremely happy with it. The AF is slow but not necessary. the extraordinary depth of field means that if you can 'guess' focus it manually and rarely worry about the subject being out of focus. Manual focus combined with shooting in burst mode means that it is rare to miss a key moment. evf sucks. they should have put in an optical viewfinder and a swivel lcd. maybe next time.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 10:11:46 +0000

While I am all for using cameras like this for a variety of types of shooting, I dont know if I would trade in my Nikons for a brace of c7070s. The Nikons give you better files at higher ISOs. The D70 with a fixed lens is a sweet little camera. But I do like this Olympus. Alot. At 100 ISO or even 200, it gives you a perfectly good file, you can shoot raw (though write times, as Teru observed, are really slow), and you have a neat macro function. Within certain limitations there is no reason not to use the Olympus for professional purposes, but there are limitations, so I wouldnt sell off my other cameras just to buy a bunch of Olympuses.

Re: new camera replacing the panasonic LUMIX DMC LC1?

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 10:26:49 +0000

Yeah, I agree with Jon. I love the Panasonic, but would by screwed without my D70's in plenty of situations...