News

Panasonic Corporation of North America (NYSE: MC) has announced the availability of its first digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with an interchangeable lens, the DMC-L1. The camera will be available beginning early September for a suggested retail price of $1,999. The camera comes equipped with a LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT lens featuring the industry's first optical image stabilization system -- MEGA O.I.S -- designed specifically for the Leica lens.

The DMC-L1 features a magnesium-alloy body, which closely resembles the body design of a rangefinder camera from days past, and combines an aluminum-alloy lens section to offer both high rigidity and a high-grade appearance. The design features a shutter speed dial on the camera top and an adjustable aperture ring on the LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens.

The DMC-L1 uses a Live MOS image sensor and a lens mount system that conforms to the Four Thirds Standard. A full-time Live View function uses a signal output directly from the Live MOS sensor, allowing users to view the same image on the LCD screen as seen by the sensor.The camera also offers a dust reduction system that eliminates digital SLR cameras' long-standing problem of dust adhering to the sensor. Panasonic has solved this problem by equipping the DMC-L1 with a Supersonic Wave Filter system that uses supersonic vibration to shake off any dust clinging to the sensor. This is said to simplify camera maintenance and to eliminate worries about dust entering the camera body when lenses are being changed.

www.panasonic.com