1. What is the Four Thirds system?
The Four Thirds system is a new, standardized lens mount system for digital SLR (single-lens-reflex) cameras. For the first time, it offers a lens designed specifically for digital photography, unlike current lenses which were designed on the requirements of film. Using a 4/3-type image sensor, it achieves the high image quality that users of digital SLR cameras expect, while maintaining the compact size required to support better mobility. The Four Thirds system creates a standardized camera body lens mount, that's open to all lens manufacturers. It will promote a wider selection of lens and interchangeability.
2. What advantages does the Four Thirds system offer? - The Four Thirds system lenses are designed specifically for digital photography, unlike other SLRs that use lens designed around film requirements.
- The Four Thirds system lenses improve image quality by maximizing perpendicular image projection to the image sensor while minimizing angular or "oblique" image projection.
- The 4/3-type image sensor has half the focal requirements of 35 mm lens. This means that you can have a 600 mm lens using the same physical size of a 35 mm, 300 mm lens.
- The Four Thirds system is an open standard. This will promote great compatibility, interchangeability and the ability to use a large variety of lens from several manufacturers.
3. Where is the DMC-L1 lens made?
Under a licensing agreement with Leica Camera AG, the lens is manufactured in a Panasonic plant in Japan that has satisfied the required manufacturing standards.
4. Where can I learn more about the Four Thirds system?
Here's the official Four Thirds System web site:
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/index.html
5. Does a 7.5-megapixel CCD provide sufficient performance?
Contrary to common belief, the image quality isn't determined just by the number of pixels in the image sensor; it's determined by several factors that include the image sensor, the lens, and the image-processing engine. The newly developed Live MOS sensor uses a new drive system in the pixel signal reading circuit. This has reduced the number of control wires from the three wires of the previous CMOS to two. Since the size of each pixel is now larger, the light-sensitive area is also increased to achieve a wider dynamic range.
6. What is the Venus Engine III?
The Venus Engine III is an image-processing engine developed for digital SLR cameras. It uses many parameters to optimize the lens information and image sensor signals (the source signals).
7. What's the difference between the Venus Engine Plus and the Venus Engine III? Can the two operate simultaneously?
In the DMC-L1, the Venus Engine Plus is contained inside the interchangeable lens that is provided with the camera. This engine performs the processing for the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) at a sampling rate of 4,000 times per second.
The Venus Engine III is built into the camera body and performs mainly image processing. When shooting pictures, the two engines work together.
8. What is the film mode?
Each brand of film used in a standard film camera has unique image characteristics in terms of hue, gradation and color saturation, so photographers can choose a particular film brand according to the desired image effect. Our product offers a total of seven film modes: four color types (Standard, Dynamic, Nature and Smooth Color) and three monochrome (B&W) types (Standard, Dynamic and Smooth). By selecting one of these modes before shooting, the photographer can flexibly adjust the image characteristics -- just like selecting a film brand.
Panasonic is the first company to offer this function in a way that the effect can be selected similar to choosing a brand of film for an analog camera.
9. Can the battery be recharged while installed in the camera?
No, the battery can't be recharged while installed in the camera.
10. Can the camera be used while its battery is being charged with the battery charger/AC adaptor?
No, it can't be used while its battery is being charged with the battery charger/AC adaptor.
11. What kind of mechanism does the Dust Reduction System use?
The filter installed in front of the Live MOS sensor is activated immediately after the power is turned on, and produces a supersonic vibration at a rate of about 30,000 times per second. This automatically removes dust and other particles that could cause adverse effects on pictures. This system operates for 0.2 to 0.3 of a second.
12. Where do the dust particles that are removed by the Dust Reduction System go?
A fibrous material, similar to a felt pad, collects the dust removed by the Dust Reduction System. The pad does not have to be replaced for several years.
13. How effective is MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization)?
The function is capable of achieving an effect equivalent to a change of about three shutter-speed steps. For example, when shooting at a shutter speed of 1/30th of a second with the MEGA O.I.S. turned on, the camera-shake effect is similar to shooting at a shutter speed of 1/250th of a second with the MEGA O.I.S. turned off.
14. Is there any difference in exposure when the built-in flash is used as opposed to the external flash?
No, within the effective distance the internal flash can illuminate, there is no difference in exposure. However, since an external flash provides a higher-intensity light than the built-in flash, its effective flash distance is longer and allows flexible use of the bounce flash technique.
15. Can the DMW-FL28 external flash be used with the DMC-L1?
Yes (but external light adjustment must be used.)
16. Can a 72 mm filter (MC/ND filter) be used?
We recommend the use of the following Panasonic filters:
DMW-LMCH72 (MC protector)
DMW-LND72 (ND filter)
The products for the Panasonic DMC-FZ10/20 can also be used without a problem.
17. If there is a question regarding the combination of the DMC-L1 body and a lens made by a different company, which company should the user ask?
We hope the following site will help you:
Compatibility Information
18. Where should questions about the provided software, "SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 2.0," be addressed to?
Ichikawa Soft Laboratory provides support to the users of the SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 2.0 software. People who purchase the DMC-L1 can receive support from them.
19. Is the provided software, "PHOTOfunSTUDIO - viewer -," able to convert RAW files to JPEG?
No, it is not.
20. Can RAW files created by the DMC-LC1, DMC-LX1 or DMC-FZ30 be developed by the SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 2.0 software provided with the DMC-L1?
The SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 2.0 software provided with the DMC-L1 supports only RAW files created by the DMC-L1. Likewise, the software provided with the DMC-LC1, DMC-LX1 and DMC-FZ30 does not support RAW files created by the DMC-L1.
21. What is the "νMAICOVICON" used in the Live MOS sensor?
It is a new sensor technology that achieves the high image quality of a CCD image sensor and the low power consumption of a CMOS image sensor.
22. What does the term "ASPH." used in the LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT lens name mean?
It stands for "aspherical" (aspherical lens).
23. What does the lens' "0.32x close-up shooting capability in 35 mm film camera equivalent" mean?
The LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50 mm/F2.8-3.5 ASPH lens provided with the DMC-L1 allows close-up shooting down to 29 cm (11.5") over the entire zoom range. This means that the lens has a maximum magnification of 0.16 times (approximately 0.32 times when converted to 35 mm film camera equivalent) so that it can be used as a macro lens.
Note: "0.32x" means that an image will be exposed onto 35 mm film (24 x 36 mm) in a size 0.32 times the actual size.
24. What is the "TTL Phase Difference Detection System" for the AF (auto focus)? How does it differ from the "contrast system"* used in conventional digital cameras?
The TTL Phase Difference Detection System uses a dedicated sensor for the AF to obtain a focus measurement based on the amount of deviation. Since this system operates much in the same way as the human eye for detecting distances, it achieves fast AF operation.
*The contrast system uses contrast information output from
the CCD image sensor.
25. What is the "circular aperture" that achieves an attractive fogging effect?
To provide the beautiful fogging effect created by a circular aperture, the aperture blades feature an innovative shape so that the aperture remains circular from fully open to one stop down.
|
