Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 features:
- 10.1 megapixel
- Full time live view
- 2.5 inch free angle LCD
- Face detection
- Optical image stabilization
- Supersonic wave dust reduction filter
- 14-50mm/F3.8-5.6 ASPH lens (28 to 100 mm on a 35mm camera)
- ISO range from 100 to 1600
- Camera dimensions are (H x W x D) 3.80” x 5.30” x 3.05” and it weighs 1.06 lbs
Read More Reviews - (updated 05 May ‘08)
| 14U |  |
| InfoSync |  |
| Shutterbug | |
| PCWorld | |
| Macworld |  |
| StevesDigicams | |
| T3 | |
| LetsGoDigital | |
| ThinkCamera |  |
| DPExpert | |
| LetsGoDigital | |
| DPReview | |
| Imaging-Resource | |
| Pocket-lint | |
| CameraLabs | |
| ePhotozine | |
| PopPhoto (Full Review) | |
| DCResource | |
| Megapixel | |
| CNET | |
| DigitalCameraReview | |
| PhotographyBlog | |
| PhotoReview | |
| PopPhoto | |
 |
14U has reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and they write -
“Overall the Lumix L10 works very well and is easy to use for the beginner the camera is aimed at. The biggest problem with the Lumix L10 is the price. The kit I am reviewing here retails for around $1100. You can get the Nikon D80 for around the same price and in my option it is a much better camera. If the Lumix L10 was a few hundred bucks cheaper it would be a clear winner. As it is I suggest you shop around a bit, it’s not that the Lumix L10 is a bad camera, it’s actually quite good. The price is just too high in my opinion. “
InfoSync has reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and they write -
“As expected, noise is a problem with the DMC-L10, presumably a result of its undersized sensor, and it becomes easily apparent as low as ISO-400. By 1600 noise is visible at sub-100% zooms, though it is tightly packed and not distractingly dense. Still, the DMC-L10 is affected by the same bizarre distortion we saw with Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ18, where some underexposed areas in high-sensitivities images take on webby pattern of neon greens. The problem is by no means as bad as it was with the DMC-FZ18, but all the same, this sort of issue is particularly disappointing in such an expensive camera.”
Shutterbug - 27 March’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and felt it was a fine camera. Here’s a summary of their review -
“while it’s not the fastest on the market the review points out that newcomers to DSLR cameras will appreciate the automatic aspect this camera that enable rank beginners to make great looking pictures. Photos shot in ISO 100 and 200 were impressive with high resolution and wide dynamic range plus colors were natural.”
PCWorld - 25 March’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and thinks it’s mostly average. Here’s a summary of their review -
“It produces good images but taking into consideration the features and price it just does not stack up to the competition. Its saving grace is it has “Live View” and its image quality is really good. Menu navigation is uninspiring and a little too cumbersome. For serious photographers the lack of white-balance bracketing and an aperture stop-down button will probably kill the deal.”
Macworld - 19 March’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and thought it had a weak viewfinder. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Concerning image quality the review found the cameras JPEG photos to be soft and dull. Also image noise was greater than experienced on other DSLRs in the same range, in fact, digital noise was obvious as low as ISO 400. So… if you do lots of low light shooting be careful about purchasing the L10. While the Leica lens is impressive the cameras overall performance makes it feel like it’s a little behind the tech curve.”
StevesDigicams - 11 February’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and thought camera performance was pretty good UNTIL they cranked on the Live View. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Here’s one feature packed camera, in fact, a lot of features on the L10 are not found on other cameras in its class. One area of concern is the small sensor size which produces more noise in dark areas than similar priced cameras. One of this cameras BIGGEST features is the Leica D Vario 14 - 50mm lens with optical image stabilization which really improves this cameras low light performance.”
T3 - 28 January’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and felt it was a nice camera just way too expensive. Here’s a summary of their review -
“It’s the Leica lens that makes this camera deliver top notch bright and stabilized images. One of the main probems the review hand was how the camera was balanced. According tot the review without the lens the camera seems cheap and not very well built. Add the Leica lens and all of the sudden the camera seems very front end heavy. compared to other cameras in its class the L10 is priced too high and does not have the build quality others offer.”
One note: We’re really curious why T3 trashed the L10 in their review yet gave it a 4 out of 5.
LetsGoDigital - 20 January’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and thinks it’s an exceptional camera. Here’s a summary of their review -
“If you look at features offered and the fact that this is considered entry level then as far competition tis camera sits in a class all its own. Panasonic hijacked several features from the compact class such as auto focus with contrast recognition. Another much appreciate feature was the how Panasonic chose to implement the live view with free rotation LCD. Free rotation LCD is a quickly disappearing feature from compact cameras however the reviewer indicated that its reincarnation on the L10 makes using the camera that much better. Two items they were not thrilled with were the less than effective white balance and the cameras dynamic range, both of which need work…”
ThinkCamera - 18 January’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and was not impressed with its low light capability. Here’s a summary of their review -
“If your price conscious then this camera is probably going to be checked off your list pretty quickly, the reviewer thought it was just a poor value for the money deal, ouch. Of the other Four Thirds cameras on the market this is probably the weakest, despite it’s long list of features. Enough on the bad news, on the positive side the Leica lens deliver consistent color and little if any distortion. In the final words of the reviewer the camera struggles to keep up with the optical superiority of the lens.”
DPExpert - 16 January’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and thought the color accuracy was really good. Here’s a summary of their review -
“And thought the four thirds system was quick and accurate to focus. The camera’s dynamic range was poor and digital noise above 800 was a real pain in the rear. Much appreciate was the fact that all the main controls were accessible without digging into the menu system. One last item, the viewfinder just seems dimer than the Nikon or Canon competitors.”
LetsGoDigital - 04 January’08 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and notes that camera has started to redefine digital SLR cameras. Here’s a summary of their review -
“If you look at camera functions and what you can do with them this camera stands at the top of the entry level dslr list. One area Panasonic dropped the ball was with the white balance under artificial lighting situations. Live View is what makes this camera shine. Panasonic’s use of the free angle LCD screen is what separates this camera from the crowd. It offers the user unparalleled creative capability.”
DPReview - 14 December’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and felt the camera was too expensive to compete in the entry level DSL market. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“The L10 is a surprisingly mature and innovative product that I enjoyed using and got some impressive results from. But I couldn’t get away from the price, nor could I really justify the cost of the kit lens (particularly for the typical target user).
And so there we have it; a DSLR that is a very good, but very expensive, entry-level model that would be the ideal first SLR for a compact camera user wanting to move to the next level. A camera capable of stunning output in raw mode, but a camera that it’s hard to give a wholehearted recommendation to because Panasonic insists on bundling it with an over-priced kit lens and adds insult to injury by using image processing that produces JPEGs which hide the true capabilities of the lens/sensor.”
Imaging-Resource - 13 December’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and thought it had great optics and the overall performance was very good. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“I liked the Panasonic L10’s Film Mode button, whose presence was a good reminder that I can try different capture modes with ease. It’s a shame that it costs more than many of its competitors with similar features, but SLR buyers would do well to remember that good optics are essential to getting great pictures, and the Panasonic L10 has a very good optic. With the Lumix L10, Panasonic has made a capable digital SLR.”
Pocket-lint - 30 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and was impressed with the metering system which could not be fooled even in challenging situations. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC L10 is easy to use, provides plenty of shooting options and features and is worthy of close consideration for anyone trading up from a high spec’ compact or those looking from more from their photography.”
CameraLabs - 25 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and feels the price is just too expensive for the majority of first time DSLR buyers. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“Had the L10 been available in a cheaper kit without too many optical compromises as a result, it would have easily earned our Highly Recommended rating, but as it stands at the current asking price against the competition, we’ll have to go with our Recommended award. If you’re after a cheaper DSLR kit or a traditional semi-pro model, then there’s simply better options out there. But if you value the L10’s unique features and want to buy into a system with a decent kit lens from day-one, then Panasonic’s second DSLR definitely comes Recommended.”
ePhotozine - 14 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and points out that the camera does not feel as sturdy as other cameras in this price range. Here’s an excerpt from their review verdict -
“This has to be said straight away, if this camera and lens kit was £499 then it would be a really good combination of features for the entry-level market, with the bonus of high resolution and the Live view. Its natural competitors are the Nikon D40x and Canon EOS 400D against which it has enough good features to warrant owners of those marquees trading them in and saying, yes, I’ll have a bit of that Four Thirds system. However, it isn’t. You can get a Canon EOS 40D with a lens for the same money and there really isn’t any comparison between the two, the 40D is in a different league altogether.”
PopPhoto - 13 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and noted that the metering and white balance on this camera is superb, even in challenging lighting situation. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“In all, the L10 has a lot going for it: that swiveling screen, Excellent resolution and image quality, live view with two forms of AF, face detection metering, and a sharp, image-stabilized lens.
The price, though, is high for its overall performance. If Panasonic were to rethink its forced-bundle approach, this camera maker just might have the impact in DSLRs that its had in compacts.”
DCResource - 07 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and expressed the camera was disappointing in a couple of areas. 1. When using live view be prepared to wait. 2. Contrast detect auto focus is slower than on smaller compact digitals. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 finds itself in an awkward position. It’s priced well above entry level models, coming in closer to the midrange models like the 40D, E-3, and A700. It’s a very good digital SLR with some neat treats (mostly related to live view), but is it worth $500 more than the similar Olympus E-510 (with two lenses and sensor-shift image stabilization) or the very capable Pentax K10D? I would say probably not, unless you absolutely must have the rotating LCD and contrast detect AF. Still, the DMC-L10 is absolutely worth a look if you’re looking for your first D-SLR, or are upgrading from another FourThirds-based SLR.”
Megapixel - 07 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and feels the one item that makes this camera stand from the competition is the articulated LCD. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“The Lumix DMC-L10 has an excellent, comfortable and secure in-hand feel thanks to the generous size of its grip and its rubberized surfaces. The controls are well positioned, and the camera reacts quickly to them. Moreover, the Live View system allows not only for previewing the shot, but also for focusing it, a practical feature with some subjects.”
CNET - 05 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and points out that if it weren’t for the price this camera would be a top choice. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“In the end, Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-L10 is a lot like Olympus’ Evolt E-510. Both use Live MOS sensors, and thus have live-view modes, and both showed similar performance and image quality. I’d give Panasonic an edge for the body design and for including an articulated LCD, though Olympus gets a big edge in price since you can get an E-510 dual-lens kit for hundreds less than the L10’s single-lens kit. Panasonic might argue that its lens is nicer and includes optical image stabilization, but Olympus can easily counter that the E-510 includes sensor-shift stabilization. If price weren’t an issue, I’d choose the Panasonic.”
DigitalCameraReview - 05 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and notes this camera tries to do everything but in the end falls short of being able to pull it off. Here’s an excerpt from the review conclusion -
“Focus speed of the L10 is sub par compared to other DSLRs and even some all-in-one fixed lens cameras are able to provide faster auto focus. True, the Live View shooting mode and 3.0fps continuous shooting performance is great, but focus issues, exposure problems in direct sunlight, and overall lack of contrast and sharpness in images leaves much to be desired. Image quality is only average among the other 10 megapixel DSLRs on the market and ISO noise levels above 400 make this camera a poor choice for shooting in low light.”
PhotographyBlog - 02 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and writes this was a difficult camera to rate. On one hand it was built for the beginners market and on the other it is too expensive. Here’s an excerpt from the review conclusion -
“The L10 also offers a relatively noise-free ISO range of 100-800, which coupled with Panasonic’s usual effective anti-shake system ensures that the camera can handle most lighting situations. But will beginners appreciate the difference between the Leica lens and one costing hundreds of pounds less? I think not. Or will more experienced photographers ignore the likes of the Canon EOS 40D, Nikon D200 and Sony A700 with their pro features, better low-noise performance and build-quality, and plump for the L10? Again, probably not. Which ultimately leaves the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 caught between two camps in its current kit format, too expensive for beginners, and possibly too beginner-like for prosumers.”
PhotoReview - 01 November’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and noted just how nice the photos were. Photos had nice color and wide dynamic range. Here’s an excerpt from the review conclusion -
“Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-L10 has a relatively high asking price for its resolution, largely as a result of its Leica-branded lens. Photographers looking for a sophisticated Four Thirds System DSLR with excellent performance and some of the more attractive features of Panasonic’s digicams will be well satisfied with this attractive new addition to the company’s line-up.”
PopPhoto - 24 October’07 - reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and was impressed by how good the images were straight from the camera. Here’s an excerpt from the review -
“We were impressed with the image quality of low ISO (100-400) shots taken with the L10 on our first look, and we can’t wait to check out the lab results. We are, however, a little disappointed with the very limited RAW burst. However, the 3fps JPEG burst to card capacity is class-competitive. For the DSLR beginner and even the advanced enthusiast, the $1,300 street price for the L10 plus the optically stabilized 14-50mm Leica D 14-50mm f/3.8-5.6 might sound scary at first, but if you price out a Canon EOS Rebel XTi, Olympus E-510, or Sony A700 with a similar focal length and speed lens, you’ll find that the L10’s kit price isn’t so bad.”
DPReview reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 and writes;
“The L10 is a very different beast to the camera that came before it, and is obviously aimed at a very different segment of the market. Where the L1 was a solid, heavy lump of a camera with a semi professional build, traditional ’shutter speed and aperture dial’ operation and styling that owed more than a nod to Leica’s rangefinder models, the L10 is a lightweight, conventionally styled SLR with a control interface and feature set that matches mid-range models from the bigger players in the market. You don’t get the L1’s tank-like build, and some users will bemoan the loss of the unique ‘bounce’ 2-position flash and aperture ring, but I think it’s safe to say that the L10 is far more likely to lift Panasonic out of its niche position in the DLSR market than the L1 ever could.”
Sample Photos
[Sample Test Photos at StevesDigicams]
[Sample Test Photos at LetsGoDigital]
[Sample Test Photos at DPExpert]
[Sample Test Photos at LetsGoDigital]
[Sample Test Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Test Photos at Imaging-Resource]
[Sample Test Photos at Pocket-lint]
[Sample Test Photos at CameraLabs]
[Sample Test Photos at PopPhoto]
[Sample Test Photos at DCResource]
[Sample Test Photos at Megapixel]
[Sample Test Photos at PhotographyBlog]
[Sample Test Photos at PhotoReview]
[Sample Test Photos at PopPhoto]
[Sample Photos at FourThirds-User]
[Sample photos with a pre-production model at PhotographyBlog]
Videos
Specifications
[Official Panasonic Spec Sheet]
Press Release
Panasonic, a leader in digital technology, is delighted to announce the launch of their second digital single-lens reflex camera (SLR) the DMC-L10 with an interchangeable LEICA lens. The DMC-L10 features an advanced 2.5-inch free angle LCD for full time live view that offers 270 degree rotation and a versatile shooting style. A 10.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor provides beautiful images with delicate gradation and wide dynamic range. Dust reduction with a Supersonic Wave Filter system prevents dust from attaching to the sensor to degrade the pictures. The superb image processor, Venus Engine III, boasts high quality image rendering and a high speed response.
Pages: 1 2
{ 0 comments… add one now }