Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Digital SLR, Result of Olympus/Panasonic Collaboration

Panasonic and Olympus announced the results of their collaboration this morning at a press conference before the PMA show floor opened.  They've been working, since January 13, 2005, to jointly develop "underlying components and key components".  The two hard results of this collaboration are the Olympus E-330 and the brand new Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1.

Olympus and Panasonic have jointly developed the mirror box and the Live MOS sensor.  The mirror box includes a quick return mirror, viewfinder, and AE sensor.  The Live MOS sensor, that we've already seen in the Olympus E-330, has the image quality of a CCD, but the power consumption of a CMOS sensor.  The best feature of the Live MOS sensor is the live preview with the digital SLR.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

The big news is the first Digital SLR from Panasonic, the Lumix DMC-L1.  While it's a digital camera, Panasonic has gone to great lengths to give it the feel of a film camera by adding a dial to the top of the camera to choose shutter speed.

The L1 takes pictures at a resolution of 7.5 megapixels and offers a 2.5 inch LCD for not only reviewing images, but previewing them as you take them.  The L1 also includes the Supersonic Wave Filter that we've seen on the Olympus cameras to date.  This technology keeps dust of the sensor that can occur while changing lenses.

A Leica D Vario Elmarit 14-50mm/f2.8-3.5 lens includes an aperture ring (as well as zoom and focus rings that also gives the camera an analog feel.

Press Release: Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

Press Release: Leica D Vario Elmarit 14-50mm/f2.8-3.5 lens