Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 review

The rest of the features are what you'd expect in a dSLR of this class, though unlike some pricier cameras, ISOs move in full-stop instead of half- or third-stop increments. Also, unlike the E-330, which offers ±5EV of exposure compensation, the L1 offers only ±2EV. We were just as surprised to notice that the autofocus system has a mere three focus points. Most dSLRs targeted above entry level have more than three AF points. On the plus side, like the E-330, the L1 shakes dust off the sensor when you start up the camera.

Performance
In our tests, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 performed slightly slower than its competition. It took 1.1 seconds from turning the power on until it captured its first shot. Once it was on, it took 1 second between capturing JPEG images, 1.4 seconds between capturing JPEGs with the built-in flash, and 1 second between RAW images. Shutter lag measured a speedy 0.5 seconds in bright light and a somewhat sluggish 1.6 seconds in low light.

Continuous shooting fared slightly better in our tests. In the low-speed mode, we were able capture 7.5-megapixel Super-Fine quality JPEGs at a rate of 2 frames per second (fps). In high-speed burst mode, that jumped to about 2.8fps.

Shooting speed
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Raw shot-to-shot time

Time to first shot

Shutter lag (dim light)

Shutter lag (typical)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

0.5 

1 

1.6 

0.4 

Canon EOS 400D

0.6 

0.3 

1.1 

0.4 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

1 

1.1 

1.6 

0.5 

Nikon D80

0.3 

0.1 

0.9 

0.5 

Olympus Evolt E-330

0.8 

1.7 

0.7 

0.5 

Typical continuous-shooting speed
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Typical continuous-shooting speed

Olympus Evolt E-330

2.1 

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100K

2.5 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

2.8 

Canon EOS 400D

2.9 

Nikon D80

3 

 
Image quality
Despite our complaints about design, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 can create very nice images under the right conditions. With its kit lens, we saw virtually no coloured fringing and images were very sharp, with accurate, well-saturated colours and a decent dynamic range. The automatic white balance produced overly warm images with our lab's tungsten lights, thought the camera's tungsten preset produced much more neutral results. The manual white balance we set provided the most neutral results. Exposures were generally very good when relying on the camera's automatic exposure system. The camera did a decent but not excellent job of balancing fill flash from its built-in flash with light from the lamp in our test scene.

Until recently, Panasonic compact cameras have been notoriously noisy. While the company has done better with recent compacts, the Lumix DMC-L1 leaves something to be desired in the noise department. At its lowest setting of ISO 100, images were very clean, with no noticeable noise. At ISO 200, noise is still nearly nonexistent. By ISO 400 noise became noticeable, though it was minimised in printing and finer details were not adversely affected. At ISO 800, noise was much more evident, finer details began to be obscured and detail in darker portions of images became muddy and blocked up. At its highest sensitivity setting of ISO 1,600, noise became rampant, dynamic range was dramatically diminished in shadow areas and finer details significantly softened.

If Panasonic is really serious about building digital SLRs, it's going to have to invest heavily in effective noise reduction and start paying attention to the ergonomics of its body designs. It would also be nice of the company to realise that, while a nice kit lens is certainly welcomed, it also needs to sell its bodies without a lens. If you've got around £1,000 to spend on a dSLR, you'd be much better served by a Nikon D80, a Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 or a Canon EOS 400D than this Lumix -- and you'd have plenty of cash left over for an extra lens or a flash unit.

Additional editing by Elizabeth Griffin