Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 DSLR hands-on

We were fortunate enough to check out Panasonic's new DMC-L10 DSLR, and we have to say, it's a solid jump ahead of what we saw in their first-gen L1. Besides trimming down the size significantly (it's still a heavy sucker, though), we were into the swiveling LCD, customizable presets, and even interesting takes on old features, like graphical manual settings that help newbs do things like set the aperture, and "film-type" presets (which do everything from the usual sepia to reproducing various saturations of common analog film brands). Check out more on this one in the gallery below.

Gallery: Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 DSLR hands-on

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[JugoGoya @ Aug 30th 2007 12:07PM]

So far those pictures are highlighting a pretty advanced slr there. I like the depth of field feature. 1300 bucks for this second gen may be pushing it for me though. I'll stick to my Oly for now.

[Ryan @ Aug 30th 2007 12:09PM]

Shameful waste of Leica glass in 4/3rds format. Its to bad they dont try and get away from the point-and-shoot crowd with the swivel screens, presets, and film modes. Seems like decent competition for the pro-sumer market though.

[Geir E @ Aug 30th 2007 1:53PM]

yea, swivel screens are about as useless and amateurish as waistlevel finders on MF. oh wait.

And let me see, canon 40d has presets. is that a p&s crowd camera?

The Panasonic is a great camera for those who like the adventages of 43rds.

[An @ Aug 31st 2007 7:11AM]

Swivel screens useless??? I know many situations where this feature comes in very handy because I use it on my Canon PowerShot Pro1 now for 3 years (though I can't use it anymore after an unfortunate fall :-( ). I never have to lie down or twist myself in impossible angles to get the shot I want. I can take pictures easily with my cam on the ground, against a wall or above my head. I do a lot of urban exploring (taking photographs in abandoned locations) and all my fellow explorers envy me with that swinging LCD-screen! And it's a bless for macrophotography too. Don't ever say again that swivel screens are for amateur point-and-shoot cameras only. You're just jealous ;-)
I need a new cam and I'll definitely buy this Panasonic for that swiveling LCD-screen.

[apeguero @ Aug 30th 2007 3:44PM]

A flash could've come in handy in those shots of the back side of the camera.

[apeguero @ Aug 30th 2007 3:47PM]

Sorry Ryan. I just saw the other entry on this camera like 5 or so articles before. The back side is clearly visible there. I second the negative comment regarding the slide out LCD.

[Ryan @ Aug 30th 2007 4:15PM]

I just dont see how you could compare a folding LCD screen to a waist level viewfinder. I would always prefer an optical view anyday to a digital one, especially for use with manual focus simply for accuracy. I can deffintely understand the need for a liveview for people like astrophotographers,etc. I can see the tilt screen being useful for tourists and things like that. If they can maintain durability with this option more power to them. I know a lot of the Nikon and Canons wear out the hinges or the ribbon cable gets mangled in the process. As far as presets are concerned, the 40D serves as a bridge between pro-sumer and pros. I am not saying that presets are only found on amateur cameras but things like sepia and b/w presets certainly point you in that direction I think.

[kadajawi @ Sep 1st 2007 6:27AM]

Yeah, but manual focusing with any DSLR is a bit tough anyway. They don't have these great glasses (however they are called) that help you when focusing, the viewfinder tends to be small, dark, ... probably not on the pro models, but still. I think in emergencys magnifying the life view would do the job as well, maybe even be better, depending on how dark and small the viewfinder is.

[Ryan @ Sep 1st 2007 2:23PM]

Yeah I rarely use manual focus since most of my subject matter requires much faster response time, but I agree...magnified live view with a high resolution display seems the only usable method. I think I read somewhere about the Canon 20DA (astronomy model) doing something along those lines. Everyone I know that does detailed manual focus work (for macro, product, or architectural) still uses 4x5. The full frame cameras with pro lenses are significantly better than the mid and lower end counter parts. Better glass collects more light which is reflected by a larger mirror through a more advanced prism and ultimately the image in the viewfinder is larger and brighter. A lot of the focusing screens can be changed on the pro models as well to aid manual focus.

[Skon @ Sep 1st 2007 2:16AM]

So Engadget, will you buy me one? If you do I will test it out throughly for you and even send you a few pictures taken with it ;-) I realy want a camera like this, but a months income for a camera is way to much for my budget.

Regards,
Skon

[kadajawi @ Sep 1st 2007 6:23AM]

Wait, second gen? This seems like the expensive low budget version of the L1. The lense is slower, it lacks all the things that made the L1 desireable, like the awesome design, the manual controls (granted all other DSLR have them too, but the way they made them accessible, just like with those fully manual models many years ago, that is amazing and just what I want), the huge size. Huuuuuge step backwards. This just looks like yet another entry level DSLR, but with a way too small sensor. Same thing everyone produces, but at double the price. Are they really going to charge about the same as for the L1? They must be kidding... But I guess the L1 hasn't been that successful (yeah right, and the L10 will?). They should have sold the L1 without that expensive Leica lens at a good price and I guess some traditionalists might have bought them. Oh, and please a larger sensor.