Official Panasonic/Leica press release
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Back to main story - click here The LUMIX DMC-LC20 Digital Camera Combined Know-how for brilliant Digital Photos The successful cooperation between Panasonic and Leica Camera AG –world-famous for its high quality cameras and lenses – bears new fruit: following the innovative Panasonic Digital Camcorder “e.cam” with its high quality equipment and Leica Dicomar lenses, Panasonic is now to launch a new range of digital cameras, the “LUMIX”, beginning with the entry model, the LC 20. A Leica DC Vario Elmarit lens and a newly developed two-megapixel CCD with primary colour filter produces natural, rich colour images. Moreover, by applying new technology, Panasonic was able to significantly reduce the time between the shooting of two images so that it is possible to use the LC 20 to take five frames per second. The LUMIX LC20 combines a high level of image quality, compact design as well as ease of use at a particularly favourable price and thus guarantees a problem-free entry into the world of digital photography. Based on the Elmarit lens design popular with photographers the world over, the Leica DC Vario Elamarit lens with its multi-coated and two aspheric lenses is capable of rendering images of astounding depth and clarity. The camera is equipped with a primary filter to further improve colour reproduction. The 3x optical zoom with a focal distance of 5.4 to 16.2 millimetres (corresponds to a 35 millimetre camera with a focal distance of 35 to 105 millimetres) enables the shooting of long-distance, detail-rich photographs. This combined with the 2x digital zoom even makes 6x zooming possible. The short waiting time between triggering and the effective rendering of the image makes the camera ideal for snapshots. Panasonic has replaced the otherwise time-consuming sequential signal processing with a faster parallel system that also helps in shooting a series of images: the LC 20 can take up to five frames a second at maximum resolution. The image quality can be adjusted to suit requirements up to a maximum of 1600 x 1200 pixels. Using the standard resolution (640 x 480) up to 66 photos can be saved on an eight megabyte SD Card no bigger than a postage stamp and thus easily transferred to a PC, printer or handheld computer. In addition, up to 20 seconds of moving images at a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels can be captured in Quicktime format and played back on the PC. The camera can be either automatically or manually operated, and several programs are available for shooting. The flash system has a digital control that even permits the taking of images in the dark right close-up at a distance of 10 centimetres. A variety of playback and editing functions make the job of photography particularly enjoyable. For example, the 9-image Multi-Playback or the Side Show function that continuously displays one picture after another. The Playback Zoom function can be used to view photos magnified 16 times. For quick viewing, there is the Review function for viewing images magnified 8 times, meaning that there is no need to switch to Playback mode. The LC20 comes with rechargeable nickel hydride batteries and can also, if desired, be powered using readily available standard alkaline batteries. A comprehensive software package for the transfer and editing of captured images is also supplied. The LUMIX LC20 Digital Camera will be available in the shops from April. The non-binding recommended retail price including VAT is 399 euros. Back to main story - click here | 
