Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5S 4MP Digital Camera w/ Leica Lens and 3x Optical Zoom, Silver

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5S 4MP Digital Camera w/ Leica Lens and 3x Optical Zoom, Silver
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Product Type: Photography

Editorial Review:
Product Description
A world leader in digital technology, Panasonic has developed an exciting new digital camera that breaks new ground in image creation. A digital camera is, first and foremost, a camera. Its main purpose is to capture clear, accurate images. But in developing Lumix, Panasonic took this concept a step further. The company's goal was not just to capture images accurately, but also to create the first-ever digital camera capable of rendering images with a beauty, subtlety, and delicacy that evoke a powerful emotional response in the viewer. With Lumix, Panasonic has created a digital camera that opens the door to an entirely new level of image creation. All of Lumix digital cameras are equipped with world-renowned Leica DC lenses to offer you the ultimate in digital photography. One of the Leica's most popular lenses, the Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens is now featured in Panasonic Lumix camera DMC-LC5S, bringing Leica's advanced optical technology to the world of digital photography. Thanks to Leica lenses, Lumix cameras can take digital photos that have the same emotional warmth, impact and subtlety as photographs shot on film. The DC Vario-Summicron lens features an exquisite soft-focus effect, vibrant colors and a general enhancement of nuance and depth. DMC-LC5S is equipped with a 3x optical zoom, capable of producing close-ups with amazing detail. The LCD screen on Lumix cameras lets you view your photos in detail before and after you take them. The built-in flash has an automatic setting, perfect for indoor use or in dim lighting, as well as a variety of manual settings, including "red eye" reduction modes. This flash features advanced functions, such as controlling the under- or over-exposure of an image.
Amazon.com Product Description
Constructed with world-renowned Leica DC lenses, Panasonic offers high-quality optics with the DMC-LC5S digital camera. Pictures are sure to come out sharp and brilliant thanks to the 4-megapixel CCD sensor, capable of resolutions of up to 2,240 by 1,680 pixels and quality prints to 11 by 14 inches and beyond. There are three lower-quality settings that you can use to save memory and store more pictures on the included 32 MB SD memory card.

The LC5S has an optical zoom of 3x and a 2x digital zoom, making the overall zoom capable of magnifying an image up to six times. The camera has several automatic and manual controls for focus, exposure, white balance, and flash. It also has a feature that allows you to take consecutive pictures at a fast rate (either 4 or 8 frames a second), ideal for those hard-to-capture moving objects and similar to regular full-motion video. Use the huge 2.5-inch LCD monitor to keep track of all these settings and manage your photos.

Since the camera has full USB connectivity, you can easily transfer your photos onto a PC or Mac. Photo-editing software is also included for more creative uses of your photos. Also included in the package are an AC adapter, battery pack, monitor hood, lens cap, AV and USB cable, and strap.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5S 4MP Digital Camera w/ Leica Lens and 3x Optical Zoom, Silver

Average customer rating:

After three years of use
An extremely good find
Many strengths and a couple of weaknesses
Holy Pixels Batman
This is a Leica Digilux1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5S 4MP Digital Camera w/ Leica Lens and 3x Optical Zoom, Silver

Manufacturer: Panasonic
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Accessories:

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Vivitar V-2800 Video/Photo Tripod
Tamrac 5696 Digital 6 - Digital/Photo/Video Bag (Black)
PhotoImpact 6.0
Ceiva Digital Photo Receiver

Product Features:

4 megapixel sensor creates 2240 x 1680 images for prints at 11 x 14 and beyond
3x optical plus 2x digital (6x total) zoom with Leica DC Vario-Elmarit autofocus lens
Included 32 MB Secure Digital (SD) card holds approximately 16 images at default settings
Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
Uses lithium-ion battery (included)

ASIN: B000069V2A

Amazon.com Product Description

Constructed with world-renowned Leica DC lenses, Panasonic offers high-quality optics with the DMC-LC5S digital camera. Pictures are sure to come out sharp and brilliant thanks to the 4-megapixel CCD sensor, capable of resolutions of up to 2,240 by 1,680 pixels and quality prints to 11 by 14 inches and beyond. There are three lower-quality settings that you can use to save memory and store more pictures on the included 32 MB SD memory card.

Product Description

A world leader in digital technology, Panasonic has developed an exciting new digital camera that breaks new ground in image creation. A digital camera is, first and foremost, a camera. Its main purpose is to capture clear, accurate images. But in developing Lumix, Panasonic took this concept a step further. The company's goal was not just to capture images accurately, but also to create the first-ever digital camera capable of rendering images with a beauty, subtlety, and delicacy that evoke a powerful emotional response in the viewer. With Lumix, Panasonic has created a digital camera that opens the door to an entirely new level of image creation. All of Lumix digital cameras are equipped with world-renowned Leica DC lenses to offer you the ultimate in digital photography. One of the Leica's most popular lenses, the Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens is now featured in Panasonic Lumix camera DMC-LC5S, bringing Leica's advanced optical technology to the world of digital photography. Thanks to Leica lenses, Lumix cameras can take digital photos that have the same emotional warmth, impact and subtlety as photographs shot on film. The DC Vario-Summicron lens features an exquisite soft-focus effect, vibrant colors and a general enhancement of nuance and depth. DMC-LC5S is equipped with a 3x optical zoom, capable of producing close-ups with amazing detail. The LCD screen on Lumix cameras lets you view your photos in detail before and after you take them. The built-in flash has an automatic setting, perfect for indoor use or in dim lighting, as well as a variety of manual settings, including "red eye" reduction modes. This flash features advanced functions, such as controlling the under- or over-exposure of an image.

Customer Reviews:

After three years of use.......2005-12-08

I bought an LC5 because it was a cheap "demo" and I knew nothing about digital photography. I didn't want to invest much until I learned more about digital and, on top of that, the LC5's switches and buttons were a lot like my old cameras, except for all that autoexposure and autofocus and all that other auto- stuff. Anyway, what I got was a great learning tool that can be as automatic as you want, as manual as you want, and everywhere in between. Although it has only 3.9 megapixels, the photos look great even in an 8x11 print. The only real disappointment is that shots at faster than 100 speed tend to show some noise. But hey, with an f2 lens which is one or two stops or more faster than other point&shoot digital camera, it is usually no problem. I've been clicking away for about three-&-a-half years now and I'm still happy with it. Incidentally, Started using a Panasonic DMC-FZ4 last month and my wife has snapped up the LC5. She sometimes lets me use it because it it so good for ambient light shots.

An extremely good find.......2005-02-05

This camera got panned in some early reviews. This is a very good thing, because the follow up reviews corrected the initial concerns, but by then people got afraid of the LC5. As a result you can get this $900 camera for about half price.

Now what happened? This camera is specifically designed to produce high quality prints. At the time of its introduction, monitors had difficulty reproducing its images. So it got panned. Reviewers said the camera was terrible, but they did not print anything. After the reviewers actually printed photos from the LC5, they recanted their initial comments.

At one point Panasonic issued a firmware update to make the images look better on monitors. Today, it's a non-issue and you are better off with the original firmware.

Net, net... this is a great camera -- especially if you are going to produce prints. I've got this coupled with an Epson 2200 and an Olympus P400 and the results are great.

My advice: if you can find one of these, and it feels good in your hands -- buy it.

Many strengths and a couple of weaknesses.......2003-10-03

I purchased my Lumix LC5 for personal use after using one in my profession for displaying enlargements and for publication. After 1300 exposures and half as many prints at many degrees of enlargement I feel very at home with the LC5.

What caught my attention immediately was its similarities in appearance to the Canon G series, and a couple of major label 35mm German rangefinder cameras of recent years. Picking the camera up and trying it out in the store I was reminded of the size, weight, and controls of quality traditional film cameras.
The Leica name on the lens really sold the camera before I had a chance to see its output. And therein lies the fly in the ointment, albeit a small fly if the user is familiar with post-camera photo editing processes to repair the fault.

Clearly, the optics are outstanding. The menus are well thought-out. One can use vitually all kinds of metering methods and achieve wonderful exposures with the LC5.

The weak point appears to be the processor which often "overprocesses" the 1680 X 2240 images. The result can be posterization effects in neutral areas, and eccessive "noise" appearing as grain on the monitor at high magnifications. This is especially observed at ISO's of more than 100. I have found however, that there is less appearance of these problems in print output than on the monitor.

At times I've had mysteriously underexposed original files that needed post-processing as well. All of this is correctable if one has the time and skill and enjoys doing it.

I found that using the 1600 X 1200 resolution setting seemed to clear up almost all of the problems. Perhaps the CCD and processor are really better designed for the smaller files. The problem is, I have a two megapixel camera for the price of a four, if I stick with the lower resolutions. This isn't a problem until enlarging above 5 X 7. So if you're not planning to enlarge much above that, the 2 megapixel solution works.

But the question is: do you want to pay for a four megapixel camera that doesn't quite measure up to its competition? For the sake of the wonderful speed, build quality, optics, and camera-like handling, I'm still not too sad about the processor downside. But I might be changing up to another camera a year or two down the road for those really perfect enlargements the competition seems capable of producing at four megapixels and above.

If you don't need the "Perfect" camera in this price range, the Lumix LC5 has a lot of things to offer.

Holy Pixels Batman.......2003-09-17

Boy was I worried about buying this camera. I have read ALL the reviews and there was just enough negative pub to give me pause. But I'd seen Steve Lang's sample pics at a Fry's display and was impressed with its potential, even though he is a National Geographic photographer. I was worried about the durability issue, but then I remember even my Minolta Maxxam 5000 went down on me a couple of times. Well, I saved enough on the camera to buy a 5yr service contract, bit the bullet and bought it, got it home, zipped through the booklet and rattled off a few macro pictures of some cosmos growing in my alley. Holy pixels, Batman, the clarity, the color the beauty of that Leica lens just blew me away. Ya gotta READ the booklet to get the MOST out of this camera, but even without it the pics are simply glorious . . . and that's just the screen renderings! Bear in mind this camera is optimized for PRINTS not SCREENS. I can't wait to print some of these beauties. OK so the built in flash is a bit strong inside, but which one isn't? I was excited to learn you can program it to adjust the flash output, the exposure, saturation, quality and other features. The neat thing is I got GREAT pics without the flash inside with just ambient light. It looks, good, feels good, the big screen is GREAT, the pics are stunning and it is EASY to use. I just looked at a self pic I took last night here in my room with a tripod and the 10 sec delay, no flash and just ambient, incandescent light. The flesh tones are so natural and the definition is so frighteningly clean that my ugly mug almost jumps off the screen. Scary! This is one SCARY neat camera too! I understand it has been discontinued. Too bad! If you can find one buy it! It will impress you!

This is a Leica Digilux1.......2003-08-16

I don't own this one, but after getting a killer deal on a Panasonic DMC-LC40, I dug around a little. This camera here (LC5) is virtually identical with the Leica Digilux1. The Digilux1 is Leica's top of the line for point and shoot digital cameras. The only step up is a CCD backplane adapter they offer for their SLR line, which will cost you (including the SLR body plus lens) the equivalent of a new car! After playing with my LC40, which seems to have the same lens as this one, I have taken shots that I never had from my 35mm SLR set in almost 25 years in the hobby. I would not hesitate to get an LC5 (if I were not already happy with my LC40), as the Leica optics, coupled with the fast action and high resolution Panasonic electronics have a created a combination that blows everything else out of the water!

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