Product Reviews

Panasonic's second DSLR, the Lumix DMC-L10, is the follow-up to the maker's Lumix DMC-L1, a metal-bodied semi-pro model, which featured one of the best kit lenses around - the image-stabilised Leica 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 zoom. If the DMC-L1 was targeting photography enthusiasts, the 10-megapixel resolution DMC-L10 can be seen as aimed at the digital compact owner trading up. Indeed, the DMC-L10 sports a raft of features that are normally found on Panasonic's point-and-shoot compacts, such as Live View with Face Detection Autofocus and Intelligent ISO.

This last feature means the Lumix DMC-L10 can adjust the sensor sensitivity based on subject movement. Not only is it handy for raising shutter speeds to prevent motion blur but it also helps keep the distracting coloured speckles at bay with stationary subjects.

Uniquely, at this price level, the DMC-L10 also packs a pull-out 2.5in colour monitor that can be rotated up to 270°, making it ideal for over-head or low-level snaps. Perhaps best of all is the inclusion of another high-quality, Leica-branded kit lens. Made under licence by Panasonic in Japan, the bundled 14-50mm (28-100mm equivalent) f/3.8-5.6 zoom is also image stabilised, like the brighter model bundled with the original DMC-L1.

First impressions of the plastic-shelled DMC-L10 are favourable. It's a good deal smaller and lighter than the DMC-L1 and comparable in size, weight and build to rivals such as the Nikon D80, Olympus E-510 and the Canon Eos-400D. Given the original Lumix DMC-L1 shared many components with the Olympus E-330, it's perhaps not surprising to learn that the DMC-L10 shares the lens mount, mirror box, viewfinder, Live MOS image sensor and anti-dust features of the E-510. This means the DMC-L10 has the same cramped viewfinder as its closest rival, but the maker has bundled the optionally available eyepiece magnifier in with the kit, making the image look at least as large as that found on the Eos-400D.

Unlike other DSLR brands, the exposure

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data is displayed to the right of the screen. Although the information is extensive it can be difficult to see, unless you have your eye right up to the eyepiece. Spectacle wearers will struggle to see the outer edges of the screen.

Although, supposedly an entry-level model, the DMC-L10 possesses an extensive range of shooting modes. In addition to the expected manual and semi-auto exposure modes, the DMC-L10 boasts three customisable presets and 10 scene-based modes. Fore and aft selector dials allow rapid changing of exposure values, including EV shift, while shooting, and for choosing many of the camera's long list of features in combination with other controls. These are mainly clustered to the right of the monitor at thumb's reach, and are well labelled and nicely shaped.

With the large shooting dial on the top plate, the 2.5in colour monitor does double duty as a data panel, not unlike most rivals. A handy function button aids handling and speeds up operation by providing access to quality settings, image size, anti-shake options, ISOs, white balance and flash, directly on-screen. Some shooting modes drop a few of these features, making the DMC-L10 behave like a point-and-shoot, however, it's still extremely quick and intuitive. We found it a lot of fun to use, in much the same way as the hugely popular Eos-400D.

From our tests, the Face-detection AF and Intelligent ISO options work reasonably well, but in terms of ease of use, fall short of similarly specified digital compacts. What's more, like rival offerings, the speed of operation is much slower than when using the Lumix normally. Picture quality, generally, met our expectations. From a combination of effective image stabiliser, superb Leica lens and following a more conservative approach to noise reduction and sharpening than Olympus with its E-510, Jpegs were pin sharp. Snaps at ISO800 were perfectly acceptable and usable at ISO1600.

The DMC-L10 also earned good marks for exposure accuracy but stronger than average colour casts under indoor lighting were a bit of let down. We also noticed that automatic white balance produced slightly cooler images than we were expecting in daylight, though switching to Cloudy produced more pleasing colours.

With a better than average range of features and superb Leica kit lens, the Lumix DMC-L10 rises both in price and capability to near semi-pro level. This all seems at odds with the Panasonic's wish to produce a DSLR for the masses. Even so, while there are better value alternatives, the DMC-L10 is a certainly worth a closer look.