Panasonic DMC-L1

120 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
performance (33)
lens (24)
image quality (22)
usability (21)
design (15)

Negative
price (20)
low-light (8)
focus (8)
size (8)
viewfinder (8)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 120 reviews of Panasonic DMC-L1. The average rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Opinions about the portability and image quality are overall positive. The usability and lens also get good opinions, whereas the low light performance and focus get critical opinions.

performance, lens, usability, image quality, portability

price, size, viewfinder, focus, low-light

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Panasonic DMC-L1 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 88/100 = Very good quality.

See all Panasonic Digital Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 120 reviews)

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Showing 1 - 10 of 41 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (79)

Expert review by : Trusted Reviews (trustedreviews.com)

Panasonic DMC-L1 Digital SLR

With brands like Panasonic, Leica and Olympus behind it, the DMC-L1 must be great right?

Feb, 2011

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Expert review by : tech.co.uk staff (techradar.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 review

A good camera. But the next one should be better...

High-quality CCD sensor ; SDHC-compatible ; Seperate shutter speed dials

No tilting screen ; It's expensive ; Slightly awkward to hold

As long as you can get over the high price tag and cope with the slightly awkward body shape, you'll be rewarded with superb images, great anti-shake performance and a lens that's simply out of this world. The L1 probably won't sell by the ton but this...

Aug, 2006

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Doug Harman (pocket-lint.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 DSLR camera

The L1 may look a little on the blocky side and weigh in at over a kilo with the large (but excellent) Leica lens sat in place on the FourThirds lens mount it uses. In fact the lens mount, mirror box AF and auto exposure sensors are all borrowed from...

Lens, OIS, build, white balance, live view, responsive, nice menus, image quality, handling

Heavy, gloomy viewfinder, noisy images at high ISO, LCD does not flip out and so fails to get the most from Live View capability

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 is an attractive package but that Leica kit lens makes it an expensive looking one, so the value for money becomes a bit of an issue when you look at competing D-SLRs in that price bracket. The slightly retro handling and the...

May, 2007

Partner Source

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Expert review by (megapixel.net (en))

Panasonic DMC-L1

Excellent image quality.Precise exposure metering.Analog controls.Excellent lens.Mega OIS stabilizer.Very good noise reduction.Built-in bounce flash capability.Good accessories included with the kit.Excellent RAW processing software.

Optical viewfinder a touch too narrow.Relatively heavy camera with the kit lens.Comparatively expensive, probably because of the Leica lens.

Sep, 2006

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Expert review by : Rosie Tanner (digicambuyer.co.uk)

Panasonic Lumix L1

2006 saw the much-anticipated entrance of Panasonic into the DSLR market, so when we were offered the chance to get our mitts on the L1, we couldn't wait

There looks like a little case of confused identity going on for this film-style SLR. Old-school photographers will love it!

Dec, 2007

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Expert review by : Gavin Stoker (macworld.co.uk)

Panasonic DMC-L1

With Digital SLR cameras now stealing much of the limelight for the quality of the resultant image, we thought we'd take a look at six leading examples for you to choose from.

Aug, 2007

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Expert review by : What Digital Camera (whatdigitalcamera.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1

As it offers a significantly different feature set from most other DSLRs, the L1 is worth considering particularly if you are new to automated cameras, maybe coming from older analogue models, or if you're enough of a traditionalist to miss the...

Feb, 2007

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Expert review by : Ian Burley (dpnow.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 sample images

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 sample images to view and download, including ISO range samples

The L1's Leica Vario Elmarit 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 standard zoom lenses provided were mechanically and optically production standard, but one more firmware update was expected. I had some intermittent focus mechanism problems when trying to use this lens...

Jul, 2006

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Expert review by : Phil Askey (dpreview.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Review

On February 26th 2006, in a packed press conference on the first day of PMA 2006 Panasonic revealed their first digital SLR, the DMC-L1. The DMC-L1 represents another first, it's the first non-Olympus Four Thirds digital SLR which has to be good news...

Excellent control layout; proper shutter speed and aperture dials Very fast access to aperture and shutter priority modes Very good build quality; magnesium alloy frame Supersonic Wave Filter ensures no dust on sensor Metering available in viewfinder...

Small and dark viewfinder view (difficult to see fine detail, difficult to check focus) Auto-focus in live view requires display freeze and mirror flip down / up Image processing algorithm not 'crisp' in appearance (although artifact free) Live view...

The DMC-L1 is Panasonic's first foray into the highly competitive digital SLR market. As such I think they should be pretty happy with the result. From an image quality point of view they've taken a surprisingly mature and conservative approach...

Apr, 2007

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Expert review by : Phil Ryan (cnet.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 review

intro Things are about to become very interesting in the world of digital SLRs. Now that Panasonic has its Lumix DMC-L1 in stores, three of the world's largest consumer electronics companies have joined the big leagues of digital imaging. How the L1...

Fast, image stabilized kit lens; built-in bounce flash; can preview shots on LCD.

Expensive kit is your only option; very noisy at higher ISOs; somewhat clunky design.

Panasonic's Lumix DMC-L1 is a nice first attempt at a dSLR, but a clunky design and noise at higher ISOs destroy its chances for dSLR superstardom.

Nov, 2006

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