Panasonic launches Leica-lensed SLR at Cebit

Panasonic has developed its first single-lens-reflex (SLR) digital camera, designed to operate as much possible like a film SLR.

Cameras have long been cited as examples of devices in which all-electronic operation is not always better than manual controls.

One reason for the popularity of the SLR is that, in addition to allowing the lens to be swapped, it allows easy manual focussing.

Panasonic’s 7.5megapixel Lumix DMV-L1 goes further in having a manual dial to control shutter speed and an aperture ring on the standard lens - a D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm zoom - which was also launched today at Cebit.

Like all Panasonic camera lenses, this is made by Leica.

Panasonic also launched a range of standard digicams in the Lumix range, all supporting its optical image stabiliser technology.

One, the 6megapixel DMC-FX01, is said to be the world’s smallest camera to boast the equivalent of a 35mm model’s 28mm lens – few compact digicams are good at wide angles, but the Leica DC lens also incorporates a 3.6x optical zoom.

The company says the design was made possible by mass production of an new type of aspherical lens.

Other models in the new compact range boast optical zooms of up to 12x. Prices and release dates were not announced.

To see a picture of the SLR, and other Cebit news, see our Test Bed blog.