Customer Reviews

Panasonic DMC-L10 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm f/3.8-5.6 Mega OIS Lens

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a 'collector' of dslr cameras. I have just about every panasonic lumix camera available and quite a few canons, sonys, and nikons. This camera, by far, is my favorite. It is easy to handle, easy to use, totally stupid proof, and the pictures come out great. I have a Nikon d80 and it's a great camera but for me, this is still my favorite. It's just a funner camera and easier to handle. I am in no-way a professional photographer, I just love photography and this camera is a joy.

Myself as a very long-time prosumer of Leica M 6 film camera and all its glorious lenses i frankly think this Panasonic - with a Leica objective - is better than Nikon D60 Kit. Nikon comes with an inferior lens.

The picture quality (RAW) is good and all the necessary manual controls are there beside automatic programs.

Con: noise control with big ISO numbers ( 800 +) is not good. No good for tele.

Pro: the camera takes e.g. Olympus serious flas Fl-36R as TTL. - Very handhy wide angel (24). f=2.8

Dr. Jukka Kemppinen, Finland

Panasonic DMC-L10 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm f/3.8-5.6 Mega OIS LensI bought this camera because of the swing out viewfinder. It is a jewel of a camera. The first pictures I took few closeups of some flowers. The results were stunning.I am a little surprised that the camera doesn't sell that well. One problem is that you can't get it as a body only camera. The lens that comes with it is superb but expensive,but it is supposed to be able to take all four thirds lenses.I will get a Zukor lens longer of longer focus soon. I am really a Canon fan and have a lot of their lenses. This camera is every bit as sharp and precise. The swing out focus is nice but makes a lot of noise when you use it.Since the price has come down a bit this a real bargain.

I got an Olympus Zuiko lens giving a telephoto view of up to 400 mm equivalent. Just as advertised, the four thirds lenses are interchangeable with different brands of cameras. This lens works well. The four thirds media is a step up from small point and shoot cameras.

They are fair weather cameras,and are light,with jewel like action. Given any lighting challenge, or if you take sports pictures,you are better off with a big Canon or Nikon which has a larger sensor. If you try to push the ISO on the small sensor models,you get much unwelcome noise and graininess.

I chose this for myself (as a gift from my wife to me!), after having reawakened my interest in photography. I had become interested in my wife's E-410 and knew I wanted an ergonomic and lightweight camera with good optics. (I still have my various Contax and Zeiss SLR cameras and lenses, so I know the value of good glass.)

After lots of research and trying out various models and brands, I decided that the L10 had the controls, ease-of-use, flip-out display and good kit lens I wanted. It was a minor consideration that I would be able to share lenses with my wife, since both of our cameras would share the four-thirds mount.

I came across an incredible deal on the last new one in Sweden and snapped it up. It has impressed me from day one with its SLR-like responsiveness and logical controls. I confess to having soon-after purchased a used L1, mainly for the faster zoom lens, with the aperture ring. I find it to be the ideal match for my L10. I definitely prefer to generally leave the camera in aperture priority and use the lens aperture control.

After a few months, I decided to start mounting my Contax lenses on the L10 and discovered an even more exciting world of macro and higher bokeh photography. However, I also learned that the small and dim viewfinder was sorely lacking when it came to manual focusing my legacy Zeiss lenses. I only got the focus spot-on about 40% of the time.

I enjoy the live-view function for some tripod- and macro-photography, and the positionable LCD display was definitely the right choice for me. However, I really dislike the slow live-view focusing and the extra noise from the mirror movement. Sometimes, I have missed shots because of the delay and other times I released the shutter release too quickly, having confused the mirror noise with the sound of the shutter -- thereby NOT taking the picture.

Although focusing with the LCD sometimes gave a better magnified image during manual focusing, I found that it was just as often too reflective or too low resolution (or both) for my eyes.

It was for this reason, I purchased my first micro four-thirds cameras, with which I could use an electronic viewfinder for manual focusing of my Contax lenses. However, I have discovered that for sports, action and autofocusing, the L10 is still my preferred camera.

Its 14-50mm kit lens, and the 14-50mm kit lens for the L1, both focus well on my E-PL1, as well. Both of these Panasonic/Leica lenses seem superior to the other Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds zooms I have tried.

The L10 kit lens also works fine with my GF1 and since both the L10 and L1 kit lenses have excellent lens-based stabilization, I find it easier to focus and frame my compositions. I even find the size and weight to match up well with my micro 4/3 bodies and my hands find the focusing and zoom rings better.

Now, I have decided to invest in some more Olympus 4/3 lenses (the 50mm Macro and the 50-200mm zoom) with which to enjoy my L10. It really still is the easiest and most comfortable digital camera I own. I wish Panasonic had made a mirrorless version of it, but perhaps the new G3 will be that camera.

My first dslr, its fab. Of course I cannot compare it to others, however its significantly superior to any of the point and shoots I have used.

Two criticisms. First the autofocus seems to take a few moments to set in, especially with fast moving shots making for blurry pictures. Second, high speed shooting isnt as fast as I would have hoped, just 2 frames a second - shame they couldn't get 4 or 5.

I was looking for an entry level DSLR to purchase as a gift, so I spent a good amount of time at a local store playing with DSLRs. I have a Canon EOS 40D that I love, but my camera was way to pricey to buy as a gift. I tried the most popular DSLRs from Canon and Nikon, but the Panasonic caught my eye because of the movable screen. The camera was easy to operate and took decent pictures (I bring along memory cards so I can try out the cameras); however, like my Panasonic compact camera (I have a TZ3), the images were either too noisy or overprocessed for my taste.

But my eyes eventually lowered to the price tag, and I was in disbelief. This camera costs as much as my EOS40D (a semi-pro model). Perhaps if this Panasonic cost $400, I would be on here saying that it was the best $400 camera you could get, and I'd give it more stars, but for this price you could be getting a camera that is in a whole different league.

That being said, if you want to spend this much on a camera, consider the Canon 40D or the Nikon D80 (or spend a bit more for the D300)--they will give you much better photos, more customization, and solid performance for the same price. If you're just looking for a beginner DLSR (like I was), stick with the Canon Rebel XTi or the Nikon D40x (or even an Olympus e-volt). Any of those three cameras will give you as good or better photos, more upgrade options (more lenses & accessories), and best of all, you could basically get two of those cameras for the price of one this Panasonic L10.