Panasonic DMC-L1, their first DSLR

cannon

Panasonic has announced the availability of the Lumix DMC-L1, their first digital SLR. Details:

Lumix DMC-L1

* 7.5 effective Megapixel Live MOS sensor
* Magnesium alloy body with classic rangefinder camera look
* Full time live view ("Mode B" from the E-330) lets you compose photos on the large 2.5" LCD; while it's best suited for manual focusing, auto focus will work here, albeit slowly
* Includes an F2.8 - 3.5 Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14 - 50 mm lens with built-in image stabilization
* Other lenses designed for the FourThirds system will work; 2X focal length conversion
* Same Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system as Olympus' cameras
* Full manual controls, as you'd expect
* Advanced white balance controls
* RAW image format supported
* Hot shoe for external flash
* SD/SDHC memory card slot
* USB 2.0 High Speed supported
* Uses CGR-S603 lithium-ion battery; 450 shots per charge (CIPA standard)
* Ships in September for $1999