Lumix 5 Megapixel Point-and-Shoot Compact Digital Camera.The LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens on the DMC-LC80 follows in the Leica tradition of excellence. Although it is small in size it has a large bright aperture meeting Leicas stringent quality standards. A Leica multi-coating process applied to the lens helps to prevent the fogging caused by flare and ghosts that can result from excessive light. Even enlarged images captured by the DMC-LC80 are crisp and clear--right to the edges. Includes Camera (2) Alkaline AA batteries 16MB SD Memory card A/V cable USB cable Strap CD-ROM.* 5 Megapixels and a 3x Optical Zoom Camera that Fits in Your Pocket At just 3.44 wide about the width of a standard business card (but thicker) the DMC-LC80 puts a 5-Effective Megapixel CCD and a 3x optical zoom right in your pocket. You can even use the 3x digital zoom together with the 3x optical zoom to enjoy up to 9x zoom power.* Two Convenient Power Sources--Alkaline or Rechargeable Batteries The DMC-LC80 can be powered by two AA alkaline or two rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. You can take about 160 photos with two alkaline batteries and they take up a lot less room in your camera bag. Since you can find alkaline batteries almost any anywhere it is easy to pick up some spares when the power starts running low.* Shoot up to 5 Images at 2.7 Frames per Second in Standard Mode Our MEGA BURST Consecutive Shooting feature allows you to take successive pictures at an incredibly quick rate making it ideal for capturing fast-moving objects in high resolution. You can then view your shots on the cameras LCD screen to choose the ones you like and delete the rest. -- SPECIFICATIONs ------------------------------------IMAGING DEVICE- 1/2.5 5.36 Total Megapixel CCD Primary Color Filter LSI TYPE - Venus Engine LSIRESOLUTION - 2560 x 1920 pixels 2048 x 1536 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 Motion Image: 320 x 240 30 or 10 fps (320 x 240 pixels) LENS - Lei...
Optics and Resolution Featuring a five-megapixel CCD sensor, the DMC-LC80 delivers a wide range of detail and color (with images up to 2560 x 1920 pixels) and can be the basis for photo-quality prints 13 by 17 inches. The DMC-LC80's 3x Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom lens combines comfortably small size with superb image rendering. By combining with a 3x digital zoom, users will have an equivalence of a 9x zoom lens in a very compact body, though users should note that digital zoom degrades picture quality.
Movie Mode and Audio
The DMC-LC80 lets you shoot QuickTime Motion JPEG video at resolutions up to 320 x 240 pixels with sound. The amount of video you can capture is limited by space on the memory card; you'll fit more at low quality (10 frames-per-second) than at high quality (30 frames-per-second). The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments. You can also record audio comments, up to five seconds in length, for your still pictures.
More Features
- Intelligent multiple area and spot light metering
- Scene Modes: Simple, Normal Picture, Economy, Macro, Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, Moving Image, Playback
- Mega Burst Shooting Mode: Shoot up to nine images at 2.7 or 1.5 frames-per-second in standard resolution, or up to five images in fine resolution. This option is designed to provide you with the best selection of photos during action, such as a sporting event.
- Built-in flash
- Real-time histograms
- Optical viewfinder
- 1.5" diagonal Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (114k pixels)
Storage and Transfer Images and video are stored on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. A 16 MB SD card is included. Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Printing
This camera supports the PictBridge standard. PictBridge is a technology that lets you transfer pictures from a digital camera to a compatible printer, without a PC or image-editing software. Because PictBridge is an industry standard, users can connect PictBridge-compatible devices made by many different manufacturers. Learn more about PictBridge.
Power and Size
The camera is powered by two AA-size batteries. Alkaline batteries are included, but the manufacturer recommends rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, which could end up saving money over the life of the camera. The camera measures 2.52 by 3.44 by 1.39 inches and weighs 0.35 pounds.
What's in the Box
DMC-LC80 digital camera, two AA alkaline batteries, 16MB SD memory card, A/V cable, USB cable, strap, and CD-ROM.
1 There are other cameras than the Elph....boy are there ever!
I just bought this camera and have not used it a lot yet but was very happy with it, so much so, that I wrote a review before I fully explored everything this camera was capable of. From my experience so far I am extremely impressed at the quality of the pictures and the cost per megapixel, seeing that you are getting a Leica lens with this camera.....and I am amazed that the Lumix line is not more popular than it is. I upgraded to this camera from a Canon Elph because of a number of things. First was the fact that this is the only camera name in the market with the best lens(Leica) in the world. Everything else(ie. all of the bells and whistles) are secondary to the quality of a camera lens, since this is what ultimately affects a pictures quality. I have taken several pictures of mundane things such as the side of a building just to test out the clarity of the picture and the richness of the colors. What would have been over or underexposed with my Elph much of the time comes in incredibly well with this camera.
This camera also is instant on and is ready to snap when you push the button down. People who have had other cameras know this is not always the case. Controls and user interface are also very intuitive. You will not spend much time, if any, with your nose in the manual. And it is **very small**.....I had no idea it would be as small as it is. One thing to note is the battery types that can be used; this camera only accepts alkaline and Ni-Mh, so don't try NiCd or any other type of batteries. This was another reason for my upgrade as I often travel to remote places where recharging a battery is possible. AA batteries are available in any corner of the world.
So far, I am extremely pleased with the quality of the pictures and the many functions the camera has, most of which I have not even tried, such as the animation mode. Perhaps I will update this review as I learn what this camera is truly capable of.
All in all, I think one cannot go wrong with this camera. The cost per megapixel is astounding; there are lesser cameras costing much more. One more thing: transfer time with the cable is speedy....I am rethinking how necessary a card reader really is. The Lumix line has made a convert out of me.
Edit: I have uploaded some pictures taken with the LC-80, and wanted to add some comments on the design of the camera.....it is a brilliant design. One of the small things(which is not so small to me) is the fact that when you move the lever to zoom in, the lens stops and pauses when it reaches the end of the optical zoom(3X), before it continues zooming on to a maximum of 9X through the digital zoom. This is basically the camera asking the user: "are you sure you want to proceed and risk image degradation with the digital zoom?" Just a brilliant design.
The one downside I could see with this package would be the software. It comes with Ulead software which does virtually everything you could want it to(even adds sound to pictures if you want), but one thing it does not do(at least Ihave not found it), is to make a panorama out of multiple pictures. This was included with the Elph, and is something I will continue to use in the future. This is **Very minor** though when looking at the whole package, which is fantastic.
