DIWA Gold Award to Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX1



Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX1 is the world’s first digital camera with an image sensor in the new, popular 16:9 wide-screen format. The camera also offers many exciting features, such as 8.4 MP image resolution and a 4x Leica wide angle zoom lens with optical stabiliser. Its robust metal body underlines the camera’s overall qualities, while a large 2.5” LCD screen and user-friendly design make it suitable for most photo enthusiasts. Amsterdam, 16 May, 2006 – DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), a world-wide organisation of collaborating websites within digital imaging, today announces a DIWA Gold Award to the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX1 digital compact camera.

The LX1 proves that Panasonic has serious ambitions with its LUMIX digital camera range. The public has embraced their compact models for various reasons, but the most obvious benefit is Panasonic’s MEGA O.I.S optical stabiliser. In the LX1, this valuable feature is combined with a 4x DC Vario-Elmarit wide angle zoom lens from the world-renowned lens manufacturer Leica, featuring focal lengths equivalent to 28 – 112 mm f/2.8-4.9. The lens is tailor-made for the camera’s unique 8.4 Megapixel image sensor in the popular 16:9 wide-screen TV format, which also provides the world’s first 848x480 16:9 Wide VGA format movie recording at 30 fps.

To transform image signals into high-quality photographs and movies, the LX1 is equipped with the advanced Venus Engine II image prosessor. This also contributes heavily in making the LX1 incredibly fast, with full resolution burst shooting at 3 fps, as well as low power consumption. Composing, recording and reviewing images and movies are comfortably done on the crystal-clear, high resolution, large 2.5” LCD monitor, with its dedicated button for instant 140% brightness boost.

Kai Thon, DIWA's test manager, says: "Wide angle zoom lenses are rare in digital cameras, mainly due to physical difficulties and costs. The LX1 not only provides such a lens, but also adds an optical image stabiliser, 4x zooming power and a reputed Leica brand to the bargain. Lens quality is essential for high quality images, but also the remaining part of the conversion from light to image is important. The LUMIX DMC-LX1 has all the ingredients required to complete this process in style, and does so with a minimum of compromises."

Amateurs and experienced photographers alike will appreciate the LX1 for its compact and rugged construction, user-friendly and reliable automatic functions and smart features. However, thanks to advanced features like RAW and TIFF image formats, manual overrides of vital functions, live histogram, fast AF and shutter response, wide shutter speed range, 5x extra optical zoom at 5.5 Mp, and 5 cm close-up shooting, the LX1 is also ideal as a handy snap-shot tool for professionals.

In addition to excellent overall performance, DIWA testing experts in Europe and America appreciated the LX1 for its appealing design and exciting mix of useful functions and features. The total package, performance and features combined, in relation to its fair price, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX1 left the test bench with a well deserved DIWA Gold Award.