Panasonic LC1 Review

By:Wai-Shan Lam
On December 1, 2003, Leica announced the Digilux 2 (D2) model. The D2 is a 5-megapixel camera with a 3.2x optical zoom. As many people know, Leica has been working with different companies in the past to design their digital cameras. A few years back, many of the Fujifilm digital cameras were also introduced under the Leica brand. And in recent years, Leica has partnered with Panasonic. The arrangement is similar to the one Sony and Zeiss share — where Zeiss would design the optics for Sony, Leica would design the optics for Panasonic.
Three months after the Leica D2 was announced Panasonic announced that they will be bringing out their version of the D2, DMC-LC1. The specifications of the two cameras are identical, but their suggested retail price varies a great deal. The D2 and LC1 differs in bundled software and cosmetics. Strangely, the lower priced LC1 comes with the cable release and 69mm (hard to find) multi-coated filter. (At least it does in Hong Kong).
...