Full-time Live View allows users to shoot in new ways
Panasonic has developed a full-time Live View function that lets users accurately compose photos while viewing the high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD screen. In previous digital SLR cameras, a "live" image could be seen only through the viewfinder. The new full-time Live View function thus represents a dramatic change in digital SLR photography, giving users new ways to shoot.

Full-time Live View provides a 100 percent view field coverage (that is, the same image seen by the image sensor) on the DMC-L1's large, 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Users can compose a shot easily and accurately while viewing the screen. The screen also displays critical information such as a live histogram and white balance, which users can easily check prior to snapping the shot. When a tripod is used, full-time Live View lets users compose the image without bending to peer through the viewfinder. In these ways, users will find that full-time Live View gives them both more shooting flexibility and greater convenience.

The Live MOS image sensor must remain ON when full-time Live View is in use. The Live MOS sensor has a full-time image output function that sends a signal directly to the LCD, allowing high-quality display on the LCD screen of the same image seen in the sensor. Note that when the full-time Live View function is active, the internal mirror is in the raised position, which means that there will be no image visible in the optical viewfinder.

Users can take advantage of the revolutionary full-time Live View function in both Autofocus and Manual Focus modes. When using Manual Focus, users can select a particular area within the frame and enlarge it up to 10x. Then, viewing the DMC-L1's 2.5-inch 207,000-pixel LCD screen, it is easy to check the focus. It is also possible, by pressing the aperture preview button, to check the depth of field. When the aperture is being adjusted, the DMC-L1 automatically adjusts the brightness of the full-time Live View image on the LCD screen to prevent it from becoming too dark to see. This makes it easier to check the depth of field.

4/3-type 7.5-megapixel, high-resolution, energy-saving Live MOS sensor
The Live MOS sensor used in the DMC-L1 provides the beautiful images with delicate gradation and wide dynamic range that only a CCD image sensor can provide. To this it adds the low energy consumption only a CMOS sensor can offer. The use of dedicated processing technology enables operation at a low voltage of 5V, minimizing noise in darker parts of an image. Also, photodiodes embedded deeply in the silicon layer create a structure that suppresses noise generated on the substrate surface. As a result, the white-spot pixel defects and textural roughness that often characterize images captured in dim lighting are minimized, so photos are crisp and clear.

Dust-reduction system prevents dust and other particles from degrading images
One of the most critical issues with digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses is the possibility of dust entering the camera body during lens changes. This dust can adhere to the image sensor and show up as spots on photos taken. Panasonic has solved this problem by equipping the DMC-L1 with a Supersonic Wave Filter system that uses supersonic vibration to shake off any dust clinging to the sensor. This simplifies camera maintenance and eliminates worries about dust entering the camera body when lenses are being changed outdoors, so users can enjoy themselves and just concentrate on shooting.

Venus Engine III image processing LSI
The Venus Engine III is an image processing LSI developed by Panasonic to maximize the performance of the Leica D lens and Live MOS sensor. This advanced LSI not only helps reproduce images with outstanding resolution, superior color, and detailed gradation, it also distinguishes chromatic noise from luminance noise and selectively reduces the chromatic noise, one of the chief sources of image quality problems. This helps the DMC-L1 deliver the superb image rendering one expects from a quality SLR camera. The Venus Engine III also works swiftly, helping give the DMC-L1 a quick startup time of one second, shorter shutter interval, and improved consecutive shooting performance.

Further, the Venus Engine III consumes 20 percent less power than its predecessor, the Venus Engine II. This combines with the Live MOS sensor's low energy consumption to give the DMC-L1 longer battery life. Users can take around 450 shots (CIPA standard) on a single battery charge.

Film mode
In film cameras, the brand of film used affects the color characteristics, gradation, and color saturation of the photos taken. This gives photographers the option of choosing a particular brand of film to attain a particular desired effect. The DMC-L1 provides a similar option by giving the user a total of seven "film" modes to choose from, including four color settings (Standard, Dynamic, Natural, and Smooth) and three monochrome settings (Standard, Dynamic, and Smooth). Just as photographers can switch film brands to change the imaging characteristics, DMC-L1 users can switch modes to achieve a similar effect.

Two-axis white balance adjustment
In addition to the conventional white balance setting, the DMC-L1 features a two-axis setting system that allows even finer white balance adjustment. Making adjustments along a horizontal amber-blue axis and a vertical green-magenta axis, users can set the camera for detailed color cast compensation over virtually the entire color space.

Extra Optical Zoom
When the camera is set to record at less than the maximum number of pixels, users can take advantage of an Extra Optical Zoom function. (Only applicable in using full-time Live View function.) This function alters the 7.5-megapixel Live MOS sensor's operating area, to vary the angle of view and increase the maximum zoom ratio.

Unlike a digital zoom, the Extra Optical Zoom function extends the focal length 1.5 times when the the DMC-L1 is used with the Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm/f2.8-3.5 ASPH lens provided and when shooting at 3-megapixel or a lower-resolution mode without degrading the image. Users enjoy extra zoom power without loss of picture quality.

Other features and functions

• Supports SDHC format
• Compatible with external TTL flash units (models DMW-FL500, DMW-FL360)
• Auto bracket function shoots three or five photos at exposures changing in steps of +1/3 to 1 EV
• Equipped with a shutter-speed Bulb setting (8 minutes maximum)

全程实时取景允许用户以新的方式拍照
松下已开发出一种全程实时取景功能，让用户通过观察高精度的2.5英寸LCD荧光屏精确地构图。在之前的那些数码单反相机中，“实时”的图像只能通过取景器看到。这个新的全程实时取景功能因而代表了数码单反摄影中的一个戏剧性的变化，给了用户新的方式拍摄。

全程实时取景在DMC-L1的大面积2.5英寸LCD荧光显示器上提供了100%的视场覆盖率（即同图像传感器看到的图像一样）。用户能够在观看屏幕时轻松和精确的构图。屏幕也显示了一些关键的信息，比如一个实时的直方图和白平衡，用户能够轻松的在拍摄之前检查。当时用三脚架时，全程实时取景能够让用户无需弓身透过取景器窗口就能够构图。用这些方式，用户将发现全程实时取景给了他们既有更多的拍摄弹性和更大的便利性。

当使用全程实时取景时，实时MOS图像传感器必须保持开启状态。实时MOS传感器有一个全程图像输出功能，直接将信号发动到LCD显示屏，允许在LCD显示屏上同传感器上一样图像的高质量显示。注意到当全程实时取景功能激活时，内部的镜面在抬起状态，这意味着在光学取景器上没有图像可见。

用户能够在自动对焦和手动对焦模式下利用这项革命性的全程实时取景功能。当时用手动对焦时，用户能够在画幅中选择一个特别的区域，放大到10倍。然后，观看DMC-L1的2.5英寸207000像素的LCD屏幕，容易检查对焦。也可能通过按下光圈预览键检查景深。当光圈被调整时，DMC-L1自动的调整LCD显示屏上的全程实时取景的亮度，防止它太黑而不可见。这使得检查景深更加容易。

4/3-型7.5百万像素，高精度，节能的实时MOS传感器

DMC-L1中的实时MOS传感器具有只有CCD图像传感器才能提供的精细的渐变层次和宽广的动态范围，提供了漂亮的图像。它加入了只有CMOS传感器才有的低能耗。使用精细处理技术，使得操作在5伏特低电压，在图像中的暗部最小化了噪点。结果，低光条件下拍摄时经常出现的白点像素缺陷和粗糙的纹理得以最小化，因此照片锐利而清晰。

减尘系统组织灰尘和其他微粒
可换镜头的数码单反相机的其中一个关键问题是在更换镜头时可能的灰尘进入机身。这些灰尘能够附着在图像传感器上而在所摄照片上呈现为斑点。松下已通过装配给DMC-L1一个超声波滤波系统解决这个问题，滤波器使用了超声波震动来要调任何附着于传感器的灰尘。这简化了相机的维护而消除了关于更换镜头是灰尘进入机身的担心，因此用户能够享受而仅仅专注于拍摄。

Venus Engine III图象处理LSI
Venus Engine III是松下开发的一个图像处理LSI用以使Leica D镜头和实时MOS传感器的性能最大化。这项先进的LSI不仅帮助以高精度、绝佳的颜色、以及细腻的渐变再生图像，它也能区分彩色噪声和亮度噪声，敏感的减低彩色噪声--图像质量问题的主要来源中的一个问题。这帮助DMC-L1传递出人可以从高质量单反相机期望得到的超好的图像生成。Venus Engine III也能快速工作，帮助给予DMC-L1一个快速的一秒开机时间、更短的快门间隔、和增进的连续拍摄性能。

另外，Venus Engine III较之前身Venus Engine II少消耗20%的电量。这结合实时MOS传感器的低能耗，给予DMC-L1更长的电池使用长度。用户能够在单词充电拍摄450次(CIPA标准)。

胶片模式
在胶片相机中，使用的胶片品牌影响到所拍摄照片的颜色刻画、渐变和颜色饱和度。这给予摄影师特有品牌的胶片的选择来获得特有的想要的效果。DMC-L1通过给用户一整套7种"胶片"模式来选择，提供了一个相似的选项，包括四种彩色设置（标准、动态、自然和平滑）和三种单色设置（标准、动态和平滑）。正如摄影师能够更换胶片品牌来改变图像特性一样，DMC-L1用户能够更换模式来获得一种相似的效果。

双轴白平衡调整
在传统白平衡设置之外，DMC-L1特别使用双轴设置系统来允许甚至更精的白平衡调整。沿着水平的琥珀色-蓝色轴和一个垂直的绿色-洋红色轴进行调整，用户能够给相机在几乎整个颜色空间上设置具有细节的偏色补偿。

额外光学变焦
当相机被设置成以小于最大像素进行纪录时，用户能够利用一个额外光学变焦功能。（仅当使用全程实时取景功能时适用。）这项功能改变7.5百万像素实时MOS传感器的操作面积，来改变视角大小和增加最大变焦率。

不像数码变焦，这项额外光学变焦功能当DMC-L1使用于提供的Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm/f2.8-3.5 ASPH镜头并且在以3百万像素或者更低的精度拍摄时，延伸了焦距1.5倍而不降低图像质量。用户可以尽情享受额外变焦而不损失图片质量。

其他特性和功能
   --支持SDHC格式
   --与外置TTL闪光单元(DMW-FL500,DMW-FL600模型)兼容
   --自动框架功能以曝光值在+1/3到1EV之间变化来拍摄3到5张图片
   --配备有B门设置（最大8分钟）