Panasonic LUMIX L1 manual Birth of Beauty, Dust Reduction System, Light rays Image Sensor

Image circle diameter

Lens mount diameter

The Birth of Beauty

Beautiful High-Resolution Images: 7.5-Megapixel 4/3-type Live MOS Sensor for the Best of Both CMOS and CCD Sensors

Protecting the Digital SLR Image Sensor:

The Rich Tonal Quality of the CCD,

the Low Power Consumption of CMOS

The L1 uses a high-image- quality 7.5-megapixel 4/3-type Live MOS sensor. The ideal sensor for digital SLR cameras, the Live MOS sensor delivers the same high image quality as a CCD sensor with the low power consumption of a CMOS

sensor. This advanced sensor draws on MOS signal amplification technology but uses a simpler structure. It's molded as a single unit onto a flexible circuit board, reducing both the number of signal exchanges and the contact resistance from wiring. A process technology with 5-V activation reduces heat and noise while improving the image quality of the Live View function.

A Wide Dynamic Range for Richer Image Gradation

The Live MOS sensor featured in the L1 uses a new readout circuit that reduces the three control wirings required with a CMOS sensor to the two wirings required with a CCD sensor. This provides a greater photoreceptive area per pixel than a conventional CMOS sensor can provide. The result is the type of wide dynamic range that makes it possible to capture detailed, expressive images with rich gradation.

Live MOS Sensor			CMOS			CCD
Light receiving area rate 50%			Light receiving area rate 35%			Light receiving area rate 50%
Wiring-2	Circuitsection	New drivecircuit	Wiring-2	Circuitsection	Conventional drivecircuit	Wiring-2	Datatransfer section
Wiring-1			Wiring-1			Wiring-1
Light receiving			Wiring-3			Light receiving
area			Light receiving			area
			area
5.6 ∝m			5.6 ∝m			5.6 ∝m

Comparison of Light Receiving Areas per Pixel (Panasonic figures)

Low-Noise Processing and Pinned Photodiode Array Reduce Image Graininess

The Live MOS sensor not only slashes noise, it embeds the photodiodes deeply into the silicon layer, where they are resistant to noise generated on the photodiode surface. This suppresses the rough image texture that is sometimes noticeable (like viewing an image through an unwashed window) when shooting in dim lighting, giving you clear, smooth shots even in difficult conditions.

The Four Thirds Standard: Designed to Maximize Image Quality in Digital Cameras

For accurate imaging, the light must strike the image sensor at a perpendicular angle. When a lens designed for a film camera is used, light from the edge of the image area enters at an angle, resulting in

inaccurate color reproduction or dark areas. The L1 uses a lens mount with about twice the diameter of the image circle. Light strikes the sensor at an almost perpendicular angle, so images are clear and accurate all the way to the edges.

Light rays	Light rays
Image	Image
sensor	sensor
(Image)	(Image)
Film camera lens design	FourThirds System lens design

Dust Reduction System

One of the risks with a digital SLR camera is that, during a lens change, dust or dirt could make its way into the camera and adhere to the image sensor. This would show up as a flaw in the same location of every photo you shoot. Even worse, the foreign matter could damage the image sensor. The only remedy would be to have the image sensor replaced – a costly undertaking. The L1 solves this problem with a supersonic wave Dust Reduction System. Each time the camera is turned on, a filter positioned between the low pass filter and shutter vibrates around 30,000 times a second to shake away dust or dirt. The loosened dust is collected by a dust adhesion section located under the filter. Because the area between sensor

and filter is completely airtight, no dust adheres to the low pass filter or image sensor. This advanced supersonic wave filter requires no maintenance. If you use a digital SLR camera with interchangeable lenses, this kind of advanced protection against dust is absolutely essential.

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