[ortega] Hands on the Panasonic Lumix Communication Camera DMC-CM1

[ortega]

Announced in 2014, the Panasonic Lumix Communication Camera DMC-CM1 has finally reached our shores. Could this be the "Photographer's Mobile device?"
The specifications are full of big numbers that promise great image quality, lets see if it lives up to the hype.

Dimensions (W x H x D): Approx. 135.4 x 68.0 x 21.1 (Body 15.2) mm

Weight: Approx. 203 g without SIM Card and microSD Memory Card. Approx. 204 g with SIM Card and microSD Memory Card

Image Sensor: 1-inch High Sensitivity MOS Sensor / Total Pixel Number 20.9 Megapixels


LEICA DC ELMARIT 6 elements in 5 groups (3 Aspherical Lenses / 6 Aspherical Surfaces)
Focal Length: Fixed focal length 10.2mm (31mm in 35mm equiv. in 4:3) (28mm in 35mm equiv. in 3:2) (30mm in 35mm equiv. in 16:9) (36mm in 35mm equiv. in 1:1) (43mm in 35mm equiv. in 4K video recording)

Aperture: F2.8 - 11 / Multistage Iris Diaphragm

Focus: 10 cm - infinity

Shutter: Mechanical Shutter / Auto (Mechanical Shutter + Eerectronic Shutter)
Shutter speeds: Still Image: Mechanical Shutter : Approx. 60s - 1/2,000 sec Auto : Approx. 60s - 1/16,000 sec Motion Picture: Approx. 1/30 - 1/16,000 sec
Yes 60 secs

you can see the full specifications from the official page
http://www.panasonic.com/sg/consume...-still-cameras-point-shoot/dmc-cm1.specs.html

 

[ortega]

On the top you have a dedicated shutter button and a camera switch, you just need to activate the switch to go straight into camera mode, no swiping all over the place.

Next to the lens, you have a audio out port for a standard headphone (φ3.5mm (3-pin / 4-pin)
and the microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer

 

[ortega]

on the bottom the MicroSD and SIM card slots

SIM Card size: microSIM Class B / Class C
The device comes with 16GB of storage with the ability to add a MicroSD card up to 128GB with optional microSDXC Card

Tip: Get a big and fast card as it is able to save in RAW + JPEG Fine

 

[ortega]

this is where it gets interesting, the Leica Lens has a filter tread where you can attach accessories.
It is hidden behind the cover

 

[ortega]

This is one example of what you can do

 

[ortega]

High ISO Noise Control - the 1st time I am doing this for an Android device, lets see how it handles High ISO Noise

100% Crops for pixel level peeping

 

[ortega]

and the full image

Can you guess what ISO this is? No cheating

 

[ortega]

This is the closest I could go, no scientific measurements here

 

[ortega]

How about some real world photo situations?
I brought it along with me on my trip and these are what it can do.

ISO125 (lowest ISO possible) f11 1/250s

ISO125 f4 1/250s

ISO125 f11 6s
Shot with the help of a ND10 filter

 

[ortega]

ISO800 f11 1/20s
Sloppy me to leave it at aperture priority and at f11, which made the auto ISO go up to ISO800

ISO125 f4 1/100s

ISO160 f4 1/60s

If you look closely you can see me in the reflection, because it is in the form factor of a smartphone, people are not as defensive and take no notice of you.

 

[ortega]

ISO125 f5.6 1/640s

ISO800 f2.8 1/13s

ISO640 f2.8 1/60s

No flash photography allowed in the museums? No problem

 

[ortega]

ISO400 f2.8 60s

Shot with the help of a ND10 filter

ISO400 f5.6 1/160s

ISO125 f8 1/400s

 

[ortega]

ISO125 f8 1/500s

ISO800 f2.8 1/10s

This shot surprised me, this is a working church where photography is NOT allowed, I just had to sneak this shot and I am very pleased with the image that it captured.

ISO125 f4 1/2000s

 

[ortega]

ISO125 f4 1/200s

ISO125 f8 1/250s

ISO125 f8 1/200s

 

[ortega]

ISO400 f4 60s

ND10 was used to blur away the people and traffic

ISO125 f2.8 1/200s

 

[Don Marcaroni]

Looks good. Main problem I'm having is the price seems quite steep but I guess time will tell if people are willing to pay for this sort of phone/ camera. I guess there has to have been some success since Panasonic has opted to sell this now in more markets. :thumbsup:

 

[caroland]

This smartphone looks promising, indeed its getting better and better.
Should be smartcamera with built in phone.

 

[ortega]

the best way is to sign a contact with a telco and sell away the phone, then use the money to buy the CM1

BTW stay tuned for more sample images as I struggle with the multi gigabytes of images from my trip

 

[Parka]

Those are real good. Very difficult to imagine that they come from a camera phone.

 

[ortega]

Those are real good. Very difficult to imagine that they come from a camera phone.

i believe that so far, this communication device produces the best image quality