Expert: John Oliverio - 11/20/2009

Question
Hello John.

I follow the advice of an xepert at this site and bought a Canon Xsi (450D), I get sick with the Auto focus with the 18-55 kit lense.  I shell buy a higher end model soon and I have done a lot of search and comparing from the internet;  I have some good idea about the + and - of some big name models.

Recently there is a good deal in my area (I am temporary working in Hong Kong) that offers the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 for US$626.  This price is for a New in Box set from Japan with the Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 14-50 3.8-5.6 kit lense; It's less than 1/2 of the MSRP in the States.

My Question is:  From the view of what you pay, what you get;  how do this DMC L-10 kit compare with the Nikon D5000, Nikon D90 and Canon 40D (all wiith standard kit lenses)

As I know in the old days, the quality of Leica lenses is lot higher than any Japanese lenses, is this still true nowadays?

The major reason that I want to pick the Lumix DMC-L10 is that it comes with the Leica lense and it offers a good discount.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Lee.  

Answer
Lee, the kit lens on the Panasonic isn't any better than the one you have.  Actually, all kit lenses in my opinion are of marginal quality.  That is just the way it is.  You get what you pay for.  If I was in your position, I would keep the Xsi (450d) and buy a better lens for it.  The lens is the most important part and where you should put your money.  I could take a technically (not necessarily artistically) better picture with a Canon Xsi and canon 17-55 f/2.8 than I could with any professional Canon with a cheap lens.  The camera you have doesn't matter as much as people on the internet would lead you to believe.  

John