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Panasonic G1 vs L10

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2008 and August 2007. The G1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the L10 is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The G1 has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the L10 provides 10 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic G1
versus
Panasonic L10
Panasonic G1   Panasonic L10
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Micro Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
12 MP – Four Thirds sensor 10 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200) ISO 100-1,600
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 2.5" LCD – 207k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
410 shots per battery charge450 shots per battery charge
124 x 84 x 45 mm, 360 g 135 x 96 x 78 mm, 556 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic G1 and the Panasonic L10 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic L10
Compare G1 versus L10 top
Comparison G1 or L10 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic L10 is notably larger (24 percent) than the Panasonic G1. Moreover, the L10 is substantially heavier (54 percent) than the G1. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G1 nor the L10 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (G1) and the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (L10). Mirrorless cameras, such as the Panasonic G1, have moreover the advantage that they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance and can thus use many lenses from other systems via adapters.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 599ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-420 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2008 599ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 699ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 699ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GF6 111 mm 65 mm 38 mm 323 g 340 n Apr 2013 499ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF5 108 mm 67 mm 37 mm 267 g 360 n Apr 2012 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GF3 108 mm 67 mm 32 mm 264 g 300 n Jun 2011 549ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G2 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 428 g 360 n Mar 2010 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GF2 113 mm 68 mm 33 mm 310 g 300 n Nov 2010 549ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 749ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic L1 146 mm 87 mm 64 mm 606 g 750 n Feb 2006 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Panasonic G1 and Panasonic L10 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the G1 offers a higher resolution of 12 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the L10. This megapixels advantage translates into a 10 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the G1 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.33μm versus 4.74μm for the L10). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the G1 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year) than the L10, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic G1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the G1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 20 x 15 inches or 50.8 x 38.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 16 x 12 inches or 40.6 x 30.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13.3 x 10 inches or 33.9 x 25.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic L10 are 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 are ISO 100 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

G1 versus L10 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
2.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
3.
 
Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.452756
4.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
5.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
6.
 
Panasonic GF6 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i20.710.662254
7.
 
Panasonic GF5 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.510.057350
8.
 
Panasonic GF3 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.610.145950
9.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
10.
 
Panasonic G2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353
11.
 
Panasonic GF2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i21.210.350654
12.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
13.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
14.
 
Panasonic L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.48052
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Both the G1 and the L10 offer Live View, so that they make it possible to use the rear screen for framing. Both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the G1 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the L10 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the G1 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the L10 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the G1 has a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic G1 and Panasonic L10 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
4.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
5.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Panasonic GF6none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
7.
 
Panasonic GF5none n3.0 / 920 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic GF3none n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.2/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic G21440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic GF2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic L1optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G1 and the L10 write their files to SDHC cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-420Y- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Panasonic GF6-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Panasonic GF5-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Panasonic GF3-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic G2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic GF2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic L1Y- / ----2.0---
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Both the G1 and the L10 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G1 was replaced by the Panasonic G2, while the L10 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the G1 and L10 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic G1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic L10 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic G1 and the Panasonic L10? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (12 vs 10MP) with a 10% higher linear resolution.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.46x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (460k vs 207k dots).
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x84mm vs 135x96mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 196g or 35 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year after the L10).


Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in August 2007).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G1 is the clear winner of the match-up (10 : 2 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

G1 10:02 L10

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic G1 and the Panasonic L10 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the G1 and the L10 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 599ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-420..85/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2008 599ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 699ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 699ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GF6..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 499ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF53/5......4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GF33/582/100..71/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 549ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G2......72/1004/54.5/5 Mar 2010 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GF23/582/100..70/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2010 549ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 749ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic L10

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic G1 Panasonic L10
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date September 2008 August 2007
    Launch Price USD 599 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Panasonic G1 Panasonic L10
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 pixels 3648 x 2736 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.33 μm 4.74 μm
    Pixel Density 5.34 MP/cm2 4.44 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 3,200 ISO no Enhancement
    Image Processor Venus HD Venus
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 53 55
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.1 21.3
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.3 10.8
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 463 429
    Screen Specs Panasonic G1 Panasonic L10
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x 0.46x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 2.5inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 207k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Swivel screen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic G1 Panasonic L10
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic G1 Panasonic L10
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Panasonic G1 Panasonic L10
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLB13 Panasonic DMW-BLA13
    Battery Life (CIPA)410 shots per charge450 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 124 x 84 x 45 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in)
    135 x 96 x 78 mm
    (5.3 x 3.8 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 360 g (12.7 oz) 556 g (19.6 oz)
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