Does anyone know if the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 digital camera has a true leica lens?

Yes, it does, http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/060226...

The panasonic Lumix DMC L1 has a true leica lens. The only difference with the Leica Digilux 3 is the price, as Panasonic, with a large camera production can keep their costs down ( and I guess when you buy Leica, you pay for the brand as well ) Report It

Panasonic's First Digital SLR Camera with Interchangeable Lens has been announced on the PMA 2006. Panasonic is pleased to announce the development of our first interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1. State-of-the-art digital and optical technologies developed for our compact digital cameras have been crystallized to make Lumix a top camera brand while helping establish a new photographic culture for the digital age. Panasonic is drawing on these leading technologies, and the emotional excitement of true-to-life photographic images, as we announced in our entry to the digital SLR market in 2005. The Panasonic L1 being introduced today is an entirely new kind of digital SLR camera. It is operated much like a traditional film camera but provides a variety of innovative features that increase the fun of shooting photos. While the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 is digital, it has a classic design that will remind users of traditional analogue cameras. These characteristics, together with a shutter speed control dial on the camera body and an aperture ring on the Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens distinguish the DMC-L1 from conventional digital SLRs in both design and operation.