LUMIX LX 100 QUESTIONS
Dec 9, 2016 08:45:47 #
Received the camera last week. This is the first Panasonic I've owned so I'm just learning it in preparation for a trip to Japan leaving next Wednesday. Couple of questions:
1. I put in a new memory card (SanDisk 32mg Extreme Pro 300/MB/s). I can't figure out how to format the Cardin the camera. Or, is it already formatted? I seem to remember previous cameras automatically taking me through a set up.
2. If you use an LX100, have you found any quirks or peculiarities with this camera? Trying to get the advantage of your knowledge of this camera as I don't have a long time to learn all the nuances.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Gene
1. I put in a new memory card (SanDisk 32mg Extreme Pro 300/MB/s). I can't figure out how to format the Cardin the camera. Or, is it already formatted? I seem to remember previous cameras automatically taking me through a set up.
2. If you use an LX100, have you found any quirks or peculiarities with this camera? Trying to get the advantage of your knowledge of this camera as I don't have a long time to learn all the nuances.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Gene
Dec 9, 2016 08:57:48 #
GeneinChi wrote:
Received the camera last week. This is the first P... (show quote)
One of the menus has card format on it. You need to find and recall which one. I believe my GM5 has similar menu setup.
You might consider putting the manual on your smart phone for the trip. You can email it to yourself or download from Panasonic web site.
I continue to fumble some with the focus on the GM5. I don't have the solution yet so recommend you read the manual on focus and then play with it till you have it down.
Dec 9, 2016 09:00:45 #
Gereat suggestion. I have Alexander White's guide to the LX 100 and it kind of skipped over formatting. I''LOL continue the search!
Gene
Gene
MtnMan wrote:
One of the menus has card format on it. You need to find and recall which one. I believe my GM5 has similar menu setup.
You might consider putting the manual on your smart phone for the trip. You can email it to yourself or download from Panasonic web site.
I continue to fumble some with the focus on the GM5. I don't have the solution yet so recommend you read the manual on focus and then play with it till you have it down.
You might consider putting the manual on your smart phone for the trip. You can email it to yourself or download from Panasonic web site.
I continue to fumble some with the focus on the GM5. I don't have the solution yet so recommend you read the manual on focus and then play with it till you have it down.
Dec 9, 2016 09:15:31 #
Question 1 has been solved. However, any input on 2 would be helpful! Thanks
GeneinChi wrote:
Received the camera last week. This is the first P... (show quote)
Dec 9, 2016 11:05:37 #
Gene,
I've had an LX100 for a couple of years. I bought it when they were first introduced. I've had a lot of cameras and it is clearly an all time favorite. My avatar shows me with my first camera! The only thing the camera won't do well is long telephoto!
The LX100 is so loaded with features, it can be daunting to master. However, you only have to know the functions you want to use. It can be a good idea to know where the "Return to Default" settings choice is so you can get yourself out of a box if confusion strikes!
Contrary to common UHH protocol (grin), I use the automatic settings a lot. The environment of a good traveler or tourist can make it awkward to take the time to set everything up manually. "Everybody wait for me while I take a picture." is not allowed out of my mouth on trips. So, the shutter speed and aperture dials stay on "A" unless I have a compositional reason to change it. There is an iA button that produces results that can embarrass my personal skills. If you are in a busy, crowded tourist situation, it can be the best button on the camera. Whatever you are shooting, tap the iA button and take one more quick shot. Don't be upset if, when you get home, it is the best one!
A favorite thing for me is panoramas and bracketed exposures for HDR. I don't use the in camera functions for that. For panoramas I can leave the dials on "A", hand hold and shoot a half dozen overlapping by about 25%. If you have more time, consider locking the f-stop. Lightroom magically puts the shots together when I have the time at home. If your are in a situation with a wide exposure range, the LX100 will bracket 5 shots (automatically) so fast that hand holding is effective. Again, Lightroom will combine the brackets with great magic.
As an example, I was in an ancient church in Copenhagen. It was dark, except for light streaming through windows. I shot a panoramic series of bracketed exposures, hand held. Lightroom stitched all 36 RAW shots together for an image that shows detail in the dark wooden pews as well as in the bright windows. The actual shooting only took a few seconds.
I shoot RAW and keep the ratio ring on 4:3 to put the most pixels into the file. (I should check, but it may be that shooting RAW makes 4:3 files, no matter what.) If you enjoy smart phone stuff, Panasonic provides a phone app. If you shoot RAW+JPEG, you can transfer selected JPEGs to the phone for your favorite social media postings.
I enjoy video a lot. The LX100 is exceptionally good at it. I can post some links to examples on Vimeo if you like. Using the LX100 to shoot short video clips intended for still photos is technique so new to photographers that it is rarely understood. Basically, the LX100 will shoot continuously at 30 frames per second capturing images useful to at least 13x19 prints. You can shoot a tourist "street scene" and pick the best frame at home in Lightroom. Note that shutter speeds with the intent for video may conflict with the shutter speeds needed for good post process photo mining.
For a travel tripod I carry a midsize Gorrillapod. They are extremely light. There is a automatic lens cap that I like a lot. I forget the brand, but I can look it up if you're interested. I carry a Kindle when I travel and have both the manual and the White book on it. For a camera case, my wife splurged and bought me the Panasonic fitted leather one.
I'll watch this topic for any questions I might be able to help with.
Bill
I've had an LX100 for a couple of years. I bought it when they were first introduced. I've had a lot of cameras and it is clearly an all time favorite. My avatar shows me with my first camera! The only thing the camera won't do well is long telephoto!
The LX100 is so loaded with features, it can be daunting to master. However, you only have to know the functions you want to use. It can be a good idea to know where the "Return to Default" settings choice is so you can get yourself out of a box if confusion strikes!
Contrary to common UHH protocol (grin), I use the automatic settings a lot. The environment of a good traveler or tourist can make it awkward to take the time to set everything up manually. "Everybody wait for me while I take a picture." is not allowed out of my mouth on trips. So, the shutter speed and aperture dials stay on "A" unless I have a compositional reason to change it. There is an iA button that produces results that can embarrass my personal skills. If you are in a busy, crowded tourist situation, it can be the best button on the camera. Whatever you are shooting, tap the iA button and take one more quick shot. Don't be upset if, when you get home, it is the best one!
A favorite thing for me is panoramas and bracketed exposures for HDR. I don't use the in camera functions for that. For panoramas I can leave the dials on "A", hand hold and shoot a half dozen overlapping by about 25%. If you have more time, consider locking the f-stop. Lightroom magically puts the shots together when I have the time at home. If your are in a situation with a wide exposure range, the LX100 will bracket 5 shots (automatically) so fast that hand holding is effective. Again, Lightroom will combine the brackets with great magic.
As an example, I was in an ancient church in Copenhagen. It was dark, except for light streaming through windows. I shot a panoramic series of bracketed exposures, hand held. Lightroom stitched all 36 RAW shots together for an image that shows detail in the dark wooden pews as well as in the bright windows. The actual shooting only took a few seconds.
I shoot RAW and keep the ratio ring on 4:3 to put the most pixels into the file. (I should check, but it may be that shooting RAW makes 4:3 files, no matter what.) If you enjoy smart phone stuff, Panasonic provides a phone app. If you shoot RAW+JPEG, you can transfer selected JPEGs to the phone for your favorite social media postings.
I enjoy video a lot. The LX100 is exceptionally good at it. I can post some links to examples on Vimeo if you like. Using the LX100 to shoot short video clips intended for still photos is technique so new to photographers that it is rarely understood. Basically, the LX100 will shoot continuously at 30 frames per second capturing images useful to at least 13x19 prints. You can shoot a tourist "street scene" and pick the best frame at home in Lightroom. Note that shutter speeds with the intent for video may conflict with the shutter speeds needed for good post process photo mining.
For a travel tripod I carry a midsize Gorrillapod. They are extremely light. There is a automatic lens cap that I like a lot. I forget the brand, but I can look it up if you're interested. I carry a Kindle when I travel and have both the manual and the White book on it. For a camera case, my wife splurged and bought me the Panasonic fitted leather one.
I'll watch this topic for any questions I might be able to help with.
Bill
Dec 10, 2016 06:56:06 #
bsprague wrote:
Gene,
I've had an LX100 for a couple of years. I bought it when they were first introduced. I've had a lot of cameras and it is clearly an all time favorite…
I've had an LX100 for a couple of years. I bought it when they were first introduced. I've had a lot of cameras and it is clearly an all time favorite…
Thank you for your fine description of the LX100. My favorite camera too, and I also go back to Brownie Hawkeye days. Except for the short telephoto zoom, it does most everything else well.
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Dec 10, 2016 08:31:47 #
Dec 10, 2016 08:33:32 #
I have a new LX1000 and found all your suggestions worked on that camera also (with extended zoom to 400mm).
Dec 10, 2016 08:41:05 #
petego4it
Loc: NY
Bill's summary is spot on. The only thing I'd add is that the menu system is unique and requires time and patience to learn. Very different from my Nikon. Meantime, I agree with using the automated settings (the red A's) and 4:3. You really don't need to mess around with much else most of the time. Do be careful to check the manual exposure adjustment spinner which constantly resets in my pocket, and to remember how to get back to a basic shot by toggling the small button just below the shutter release. Shots are so close in quality to my Nikon's it is very hard to tell the difference...and of course the weight and portability are wonderful. The only thing missing is a flash, the small unit it comes with is simply not useful; I got a Nissan i40 for that, now handles well almost all of my travel photography in a wonderful size!
Dec 10, 2016 11:23:06 #
Beagleman wrote:
Sure! But, to a limited point. It does have a relatively fast lens and the sensor is a M4/3. So, it is a lot better than so many pocket cameras (or smartphones) with tiny sensors. If your standard or goal is shooting with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G Lens ($1600) you will hate the LX100. There are plenty of easy ways to blur backgrounds in Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, etc. when you have to have it to perfect a composition.Does the LX 100 get good Bokeh with that size sensor?
---Beagleman
---Beagleman
Dec 10, 2016 11:28:42 #
petego4it wrote:
Bill's summary is spot on. The only thing I'd add ... (show quote)
Thank you for the compliment!
"the menu system is unique and requires time and patience to learn". I had to chuckle with that. Between my DW and I, we have (or have had) several Panasonic cameras. One of the reasons is that, to us, the menu system is so logical and well organized.
Dec 10, 2016 11:29:40 #
markie1425 wrote:
Thank you for the compliment!Thank you for your fine description of the LX100. My favorite camera too, and I also go back to Brownie Hawkeye days. Except for the short telephoto zoom, it does most everything else well.
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Dec 10, 2016 15:39:39 #
Love this camera. Suggest you set ISO to 200 and leave it there. When indoors can go to 800 with no problems.
This camera has a fast lens so you can take advantage of that also.
You may be new to electronic viewfinders. They are great once you get used to them. If the image "looks dark or too bright", that is because it is!
Its providing you with a preview. Best to use the exposure compensation dial on the top. Just adjust it a little and you will be happy.
I shoot in Aperture priority, at 200 ISO, auto WB and am very happy with the results.
This camera has a fast lens so you can take advantage of that also.
You may be new to electronic viewfinders. They are great once you get used to them. If the image "looks dark or too bright", that is because it is!
Its providing you with a preview. Best to use the exposure compensation dial on the top. Just adjust it a little and you will be happy.
I shoot in Aperture priority, at 200 ISO, auto WB and am very happy with the results.
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