Hints on using LX5

cool09 · Nov 12, 2012

I find it confusing that a "Film Mode" like "Standard" includes variables like sharpen, contrast, saturation, etc. which have to be manipulated manually. I would have thought choosing a "Standard" film mode would allow you to shoot a photo and capture exactly what's in front of the lens (w/good detail, saturation, etc)! When I shoot in "Standard" and all variables level I end up with weak detail and dull color so I'm kind of like a blind man at this point with this camera.

And there are other "Film Modes" ("Dynamic", "Nature", "Smooth", etc.) which have varying degrees of color, contrast, etc. which makes things more complex.

How in God's name are you supposed to learn how to shoot a detailed photo with this camera? I never experienced a camera with manual sharpen, contrast, saturation. Maybe this was designed for the point and shooter who doesn't want to deal with post-processing software?

I bought this camera because I read great reviews (compared to Canon S95, Nikon 7100) and saw very good LX5 samples photos online. (I've been a Canon DSLR user last 5 yrs.)

KmH · Nov 12, 2012

Have you read the LX5 user's manual?

panblue · Nov 12, 2012

cool09 said:
I find it confusing that a "Film Mode" like "Standard" includes variables like sharpen, contrast, saturation, etc. which have to be manipulated manually. I would have thought choosing a "Standard" film mode would allow you to shoot a photo and capture exactly what's in front of the lens (w/good detail, saturation, etc)! When I shoot in "Standard" and all variables level I end up with weak detail and dull color so I'm kind of like a blind man at this point with this camera.

And there are other "Film Modes" ("Dynamic", "Nature", "Smooth", etc.) which have varying degrees of color, contrast, etc. which makes things more complex.

How in God's name are you supposed to learn how to shoot a detailed photo with this camera? I never experienced a camera with manual sharpen, contrast, saturation. Maybe this was designed for the point and shooter who doesn't want to deal with post-processing software?

I bought this camera because I read great reviews (compared to Canon S95, Nikon 7100) and saw very good LX5 samples photos online. (I've been a Canon DSLR user last 5 yrs.)

Dynamic, Nature, Smooth are arbitary 'flavours'; use them as is, if you are happy with the look SOOC. The adjustments in each case are so you can slightly alter those presets. You can shoot raw and ignore these settings, or shoot jpeg with them for SOOC, or jpeg with low sharpness and sharpen using other methods.

panblue · Nov 12, 2012

Often with p&s/small sensor cameras, I opt for lowest saturation and low/lowest sharp. I leave the contrast at default/middle.

fjrabon · Nov 12, 2012

Uh, you can just shoot in RAW on the LX5 and none of the stuff you're talking about matters. Almost every camera gives you a choice of how it processes your jpegs if you shoot in jpeg.

manny212 · Nov 12, 2012

fjrabon said:
Uh, you can just shoot in RAW on the LX5 and none of the stuff you're talking about matters. Almost every camera gives you a choice of how it processes your jpegs if you shoot in jpeg.

:thumbup:

cool09 · Nov 13, 2012

I'm asking because I have shot in RAW and jpg in Standard Mode w/variables untouched and the photos have weak detail and dull color. I've been told elsewhere that I have to work with the camera to get good results. Some people here are saying that I don't have to touch the camera's sharpness, contrast, saturation. settings.

And post-processing RAW in Panasonic software still results in satisfactory photos. The manual is for 4th graders. It explains nothing about using the camera properly to get excellent results. Lots of the LX5 photo samples I've seen on the net look like they were shot with high quality DSLR w/good detail.

Even after sharpening a little the detail comes out satisfactory.

These might be bad examples because all of the photos I've taken are much worse than this. I've had this camera 2 weeks.

RAW converted to jpg, no post-processing; (Full size: http://i48.tinypic.com/nx49si.jpg)

RAW converted to jpg, sharpened a little; (Full size: http://i46.tinypic.com/33kel50.jpg)

fjrabon · Nov 14, 2012

cool09 said:
I'm asking because I have shot in RAW and jpg in Standard Mode w/variables untouched and the photos have weak detail and dull color. I've been told elsewhere that I have to work with the camera to get good results. Some people here are saying that I don't have to touch the camera's sharpness, contrast, saturation. settings.

And post-processing RAW in Panasonic software still results in satisfactory photos. The manual is for 4th graders. It explains nothing about using the camera properly to get excellent results. Lots of the LX5 photo samples I've seen on the net look like they were shot with high quality DSLR w/good detail.

Even after sharpening a little the detail comes out satisfactory.

These might be bad examples because all of the photos I've taken are much worse than this. I've had this camera 2 weeks.

RAW converted to jpg, no post-processing; (Full size: http://i48.tinypic.com/nx49si.jpg)

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25615"/>

RAW converted to jpg, sharpened a little; (Full size: http://i46.tinypic.com/33kel50.jpg)

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25617"/>

If you can find a photo that actually illustrates your problem that would be helpful.

Like all small sensor cameras, the LX5 has trouble in low light situations. That could be one issue. Further, most people say that raw files are dull and lack detail when unedited, so perhaps your issue is that you need a good raw converter. It's literally impossible to say what your issue is without you giving an example of where you're having the problem. The example you showed looks like exactly what you'd expect when taking a shot of a brick building in harsh midday sun.

cool09 · Nov 14, 2012

This is Standard jpg (7 MB) taken from 12-14 ft. (with no post-processing). Below satisfactory definition.

http://i46.tinypic.com/3523xnm.jpg

This is same Standard jpg (sharpened a little in Canon software - you can see that all edges in photo are now clearly defined).

http://i45.tinypic.com/28asxn6.jpg

I don't get this camera. You shouldn't need to post-process a jpg file to improve detail.

fjrabon · Nov 14, 2012

The issue, as best as I can tell, is that you seem to like pictures most people would refer to as oversharpened. The standard jpegs are processed in a way that most people find most appealing. Most people don't want their pictures to look as sharpened as your second one does. When you like things that are sharpened different from standard, you have to process it differently.

I wouldn't remotely refer to the one you called as 'lousy detail' anything but a normal looking picture. The second picture looks drastically oversharpened to me. Like each individual twig is casting a hard shadow in a way that looks completely unrealistic when you look at the picture up close.

manny212 · Nov 14, 2012

P1030301-Edit-2 by mannyher1, on Flickr

Ok shot on grey rainy day , Raw , Ran through LR4 first did some adjustments ( Sharpening , NR , etc. ) then finished it in Silver efex pro . I'm a total rookie but have learned that even RAW is going to need some post work . Same goes with my D700 and D7000

cool09 · Nov 14, 2012

- No, the plant from photo #1 is much sharper, detailed and striking than the jpg is. The photo picks up none of the detail, the edges are not defined. The needles on the ground are very blurry.
- The slightly sharpened jpg photo #2 looks more like the plant, planter and ground that I photographed. The needles on the ground are defined and appear just like they are in actuality. This is exactly the kind of photo my Canon 20D (with decent lens) would take, not like #1.

My LX5 photos don't come anywhere close to LX5 sample photos which show good detail like the ones here: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Review - Sample Images | PhotographyBLOG and Just Posted: Panasonic DMC-LX5 sample gallery: Digital Photography Review

This is from the first LX5 sample group above and tell me how you would rate the detail, sharpness. Everything in this photo is defined - http://masters.galleries.dpreview.c...940824&Signature=I1Oj12SBdH9gNFuAAloEz+FLkRg=

even RAW is going to need some post work

RAW are image files that are meant to be post-processed. All of my Canon RAW files need to be post-processed for proper sharpness.

panblue · Nov 14, 2012

cool09, i found with various lumix cameras that the gamma/greypoint is usually too high with their JPEG. Lower it a bit and colour is pretty good. Also the flash WB isn't good. I use either sunshine or cloudy+'cool' tone (don't know if Lumix still offer that; it's a feature on older Lumix). This plus the gamma tweak gives a nice look for colour images IMO.

cool09 · Nov 14, 2012

I'll try that. This is an LX5 sample from one of those links above. I really don't believe I can get a simple, well-defined photo like this after experimenting with this camera for a month. Standard RAW or jpg never turn out this well. I know I'm making a huge thing out of this. Probably end up selling it for Canon.