Hi all,
This is a bit of question really...
I bought the panasonic LX3 about a month ago.
Now everybody rave about this camera, the reviews are just great and everything...
That's a good start. Now, I'm not quite sure about it. I mean, I use a 5D and 1D Mk3 with L lens usualy so used to good quality. I use to have a canon G5 before all this and loved it. But I'm not getting decent pictures from the LX3.
I'm not using RAW as I want this camera to be simple and get me shots without spending too much time. people will flame me for that but hey, that's how it is.
So, am I expecting too much from the camera ? I checked photos from the G5 and they are much sharper with more details. My GF and I are really dissapointed and thinking of replacing it maybe by a G10. Shame because the camera is really good to use otehrwise and look great.
i don't have any pictures with me right now but basically, at low ISOs the exposure is mostly wrong, there's no detail anywhere smudging in plain colors areas. Also, every portrait looks wrong. Bit of it has been rectified by changing the focusing, the face detection seem to lead to misfocussing.
Anybody with the same problems ? Shoudl I spend more time with it or just send it to panasonic for a check up ?
Thanks all
Olivier; there are so many "custom" settings/parameters for the jpegs (tone, sharpness, contrast, color intensity/saturation etc etc) so the question is if you have set them to your taste or have you just kept them at factory default?
Hi guys,
i'll try and post something soon to show you.
For the custom settings, I haven't changed anything yet. I was kind of expecting the 3 different auto modes to at least give me a good image !
Is a P&S like that not a point and shoot ? I point, I shoot (in auto mode) and don't get decent quality !
I'll post a picture so you guys that are expert at this can let me know...
Thanks for you help
so, you are actually saying that you A) do not want to shoot raw, even though you know it gives you inferior image quality, and B) that you do not want to fiddle with any settings that can give you more optimized image quality... and still you complain about image quality? Am I geting you right?
hi, you understand well.
You see, not everybody want to shoot RAW all the time and want a bit of simplicity sometimes. raw is usually very good and that's all I shoot when using SLRs but I want a good P&S and thought that the LX3 would give me that, with the possibility to change settings if needed.
I'm juging everything now compared to my 3 or 4 years old canon G5 who, in jpg, would give me more than satisfactory results but allowed me to play with settings. I am expecting this camera to give me at least a decent jpg. Am I completly wrog in expecting that ?
Olivier; changing a few, three, four, maybe five parameters, could perhaps solve the whole issue. The factory setting might be just for those point and shooters that don't have a really nice SLR too, like you have.
To be fair, you do need to tweak the settings before you judge it. I know it sucks to see strange looking jpegs out of the camera but at least give it a few minutes and maybe you are there.
How are the images? Flat? Dull? Strong (fake) colours? Contrasty or weak?
Post some and we'll see...
Maybe a Canon G10 might work out better for you. The whole point of the LX3 is the wide angle lens on it which is very sharp and the ability to have RAW in a compact package. If you don't shoot RAW and you dont want the 24mm lens on it, why bother getting it in the first place.
If you want to shoot JPG, the $850 Leica Digilux 4 is supposedly better as the colors are a bit nicer.
But if ISO matters, the LX3 beats the G10 quite easily.
I don't have the camera but am thinking about picking one up. The best photos I have seen from it are from http://www.laurencekimblog.com/. Those shots seem to me that the camera is capable in the right hands.
Thanks for all you reply guys,
I had another look at all the photos taken with the LX3 andf maybe I need to change some settings and stop basing my jugement on my other cameras.
It must be error mistake I guess. I think i was expecting Panasonic to have set up everything for best image quality straight away.
I still will not use RAW with it though ! It's "just" a point and shoot and should be used as such (for me).
Sorry about the rant, maybe I got a bit stressed spending all that money.
I'll let you know how I get on with things later in the month.
Thanks again
oli
i won't use a camera without RAW and shoot exclusively RAW even for snapshots. snapshooting is often the type of image capture that needs the most post processing to look good because the capture conditions are so uncontrolled.
Shoot RAW. The white balance on the LX3 is only OK. You'll get yourself into trouble with jpgs. RAW keeps all your doors open.
....i can't wait until lightroom supports the LX3 RAW......
But, until then, shooting RAW+jpeg works great. jpg convenience just for now, RAW for the important ones and donw the road when it works in Lightroom. I'll nuke all the jpgs after that.
Henrik