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LUMIX Global TOP > COMPACT CAMERAS > LX5 > Full Manual Control for Both Photos and Movies

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A Landscape in My Pocket
by Charlie Waite

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Versatile Functions for Precious and Exact Memories

After studying feedback from users of the previous DMC-LX3, Panasonic redesigned the exterior of the DMC-LX5 to achieve easier operation. The size is almost the same, but a new gently formed grip makes handling easier even for active shooting. The new turn-and-push jog dial also enhances operation for quick setting changes.

In addition to the Film Mode, the My Color Mode is newly added to the DMC-LX5. The My Color Mode is a special option that gives free reign to your creativity and makes it easier and more fun to create interesting, expressive images. You can adjust the settings that best suit the shooting conditions and your expressive intent, for greater photographic control. It is available also in movie recording giving you a wider range of expressive possibilities to explore.

Creating defocused and in-focus parts makes the subject look like a miniature model.
The defocusing direction, and the position and size of the in-focus portion, can be set.

・Firmware must be updated to the latest version 2.0.
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

In the same way that photographers select different films for their distinctive coloring and contrast, you can manually choose from 6 color types and 3 monochrome types － even when shooting movies － to get even more detailed image settings. When shooting in black and white, the contrast, sharpness and noise reduction for each mode parameter can be customized in five steps and stored in memory. The same is true when shooting in color, with the addition of the saturation adjustment. You can make a total of 4,125 settings, and you can get the exact image you want.

Standard The standard and basic setting with natural feel with no added emphasis. Dynamic The saturation and contrast of stored color are increased to be emphasized to reproduce memory colors vividly.

Nature The colors of blue, green and red are brightened while increasing the contrast of the whole image to look nature more impressive. Smooth The contrast is lowered to make the whole image look smooth but not losing the texture. Especially good for taking human skin beautifully.

Vibrant More than just "Dynamic", this mode renders bright, vivid colors that give an image a spectacularly striking impression. Nostalgic Making the bright area saturated and adding the yellowish tone effect to give the image deep-aged look.

Standard B&W The standard and basic setting with natural feel with no added emphasis.

Dynamic B&W The contrast is raised to strengthen the effect of shading.

Smooth B&W The contrast is lowered to make the whole image look smooth but not losing the texture. Especially good for taking human skin beautifully.

Two finely customized settings can be stored as My Film settings, for easy recall and use.

The Multi-film Mode, allowing you to produce up to 3 different images, using different film modes at once. Possible to produce both color and black & white photos simultaneously.

The DMC-LX5 features a Creative Movie Mode, which lets you set the shutter speed and aperture manually to make even more impressive movies. Changing the shutter speed brings special effects to movies, which is especially suitable for shooting fast-moving subject. The ability to control the aperture is convenient when there are several subjects at different distances and it is desired to have each of them stand out. The Creative Movie Mode gives the user a wider range of expressive possibilities to explore.

The Multi Exposure function lets you take up to three exposures in a single frame. For example, you can layer subjects that wouldn't ordinarily appear in the same frame by making one of them translucent and super-imposing the other for an artistic effect, or make one subject appear two or three times in the same frame. By shooting from two opposite directions, you can create a symmetrical mirror effect. The DMC-LX5 allows you to shoot while checking the image. After you‘ve taken the first shot, it appears with a translucent effect, so you can use it to set up your second shot. The same for the third shot. The camera also automatically adjusts the gain to optimize the exposure.

The focus switch on the lens barrel true to the system camera and lets you quickly change the focus mode between AF, AF-Macro or MF.
The focus button helps to achieve finer focusing during both shooting and playback. During AF operation, it serves to activate the variable AF area, and during MF operation, it changes to a handy One-shot AF to provide initial focusing. During playback, this convenient and important function gives you one-touch zoom playback of subjects in focus.

You can select the AF setting from Face AF, AF Tracking, Multi-AF (23-area) or 1-area AF. With the 1-area AF, the position of the AF area can be freely moved. This is convenient when you want to frame a shot for a special effect, like focusing on a subject at the very edge of the frame. The AF frame size can also be selected from among Spot, Normal, L, and XL.

The AF area settings you have made by changing the position and size of the AF area are now stored.

・Firmware must be updated to the latest version 2.0.
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

The DMC-LX5 lets you get as close as 1 cm to your subject. When the focus switch on the lens barrel is set to AF-Macro, or when the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode is selected, Macro Mode is activated automatically. This is ideal for taking dynamic, intricate close-ups of flowers and insects, or for rendering artwork and handicrafts in spectacular detail and rich expression.

Select manual focus with the focus switch on the lens barrel, and use the jog dial for super-smooth focusing. When you focus in the manual focus mode, not only the focus distance but also the DOF (depth of field) according to the zoom range and aperture is displayed.

An MF Assist function enlarges the image to make focusing easier. The focusing area is movable, which also contributes to easy and comfortable manual focusing.

You can make fine adjustments to the focus using a simpler operation than before. After focusing using one shot AF, the MF Assist screen is now displayed automatically.

・Firmware must be updated to the latest version 2.0.
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

The DMC-LX5 can be preset to either Continuous AF or Quick AF.
Continuous AF automatically and continuously focuses on your subject, providing a clear, sharp focus even for moving subjects.
Quick AF starts operating as soon as the camera is pointed toward a subject, in comparison with the ordinary AF function, which is activated when the shutter button is pressed half-way.
Both Continuous AF and Quick AF dramatically reduce the shutter delay time and let you take pictures quickly. They are ideal for taking photos of children and pets, sports action, and animals in nature. And they make sure that spur-of-the-moment shots aren't out of focus or blurry, and minimize the time lag for shooting.

The AF/AE Lock button lets you frame your shot freely while keeping the focus locked, or maintains the same exposure setting regardless of the subject color when taking multiple shots.

The AF/AE Lock operated by half-pressing the shutter button
has been improved. By holding the shutter buttons in the half-pressed state, you can continue to record with the focus and exposure locked.

・Firmware must be updated to the latest version 2.0.
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

Select the flash synchronization you want from 1st Curtain Sync. or 2nd Curtain Sync. This is effective for capturing nightscapes with a natural flow of light. You can adjust the intensity within a range of ±EV 2 in 1/3 EV steps, too.

The DMC-LX5 is a system camera with a wide variety of options to choose from to match your shooting situations and style, including External Viewfinders, External Flashes, Wide Conversion Lens, ND Filter, PL Filter and fast-draw Leather Carrying Case. These accessories let you further improve the DMC-LX5's mobility, while upgrading the system to ensure you don't miss those once-in-a-lifetime shooting opportunities.

Optional Accessories

2-axis adjustment feature gives you a finer white balance adjustment for Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Flash, or Halogen conditions. It can also be used when adjusting the Color Temperature setting or White Set function. You can adjust with a reference to the horizontal axis for amber to blue and the vertical axis for green to magenta*.
With still image recording, you can use the White Balance Bracket setting, which automatically shoots 3 consecutive photos with slight changes to the white balance setting of each photo in both the vertical and horizontal axes, by simply pressing the shutter button once.

* White balance adjustment is not possible in some modes.

The performance of auto white balance adjustment is improved in low light situations.

・Firmware must be updated to the latest version 2.0.
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

With the DMC-LX5, you can move the guide line according to the subject's position. This is handy when you want to take extra care in framing, especially when using a tripod.

The Intelligent Exposure instantly analyzes the framed image and adjusts the brightness in areas that are too dark due to dim lighting, backlighting or use of the flash. Adjusting the brightness of dark areas, this produces natural images that are close to the way they actually look to the human eye. The DMC-LX5 lets you adjust the effect in three levels — high, normal, and low.

You can get original image data, recording the image directly from the sensor without any image processing. The SILKYPIX^® Developer Studio 3.1 SE software utility lets you develop RAW data files. For example, you can develop RAW data to create an image with the effect you were trying to capture when you took the shot. You get high-level basic image processing abilities that give you control over such things as unnatural edges from saturated color borders, false colors in structures with intricate detail, and chromatic noise in photos taken at high sensitivity settings. This utility provides a unique combination of high resolution and extraordinary color separation performance.

More information

Manual functions are the key to taking highly controlled and distinctive photos. Aperture-priority Mode lets you open the aperture up wide for stunning portraits with softly focused backgrounds. Shutter-priority Mode makes it possible to express the dynamic power of a flowing stream by slowing down the shutter speed. And Manual Exposure Mode gives you total control of special shots, allowing you to achieve a higher level of photographic beauty.

More details about A/S/M Mode

You can set the ISO sensitivity to Auto, Intelligent ISO, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400* or 12800* from the newly adapted ISO Button. When the ISO sensitivity step is set to 1/3 EV, the number of ISO sensitivity setting options increases, allowing you to make fine adjustments and achieve the level of image quality you want.

* The picture size may be reduced.

Shutter speeds of 80, 100, 125, 160, 200 and 250 seconds have been added to the shutter speeds of Manual Exposure Mode to allow longer exposures.
Use this when you want to keep the shutter open for a long time to take pictures of fireworks, night scenery or astrograph.

・Firmware must be updated to the latest version 2.0.
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html

Select ISO 200, 400, 800, 1600 or 3200 as the maximum ISO sensitivity. The maximum sensitivity setting is applied to the Intelligent ISO Control and ISO AUTO functions. This ensures that you'll get the level of image quality you want by letting you set your own limit for ISO sensitivity.

In Manual Exposure Mode, you can either select ISO Auto or make settings from ISO 200 to ISO 3200. With ISO Auto, once you set the aperture and shutter speed, the camera automatically judges the ISO sensitivity and maintains the appropriate exposure. For example, you have to use a fast shutter speed to capture moving subjects, while closing down the aperture enough to extend the depth of field for focusing ease. With this kind of shot, you can set the shutter speed and aperture manually, and then leave the exposure up to ISO Auto.

You can adjust the exposure compensation within a range of ±EV 3 in 1/3 EV steps. In Program AE, Aperture-priority, and Shutter-priority Modes, you can retrieve the exposure compensation value and manually adjust it directly with the jog dial.

When you choose the Manual Exposure Mode, this function shows how much your setting differs from the setting the camera considers optimal. This serves as a convenient guide for anyone using the Manual Exposure Mode.

You can use Program Shift in Program AE Mode to keep the exposure fixed while changing the combination of shutter speed and aperture. This function lets you choose the exposure setting yourself to capture exactly the image you want.

Frequently used functions can be quickly retrieved and easily switched by using the Q.MENU button. The function names are displayed in text form, making them easy for anyone to understand and use.

Custom Mode 1 lets you register a series of settings you use often, you can instantly recall a pattern of the settings. And Custom Mode 2 lets you register patterns for up to 3 more settings. Together, they store 4 sets of frequently used settings in memory, for instant recall with the mode dial.

You can allocate frequently used functions to the Function button. Functions that normally have to be selected from a menu or switched can be assigned to this button for faster, easier operation.

Functions that can be assigned to Function button.

• Film Mode
• Quality
• Metering Mode
• White Balance
• AF Mode
• Intelligent Exposure

• Guide Line
• Recording Area
• Remaining Display
• Flash
• Auto Bracket
• Aspect Bracket

• Availability of models and colors may differ depending on the country.
• Check the website of the Panasonic sales company in your country or region for details on the LUMIX models, colors, and optional accessories that are available in your market.

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