Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC70

Auto Mode (7.0)
To engage Automatic mode on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC70 the user must merely turn the Mode Dial located on the back of the unit to the red camera symbol.  When the shutter is partially depressed, auto mode will control the following items: focus, exposure, white balance, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity. The changes made towards these features can be viewed through the LCD screen, although the final changes aren’t actually initiated until the shutter has been fully depressed. These features all work without too much lag time, although the user should know that in certain extreme lighting changes, it may take the camera a bit longer to adjust to image quality differences between shots.

Movie Mode (5.5)
The movie mode on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC70 is accessed by turning the mode dial to the film symbol. To engage the Movie option, press the shutter button down. To stop recording a movie, press the shutter again, and the recording will cease. To view in Playback mode, merely enter the Review option, and press the down arrow on the four-way keypad. Sound and image can both be captured, though the microphone is monaural, and while the review option is active the sound cannot be played back while in-camera viewing is engaged. Also, there is only one format size available for movie capture at 320 x 240. This is pretty poor compared to some of the other digital cameras on the market that offer multiple format sizes at much better quality.

Drive / Burst Mode (7.5)
There are multiple drive mode options available for the Panasonic DMC-LC70: Megaburst Imaging with high speed 3.3 fps (frames per second), Low speed 2 fps, with a maximum of 3 frames in Fine Mode, and 5 frames in Standard Mode.

Playback Mode (7.0)
Playback mode is entered on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC70 by pressing the down portion of the four-way keypad. Once in the Review menu, pressing left and right on the keypad will allow you to scroll through the images in regular format, in chronological order. To delete photos in playback, the user must press the Trash/Focus button. It is possible to alter exposure of a previously taken shot by engaging the up button on the four-way keypad and selecting right/left the appropriate change (a cool feature not offered in too many digital point-and-shoot cameras). Using the Zoom toggle within a picture allows the user to enlarge and narrow in on certain sections of the picture, all controlled with the four-way keypad.

Custom Image Presets (7.0)
The Custom program modes for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC70 are preset modes created by the manufacturer in an effort to approximate certain distinct shooting situations, and to alleviate consternation on the part of the user in attempting to manually adjust their camera. The Normal Pic setting is self-explanatory, used in regular shooting situations with subject matter and lighting being consistent. The Economy setting doesn’t necessarily pertain to the actual picture to be captured, but instead controls merely the time until the LCD will automatically turn off when the camera is not in use. The Macro setting (a tulip symbol) is used when the subject matter is in close range, and can focus on objects up to 0.33 cm from the lens of the camera. Portrait mode (a profile symbol) is engaged when the user wishes the subject to visually separate from the rest of the background, causing the back to blur, and the contrast on the subject to become heightened. Landscape Mode (a mountain range symbol) should be used when shooting a large subject plane, with a fair distance being placed between camera and object. Night Mode should be used when low or no light situations are encountered. Night Portrait is used when the subject has the possibility of becoming overexposed in an attempt on the camera's part to compensate for a dark setting; this is best used in murky bars, or on moonlit walks on the beach. Moving Image is just that, and is represented by a filmstrip on the dial of the camera, used when capturing video images. Simple mode, represented by an inane heart, is meant to be used by those users who want no control or thought put into the image they are about to shoot; it's great for those who never read manuals, and it shows. Playback mode is engaged when review of images is desired, most directly used when viewing video, but stills can be viewed in this mode as well.