Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70

Manual Control Options
Manual controls are not an area where the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 excels. The settings for manual controls are listed in the more expansive shooting menu system and the shortcut function menu that pulls down from the top of the LCD screen. Manual control over exposure compensation is accessed through the up arrow of the four-way control when the camera is not in the menu system. The shortcut menu system is a handy way to speedily correct control settings without having to enter the opaque shooting menu. The Function menu is displayed as a graphic semi-transparent screen overlaying a live view of the composition. While not an expansive list, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 does provide the user with control of exposure compensation, white balance, ISO, and three shutter speeds through the Starry Sky shooting mode.

Focus
Auto Focus (6.5)
Auto focus is the only focusing option available. The 3x optical zoom lens focuses normally from 1.64 feet to infinity. In Macro, Simple, Intelligent, ISO, and Motion Picture modes the camera can focus from 0.16 feet to infinity.

The Auto Focus mode is controlled through a sub-menu listing in the shooting menu structure. Auto Focus options are: five-area focusing, one-area focusing high-speed, and one-area focusing. There is a difference in focusing speed between the one-area focusing modes, and it will make a difference when trying to focus quickly on subjects. Adjustments to the AF mode setting can't be made in Simple mode. The Auto Focus really struggled in low light, even with the AF illuminator lamp engaged; the necessary time needed to attain a proper focus is too long for moving subjects.

Manual Focus (0.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 does not come with manual focus, which is no great surprise when considering the price range, intended audience, and overall simplicity of this camera. That said, cameras like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 provide a set of preset focal depths that the user can choose from. 

Metering (5.75)
Metering is an area where the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 leaves everything fully automatic. The DMC-LS70 engages a Multiple Metering mode that, while adequate in well and evenly lit scenes, will struggle when shooting backlit subjects or other compositions with complicated lighting.

Exposure (7.0)
The exposure compensation settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 are accessed by pressing the up arrow on the four-way control. This action will open an onscreen horizontal scale that overlays a live view on the LCD screen. As users make adjustments to the exposure compensation scale by using the left and right arrows of the four-way control, changes to the image settings can be viewed on the LCD. The exposure compensation range for this camera is +/- 2 EV at 1/3 steps, which is typical of most point-and-shoot currently on the market.  

White Balance (7.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70's white balance is controlled through a series of presets or manually. The white balance settings are listed in the shooting menu. The white balance preset options are: Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, and Halogen, and manual. When the white balance sub-menu is opened, the user is provided with a live view on the LCD screen so adjustments can be seen immediately, a helpful feature for novices still unsure of manual controls.

ISO (7.25)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 is able to shoot with both auto and manually-set ISO levels. The ISO settings for the camera are listed in the shooting menu, entered by pressing the Menu/Set button located in the center of the four-way control. These settings can be scrolled through using the up and down arrows of the four-way control after the sub-menu is entered. 

The ISO settings span a wide range; ISO 100 to 1250. There is also a High Sensitivity mode that sets the ISO to 3200. When the camera is set to Auto mode, the range is truncated to ISO 100 to ISO 400.

Shutter Speed (0.0)
Like aperture, metering, and focus, the shutter speed for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 is mainly automatic. The automatic shutter speed range for the camera is 8 seconds to 1/2000th of a second. The most control the user will have over shutter speed comes with the Starry Sky mode that allows the user to shoot at 15, 30, and 60 seconds. The Motion Picture mode adds a unique shutter speed range of 1/30th of a second to 1//6400th of a second.

Aperture (0.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 (wide angle), and f/5.0 (telephoto). The widest aperture will come in handy in low light. The aperture can't be manually adjusted by the user.