Manual Control Options
For those who value manual control, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 comes with a plethora of options without needing to worry about a complicated interface or confusing graphics. Some controls like EV compensation are accessible through external controls, while others, such as metering and ISO, can be found within the recording menu structure. ISO has a rather massive range up to IS0 1600 at full resolution and ISO 3200 at a reduced resolution. White balance has a number of presets and will also allow for two manual settings to be established at any point during the shooting process. Live displays are provided for white balance, white balance compensation and exposure. It would have been helpful if Panasonic had included a live view display for the ISO settings so that users wouldn’t need to exit and re-enter the menu structure over and over while establishing this control parameter, but many of the other controls do feature a live view. Users looking for a higher level of shooting information will appreciate the inclusion of a live histogram display to properly adjust exposure. The LX2 has a good variety of manual controls, but they aren't the easiest to adjust.
Focus
Auto Focus (6.0)
Auto focus on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is effective from 50 cm normally and comes with the option to shoot in macro mode from as close as 5 cm. Users can choose between shooting in standard or continuous AF by making adjustments to the Cont. AF sub-menu in the recording menu. The AF mode settings will enable photographers to select between shooting in a nine-area focal mode, three-area focal mode (high speed), one-area (high speed) and one area. Even when using one of the “high speed” AF options, the results were anything but quick. Focusing time in decent lighting seemed to take about half a second to lock on average but often took a lot longer in lower light conditions. Focus in general was plagued by slow performance, a complaint also brought up in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 review. The results were consistently sharp and properly focused, but the camera was also consistently slow.
Manual Focus (2.5)
Manual focus is a great way to test the manual shooting waters without getting in over your head as a beginner. Manual focus can be adjusted when shooting in program AE, shutter, aperture, manual, movie and scene modes. Panasonic has placed the manual focus selection control on the left side of the lens housing. The control interface is identical to the one used to switch between aspect ratios. This sliding switch enables the user to move between auto focus, macro and manual focus without entering into a menu structure. This is all good and is a really nice way of moving between control settings. The problems with manual focus come when attempting to make adjustments to focusing depth. To make adjustments, photographers must manipulate the small joystick found to the right of the LCD screen on the back of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2. The joystick fails as a control interface for manipulating focus; even when manipulated “correctly” the focus still takes forever to move from one end of the focal range to the other. Even the most patient subject is sure to grow antsy. A vertical graphical display from infinity to 0.17 feet will appear on the left side of the LCD screen when the joystick is operated.
Photographing squirrels or other fauna is going to be a nearly impossible venture with manual focus. That is unless you kill, mount, and stuff them first.
Metering (7.5)
The metering control can be found by entering the recording menu when the camera is set to program AE, aperture, shutter or manual modes. The metering sub-menu has three parameters: multiple, center-weighted and spot. Consumers will find that these three settings are found on most compact cameras currently on the market.
Exposure (7.5)
Manual adjustment of exposure levels can be accomplished in program AE, aperture and shutter priority, movie and scene modes. The exposure compensation scale is accessed by pressing the up arrow on the four-way control located on the back of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2. This will allow users to quickly bias the exposure without having to enter the menu structure. When the up arrow is pressed in any of the shooting modes, a horizontal scale will appear as an overlay on top of a live view display. The live display is definitely helpful in making sure that the appropriate level is attained during the initial adjustment period. The scale enables settings from +/- 2 EV to be set in 1/3-step increments. Pressing the left or right arrows of the four-way control makes adjustments to this setting and the simple and easy interface should make this manual control approachable for even the most tentative photographer.
The program AE mode will allow users to control the shutter and aperture settings to properly adjust for exposure prior to shooting. When the shutter is pressed partially, the LCD screen will display a horizontal exposure scale along the bottom of the LCD screen that shows the current exposure position of the camera. This is a helpful little addition that will make users transitioning into fuller manual controls feel more comfortable and confident in their shooting.
White Balance (8.5)
White balance can be manually set and has five presets. An auto mode and a more advanced white balance adjustment setting is located within the recording menu structure. These settings are accessible in program AE, aperture and shutter priority, manual, movie and scene modes and are easy to distinguish through simple icons. A live view appears when the white balance sub-menu is entered and users will be able to visually identify what hue changes occur when different adjustments are made. White balance options for the Panasonic LX2 are Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, Flash, White set 1, White set 2, and White set. There are also two custom white balance settings that can be saved, which is a nice touch.
The white balance adjustment feature displays a square grid with red tones on one end and blue tones on the other end over a live view. A small crosshair icon is moved through the chart by pressing the left and right arrows on the four-way navigation control. There are nine steps of red and nine steps of blue available in addition to the default “0” setting. With these custom control options provided, the results should be preferable to relying on the less precise preset options.
ISO (8.25)
Sensitivity is an area that Panasonic dramatically improved from the preceding model. The new LX2 outdoes the LX1 with both an expanded ISO range and a new Intelligent ISO system. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 offers an ISO range of up to 1600 at full resolution with an ISO setting of 3200 available at a reduced resolution of 8 MP. Also, the inclusion of an Intelligent ISO feature should help appease point-and-shooters. The feature is designed to automatically make adjustments to ISO and shutter speed settings for the best shoot in a given situation.
Since noise has long plagued Panasonic's Lumix line, refer to the Noise section of the review to see how the camera performance throughout its expansive range.
Shutter Speed (8.5)
Manual control over the electronic and mechanical shutter is possible when shooting with this camera and can be adjusted in both shutter priority and manual exposure modes. The shutter speed range for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is 60 seconds to 1/2000th of a second, which will definitely provide slow enough speeds for shooting in low or no light situations. The 1/2000th setting at the fast end will provide appropriate results for bright sunny days. Shutter speed in the Starry Sky preset shooting mode will allow for settings of 15, 30 and 60 seconds to be selected by the user. In auto mode, users will find that the shutter speed range will reduce to 1/4 to 1/2000th of a second which is hardly going to combat low lighting. In Program AE mode, the shutter speed will be truncated to a range of 1 second to 1/2000th of a second while aperture and shutter priority modes will only allow for a range of 8 seconds to 1/2000th of a second.
The problem with manual shutter adjustment is the same problem found when altering focus manually; if the user finds the joystick uncomfortable, it will be a constant source of frustration.
Aperture (7.5)
The aperture can be manually controlled in aperture priority and manual modes. The aperture levels can be accessed for alteration by pressing the joystick. Once this is accomplished, the user can scroll through the aperture range by pressing the joystick up and down. When in the manual exposure mode, the user can adjust both shutter and aperture settings simultaneously. The aperture range for this camera will enable users to make adjustments from f/2.8 to f/8.0 at the widest focal length. At its most telephoto, the lens closes to a maximum aperture of f/4.9. It would be nice if the aperture value was slightly larger at the telephoto end, helping minimize the user's reliance on the higher sensitivity settings.
