Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2S

Auto Mode
The Simple Mode on the Lumix LS2 takes control of everything important but file size, zoom, and when the user presses the shutter. The camera also offers a program mode, which automatically controls both aperture and shutter speed, but lets the user set ISO, white balance, autofocus mode and other settings. The Lumix LS2 offers an exposure bracketing option as well. In auto ISO, the LS2 intelligently kept the setting low as long as possible, a wise strategy for a camera with noise problems.

Movie Mode
With a maximum resolution of 320 x 240, the Lumix LS2's movie mode is a disappointment. 640 x 480 is close enough to regular broadcast television, and the lower quality setting is decidedly inferior. The LS2 offers frame rates of 30 and 10 frames per second. 30 fps shows smooth motion, while 10 is jerky, though a video clip shot at low resolution and 10 fps will be relatively small. The LS2 does not record sound.

Drive / Burst Mode
The Lumix LS2 has three burst modes, called High, Low and Infinite. High is supposed to shoot at 3 frames per second and Low at 2 fps. Both will shoot a burst of 3 frames at high resolution and Fine quality. It takes several seconds for the camera to save a burst of images before it’s ready to take more. Infinite mode shoots much more slowly, but it writes to memory continuously, and is meant to shoot continuously until the memory is full.

A self-timer with either a 2- or 10-second delay rounds out the burst features.

Playback Mode
Users can review, display and manage images on the Lumix LS2 through the Playback mode. The display can show 25, 16 or 9 thumbnail images at a time, or enlarge an image up to 8x. The display will show shooting information, a histogram or the image by itself.

The slide show function on the Lumix LS2 allows the user to show either all the images in memory or a selection of them, and allows the user to set the interval for which each image is displayed. It does not offer a choice of transitions. Slide shows appear on the LCD, or on a television, if one is connected via the A/V port.

The Lumix LS2 can crop or down sample images, copy them to internal memory and print via DPOF standards. The delete function can do away with one image, a selected group or every one on the camera.

Custom Image Presets
Custom image presets are called Scene Modes on the Lumix LS2, and they include: Portrait, Sports, Scenery, Night Scenery, Night Portrait, Fireworks, Party, Snow, Soft Skin, Starry Sky, Candle, Food and Baby 1 & 2. The modes are logical collections of settings, and ought to serve casual shooters well. The unusual "Starry Sky" takes exposures of 15, 30 or 60 seconds, and requires a tripod. Baby 1 and 2 are identical. They can be customized to show the child's age or birth date in the image, and the two settings allow the user to have settings for each of two children. (I suppose Panasonic assumes that if a third child comes along, the user will be tired of the first child by that point and switch that setting to the new baby's birth date. Another possibility would be to get another Lumix LS2, which would allow the possibility of adding a fourth child, or the dog.)