New Firmware for D-Lux 4

[robert_parker]

I've heard from somewhere that a new firmware version for the D-Lux 4 is about to be announced with added features - I understand that the new features could well be a bit like this:

Recording function with an aspect ratio of 1:1 has been added
White balance (WB) bracket function has been added
The exposure compensation and the auto bracket compensation can now be set up to +/- 3EV
The position of the guide lines can now be set
[Lens Resume] has been added to the [SETUP] menu
[HIGH DYNAMIC] has been added to the [SETUP] menu
It is now possible to record the users name in the image file
[MENU RESUME] has been added to the [SETUP] menu
It is now possible to display the highlights in playback mode
Digital red-eye removal has been modified
Items saved in the custom set have changed
Display of [COPY] in the [PLAYBACK] menu has changed
Message display has been changed

[jimbo035]

I've had a D-Lux 4 for about nine months now, with its surfeit of "features". Too many already IMHO, and I'll not be bothering with any new firmware.

[Cirrus1]

High Dynamic sounds interesting. Would that be some sort of HDR?

[ho_co]

There's already a thread on this topic at http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...os-2-0-my.html which might be of interest to you.

IIRC, it includes a link to the Panasonic site where the changes are described in detail.

[john_newell]

Originally Posted by Cirrus1

High Dynamic sounds interesting. Would that be some sort of HDR?

No, HDR requires multiple exposures. This is a single exposure with jpg processing. Based on threads at DPR that I've seen, you probably want to stay away from this. Not only is it no HDR, it's not as good as a standard jpg and much worse than tweaking a properly exposed raw file.

[bill]

Originally Posted by jimbo035

I've had a D-Lux 4 for about nine months now, with its surfeit of "features". Too many already IMHO, and I'll not be bothering with any new firmware.

Seriously?

In other quarters around here I am regarded as a Luddite so this may surprise some, but I am impatient to get my hands on this upgrade. One point in particular - "lens resume" - is something I have been agitating for from the outset.

Regards,

Bill

[bill]

Originally Posted by Cirrus1

High Dynamic sounds interesting. Would that be some sort of HDR?

I hope not

Regards,

Bill

[ho_co]

Originally Posted by bill

... "lens resume" - is something I have been agitating for from the outset.

Same here, Bill, but I'm bothered by the caveat in the Panasonic description of the feature:

(VQC7260, p 6) Depending on the recording conditions, the memorized MF positions and resumed MF positions might be different.

Any idea what that means?

[daveleo]

the "lens resume" feature is not what i thought it would be.
(i got an LX3 a few days ago)

upon restart, the camera will boot to the zoom position that last shutdown to.
you cannot set it say to startup at XYZmm every time.
once you zoom away from XYZ, you lost it.

[bill]

Originally Posted by daveleo

you cannot set it say to startup at XYZmm every time.
once you zoom away from XYZ, you lost it.

DAMN!!!!



Regards,

Bill

[daveleo]

that's exactly how i feel !!

here is a link to the supplemental panasonic LX3 users manual for software update 2.1

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/c...MC-LX3_eng.pdf

see page 6 for "lens resume"

sort of broke my heart .... along with the realization that my 35mm viewfinder only makes sense when the camera is set to 3:2 aspect ratio .... is useless with 16:9 (as they would say "duh !" )

[kalina]

Leica really needs to get their firmware update division (probably composed of one person) in sync with Panasonic's people. There should be no reason to wait so long for a new update. Makes me wish I had kept my LX3!

[ho_co]

Disagree!

Remember, the first release of the LX3 software was recalled.

I'd rather get it right the first time than on-again-off-again.

You wouldn't want the sign-off screen to say "I'm a Panny!", now, would you?

[edkwan]

Even though the lens resume feature aren't the best we wish them to be, at least it is a little step in the right direction; find it a little bit inconvenient to go back to previous focal length every time the camera wakes up from sleeping mode.

[ho_co]

To me the "lens resume" seems just what I would want, and I'm more worried by the fact that Panasonic says it's another of those "not a defect" features when it sometimes chooses not to work.


Just curious--

I take it the rest of you (bill, ed, dave) want the ability to preset the camera to wake up at a particular focal length (other than 24mm equiv) and a particular focal distance (other than infinity) each time you turn it on?

If so, what distance and what focal length equivalent would you likely set as default?

Thanks!

[regedit]

35mm

[bill]

Originally Posted by ho_co

I take it the rest of you (bill, ed, dave) want the ability to preset the camera to wake up at a particular focal length (other than 24mm equiv) and a particular focal distance (other than infinity) each time you turn it on?

If so, what distance and what focal length equivalent would you likely set as default?

Thanks!

Precisely. I want it to wake up to 60mm, for three reasons, two practical, one theoretical.

1. That is my most used focal length and matches my SBOOI
2. It is the shortest physical travel for the lens - I lose precious seconds while the lens racks out to 24mm and then I have to manually rein it "back" to 60mm
3. Given 2 above, I should imagine I would use less battery power this way!

Regards,

Bill

[daveleo]

Originally Posted by ho_co

I take it the rest of you (bill, ed, dave) want the ability to preset the camera to wake up at a particular focal length (other than 24mm equiv) and a particular focal distance (other than infinity) each time you turn it on?
If so, what distance and what focal length equivalent would you likely set as default?
Thanks!

35mm@f2.8 / iso 100 / MYFILM1 / focused at 12 feet

.... on a grilled "English" muffin, please

[kalina]

Originally Posted by ho_co

Disagree!

Remember, the first release of the LX3 software was recalled.

I'd rather get it right the first time than on-again-off-again.

You wouldn't want the sign-off screen to say "I'm a Panny!", now, would you?

But it shouldn't take 3 months to get the new update! Grrr!!!

[john_newell]

It was never really "broken," and it's been "fixed" for six or eight weeks now...

Originally Posted by ho_co

Disagree!

Remember, the first release of the LX3 software was recalled.

I'd rather get it right the first time than on-again-off-again.

You wouldn't want the sign-off screen to say "I'm a Panny!", now, would you?