krandall Posted January 28, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 28, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I recently purchased a D-lux 4 and am trying to elarn the ins and outs. I am having trouble using the joystick to get it to focus manually. If I fiddle with it enough, seemingly randomly, the magnified view and the little focus bar come up and I can do the manual focus. But I haven't been able to get it to do what I want consistently or quickly. (though it focuses great once I get the box and bar open) Is there a trick to this or am I missing something? TIA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 Hi krandall, Take a look here D Lux 4 trouble with manual focus. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ho_co Posted January 28, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 28, 2010 It's a lovely camera, but it has enough controls to choke an artichoke. From my use: Move the joystick either left or right. That enables exposure correction or manual focus. Whichever one has been enabled is highlighted in yellow. If exposure correction was enabled, push the joystick to the right to enable manual focus. Now move the joystick up to focus further away or down to focus closer. Focus distance is shown on the scale to the right of the image, and an enlarged image is shown on the screen if you have manual focus help turned on. The enlarged image will remain on the screen for a couple seconds after you release the joystick, then the display will return to normal. Suggestion: I don't find manual focus easy with the D-Lux 4, both because it's quicker than my reaction time and because the screen seems a bit too coarse for focusing visually. Therefore, when I set Manual Focus, I usually point the focus rectangle at the point I want sharp, and then press the "Focus" button at the front top right of the camera. That does a one-shot autofocus, but leaves the camera set in Manual Focus. I hope that helps. If it doesn't, based on your question, there may be something wrong with the joystick. (I haven't heard of that happening, but I guess it's possible.) Let us know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
krandall Posted January 28, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted January 28, 2010 Thank you! With your instructions I was able to consistently get it into manual focus mode (and adjust) rather than feeling like I am randomly wiggling the darned joy stick. Good to know that the exposure correction works the same way... hadn't gotten that far in the menus yet!<g> After years of using DSLR's I know that autofocus is very good most of the time, but particularly in macro mode (which the D-lux 4 seems particularly adept at) there are times when you need to do final adjustments manually due to the extremely narrow DOF. Additionally, I often photograph in aquariums, and the DL4 doesn't seem to willingly focus beyond glass the way my DSLR's do. The manual focus allows me to tell it to! Thanks again, this camera would be kind of frustrating without the knowledge of this forum to turn to! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 28, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 28, 2010 Glad to have helped! I like the D-Lux 4 a lot, but understanding when which button does what isn't easy. The Panasonic manual isn't good, and as you said, the Leica manual is almost worthless. The information is all there, but it's not readily available. Most of what I've learned has come through trial and error. The camera seems remarkably well thought out, but only once I've screamed at it quite a bit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
regedit Posted January 29, 2010 Share #5 Posted January 29, 2010 If you like to take photos over another glass, consider as a good accessory a adapter tube and a polarizing filter. Of course, you'll lose some light but one polarizing position is set ok you can easy auto-focus through the glass. It also help with main purpose, and eliminate glass reflection. enjoy your camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sopwith Posted January 30, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 30, 2010 One good use for manuel focus is to pre focus it at infinity then you can grab a quick shot without being slowed down by autofocus (camera saves the setting when shut off). Nornally auotfocus works very well and not worth manuel focusing . Sopwith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRF Posted February 17, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 17, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Glad to have helped! I like the D-Lux 4 a lot, but understanding when which button does what isn't easy. The Panasonic manual isn't good, and as you said, the Leica manual is almost worthless. The information is all there, but it's not readily available. Most of what I've learned has come through trial and error. The camera seems remarkably well thought out, but only once I've screamed at it quite a bit. I agree with your comments on the Leica Manual. I bought 'Photographers Guide to the Leica D-Lux 4' by A. S. White from Amazon. It is the best accessory I have bought. A very well written book that has answered many of my questions. 227 pages of good solid information by a photographer who knows his camera well. Definitely helped my enjoyment of this great little camera. ISBN is 978-0-9649875-5-5. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricardojh Posted February 17, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 17, 2010 I just did a quick search for the recommended book at bn, amazon, etc. It's out of stock everywhere. It get good reader reviews. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPS Posted February 18, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 18, 2010 Hmmm ... ricardojh ... I just checked Amazon and my screen indicated they do have this title in stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 18, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 18, 2010 ... I bought 'Photographers Guide to the Leica D-Lux 4' by A. S. White from Amazon. It is the best accessory I have bought. A very well written book that has answered many of my questions. 227 pages of good solid information by a photographer who knows his camera well. Definitely helped my enjoyment of this great little camera.ISBN is 978-0-9649875-5-5. Thanks for the heads-up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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