Jumping into the digital world w/ the D Lux 4

[kwpatlaw]

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Hello to all. I own an M7 and several lenses thanks to some of you. I have a 50 cron, a 50 lux, a 75 lux, a 35 cron, and a noctilux. I really enjoy taking pictures but it is only a hobbie as I am still learning. I have recently decided to try " digital " w/ a compact model ; the D Lux 4. If I enjoy it and the workflow, I will buy a digital M so I can use my various lenses. My camera arrives this Monday and my question is : What will be the biggest challenge in the workflow process and what should I read or buy to help with the learning curve? Also, what kind of printer would you recommend ? I look forward to your suggestions and help.

[farnz]

Hi,

 

If you're completely new to the world of digital then my advice is to only shoot jpeg with your DL4 at first and get to know it well before you start learning about post processing raw digital files. (The DL4 has an odd raw file format because some lens compensation is done in the camera's software and some post processing software doesn't want to open them.)

 

The DL4 has a good selection of Film Modes that are intended to emulate the look of different types of film stock (although doesn't name them as such) so you would do well to experiment and work out which one(s) suit you. Personally I'm a former Fuji Velvia 120 shooter so Vivid suits me for shooting colour and I like Dynamic black and white for shooting monochrome but YMMV.

 

I recommend getting to know the DL4's macro mode, which can focus down to 1 cm from the object at the wide end of the zoom and can produce some particularly spectacular shots.

 

Once you're ready to start post processing I recommend acquiring Photoshop and a copy of Scott Kelby's book "The 7 Point System" and work through it at your leisure. Kelby has a very readable style, demonstrates examples well and approaches post processing photos in Photoshop 'holistically' instead of most authors who use the "If you want to alter this then do that." but don't tell you how to know whether you want to 'alter this'.

 

I personally use Photoshop Creative Suite 3 (PSCS3) but PSCS4 was released a couple of years ago and PSCS5 is rumoured as being released next month so you should choose the version according to price preference and what your computer will play with. (For example, I use an eight year old PC with a single 2.8 GHz AMD processor but PSCS4 won't run on it because it assumes that PCs of that age are all in museums by now. I'm planning a new PC to upgrade to PSCS5. I think.) Incidentally, Kelby's book was written for PSCS3 and I'm not aware that it's been updated.

 

There are other very good post processing software packages that can be used in preference to Photoshop, such as Lightroom, Capture One, Paint Shop Pro and Aperture for Macs, which all do things in different ways and use different tools to produce pretty much the same results.

 

My final advice is to make sure your DL4 has the latest version 2.2 firmware, buy a decent capacity SDHC card or two, buy an SDHC card reader and just shoot everybody and everything in sight.

 

Pete.

[griffster]

Hi K, Happy Easter and welcome to the wonderful world of compact digicams.

 

I love the D-lux4, but the more I learn, the more I realise I need something with a larger sensor.

 

DoF is very large, unless you get up very close and personal with your subject.

 

ISO noise becomes visible at ISO400, but you can crank up the Noise Reduction to +2 and it's not so bad anymore. Since discovering this I leave Intelligent ISO on and set the limit at 800. Unless it's very dark, It rarely goes to 800 and with NR at +2 you'll get very passable shots.

 

One of my favorites is Dynamic Black and White set to ISO 3200 (under my C1) with Noise Reduction set to -2 and aperture wide open.

 

I love making night shots when the opportunity arises and using long exposures with small apertures. You'll get nice starry lights.

 

If you wanna get crazy I recommend getting the DMW-LW46 wide angle converter from Panasonic. It's a hoot!

 

I'm a lazy SOB so I do all my post processing with Picasa. It's too easy to not use!

 

The manual is absolutely incomplete though, so you should download the Panasonic LX3 manual. Any other problems you should ask here. Members here will be most helpful.

[kwpatlaw]

Thanks Pete and Griffster for your replies. The camera arrived this week and I am ready to to have some fun with it. There is no substitute for experience so I am going to take lots of pictures and learn as I go. Lastly, what printers and card readers would you recommend ?

 

Ken