D Lux 4 issues, need advice please

[amod]

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Dear All,

I have been using Leica D Lux 4 for the past few months. Generally my primary subject is my 15 month daughter for which I use the Manual setting which allows me to set the necessary aperture and shutter speed but for focus i keep it on auto focus as it is very painful and slow to adjust focus manually for my subject. However I am having a few problems which are as follows-

1- my subject (most of the times is moving about) is out of focus 90% of times while the background is in focus. I do not know what I am doing wrong.

2- It takes a long time (almost 5 seconds) to save the photograph on the SD card which does not allow me to take the next shot or capture the "decisive" next moment. Is there any setting I can turn on/ off to improve this?

3- I use the MacBook Pro which does not allow me to read the RAW files from the D Lux 4 while all my friends who use the MacBook Pro but use other cameras like Nikon/ Cannon can read the RAW files. Is this a specific Leica compatibility problem or do I need to download anything from the internet.

Please advice me as I have reached a very frustrating stage.

Regards,

Amod

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[artyca]

Hi Amod,

 

1. Try to use a different focusing technique. It appears that you're focusing on the background and not the subject up front.

2. Are you using a SDHC card? It's slightly faster than a SD card in terms of data transfer.

3. What software are you using? If iPhoto, make sure you download the latest version that can read your RAW files.

 

Hope the above helps!

[richam]

1. Check your manual for the "AF MODE" setting. You may be able to find a better setting for your subject. If you are shooting very close up, you may need to set the AF switch to the center (AF with tulip). Again, check your manual for details.

 

2. The JPEG only "QUALITY" setting provides very good images, and stores them much faster than RAW. As long as you capture RAW, the storage time will be longer. But you can still snap several shots while the storage activity red dot is blinking. You don't have to wait for the storage activity to finish.

 

3. As I understand it, Apple includes the RAW format capability in the system software -- and it upgrades it slowly. I'm using Snow Leopard 10.6.3, and it works fine. If you install all the latest updates, it should work.

[Ed_K]

1) under the "recording" menu and "focusing mode" submenu, you can try AF tracking to see if you can better capture a moving subject

2) are you recording in Raw? try Jpeg and even experiment with different resolution

3) the latest Digital Camera Raw Capability Update is at 3.1 and it supports D-lux4

 

Hope it helps in your case, Amod.

[clinchico]

Just a hint do try the sports mode on your D-Lux 4.

 

Herb

[amod]

Dear All,

thanks for the advice.

Will try out the recommendations.

Attached are some of my out of focus and "could have been nicer if sharper" photographs.

It will give you an idea of what i am trying to do.

Could you give me a few tips as to how I could improve on my photography skills while taking baby portraits?

Many thanks and regards,

Amod

 

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[amod]

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Just a hint do try the sports mode on your D-Lux 4.

 

Herb

 

Hi Herb,

I have already tried all the presets including the sports option but finally realized that good old manual settings worked the best, so much for the Baby 1 &2 settings they just don't work somehow.

Is there any particular thing I should tweak in the sports mode which would give me the desired results?

regards,

Amod

[pop]

It's a bit hard to say since those are rather small. However.

 

#1: Focus seems to be near the dark furniture in the background. Suggestion: in order to attain proper focus, aim with the little rectangle in the middle of the screen at face and very lightly press the shutter. When the camera signals that focus has been reached, slowly push the shutter release button all the way down.

 

You may have to alter your camera's autofocus setting so that it focuses in one place of the image only.

 

#2: Focus is too close, on the seam in the lower right hand corner. Suggestion: same as above.

 

#3: I'd think that this is motion blur. Hold the camera very steady. Do not "klick" the shutter release button but squeeze it very gently until it surprises you by going off. That's the same advice which is given in the shooting range for triggering fire arms.

[TonySx]

If you're NOT using spot focus, then change to that. Depth of field should be enough with this camera to allow the entire face to be acceptable. And you may have to up the ISO so as to get a shorter exposure.

[regedit]

Also here are my advices:

 

1. Try different focus type. to switch fast between focus type assigned to custom button (arrow down - default is preview but since you cam make taken photo to stay on the screen it's not really necessary). If you have enough light (outside) try some manual zone focus - works great on kids and on f5.6 you have plenty focus field

 

2. don't shot raw. jpegs are just fine. you'll have a minimum shooting lag. and use a good grand sdhc card like sandisk or lexar.

 

3. use jpeg and you fixed this problem too. however on mac you have latest iphoto (2009) with updates that recognize Leica RAW. If you really like playing with raw files I found Raw Photo Processor for mac osX being the best raw manipulator. IT's not so friendly as a mac user expect but it's good and free

[amod]

Dear all,

thank you for all the valuable inputs.

I will explore it.

Also, I noticed that if the light is on the dimmer side the auto focus tends to focus on the brightest object rather than the actual subject.

Do you have similar experience?

Regards,

Amod