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Delux 5 Low Light Shooting


vagabond262

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Almost every review that I have read mentions that the Delux 5 takes superior low light photos; I've even seen pictures here and elsewhere on the net that back this up. Yet I seem to be unable to take low light pictures that are any better than other cameras I've used; they still tend to look dim, murky and underexposed. Although not a professional, I am not a beginner when it comes to photography. In this situation I would normally slow the shutter speed, open the lens up, increase the iso and use a tripod. I am still doing all of the above minus the tripod. I was expecting better images. I would appreciate it if anyone has any tips or your own experiences shooting in low light. Am I doing something wrong or am I just a victim of hype and unrealistic expectations?

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Almost every review that I have read mentions that the Delux 5 takes superior low light photos; I've even seen pictures here and elsewhere on the net that back this up. Yet I seem to be unable to take low light pictures that are any better than other cameras I've used; they still tend to look dim, murky and underexposed. Although not a professional, I am not a beginner when it comes to photography. In this situation I would normally slow the shutter speed, open the lens up, increase the iso and use a tripod. I am still doing all of the above minus the tripod. I was expecting better images. I would appreciate it if anyone has any tips or your own experiences shooting in low light. Am I doing something wrong or am I just a victim of hype and unrealistic expectations?

vagabond, Welcome to the Forum! You pose an interesting question. My approach has been to work within practical parameters and the best available post-processing which, essentially, meet my needs.

 

There are so many variables which can influence your level of satisfaction with low-light performance. It would be helpful if you could define what aspects of low-light performance of the D-Lux 5 disappoints you. Is there a specific ISO threshold above which noise and detail is unsatisfactory for you?

 

Do you capture in Raw format, because that permits much better retrieval of apparently lost image data? How do you reduce unwanted noise? How do you post-process your images? How low is the light in your low-light arena? (Normal domestic interiors with mixed lighting? Theatre or night-club interiors?)

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Sorry - but am I reading about the same DLux5 ?.

 

Well I am happy with the low light shooting with my DLux5. Attached is an unprocessed photo (with exception of reducing the size for posting in this forum) of a street shot in the Wet Market in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I am happy with it..

 

Oh BTW no tripod - just hand held - obviously no flash.

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Sorry - but am I reading about the same DLux5 ?.

 

... I am happy with it..

 

 

I too !

A camera is nothing without the one who is behind !

It is necessary to learn to use it correctly...

 

Guy

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I have the LX5 which is essentially the same camera and find the the low light is pretty good as long as you shoot RAW and do the pp with LR3. I find the high iso in camera jpegs to have a lot of artifacts at any setting above iso 800-1000

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I know how to use a camera.

Just my opinion!!

 

Terry.

 

 

The DLux 5 and LX5 are nevertheless very appreciated.

I respect obviously your opinion but your test seems to have been very fast.

 

Guy

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Guys, i'm not a professional photographer either but, while i complained in another post about day time overexposure, i must say that i'm really happy with the results i get when shooting at night (and i don't use a tripod).

Opening at f2 but setting max ISO to 800 and max exposure time to 1/30 makes my day (i mean "night" :)).

Here is a sample, straight from the camera (shot in Raw + jpg) without post processing (except scaling down and reducing the jpg quality in XnView).

Hope you'll like it. It's Hoi-An (Vietnam).

 

Cheers,

Despe

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The DLux 5 and LX5 are nevertheless very appreciated.

I respect obviously your opinion but your test seems to have been very fast.

 

Guy

 

That was no test at all! I think he should 1st read the manual, then try to learn and then have an opinion.

He is just bashing IMHO.

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Sorry - but am I reading about the same DLux5 ?.

 

Well I am happy with the low light shooting with my DLux5. Attached is an unprocessed photo (with exception of reducing the size for posting in this forum) of a street shot in the Wet Market in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I am happy with it..

 

Oh BTW no tripod - just hand held - obviously no flash.

 

 

We should not hear on or give any penny for the thoughts of some "bashers" here in the forum.

 

I also get very nice shots in "available light" conditions.

Also I made the experience that often I can set the time at low light conditions one, sometimes two steps shorter then the automatic will advice. Mostly the photo and light condition then looks more "realistic" as it was in lowlight, especially when taking a photo of poor illuminated buildings in front of dark sky. For me, the JPG quality is good enough then (at ISO 400-800).

 

The D-Lux 5 is really marvellous for that useage! Much more I expected from such a compact camera.

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The D-Lux 5 is a surprisingly good camera for low light photography - have a look at the Leica D-Lux 5 group on flickr to see some examples - but it's no miracle worker. I've been pleasantly surprised at the photographs I've take using only the light from the street lighting and, from a single lamp on top of a post.

 

 

Cheers, Macjim.

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I can only reply with another pic, this one from a night market in KL shot just over a week ago. EXIF data shows ISO1600, 1/100 @ f/2. Very impressed indeed with the low light performance of this camera, especially compared to old Ricoh GR-D, which was pretty much unusable even at ISO400! Fast focusing certainly beats the X1, too!

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