V-Lux 5 overly complex

[Stef63]

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I’m very new to the V-Lux 5.  In day-to-day life, I have a background of 50 years in photography. Since 2009, I have been shooting exclusively with Leica, today mainly using the M11, M10M, and S3. So I work mostly with rangefinder manual focus, or autofocus (using the back button) with the single central point AF on the S3.  The M and S system is quite simple, with a clean menu structure and very few buttons. 

The main reason I acquired the V-Lux 5 is for large gatherings, where I can’t get close to the speaker or the action on stage. My S and R lenses are too bulky for this, and a rangefinder is not ideal for telephoto work.  The long tele zoom was the main attraction point for the V-Lux5. 

Now about the V-Lux 5:

After some first outings, I’m really impressed with the image quality. However, coming from very manual and simple systems like the M and S, I find the V-Lux 5 menu system and button layouts overly complex and a real barrier to my shooting style.  My photo brain is unable to handle the VLux5 complexity at the moment. 

I don’t need video, in-camera effects, a dozen touch control screen accessible things, or in camera processing. I just want a camera that, when turned on, is ready to shoot — viewfinder only, only aperture control, auto ISO, auto shutter speed, and one simple central focus point that I can override manually if needed and I will do the rest in Post Processing. 

Question for you all:

Is this way of working achievable with the V-Lux 5?  I feel the image quality is there, but is this camera really suited to my style?

I would appreciate your comments and tips on how to set up the V-Lux 5 in a way that keeps it simple and as manual-spirited as possible, knowing it can do a lot more things (but that I do not need for the moment)

Thanks in advance for your help!

[jankap]

Would the Leica Q perhaps be better for him?

[jaapv]

M10? 

[evikne]

Both previous posters seem to have overlooked this:

2 hours ago, Stef63 said:

The main reason I acquired the V-Lux 5 is for large gatherings, where I can’t get close to the speaker or the action on stage. My S and R lenses are too bulky for this, and a rangefinder is not ideal for telephoto work. The long tele zoom was the main attraction point for the V-Lux5. 

My wife also has this camera and I agree that it is cumbersome to use. She only uses it on full Auto, and the few times I've borrowed it, I've given up using it on M, as I usually do, because I can't be bothered to look for the settings. So I end up using it on Auto too.

[Stef63]

 

Indeed: The long reach (400mm) was the main advantage I saw in the V-Lux 5.

In situations where you’re more of a spectator than an active photographer, a compact and versatile camera like the V-Lux 5 simply makes more sense — and that was exactly my thinking. While an M or an SL2 combined with my APO-Telyt R 280mm f/4 and converter would be my preferred setup under ideal conditions, it’s just not practical in a crowded environment without immediately standing out as “the photographer,” which is certainly not my role at that time in that situation. 

 

Edited April 28 by Stef63

[wda]

I think your rationale is sound. The V lux can be set simply in manual mode. Manual focusing. Manual exposure control.Automatic White Balance unless you choose iotherwise . Only introduce automation when you are thoroughly proficient in manual mode.

I have an allied model, the Typ.114. But the operation is very similar. Please ask if you require further clarification.

Edited April 28 by wda

[Stef63]

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1 hour ago, wda said:

I have an allied model, the Typ.114. But the operation is very similar. Please ask if you require further clarification.

Thank you for your help!

I know I should take more time to read the manual, but honestly, searching through so many functions to find the right answer can be quite time-consuming. So I apologize if I asked something obvious or a “read the manual” type of question.

And to be honest, this is not my main system — I only plan to use it in a very specific situation. Because of that, having so many features is actually more of a hindrance than a help for me right now. 

Question I have: Is there something like User Presets, similar to what Leica offers on the M, SL, Q, and S models? Ideally, something that can be quickly recalled with a button press? That would really help me store a setup that works for me and easily return to it after experimenting with different settings.

[wda]

 

Quote: Question I have: Is there something like User Presets, similar to what Leica offers on the M, SL, Q, and S models? Ideally, something that can be quickly recalled with a button press? That would really help me store a setup that works for me and easily return to it after experimenting with different settings. UNQOTE

Yes. There are four presets accessible via MODE control, C1 and C2. The latter has three presets, C2-1, C2-2 and C2-3.

I do agree; mastery of the controls and Menu requires some patience and study time. However, it is more rewarding once you have found your way through the challenge.

I find 'focus assist' useful in manual focus and autofocus.

Edited April 28 by wda

[stuny]

Stef -

The Vlux series is far too complex, but it doesn't have to be.  For most shooting situations I keep my Vlux5 in Aperture priority, auto shutter speed, auto white balance and auto ISO.  The vast majority of the time I use autofocus as well - The Vlux series has always been quite weak on manual focus though it is usable in a pinch with the Vlux5 - I'll give you details of the situations and how to do it, if you like.

To set the metering mode, press the Menu Set button on the back of the camera, select the first icon (looks like a camera), click the right of the ring around the set menu button to select right putting you into that menu.  Scroll down pressing the bottom of the ring around the menu set button and advance to page two of that menu.  That will put you at the select metering mode.  Click right, to get in there, click up or down to scroll to the mode you want, and then click menu set. 

At this point you can change the exposure compensation without taking you eye off the viewfinder.  When you have your subject focused and composed, but the exposure is clearly off, you can use the thumb wheel just aft of the shutter button to increase or decrease exposure.

If you keep the LCD panel closed, you will automatically be using only the viewfinder.

There are a number of presets that you can use (buried in the menu and manual), as well as setting up your own and assigning an FN button to them, but I've never done that with any of my cameras and do not anticipate needing to do so

I do strongly urge you to do this one additional thing, and it involved the menus.

Even though you'll need the menu for this, once set you will never have to go into the menu for it again, and you'll love it.  The Vlux series (and almost all Panaleicas in the Vlux  and Dlux series) have a setting that works in jpeg mode only that doubles the zoom range at the tele setting (making your Vlux5 a 25-800 mm equivalent zoom) that does so through an interpolative algorithm that is virtually lossless.  It's called iZoom, and you can find it in the third page of the first menu (the icon for the first menu is a camera).

Below are some iZoom at 800 mm shots with my Vlux5

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[Stef63]

@stuny and @wda— Thank you both for your help, your tips, and also for giving me the motivation to try harder with the V-Lux. I also want to acknowledge that while the system is indeed very complex, you convinced me itis possible to get something rewarding out of it.

 

@stuny— really “stunning” shots! Also, thank you for the tip about iZoom. I actually came across this feature while going through the menus but skipped it right away, thinking immediately of course that the “i” meant something “intelligent” the camera would do — and therefore something to avoid. But now, thanks to your explanation, I will definitely give it a try, especially since the long reach is my main reason for choosing this camera.

So now I’m here and it will even be the first time in 25 years that I will save JPEGs straight out of camera — without your strong recommendation, I would never have considered it. So thank you for this as well!

[stuny]

On 4/28/2025 at 2:08 PM, Stef63 said:

@stuny and @wda— Thank you both for your help, your tips, and also for giving me the motivation to try harder with the V-Lux. I also want to acknowledge that while the system is indeed very complex, you convinced me itis possible to get something rewarding out of it.

 

@stuny— really “stunning” shots! Also, thank you for the tip about iZoom. I actually came across this feature while going through the menus but skipped it right away, thinking immediately of course that the “i” meant something “intelligent” the camera would do — and therefore something to avoid. But now, thanks to your explanation, I will definitely give it a try, especially since the long reach is my main reason for choosing this camera.

So now I’m here and it will even be the first time in 25 years that I will save JPEGs straight out of camera — without your strong recommendation, I would never have considered it. So thank you for this as well!

Thank you.  I thought I'd dig up some Vlux5 shots taken with iZoom in settings you describe wanting to use your Vlux5:

 

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