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New Dlux4 Owner - a few n00b questions


Spiff500

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Hi to everyone,

 

So, I've recently got hold of a Dlux4 as 'carry round' alternative to my 8Kg Nikon filled kit bag. Someone once said the best camera is the one in your pocket ;)

 

Anyway, I'm thrilled to bits with the Dlux4 it seems to do more than everything I could want in a compact. However, I do have a few niggly questions that you chaps might be able to answer . . .

 

First of all, I've thoroughly read both the Leica and Panasonic LX3 manuals; but I'm still a tad confused.

 

1 - Manual Pre Focus.

 

Something I will tend to use a lot, but I just get it yet. Ok, the procedure as I understand it is to set your MF with the joystick; then press the 'focus' button to lock the focus.

 

So, what does pressing the focus button actually do? Surely leaving the camera in MF with the focus set is enough? I don't get what I am locking . . . if I could change mode to AF and retain the locked position that would be great. Unless I'm doing something really stupid the focus lock doesn't appear to be persistant?

 

2 - Film modes

 

I tend to shoot HQ, RAW; so far using a mix of Dynamic B&W and Vibrant. The images look amazing on camera playback. However, using Capture One (provided in the box) when I review B&W images they come up as colour?

 

I can't for the life of me find any filters or options to re-apply the film mode I shot the image in. I appreciate RAW data doesn't contain the same data as a JPG. But the RAWs appear exactly as expected on the playback screen?

 

3 - AF/AE Lock

 

This is going to kill me if I don;t figure it out ;)

 

Ok, I'm used to having half a shutter depress represent AE-L and then use a seperate button if I want AF-L. Now there are some clever options for setting focus points, but is there anyway I can configure AE-L on a half a shutter press?

 

Or can I have seperate AE-L and AF-L control in some other way?

 

All I can find is AE/AF-L combined or just AF-L or just AE-L?

 

 

4 - Teleconverters

 

Not directly related to the Dlux4 itself, but I'm intrigued by these teleconverter kits you see on eBay. Has anyone had any experience of using the 2x bolt on lens? I guess it will give about 120mm (in old money) which could be fairly useful overall. Unless it's so soft and messy as to not be worth it?

 

Has anyone tried one yet?

 

Sorry for the terribly n00b questions!

 

I'm quite happy with the general principles of photography, been an SLR user for 25 odd years, from full manual film to all the bells & whistles dSLRs. I just need to 'translate' my workflow into Dlux4 world

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Regarding Film Modes, these apply only to the in-camera processed JPEGs, the raw file is just that, raw unprocessed data that is then opened in a raw converter and adjustments made within the converter.

 

There isn't a direct selection of say 'Vibrant', you will have to change adjustments within the converter to get the look you want and then if available in the program you could save those options as a 'recipe' with a name of your choice and then just select that recipe to other images instead of manually doing it all over again.

 

Hope I explained this simply.

 

Welcome from another new member.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Your best bet is to spend a day shooting using your owners manual as a guide. Play around with all the settings to see what it will do & what it won't. It will teach you everything you need to know about the camera. And you'll have tons of fun as well! I think you'll be pleasantly suprised as to what it CAN do in such a small package.

 

I would recommend getting a filter tube to mount all your filters on for outdoor photography. I have Heliopan & B&W filters and the results are breath taking! Ocean shots really mar made with a circular polorizer I may add! My lense tube is a 46 to 52 mm and came with a pedal shade as well. Panda, cheap & suprisingly well made!

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