rgeorge911
Member
So I just got my DMC-LX3 (have been happily using an LX2 for a few years). One of the things I really like with these cameras is that they have a dof indicator when using manual focus, which allows for zone focus for street photography. Here's a little triptych I did in Heidelberg in 2007:
Easier to see the emotions in larger image:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4198241627_6b9e31f022_b.jpg
Anyway - I really like using the LX2 set at iso400, f5.6, with zone focus from a few feet to infinity. In manual focus mode, there's almost no shutter lag. I took this series looking at the LCD as the camera sat on my table at the cafe.
But now the LX3 gives us the great opportunity to use optical viewfinders. The new firmware really makes this much more useful by adding a feature to have the lens come back to its most recent zoom and focus settings each time you start it up. So, now I can use various finders (I have a Voigtlander 25mm and a Russian 35mm), set the zoom to match the field of view (even if it's not at one end of the zoom range), set the zone focus point, and leave them both there all day if I want. Even when I turn the camera on and off! Having the 35mm finder on there is my approximation of what the new Lecia X1 can do (of course with a 9x smaller chip, but still quite good). Love it. Thanks, Panasonic!
BTW - the ability to do this is missing from the M4/3 Lumix cameras. I have a DMC-G1 with the very nice little 20mm f1.7. However, you cannot zone focus with this setup, since it doesn't allow you to see the manual focus distance or dof scale...
Reed
Easier to see the emotions in larger image:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4198241627_6b9e31f022_b.jpg
Anyway - I really like using the LX2 set at iso400, f5.6, with zone focus from a few feet to infinity. In manual focus mode, there's almost no shutter lag. I took this series looking at the LCD as the camera sat on my table at the cafe.
But now the LX3 gives us the great opportunity to use optical viewfinders. The new firmware really makes this much more useful by adding a feature to have the lens come back to its most recent zoom and focus settings each time you start it up. So, now I can use various finders (I have a Voigtlander 25mm and a Russian 35mm), set the zoom to match the field of view (even if it's not at one end of the zoom range), set the zone focus point, and leave them both there all day if I want. Even when I turn the camera on and off! Having the 35mm finder on there is my approximation of what the new Lecia X1 can do (of course with a 9x smaller chip, but still quite good). Love it. Thanks, Panasonic!
BTW - the ability to do this is missing from the M4/3 Lumix cameras. I have a DMC-G1 with the very nice little 20mm f1.7. However, you cannot zone focus with this setup, since it doesn't allow you to see the manual focus distance or dof scale...
Reed
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