Panasonic updates firmware for DMC-LX3: Digital Photography Review

A new firmware version is now announced for Panasonic’s premium manual compact camera, DMC-LX3. Firmware version 2.0 supports several new functions and improves various performance factors to elevate shooting convenience and fun. The firmware also rectifies several minor issues to enhance operation.

The adoption of new algorithms makes it possible to speed up the AF time by approx.20% to 0.50 sec at wide-end.  In addition, a 1:1 aspect ratio recording mode is added as a shooting option in addition to the conventional 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

A white balance bracket shot is also now available. The new scene mode High Dynamic is newly incorporated in the scene mode, which helps to capture a scene with moderate exposure even though the scene contains both bright and dark areas together. You can select either of 3 options, Standard, Art, or B/W, depending on the desired effect and personal taste to make the photo look natural to artistic. The white balance adjustment performance is greatly improved especially under fluorescent lights, daytime sunlight and low light.

As well as those mentioned above, the new firmware incorporates attractive advancements for enthusiastic photographers. The exposure compensation range as well as its bracket setting is widened. The fixed composition guidelines are now movable to the intended position with the control of cursor or joystick for free framing. Over exposed parts of the picture are shown not only in the preview but also in playback mode. The lens position of zooming and manual focusing is memorized and will resume at this position.

The photographer’s name can be embedded to the EXIF information of the picture and it can be confirmed via the updated PHOTOfunSTUDIO ver.2.1.

Aperture & Depth of Field

Even wonder how those photographer shot those blurry background but sharp object photo, or some call it the BOKEH photo?

Actually, those background blur effect is actually cause by the Depth of Field of the camera. In short, a shallow DOF will cause the background became blurry and a deep DOF will show the background clearly.

The DOF is directly related to the Aperture:

BIGGER Aperture size (F number smaller) –> Shallow DOF (Blurry background)

SMALLER Aperture size (F number bigger) –> Deep DOF (Clear background)

Another factor that affect DOF is the focal length (aka the zoom):

LONGER Focal length (Higher Zoom) –> Shallow DOF (Blurry background)

SHORTER Focal Length (Smaller Zoom) –> Deep DOF (Clear background)

Let look at the below photo:

Here the different of each Aperture size.

Beginner might wonder why the number grow smaller when the aperture is bigger. This is explain previously, just remember to golden rule, the smaller the F number is, the bigger the aperture size.

Let come back to the photo. The main focus point of the photo is the front statute face. Notice that when the smaller the aperture (bigger F number), the statute face at the back became clearer. Or the other way, the bigger the aperture, the harder you can see all the statute face but only 1 in focus.

How to take Good Photo

Most of the Digital camera user who just started photography might confuse themselves with all those fuzzy manual setting they have to play around compare to just Point n Shoot Full Auto mode they used to. How to set aperture?ISO?shutter?theme and all those photography term might drive them crazy.

Is there some easy to learn technique that will improve your photography? Yes there is some Golden rule you can use to make your photo WOW !!!

Understanding Photography Term

With the advance of the technology, photography gear is getting cheaper and affordable. I believe most of us will at least have a Digital Camera and Camera phone.

Have you even wonder how a photo is taken? The concept is simple – Record the moment of light ^_^, some say that photography itself is to “capturing light and shadow”

So, how does we capture light and shadow then?

Introducing the Exposure Triangle:

ISO,Aperture and Shutter speed.

Lumix LX-3 Trick

Best Digital Camera (Compact) Of the Year, period. I am one of the proud LX3 owner and this baby rock.

This article is dedicated for someone who interest in learning Photography, starting with LX-3 ( ^_^ )

• How to Take Good Photo
• Understand Photography Term
• Aperture & Depth of Field