Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC5 Review

A typical screen in the AUTO mode with icons for the record mode, flash mode, image size 2240x1680, Fine quality, full battery, ISO is fixed at 100 and there's space left for 17 more pictures on the card. The green AF target marks and the green "dot" indicate that the shutter is half-pressed and the focus and exposure is now locked. The aperture is F2.2 and the shutter speed is 1/30 sec., the metering mode is Multi.

MENU options in AUTO mode are:

• AUDIO REC. - Enable/disable the 5-sec voice note feature.

• PICT. SIZE - Image size (2240 x 1680, 1600x1200, 1120x840 or 640x480)

• QUALITY - Image quality Fine or Standard

• D. ZOOM - Enable/disable digital zoom function

• CONVERSION - Enable when using a conversion lens

The "A" on the red background denotes the camera is set in "A"perture priority mode, You choose the aperture and the exposure system chooses the shutter speed. The aperture is set to F2.2 and pushing the 4-way selector up or down changes the value.

The "S" indicates the camera is set in "S"hutter priority mode. You choose the shutter speed and the exposure system chooses the aperture. The Shutter speed is presently set to 1/30th second and by pressing the 4-way selector right or left changes the shutter speed value.

The "M" indicates the camera is set in "M"anual exposure mode. You choose the shutter speed and the aperture. The exposure system's slide scale indicates within 1 f/stop the correct setting. The Aperture is presently set to F2.2 and by pressing the up arrow on the navigation control the value changes. The Shutter speed is presently set to 1/30th second and by pressing the left/right arrow of the navigation control will change the shutter speed value.

The Exposure Compensation screen allows the user to force an over/under exposure value (EV) to be locked into the exposure system's setting. The left/right arrows of the navigation button change the EV setting. The SET button locks the setting and exits the screen.

MENU options in P/A/M/S mode are:

• W.BALANCE - Set desired white balance (Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom)

• SENSITIVITY - Auto, 100, 200, 400

• SPOT AF - Enable/disable Spot Focus function

• AUDIO REC. - Enable/disable the 5-sec voice note feature

• PICT. SIZE - Image size (2240 x 1680, 1600x1200, 1120x840 or 640x480)

• QUALITY - Image quality TIFF, Fine or Standard

• D. ZOOM - Enable/disable digital zoom function

• SLOW SYNC - 1st(Front curtain flash), 2nd(rear curtain flash)

• EXT. FLASH - Enable/disable flash hot shoe

• CONVERSION - Enable when using a conversion lens

• PICT. ADJUST - Alter the in-camera image processing:

  • SHARPNESS - Low, Standard, High

  • CONTRAST - Low, Standard, High

  • SATURATION - Low, Standard, High

This is the recording screen when you are in Movie mode - note the red "film strip" icon in the upper left. The flash is disabled and the "microphone" icon indicates that audio recording is enabled. The battery is full and there is available space for 189 seconds of video to be captured. Records a maximum of 160 seconds per video clip. The optical zoom is NOT useable while recording motion video.

Options under the SetUp sub-menu are:

• MONITOR - Adjust color LCD backlight

• AUTO REVIEW - Last image captured is auto displayed on color LCD

• BEEP - Camera sounds when buttons are pushed

• POWER SAVE - Set the Auto OFF time value

• NO. RESET - Reset the file numbering

• CLOCK SET - Set the time and date