Just ordered a Panasonic LX7

[CuriousMike]

Wow, that ladybug macro is pretty sharp! Was that handheld?

Yes, hand-held. And it was breezy ... so I had to wait for a 'pause' in the breeze.

I'm still figuring out how to use the macro feature; there is some correlation to the focal range (zoom) you have it at and how close you are to the subject.
I suppose the answer is in the manual somewhere, but I've just been caveman-ing it.

 

[Throckmorton]

Bee in flight. 125 ISO, 1/2500, f2.3, full zoom. It was extremely underexposed because of the high shutter but I brightened it in Lightroom. So that's the secret to low light photography with this camera... underexpose and fix it later.

 

[iGas]

Bee in flight. 125 ISO, 1/2500, f2.3, full zoom. It was extremely underexposed because of the high shutter but I brightened it in Lightroom. So that's the secret to low light photography with this camera... underexpose and fix it later.

That is one way, but the most common way is to increase ISO range to 1000 or more to increase shutter speed. Or, use flash.

 

[Throckmorton]

That is one way, but the most common way is to increase ISO range to 1000 or more to increase shutter speed. Or, use flash.

Yes but it's so noisy over 400 ISO that you might be better off exposing at a lower one and brightening in post

 

[CuriousMike]

Now buy the JJC automatic lens cap! The stock one is annoying. The first time I turned mine on, I forgot to remove the cap and rather than give me the warning the lens just forced the cap off.

I bought an automatic lens cap and if the lens is zoomed all the way out, the lip of the lens will catch on the auto lens cap when shutting down.

I asked this question over on dpreview, and a few people mentioned they're using the auto lens cap in conjunction with a filter adapter.
Are you using the JJC as-is, or did you install a filter adapter?

 

[xSauronx]

Yes but it's so noisy over 400 ISO that you might be better off exposing at a lower one and brightening in post

i tend to go that way, i hate cranking the ISO up on my lx7.

re the auto lens cover:

i have the auto cap and use it as is and have never had it catch. wouldnt take much to smooth down the inside of those points though and alleviate the issue

 

[Throckmorton]

I bought an automatic lens cap and if the lens is zoomed all the way out, the lip of the lens will catch on the auto lens cap when shutting down.

I asked this question over on dpreview, and a few people mentioned they're using the auto lens cap in conjunction with a filter adapter.
Are you using the JJC as-is, or did you install a filter adapter?

I do have a filter adapter and it fits fine, but the filter I got (a 37mm linear polarizer Tiffen) is too thick to fit so I have to remove it before turning off the camera.

If I zoom back in, the flaps slide on the adapter because I think the angle is better than the stock ring. You can just remove that ring. Put on rubber unpowdered gloves, hold the barrel of the lens and the ring, and unscrew it.

Edit: Oh wait, that might make the lens glass hit the cap when it opens.

 

[Throckmorton]

I got the brown case and it doesn't fit. It's too small in every dimension. With no lens cap the camera can squeeze in but you risk scratching the lens.

 

[CuriousMike]

I got the brown case and it doesn't fit. It's too small in every dimension. With no lens cap the camera can squeeze in but you risk scratching the lens.

I guess the LX5 is just enough different in dimensions to cause the issue.
It seems that Panasonic had a very limited run on their LX7 version of the case - the only option I see is buying it from Japan for a ridonkulous price.

 

[CuriousMike]

While I'm here, moar photos

 

[Throckmorton]

Huge daisy

 

[blastingcap]

Huge daisy

Nice shot!

 

[CuriousMike]

Nice shot!

Ditto. Nice lighting.

 

[Throckmorton]

While I'm here, moar photos

I love the sharpness of the glass ball

 

[CuriousMike]

Took a bicycle ride today ( http://app.strava.com/activities/47570532 ) and brought the LX7 along.

Lots of beautiful stuff to look at this spring - I need a new composition firmware upgrade.

This one was taken while riding the bike - I doubt I was going faster than 10mph on this section - the tree on the left looks motion blurred, but everything in front of me looks fairly sharp.

This is a section that I continually want to get a better photo from - it's really a vast, flowing section of hill with Mission Peak (covered in clouds) in the background. I'm just not capturing the feel of it ... yet.

Getting the sky to look good in my landscapes has been absolute crap.
Today was an overcast, spinkling day with shots of blue. My skies just come out gray and ass.

 

[Throckmorton]

Grey skies are terrible for landscape photography.

So just take pics of bugs instead when it's cloudy. Here's one I got in the Balcones Canyonlands Refuge

 

[FeuerFrei]

I like your pics, Throckmorton.

 

[blastingcap]

I like CuriousMike's, too.

 

[cheez]

Nice camera dude... I want one.

 

[xSauronx]

Nice camera dude... I want one.

they seem to hit $300 ish regularly every few weeks, so i wouldnt pay more than that for one. good deal at that price, too. love mine.

 

[CuriousMike]

 

[Ayrahvon]

These photos make me want to upgrade my LX3... I just can't justify the cost! I take my LX3 with me everywhere even when I have my 600D on me too. I haven't bothered getting macro adapters for my SLR largely because it's just way too easy to bust out the LX3 and get a great snap in seconds for macro. LX7 looks like it does it even better.

Is there any secret to getting macro shots of bees?

 

[miguel1980]

I'm from Argentina and last week bought the camera in b & h and it seems to be defective. At smaller apertures there's a blue spot/hexagon in the center of the image that shows up when you photograph something bright. When I use the nd-filter, the point disappears.
Is dust? What is wrong? Thanks!!

Iso:80 F:7.1

Iso: 320 F:1.4

 

[Childs]

I actually placed an order for an LX7 last night, and just cancelled it after seeing this thread and finding out it was almost $100 cheaper a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Throckmorton]

I'm from Argentina and last week bought the camera in b & h and it seems to be defective. At smaller apertures there's a blue spot/hexagon in the center of the image that shows up when you photograph something bright. When I use the nd-filter, the point disappears.
Is dust? What is wrong? Thanks!!

Iso:80 F:7.1

Iso: 320 F:1.4

If you read through this thread you'll see that I have the same issue with mine. I got a replacement one and it did the same thing. It's some kind of defect with the lens, but it may apply to all units