Maximizing Panasonic GX1 image quality and other questions

[Sgt_Strider]

1. Can you guys tell me which settings to turn on or off to maximize image quality out of the GX1? I always shoot in RAW so that's a no brainer. I've turned off long exposure noise reduction. I don't see any other settings that may enhance details/image quality. I want to minimize in-camera processing and leave the bulk of the work to be done by Photoshop/Lightroom during post-processing.

2. In One Area AF, how do I move the box around? Is it possible to adjust the size of the box like I can with Canon cameras where it's called Zone AF?

3. How do I activate the level gauge? I can't seem to find it in the menu! Can the level gauge be calibrated? Is the level gauge accurate at all?

4. How do I use the face recognition feature? I see an on and an auto and the camera tells me it needs to memorize faces. I'm a little confused. Can someone tell me how to best take full advantage of face recognition in the GX1?

Thank you!

 

[secretworld]

1 I've turned off long exposure noise reduction.

Don´t do that, it is black frame subtraction for long exposures, from 1 sec and longer. It is very useful and enhances quality!

3 there is no level gauge on a GX1!

 

[Sgt_Strider]

1 I've turned off long exposure noise reduction.

Don´t do that, it is black frame subtraction for long exposures, from 1 sec and longer. It is very useful and enhances quality!

3 there is no level gauge on a GX1!

1. Thanks for letting me know! I'm going to turn it back on!

3. The reviews have all said there is a level gauge and I even see it on DPR's screenshot!

I don't see any other noise reduction setting in the menu. Do you see it? If so, please let me know where and I'll turn those off as I want to maintain as much detail as possible and do noise reduction in either Photoshop or Lightroom!

Thanks!

 

[Mark Thornton]

3 there is no level gauge on a GX1!

Oh yes there is.

I think if you use the display button it will cycle through a number of options, one of which (by default) includes the level gauge.

Mark

 

[RickPick]

1 I've turned off long exposure noise reduction.

Don´t do that, it is black frame subtraction for long exposures, from 1 sec and longer. It is very useful and enhances quality!

3 there is no level gauge on a GX1!

1. Thanks for letting me know! I'm going to turn it back on!

3. The reviews have all said there is a level gauge and I even see it on DPR's screenshot!

I don't see any other noise reduction setting in the menu. Do you see it? If so, please let me know where and I'll turn those off as I want to maintain as much detail as possible and do noise reduction in either Photoshop or Lightroom!

Thanks!

Noise reduction settings are in the Film Modes, you will find several of these available, they tend to have names such as "Standard", "Vivid", "Monochrome", etc, etc., and are set on the Rec menu or in the Quick menu. You can set sharpening, NR, saturation and contrast on each of these and you can save your own custom mode separately if you want. I am speaking from my experience of other Panasonic cameras in the G series.

These settings apply to JPEG output only, so will not impact on the RW2 files. However, there is some suggestion that high NR settings might cause some pre-processing of the raw file to occur in the camera. I don't know about this, but if true it will only apply at the maximum setting. If you process from raw, these settings do not need to be adjusted to get the best image quality. Similarly WB, but each WB setting can be tweaked and this will impact the JPEGS and (I assume) the "as shot" WB in raw as well.

You can program one of the four function buttons (two of them on the touchscreen) to activate the level guage, if you want. Pressing the "Disp" button several times will cycle through the 4 or 5 views on the display, one of which may already include the level guage. (I didn't know the GX1 had one, but you are right, the DPR review does mention it.)

In general, to get the best IQ from the camera, make sure your exposure settings are optimal and use the lowest ISO possible for the lighting situation. Correct exposure makes the biggest difference. Of course this applies to any camera, but personally I found I had to thoroughly learn the system and practise a lot before I started to feel satisfied with the picture quality I was getting from the G series (I love it now). Camera systems are different and I think it takes time to get to know them and feel comfortable. Your GX1 is capable of great photos.

If you don't have the printed manual, I suggest you download one from the Panasonic Lumix site and study it. Nobody likes reading manuals but they do contain lots of relevant information!

Rick

 

[Yxa]

3.

 

[Chas2]

....

3 there is no level gauge on a GX1!

There most certainly is, and I use it all the time!

To the OP, read the ADVANCED manual that comes on the CD or go here (it is a UK manual, but otherwise, close enough)

The level function is all accessible through the menus

 

[Sgt_Strider]

....

3 there is no level gauge on a GX1!

There most certainly is, and I use it all the time!

To the OP, read the ADVANCED manual that comes on the CD or go here (it is a UK manual, but otherwise, close enough)

The level function is all accessible through the menus

Thanks!

I have downloaded the manual on to my phone and I'll be reading it on the bus. Besides leaving long exposure NR on, is there anything else that I can do to maximize image quality? Like it's been said, I'm shooting RAW so I don't need to worry about the color profiles and sharpening options.

 

[tt321]

....

3 there is no level gauge on a GX1!

There most certainly is, and I use it all the time!

To the OP, read the ADVANCED manual that comes on the CD or go here (it is a UK manual, but otherwise, close enough)

The level function is all accessible through the menus

Thanks!

I have downloaded the manual on to my phone and I'll be reading it on the bus. Besides leaving long exposure NR on, is there anything else that I can do to maximize image quality? Like it's been said, I'm shooting RAW so I don't need to worry about the color profiles and sharpening options.

Not particular to the camera, but ETTR might help with maximizing image quality.

 

[emzedee]

panasonic does have a tendency to raise ISO in favor of relative fast shutter speeds when you are in a shooting mode that allows the camera to choose such things (P, A). so i would spend some time getting an idea of where you are able to get sharp shots at the various focal lengths. for example, i can shoot the 20mm pretty reliably at 1/30. so if I am shooting in Aperture priority and the camera is pushing the shutter speed up to 1/125 but raising the ISO to 1600, i'll turn Auto ISO off and set it to 800 or less. the GX1 is much better at higher ISO than the older 12mp sensor (coming from GF1), but it is still good to keep the ISO as low as you can to maximize your final image quality.

also, i recommend turning on the highlight blink function so you can quickly see any blown highlights in your image. again, after some experience with your editor of choice, you will get a feel for how well you can recover highlights and shoot accordingly. others use the histogram to check, but i find the highlight blink is quicker and doesn't add another tool box on your screen covering up part of your image.

 

[Rosetta]

Regarding AF setting:

just hit the touch screen - you can then also choose the size of the focus box via the rear dial. For me that is the most convenient way ever to make sure you focus on exactly the part of the image you want to be tack sharp.

One word of caution when relying on blinking highlights: The live histogram will only show the average value of all three color channels, so in cases where one color is very dominant you may actually overexpose that one color channel without noticing. Seems to happen to me mostly with the red channel.

Enjoy the GX-1, I do since 18 months now

BTW, here is an ecample image with dark frame reduction,sorry for wrong orientation (don't know how to manage upload from an iPad properly)




Starry night in the Mediterranean

 

[Sgt_Strider]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I can't figure out how to do the following:

1. In One Area AF, how do I move the box around? Is it possible to adjust the size of the box like I can with Canon cameras where it's called Zone AF?

All the GX1 have done for me is automatically selecting the AF points when I want to AF on a specific part of the frame by moving the AF focus point. I don't know how to do that. Help!

 

[reinish]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I can't figure out how to do the following:

1. In One Area AF, how do I move the box around? Is it possible to adjust the size of the box like I can with Canon cameras where it's called Zone AF?

All the GX1 have done for me is automatically selecting the AF points when I want to AF on a specific part of the frame by moving the AF focus point. I don't know how to do that. Help!

just touch the screen where you want to focus and size can be changed by wheel. its hard to imagine something more simple and faster.

I don't like touchscreens for menu settings but that feature is simply exelent, so everything else is switched of leaving only that AF area activated with touch.

ps. things not always must be so hard as on Canon

 

[Sgt_Strider]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I can't figure out how to do the following:

1. In One Area AF, how do I move the box around? Is it possible to adjust the size of the box like I can with Canon cameras where it's called Zone AF?

All the GX1 have done for me is automatically selecting the AF points when I want to AF on a specific part of the frame by moving the AF focus point. I don't know how to do that. Help!

just touch the screen where you want to focus and size can be changed by wheel. its hard to imagine something more simple and faster.

I don't like touchscreens for menu settings but that feature is simply exelent, so everything else is switched of leaving only that AF area activated with touch.

And what if I don't want to use the touch screen?

 

[Kuppenbender]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I can't figure out how to do the following:

1. In One Area AF, how do I move the box around?

Enable the touch screen and touch the screen. The AF box with appear where you touch. Once you've touched the screen, the box can also be moved up/down, left/right with the buttons around the menu button.

Is it possible to adjust the size of the box like I can with Canon cameras where it's called Zone AF?

Once you've touched the screen to select the AF box position, the thumb wheel will adjust its size until you half press the shutter release. Then it reverts to normal.

 

[Sgt_Strider]

Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I can't figure out how to do the following:

1. In One Area AF, how do I move the box around?

Enable the touch screen and touch the screen. The AF box with appear where you touch. Once you've touched the screen, the box can also be moved up/down, left/right with the buttons around the menu button.

Is it possible to adjust the size of the box like I can with Canon cameras where it's called Zone AF?

Once you've touched the screen to select the AF box position, the thumb wheel will adjust its size until you half press the shutter release. Then it reverts to normal.

So I have to use the touch screen and there's no other way around it?

So after touching the part where I want to AF, the AF box will appear and after a half-press, it'll turn green to confirm focus?

 

[brentbrent]

And what if I don't want to use the touch screen?

Read about Direct Focus Area in the manual. Page 96, 152. I think you can assign this to a function button.

 

[Sgt_Strider]

I'm just curious. In what situation will the 23 area AF come in handy?

I also quickly went through the manual, but I can't figure out how to enable face detection. I have no interest in the face recognition feature.

 

[Colourise]

I use the following method which does not entail using the touch screen.

I program the Fn2 button through the custom menu so that it does not operate the AF/AE lock, but just relates to the chosen FN2 function

I then select the Fn Button set (this the next menu item in the list below the above item), and highlight the Focus Area setting.

In shooting mode you can now press Fn2 button which will allow the size of the focus area to be changed by the wheel and its position by the four buttons around the menu button

regards

 

[Sgt_Strider]

Bump! Need help with face detection.