Maximizing Panasonic GX1 image quality and other questions

[Andy Crowe]

First of all on general shooting, I find the gx1 trends to clip highlights too much, so if it clips a lot in the lighting conditions I'll dial some negative exposure comp in, shoot again and then process the raw to bring the exposure back up (otherwise it will be too dark). That way you're getting more highlight DR at the expense of shadow noise.

On face detection the gx1 can recognises and prioritise people, but you don't need to do that for face detection AF, it works just as well without memorizing faces.

 

[Sgt_Strider]

First of all on general shooting, I find the gx1 trends to clip highlights too much, so if it clips a lot in the lighting conditions I'll dial some negative exposure comp in, shoot again and then process the raw to bring the exposure back up (otherwise it will be too dark). That way you're getting more highlight DR at the expense of shadow noise.

On face detection the gx1 can recognises and prioritise people, but you don't need to do that for face detection AF, it works just as well without memorizing faces.

I don't get it. How do I enable face detection and how do I know it's enabled?

 

[alcelc]

Bump! Need help with face detection.

You can activate it by going to the AF mode and select the face detection function. It will act like the normal 23-area AF mode and if a person is within your frame, it will give priority to focus on the person's face.

I normally include AF mode in the Q menu for quick selection. Wishing it may help.

 

[alcelc]

Bump! Need help with face detection.

You can activate it by going to the AF mode and select the face detection function. It will act like the normal 23-area AF mode and if a person is within your frame, it will give priority to focus on the person's face.

I normally include AF mode in the Q menu for quick selection. Wishing it may help.

Sorry, read your post again and it seems that you are actually talking about face recognition function (which needs to memorize faces with their names input)? If so, please refer to page 130 of the manual of GX1.

The face detection function is simply a normal 23-area AF mode which gives priority to focus on faces (if any) within a frame.

 

[Kung Pao Panda]

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!

There certainly is a level gauge on a GX1! I use it all the time.

You can use touch screen to move the focus box.

You can use the back dial to configure the AF box from very large to very small.

You can set face detection in the menu or on the touch screen. When face detection is selected, face icon will appear in lower left of screen. If you have a face in the scene, the camera will AF on the face when you half press the shutter.

 

[Andy Crowe]

To enable it press left on the 4-way controller to change focus mode and select face detection af. When enabled it will start drawing boxes round peoples' faces in live view.

 

[MysteryLemon]

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!

1... Shoot in raw. Simple as that. That's the best quality you will get out of the camera. It wont apply noise reduction in Raw, or do any post processing to the file. Long Exposure noise reduction is best left on for image quality.

2... i dont know if this is the only way to do it, but on my GX1, I touch the screen to move the box around. When you touch, it opens a new screen where you can touch to position it, or use the D-pad to do it. You can use the thumb wheel to make the box bigger or smaller.

3... The level gauge was on by default on my GX1 but I have noticed you can switch between displays using the disp button when shooting. This will toggle on and off various parts of the display screen, the level gauge included.

4... I've not used it much but the face recognition system activates (if turned on) when the camera recognizes a face. It will then automatically focus on the face unless you press the screen to tell it to focus somewhere else.

 

[Mingjai]

One general tip that I also employed when I shot with the GX1 is to use the ISO series 160, 320, 640, 1280, etc., instead of the other intermediate ISOs like 200, 400, 800. I forgot which forum member is was the demonstrated this and the technicals behind the explanation, but I recall it having something to do with the sensor's base ISO of 160.