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| Lumix G6 with 14-140mm lens |
Phases of camera operation I find it useful to consider using a camera in four phases. These are:
Setup Phase This covers the process of selecting preferences from the main menus, getting the camera ready to take out for photography. Setup is managed at leisure with no time constraints. Items for this phase can stay in a main menu. The user does not expect to require access to them while out and about.
Prepare Phase This is the period of a few minutes or so prior to capture, in which the user configures the camera for the current photographic subject and task. Items which require adjustment in this phase are ideally located in the Q Menu.
Capture Phase Now the user is in the process of making photos. Adjustments to be made in this phase must happen immediately without disrupting the user's grip on the camera or the flow of the capture process. Control modules ideal for this phase are the rear dial, front lever, Fn buttons and Cursor (4 way) buttons.
There is a hierarchy of control modules rated by their physical location on the camera. Those easily reached by the right index finger or thumb without disrupting grip have top place in the hierarchy. You would allocate tasks requiring maximum speed and efficiency in Capture Phase to those control modules.
Review Phase This is self explanatory. Actions required in Review Phase are usually non urgent. Control modules can be positioned in relatively low access positions on the camera. I note however that some photographers like to review every photo they make so for these users ready access to review controls is desirable. Note that Panasonic locates the Playback button in a high priority position on the G5/6 but in a low priority position (to the left of the EVF) on the GH3, indicating an expectation of a different (more experienced, less inclined to chimping) user profile for the GH3.
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| G6 Rear showing Fn buttons |
Direct Focus Area Your decision about this is the key to figuring what functions need to be allocated to the Q menu and Fn Buttons.
Some preliminary explanation: One of the most useful features of a good mirrorless interchangeable lens camera [MILC] is the ability to position the active AF area anywhere in the frame and to control it's size. Lumix cameras allow anything from large size to pinpoint. On the G6 the active AF area is moved around the frame with the Cursor Keys (4 way controller). Size is controlled with the Rear Dial. Pinpoint is a separate Autofocus Mode. Active AF Area is returned to center by pressing the Disp Button when the AF Area square is yellow with bounding arrows.
Controlling position/size of the AF area is a Capture Phase action, which means it needs to be carried out quickly and efficiently without disruption to holding, viewing or operating.
If you come from a SLR/DSLR background as many M43 users do, you might have become accustomed to using the "focus (with the central AF point) and recompose" technique. This works but has several disadvantages. If half press shutter is used to AF then exposure is usually also locked, which might not be desirable; the focussed distance may be slightly incorrect if a wide angle lens is used close up and if you are making many photos of, say, an off center subject and focussing on the face, repeatedly focussing and recomposing is a nuisance.
The MILC solution to this is the ability to move the AF area to any position in the frame, retaining fast accurate AF in any position.
In the Custom Menu, Page 2/8 you will find an item labelled Direct Focus Area. By default this is OFF. In this case the process of starting to move the AF area is allocated to (any) one of the Fn buttons. Press the button, the AF square goes yellow with bounding arrows then you press the cursor keys to move the AF Area. Default functions for the Cursor Keys are retained (ISO, WB, AF Mode, Drive Mode).
If you set Direct Focus Area ON, the AF area goes yellow and moves immediately if you press any of the Cursor Keys. The advantage of this is that one button push is eliminated from the sequence. The disadvantage is that you lose the four default Cursor Key functions, which therefore have to be allocated to the Q Menu and/or Fn button(s).
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| G6 Rear showing Q Menu active, Quality parameter displayed |
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| Q Menu Customise screen |
Q Menu [Page 50-51] You can easily customise this to personal preference. Go to the Custom Menu, Page 6/8. Find [Q Menu] and set to [Custom]. Q menu can store up to 15 items, but only 5 are visible at once. Therefore the optimum number of functions for the Q menu is 5. The Manual describes how to do this using the touch screen but I find the process easier using the Cursor Keys.
On pages 50 and 51 of the Manual you will find a list of 28 items which can be allocated to the Q menu. I suggest you read the list thoughtfully then highlight those items you think you might like to adjust in the Prepare Phase of camera work. Each individual will have a different idea about this and each person's list will almost certainly change with experience.
That's fine, the camera allows you to change your user interface at will.
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| Sample selections in Q Menu options list |
Function Buttons [Page 53] Now look at the list on Page 53 and highlight which of the 38 items you think you might want to change in Capture Phase. Note the list includes [Q Menu] which means you can allocate activation of the Q Menu to any Fn Button and use [Fn1] for some function other than Q Menu. Why would you do that ? Keep reading........
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| Sample selections in Fn button options list |
The Reasoning Process I will now describe the process of reasoning which led me to the settings which I use on my G6. This is based on setting the Cursor Keys to Direct Focus Area.
Your preferences and requirements will be different of course, but I have no idea what they may be. However if you follow the ergonomic reasoning process you should arrive at a configuration which suits your needs.
Actions required in Capture Phase Capture Phase actions have the highest priority so they come first in the planning sequence. Individuals have their own ideas which could change over time. The things I want to adjust in Capture Phase are the primary and secondary exposure and focussing parameters. These are:
Exposure: Primary; Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO. Secondary; Exposure Compensation. I don't need to adjust white balance as I routinely use RAW capture and adjust WB as required in Adobe Camera Raw. But JPG shooters will most likely want to control WB, so will want this on the Q Menu or a Fn button.
Aperture and Shutter Speed are adjusted with the Rear Dial, depending on P,A,S,M Mode. I have the Function Lever set to adjust Exposure Compensation.
Focus: Primary; Start/Lock AF. Secondary; Change position/size of AF area, MF adjust.
I like to have the choice to start AF with half press shutter button or back button. So I have the AEL/AFL button set to AF-ON. Manual Focus touch up is always available by rotating the lens focus ring if AF+MF is set ON in the Custom Menu.
I prefer to change the position of the AF area instead of focus and recompose so I have Direct Focus Area set to ON in the Custom Menu. This means a place has to be found for ISO, Drive Mode and AF mode which are no longer on the Cursor Keys.
ISO is a primary exposure parameter used in Capture Phase so I send it to the Fn1 button, which is in a high priority location. This means bumping the Q Menu elsewhere so it goes down to the Fn3 button. The logic of this is that Q Menu adjustments occur in Prepare Phase so can go to a low priority location on the camera.
Function Buttons So now we see most of the Fn button tasks have been allocated. Here is the full list:
Fn1: ISO
Fn2: AF-ON
Fn3: Q Menu
Fn4: Level Gauge. I often like to be able to access this quickly without having to scroll through the Disp screens.
Fn5: E-Shutter. I use this most of the time in general photography but need to be able to quickly switch to the mechanical shutter when the situation requires, for instance: ISO >1600, Shutter Speed<1 sec, Flash, Fluorescent light or sport/action.
Q Menu On the Q menu I have just 5 items so I can see them all on one screen. They all lead to Prepare Phase adjustments:
Stabiliser, AF Mode, Quality, Focus Mode, Drive Mode.
Summary That's it, all done. Your preferences will differ but I hope this exposition of a process of ergonomic reasoning will be helpful for any user wanting guidance in setting up a Lumix G6 camera. By the way, the G5 and GX7 work very much the same way and will benefit from the same reasoning process.
Thank you so much for all your time and effort with this article. I have recently purchased a G6 and you have helped me immensely with setting up my camera settings.
BalasHapusWell done!