LX100 Controls Part 8 Changing Modes

LX100

Working through  this series of posts on the LX100 controls I now consider the actions required to complete the task of changing various modes starting with exposure mode.

The standard exposure modes on a Panasonic camera are [iA], P, A, S, M.

I usually regard changing exposure mode to be a Prepare Phase task. However it could also be considered a Capture Phase task as one may want to change exposure mode in the middle of capture proceedings. 

I do this routinely when using the Panasonic FZ1000 camera. I use A Mode at the wide end of the zoom range and S or M Modes at the long end to ensure adequate shutter speed.  

But I sometimes want to switch from P to S exposure mode with the LX100  and for the same reason, to ensure adequate shutter speed for the conditions.

This means changing exposure mode needs to be carried out quickly and efficiently with minimal disruption to the capture workflow.

FZ1000

This camera has a Mode Dial+Control Dial control system.

The exposure modes are on the Mode Dial. To change from any mode to any other mode I just turn the dial. I quickly learned the sequence in which the modes appear on the dial and can easily change modes while looking through the viewfinder.

There is a brief confirmation of the mode selected in the form of an icon at the top left of the live view screen (EVF or monitor).

Changing exposure mode always involves doing the same thing so my fingers soon learn what they need to do.

LX100

This camera has an Aperture Dial+Shutter Speed Dial system.

Changing exposure mode involves different actions depending on which mode is set initially and which is required.

So if we start with P Mode, switching to A Mode is easy, just turn the aperture ring.

To get from P Mode to S Mode we do a different thing which is turn the shutter speed dial.

To go from A Mode to S Mode requires moving both the shutter speed dial and the aperture ring. The aperture ring always moves right (at the top) but the shutter speed dial could go either way depending on the actual shutter speed required.

To go from P to M also requires moving both controls.

Access to [iA] requires yet another different thing namely a press (preferably a long press to prevent accidental activation) on the [iA] button which is squeezed into  a little space between the on/off switch, shutter button and exposure compensation dial. This disables the aperture dial and shutter speed dial but leaves the exposure compensation dial active.

Comment 

Several reviewers have presented the view that changing modes on the LX100 is really easy. Indeed changing back and forth from P to A is easy.

But other changes are more complex, some involving a double action which I find is not easily learned as the ring/dial turns go in different directions.

To change exposure mode on the LX100 I have to stop taking photos, put the camera down from my eye, think about which ring/dial has to turn which way, make the turns while viewing the ring and dial to make sure I get them right, then resume taking photos.

To this the reader might say  “So what ?   If the process makes you think about what you are doing surely that is  a good thing ?”

To which I would answer "perhaps" but there is a more efficient, streamlined way of  completing the same set of tasks so why not use it ?

Other Modes

There is not much difference between a [Mode Dial+Control Dial] system and an [Aperture Ring+Shutter Speed Dial] system with regard to changing other modes.  Both generally involve allocating some functions to buttons and some to a Quick Menu.

Larger cameras with more available real estate can find space for set and see modules for Drive Mode and Focus Mode, which is handy.