Panasonic LX100 and FZ1000 Follow Focus indoors

LX100, 1/125sec, f2.8, ISO 640 Focal length E60mm

Someone posted  a question about this on a user forum. I had been wondering myself how these cameras would cope with moving subjects indoors so I did a little test.

I asked an adult to walk towards the camera at a steady pace and slightly across the lens axis. I had the subject do several walks for a total of about 200 exposures per camera.

Light levels were variable with some light coming from outside, some from artificial sources.

Exposure ranged from  1/40-1/125 second at f2.8-3.5, ISO 500-2500.

This type of situation is actually quite a severe test of a camera’s ability to follow focus as the light levels are much lower than outside and the subject very close to the camera which means that the change in focus from one frame to the next is considerable.

For both cameras I used JPG Fine capture as this gives a better frame rate and buffer than RAW capture.

Settings for both cameras were:

Exposure  Mode,  Programme for the first set of photos and Shutter Priority at 1/125 second for the second set.

Focus Mode, AFC.

Burst Rate, M.

AF Mode,  1 Area     Readers please note that after several trials and experiments with a succession of Panasonic cameras over several years I  never use Tracking AF mode with moving subjects. In fact I have yet to find a use for Tracking AF Mode. Video perhaps.

AF box size 4/15 located to focus on the subject’s face.

Focal Length,  E60mm.

Auto ISO.  Note that neither camera will raise ISO above 1600  until the shutter speed falls to extremely low levels.

Notes 

* The LX100 ran steadily in each set of exposures at about 5 frames per second.

* Frame rate for the FZ1000 was inconsistent. In some sets of exposures it started at about 3fps then speeded up to about 6 fps. In other sets it started fast then slowed sharply.

* High ISO JPGs from the LX100 looked more natural than those from the FZ1000.

* In Programme AE Mode the FZ1000 set shutter speeds down to 1/40 second which was way too slow for a moving subject and was the reason for many of the unsharp frames in the P run.

Results

I viewed each frame at 100% on screen and rated it sharp, slightly soft (but probably OK for a small print) and clearly unsharp.

	Sharp %	Slightly soft %	Unsharp %
FZ1000 on P	22	37	41
FZ1000 on S Prio	70	25	5
LX100 P or S Prio	55	30	15

* You can see that neither camera proved to be a stellar performer in this situation.

* Most of the unsharp frames in the P run for the FZ100 were due to an excessively slow shutter speed.

* The percentage of FZ1000 frames rated sharp improved markedly when I controlled shutter speed. However this put the ISO up to 2500 with consequent degradation of image quality due to the high ISO JPGs which I do not find appealing at all.

* Overall I rate the LX100 as being slightly more suitable in this situation as it can use a wider aperture, giving faster shutter speeds and has better high ISO JPGs.

I have used the LX100 indoors several times with grandchildren and pets. There is no way it can keep up with the 22 month old when he is running around, but I am willing to bet very few cameras can manage this task consistently.

It is fine however when the children, pets, whatever,  have paused for a moment before rushing off in another direction. I have found I get best results with either camera by setting AF Single and Drive Mode Single and waiting for these moments.