Setting up the LX100 Part 2 Q Menu and Buttons

LX100

Several buttons on the LX100  can have user selectable functions.

AF/AE-Lock Button  Custom Menu Screen 1/9.

There are four options for this versatile button within easy reach of the right thumb. These are AE Lock, AF Lock, AF/AE Lock and AF ON.

The option you select will depend very much on your style of camera use and your experience with the use of this particular button.  I recommend spending some time experimenting with the effect of each option and also the way in which the AF/AE Lock button and the AF/AE-Lock Hold function interact.

In the past, particularly with Micro 4/3 cameras and the FZ1000, I would set AF-ON to separate AF (on the back, AF/AE-L, button) from Auto Exposure and capture (on the front, Shutter, button).  When AF-ON is set as the selected function the AF/AE-Lock Hold tab is greyed out.

This enables activation of AF Single and also AF Continuous from the back button.  But I found little use for this on the LX100 which is not the type of camera which finds much use for sport/action.

So I now have the button set to AF-Lock.  I also have AF/AE-Lock Hold (next tab down on Screen 1/9 of the Custom Menu) set to ON.

When I want to make a series of exposures of a subject each focussed in the same place, I  move the AF box to the part of the frame I want in focus then press the AF/AE Lock button. This locks focus on the chosen area and holds focus while a series of photos is made.

iA Button  This is easily bumped inadvertently when switching the camera on and off. So go to the Custom Menu, Screen 8/9 and scroll down to the [iA Button Switch] tab. Set [Press and Hold]. Now an accidental bump will not activate the button which has to be held down for a little less than one second to activate.

Video Button  If you shoot video leave this active, obviously. Users who only shoot stills can disable the button to prevent unintentional activation, Custom Menu,  Screen 8/9.  Unfortunately the button cannot be re tasked and neither can the Filter Button which I find disappointing as I have no use whatsoever for the filters.

I discussed operation of the Cursor buttons and Direct Focus Area in the previous post.

Playback and Disp  buttons have set functions.

Now we come to the Function Buttons

The function of each of the three Fn buttons is user selectable from a long list of options on Page 38 of the Operating Instructions for Advanced Features.

This might appear a bit daunting at first as there are about 64000 combinations available.

So, I suggest you first look at the default function for each button.

Default for Fn1 is [Preview], Page 88 of the Operating Instructions. I definitely recommend using Fn 1 for a more useful purpose as I do not find [Preview] even slightly useful.

Default for Fn2 is Wi-Fi. This cannot be allocated to the Q menu so if you want Wi-Fi it has to be on a  Fn button and Fn 2 is as good as either of the others.

Default for Fn 3 is [LVF/Monitor Switch]. I definitely recommend going to the Custom Menu, last tab on the list, Screen 9, [Eye Sensor].

Set Sensitivity to LOW.

Set [LVF/Monitor Switch] to LVF/Mon AUTO.

Now the monitor will display when you look at it and the viewfinder will display when you look in there. And you can use the Fn 3 button for something else.

Deciding priorities 

The idea is to allocate more frequently used items to a Fn button (quicker access) and less frequently used items to the Q Menu (at least one more button press is required for access).

Nobody can tell you what are your personal preferences and if you are a newcomer to this style of camera you will probably not yet be aware of them yourself.

Experiment is required.  Trawl through the list of available Q Menu functions on Page 35 of the Instructions and available Fn button functions on Page 38. Highlight those you think you might prefer, decide priorities, make settings and run trials.

You may very well find that some function which you thought would require rapid access can better be left in the Main Menus and conversely something you thought could happily rest in the Main 

Menus would really be more useful on a quick access button.

For the record I have:

Fn1: Drive Mode.

Fn2: Focus Mode. 

Note that Focus Mode on this camera has been given a split presentation. The lever on the left side (as viewed by the operator) of the lens barrel has half the items namely AF/AF Macro/MF and the other half of the items namely [AFS/AFF/AFC] must go elsewhere,  in my case on Fn2.

This seems a strange arrangement to me. Why not put them all on the lever or all on a button ?

Fn3: Quality (JPG/RAW).

Quick Menu

Go to the Custom Menu, Screen 8/9 [Q MENU] and set [CUSTOM].

Pages 34-37 of the Operating Instructions explain how to set and use Custom Q Menu items.

You can allocate up to 15 items to the Q Menu but only 5 can be viewed at any time on the item bar. 

If there are more items, horizontal scrolling is required.  I find that if I have any more than 5 items I forget what’s there because I cannot see the hidden items on the first screen.

For the record I have 4 items on the Q Menu

* Silent Mode  (never used yet as the camera is so quiet even with the mechanical shutter).

* AF Mode

* Stabiliser

* White Balance

Next:  Setup and Rec menus