Panasonic LUMIX Cameras. Join The Dark Side. Latest Is A DMC-ZS25.

October 10, 2019

#337

Gentle reader,

I have been enjoying owning and using various Panasonic LUMIX cameras for some time now. I've never been able to afford new ones, but the used, or what I call, "previously enjoyed" market, especially on eBay, thrives.

Note: I do not use "devices" so am not aware of what happens with those. But, if you are new to blogger.com, if you click on any image, a second window opens over this one. The photos will be larger and you can use your < left and > right arrow keys to look through them or simply click on each one.

My trifecta of LUMIX black beauties.

I do not want, nor need a "smart" phone. But, I always carry a camera with me. I wear 5.11 Tactical cargo pants and the ones I prefer have magazine pockets in the cargo pockets. Perfect size to hold my reading glasses case and a Travel Zoom LUMIX camera. 

I was using a DMC-ZS15, pictured below. But it developed a problem. 

And here it is.

Perhaps it can be repaired, I'm not one to have to have the latest of anything. And if I can fix or repair something, I usually repair it, but I do not have any skill with these tiny gems. 

However, someone snatched it up, as-is, via eBay and it's off to a foreign country.

I don't make videos, one thing that smart phones excel at, especially the ease of uploading videos, so I don't need stereo microphones, or wi-fi or Bluetooth or GPS. I just want to make beautiful photos. 

All images except for the trio ones, were shot with my DMC-LX5. I LOVE that camera, especially it's sharp lens. Even though I have my reading glasses on, I could not see the dust on this camera when shooting these images.

Aside from it being all black, well, 99% black, it has a better grip, and a longer lens, plus a higher pixel count sensor.

Gone is the slide on-off switch from the back of the camera, a button on top replaces it. So, no chance of it being turned on in my pocket by my leg movement. 

Also, the dial on the top is more recessed, so hopefully it will not rotate in my pocket as previous models have.

Plus, it came with a Panasonic case, which will further protect it in my cargo pocket.

Unlike a lot of previous compact LUMIX and other cameras I've had, this lens, which is 35mm equivalent: 24-480mm, appeared to not shorten or lengthen externally. But there are internal movements and then, the more one zooms out, the happier, I mean longer, the lens gets.

I had previously written that my LX5's lens is 25mm all the way out, and 90mm at it's shortest end. The opposite of the LX3 it replaced. And counter to logic.

Upon seeing the dust in this photo, I turned it on and looked at it with a bright LED light and my reading glasses on. I still could not see one speck of this dust.

This is the first shot I have made with it. Case is in the background. LX5's live viewfinder tends to rotate upward when I lay it down to remove the memory card. That's a corner of my SONY memory card reader in front.

So, I have no experiences to report. I am well aware of the shortcoming of the TINY sensor these cameras, all three of them, have. 
Also, the having to use a screen to compose and focus, especially when my position to the sun causes the screen to act as a mirror and all I see is me.
Shutter lag is a problem with most digital cameras, even the M4/3 models I had. To avoid that altogether, a DSLR is needed.

The positives are, of course, a Leica lens, power optical image stabilization, handheld shots at any lens length are a breeze, compactness and light weight. And being pocketable.

I am off to visit my grandsons this afternoon, so it will be put to work today. 

Thank you so much for reading my humble blog. I had no idea when I started doing this that anyone would be interested in what I had to say. But so far, 238,000 of you have been. And I cannot thank you enough!

Scott
October 10, 2019
#337