Camera test 33
Photography News | Issue 59 | photographynews.co.uk
Performance: exposure latitude
For our Raw exposure latitude test, we shot this set at ISO 200 using the Lumix GX9, fitted with a Leica Vario- Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens. The shots were bracketed in manual exposure mode, with the correct exposure being 1/100sec at f/8. The Raws were processed and exposure corrected in Lightroom CC with no noise reduction applied. The Lumix GX9’s Raws have decent latitude, and viewed on my test shots you can get
it wrong by -4EV and +3EV and still retrieve an image that you can use. Yes, it’s true there is evidence of noise with underexposure at -4EV and -3EV but it is not too heavy and neutral in colour. With a little effort in post processing the +3EV shot can be recovered. Shots poorly exposed by lesser degrees can be recovered with no issue at all, and match the correctly exposed image, so I think all round Panasonic’s Raws perform with a good deal of credit.
Original image
That applies to the rear input dial, too, access to which is slightly awkward, with the protruding thumb grip getting in the way. But its action is smooth and pushing it in to confirm settings is no problem. The AF system uses 49 points across the image and there’s the option of custom multi-zone, where you can set 21, 13 or five zones active, and these zones can be moved around the 49 zone area. There is also the option of a wide single zone or a pinpoint option. The AF system has face/eye detection and tracking modes, too. The size of the active area in tracking is fixed but you can move it around the frame, while the same applies to the face detect setting and here the size of the active area can be altered. The AF system generally worked really well, and the option of using the touchscreen while your eye is up to the EVF is a nice feature – even though you’ll find your nose can move the AF point around. If you prefer to move the AF with the four-way cursor, that also works, although it is a two-touch operation. The two input dials can adjust number of zones or AF point size, depending on what’s set. The four-way cluster andmenu set buttons are marginally more raised and that helps using them. The four- way cursor is also used to move the focus point or zone around the image. TheAFpoint/zone can also bemoved by finger using the touchscreen, even when the eye is up to the finder eyepiece whatever its position. The only rear-mounted control that is easy to use is the focus control where you can switch between single-shot AF, continuous AF and manual focus. The exposure compensation dial doesnot feature a lockingmechanism but it is firmly click-stopped and recessed far enough away from the body’s edge that setting it unintentionally is not an issue.
The AF system also has face/eye detection and tracking modes
-4EV
-3EV
monitor as a waist-level finder but if you prefer you can use the fold- up EVF finder. By the way, you still get the auto switchover between the monitor and eyepiece even when it is in the up position. The EVF image is good, with high resolution and no image smear when panning, with the choice of having camera settings either outside of the image frame or sitting on the image. As is typical on MFT cameras, the 3in monitor, which is a touchscreen, dominates the rear panel, with controls along the top ledge and right side. The rear-mounted buttons, while fine to use, are low profile, close to being level with the body, so you need to be precise using them (doing so with gloves is not easy at all). I found some tricky, even with bare hands. The AE/AF button, for example, has a lip surround, and you need to be very positive with your thumb pad to push it in.
-2EV
-1EV
0
+1EV
Below The downside of a generously sized touchscreen is that you may accidentally change settings with your nose...
+2EV
+3EV
Images Raws from the Panasonic Lumix GX9 recover well from abuse, particularly underexposed shots. With overexposure the highlights can recovered on the +2EV shot, but less well on the +3EV frame.
+4EV
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