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2024 Photography Presentation

October 1, 2024 by OpenFilmmaker Leave a Comment

Photo of the attendees from "5 things I learned about photography". — Group picture after the presentation.

Here’s the summary of the key points:

Cameras capture and modify light.
Good photography is a mix of skills and tools.
Editing enhances photos.
Computer skills help with photography (especially photo management).
Smart phones are convenient and stand-alone cameras provide higher image quality, but both have their place.

Modifying Light (Exposure)

Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO (light sensitivity) were discussed in the first point. Through these variables, light can be modified and manipulated. The balance of these 3 variables is called exposure. Remember there are trade-offs when light is increased or decreased.

When dealing with Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, if you ever run into a case where you need to reduce the light – the first one to reduce would be the ISO. Why? Because you will get better image quality by reducing the noise in the image.

Rule of Thirds (and other principles)

Rule-of-thirds was one of the first photography principles that captured my attention. I was fascinated such a simple principle could enhance photography… by just moving the image a little to the left, right, up, or down, could change the photo’s appeal? Surely that can’t be right?! Once I realized that the rule-of-thirds made some photos more pleasing, I started using it whenever possible.

Not all photos get better with rule-of-thirds. If you’re doing portrait photography (or school yearbooks), group photos, etc… you’d want the subject in the center. Rule-of-thirds is a principle that should be used creatively and decisively, not absolutely. Same goes with all the other principles.

Here’s some links on the principles mentioned in the presentation for additional reading:

There’s a saying in photography… first, learn all the rules and once you master them, break them.

Photography Software

Free photo-editing software:

AI Image Prompt: “**a group of indians and indian americans at a photography presentation at a house**“. I used the original image (shown at the top of this article) as a reference.

Panasonic Lumix ZS-200 Review (TZ200)

September 6, 2024 by OpenFilmmaker 4 Comments

Panasonic ZS-200: 20mm, f/6.3, 1/160s, ISO 400

Introduction

The Panasonic Lumix ZS200 (also known as the TZ200 in some regions) is a standout in the compact camera market, designed for those who crave portability without sacrificing essential features like zoom range, image quality, and battery life. It’s particularly popular among travelers and casual photographers who want a camera they can easily carry around.

ZS200 Sample Image — Panasonic ZS200: Flowers – 132mm, f/6.4, 1/200s, ISO 320

Key Features in a Small Package

With so many compact cameras available today, what makes the ZS200 such a compelling choice? Let’s break it down:

Portability: The ZS200’s compact size means it’s small enough to bring anywhere, from hiking trails to city tours.
Focal Range: It offers a 24-360mm equivalent zoom, which is a standout feature among compact cameras, letting you capture anything from wide landscapes to distant details.
Image Quality: Thanks to its 1-inch, 20.1MP sensor, the ZS200 delivers great image quality in a range of lighting conditions. Perfect for those who value versatility without compromising clarity.
4K Video: Record videos in 4K quality at 100 Mbps! Perfect for concerts, kids events, and other venues where bigger cameras are not allowed.

Panasonic ZS200: Grapevine Mustangs HS Football - 90mm, f/6.3, 1/200s, ISO 800 — Panasonic ZS200: Grapevine Mustangs HS Football – 90mm, f/6.3, 1/200s, ISO 800

Upgrades from the ZS100

The ZS200 is a refinement of its predecessor, the ZS100, with a few important improvements:

Zoom Range: The ZS200 bumps the zoom up from 10x (25-250mm) to 15x (24-360mm), giving you more reach for those distant subjects.
Viewfinder: The EVF has been upgraded from 1.16 million dots to 1.24 million dots, offering better clarity when framing shots.
Battery Life: The ZS200 offers a slight boost in battery performance, adding a bit more longevity during your shoots. The ZS200 is powered by the DMW-BLG10 battery, providing approximately 250 shots per charge. This battery is shared across multiple Panasonic models, such as the Lumix GX85, GX9, and ZS100, so if you already own another Panasonic camera, battery compatibility is a plus.

Competitors

When you’re in the market for a compact camera, you’re often comparing several top-tier models. Here’s a side-by-side comparison to show how the ZS200 stacks up against its competitors:

Camera Model	Panasonic ZS200	Sony RX100 VII	Canon G7 X Mark III	Panasonic LX10
Price (New/Used)	~$650 USD / ~$550 USD	~$1,200 USD / ~$1,000 USD	~$750 USD / ~$600 USD	~$500 USD / ~$400 USD
Sensor Size	1-inch	1-inch	1-inch	1-inch
Focal Length	24-360mm (15x zoom)	24-200mm (8.3x zoom)	24-100mm (4.2x zoom)	24-72mm (3x zoom)
Max Aperture	f/3.3-6.4	f/2.8-4.5	f/1.8-2.8	f/1.4-2.8
Command Dials & Control Rings	2 (1 top dial, 1 control ring)	2 (1 rear dial, 1 control ring)	1 (rear dial)	2 (1 control ring, 1 rear dial)
Video Resolution	4K (30p) / Full HD	4K (60p) / Full HD	4K (30p) / Full HD	4K (30p) / Full HD
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical & Digital	Optical & Digital	Optical
Touchscreen	3-inch, 1.24M-dot	3-inch, 921k-dot	3-inch, 1.04M-dot	3-inch, 1.04M-dot

Table showing Panasonic Lumix ZS200 and its alternatives

The ZS200 holds its ground well, especially considering its price point and versatile zoom range, which outshines many of its competitors. However, if faster apertures or better video capabilities (like 4K at 60p) are more important to you, the Sony RX100 VII might be worth the investment—if you’re okay with the steep price hike. Meanwhile, for those who prefer brighter lenses and don’t need as much zoom, the Panasonic LX10 offers better low-light performance at a lower cost.

Grapevine Mustangs Football ZS200 Sample Image — Panasonic ZS200: Grapevine Mustangs HS Football – 24mm, f/6.3, 1/250s, ISO 800

What I liked about the ZS200

The small form factor makes it so it fits into a jacket pocket, or in my case, a compact camera bag I can wear around my belt.
Having a pocketable camera that can go to 300mm (FF-eq) is phenomenal. I recorded my nieces dance recital using this camera. The video came out great.
It uses the same battery as the GX85, GX9, LX100 cameras. Since I own some of these cameras already, it was an appealing feature.
Exposure controls. It has two dials: one command dial and one control ring. I can modify shutter, aperture, and ISO easily. For ISO, I use the Fn1 button to bring it up, then the command dial to modify it.
Macro AF. The image at the top of this article was taken on this camera using the Macro AF capability.
4K photo mode: it may not be a pro camera, but the 4K photo mode makes it easy to capture important moments and pull out 4K images.
Custom modes. The first thing I did was setup a mode for photography and a mode for video. I can easily switch back and forth as I please and don’t have to fiddle with any settings.

What I didn’t like about the ZS200

There’s not much I didn’t like about the ZS200. This camera isn’t a Sony A1 or a Canon R5. It has a 1″ sensor with the traveling photographer in mind. With that said, since I’ve been shooting for several years now, I have developed some preferences when using cameras. So the things I didn’t like are really my nitpicks.

The grip is good, but could be better. I believe this was by design to keep it pocketable.
No dedicated ISO button. Not a big deal as I configured the Fn1 button to ISO.
The control ring function can’t be reversed. When I set the ring to modify ISO, I wanted to reverse the ring direction, but this capability was missing. Seems like it could be easily done with a firmware update.
Images are soft at the telephoto end so you’ll have to do a bit of processing to sharpen the images taken at this focal length.

Conclusion

The ZS200 excels by combining portability, a long zoom, and solid image quality into a travel-friendly package. If you’re looking for a versatile camera that doesn’t break the bank, it’s certainly one to consider. I picked up mine for $500 (used) in 2024.

Panasonic LX-10 review from Las Vegas

May 6, 2024 by OpenFilmmaker 2 Comments

Panasonic LX-10: Atrium at the Mirage — Taken on the Panasonic LX-10. This structure at the Mirage reminded me of the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise from Star Trek.

I feel the need… the need for a 1-inch camera

We recently booked a concert in Las Vegas where Interchangeable Lens Cameras (ILC) were not allowed. At first I thought maybe I could get away with my Olympus PEN E-P7, but I decided not to risk it. I ran into this issue at the Dallas Mavericks game last year where my GX85 wasn’t allowed. This concert did allow point-and-shoots which I wasn’t interested in… until a week before the concert! I figured it’s better to capture some good-quality images, rather than just use my phone. So thus began my last-minute research.

The cameras that I came across were the Sony RX100 VII, Panasonic ZS200 and the Panasonic LX-10. At the time of my research, a pre-owned Panasonic LX-10 is around $500, a new Panasonic ZS200 is $740, and a new Sony RX100 VII is nearly $1400 (prices are after tax).

Camera Model	Panasonic LX-10	Panasonic ZS200	Sony RX100 VII
Price (in May 2024)	$500 (used)	$740 (new) / $600 (used)	$1400 (new)
Zoom Range (FF equiv)	24 – 70mm	24 – 360mm	24 – 200mm
Aperture Range	f/1.4 – f/2.8	f/3.3 – f/6.4	f/2.8 – f/4.5
Date Released	September 2016	May 2018	July 2019

Table showing comparisons between LX-10, ZS200, and RX100 VII.

The RX100 was first on the list, but I couldn’t see myself paying that much for a non-primary camera. At the time of this post (May 2024) a refurbished, full-frame Canon RP is $630. So you can see my hesitation with paying $1400 for a 1-inch sensor camera. The RX100 was eliminated from the list due to its cost.

Next, I explored the idea of a ZS200 due to the focal range and price, but I had a difficult time finding it used. Due to the time and budget constraints, I decided to go with the Panasonic LX-10 from KEH.

With 2-day shipping, the camera arrived the day before our trip to Las Vegas. I took some photos around the neighborhood to get familiar with the camera.

Around the neighborhood (Panasonic LX-10 sample photos)

Now these are random shots around the neighborhood. Not my best work by any means. The goal was to gain confidence using the camera… and after a few hours with it, I felt more comfortable with it.

Panasonic LX-10 Macro Flower — Panasonic LX-10 Macro Leaf

I was pleased with the images and the colors were similar to the GX-85 and GX-9. Now let’s go to Las Vegas!

Shots from Las Vegas (Panasonic LX-10 sample photos)

As soon as we got off the plane in Vegas, I took out my LX-10. You never know when a photo opportunity awaits! Here are some selected photos from the Las Vegas trip, all taken on the Panasonic LX-10 with minimal processing.

Unfortunately, the night before the concert, we got word that it was cancelled due to bad weather. So there’s no concert photos here. That was the main reason I purchased this camera – bummer!

Panasonic LX-10 at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas — Panasonic LX-10. At the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Panasonic LX-10. Tesla Cybertruck was parked outside the Mirage — Panasonic LX-10. Tesla Cybertruck parked at the Mirage. Here it was very bright and I was already at 1/2000s and had to stop down. In hindsight, I wish I had an ND filter so I didn’t have to stop down. I would’ve preferred a bit of background blur here.

Panasonic LX-10. Ferris Wheel seen from Las Vegas Boulevard. — Panasonic LX-10. Ferris wheel seen from Las Vegas Boulevard.

Panasonic LX-10. The Sphere. Taken during our Taxi ride to our hotel. — Panasonic LX-10. The Sphere. Taken during our taxi ride to our hotel. I used the camera’s zoom here to get a better shot of The Sphere. I think that speaks a lot to the cameras ability. I couldn’t have gotten the same quality from my phone.

Panasonic LX-10. The Mirage. — Panasonic LX-10. Taken from The Mirage.

Panasonic LX-10. Testing the low-light capability.

What I liked about the Panasonic LX-10

The Leica lens is great. I got many sharp photos.
The maximum aperture of f/1.4 is helpful on a 1-inch camera that can struggle in low-light situations.
The menu system and the familiar Panasonic menus made it easy to navigate through settings. Even though it was released in 2016, Panasonic has had a great menu system for years.
It’s small! I bought a small USA Gear case with a belt loop and that’s where my LX-10 resided when I walked around the Las Vegas strip. The convenience of not having to change lenses and having the camera readily available is a huge advantage.
It’s better than using my phone due to the zoom and exposure controls.
It allows RAW photos which gives more flexibility in editing.
Dedicated macro AF setting.

What I didn’t like about the Panasonic LX-10

It has two functional ring wheels: one for maximum aperture setting while the other is customizable. The size of the customizable outer ring isn’t practical and I’d accidentally rotate it when adjusting the aperture. After bumping the outer ring several times, I eventually disabled it. If you have an LX-10 or other cameras with this outer ring, please let me know how you use it!
The screen only flips up. It doesn’t flip down! Why did they design it this way?
No dedicated ISO button. Instead, you have to customize one of the existing buttons for ISO.
The aperture ring has two extended areas you can use to rotate the ring. I didn’t find this very comfortable and wished it was easier to rotate.

Summary

They say the best camera is the one you have on you and LX-10’s small-size ensures you can keep this camera with you, yielding more photo opportunities. Despite minor drawbacks like the cumbersome ring dials and lack of a dedicated ISO button, the LX-10 proves to be a reliable companion for capturing spontaneous moments with its fast aperture and RAW capability. Recommended for those seeking a portable camera with excellent image quality and a wide range of shooting options, particularly suited for street photography, close-ups, and scenic landscapes. If you prioritize portability and image quality in a compact package, the Panasonic LX-10 won’t disappoint.

If you’re wanting to use this camera on subjects far away, consider the ZS200’s 360mm or the RX100 VII’s 200mm. The LX-10 seems to be aimed at street, macro, and landscape photography.

If you’d like to see more Las Vegas photos, you can see the full gallery on my Amazon Photos page. Cameras used were the Panasonic GX9, Olympus E-P7, and the Panasonic LX-10. I didn’t spend a lot of time processing, as I edited the images quickly on the return flight back home. Cheers!

Questions and comments

Do you have a question about this camera? Do you have this camera? Let me know in the comments below.

Here’s a video discussing the pros and cons of the Panasonic LX-10

Hey there!

December 3, 2023 by OpenFilmmaker Leave a Comment

I’m Manny, a DFW-local photographer, short-film maker, and family-oriented, Micro-Four Thirds enthusiast. I use website to write about photography, video, and Micro-Four Thirds-related content. If you like any of the articles you see on here, leave me a comment! See you around!

I got scammed by Apple TV+

October 25, 2023 by OpenFilmmaker Leave a Comment

I recently signed-up for a FREE TRIAL for Apple TV+, only to be hit with a charge the next day:

So the first thing that I did was call my credit card company to inform them of the charges. They were concerned about the fraudulent charges and immediately cancelled my credit card! I called Apple the next day and they told me they were legitimate charges!

I have several thoughts about this and here they are in order:

The email receipt showed that I downloaded 2 iPhone apps… well, here’s a big problem: I’ve never owned an iPhone in my life!
The 2nd app has some Chinese characters in the name. Isn’t this a dead give-away that these are scam charges?
When I logged into Apple to view the purchase history, apparently this was a charge from 2017 – SIX YEARS ago!! And why wasn’t a notification sent from Apple – that this was going to happen when I signed up for a FREE TRIAL for Apple TV+ ?
How did Apple even let these charges get into the account if there was no payment type set up at the time?

Even when I explained to Apple support that I never owned an iPhone device nor would I download Chinese apps, the support rep said the best they could do is submit a “request” for a refund. I mean, they were still trying to charge me and put the ownership on ME to get it refunded! LOL

I brought up that now my credit card was cancelled and it’s a huge hassle and the least they could do is provide one free month of Apple TV+. Nope. You think a company scamming me would give me a free $7.00 worth of service? LOL

So there you have it. The Apple TV+ scam. Buyer beware.

Update: I have my new credit card and I got charged for a full-month of Apple TV+. The refund is still pending.