Panasonic announced new LX5 firmware

13 years ago
Categories: Leica D-Lux
Tags: Leica firmware

Today Panasonic announced new firmware for their LX5 camera The main improvements are:

Improved AF performance (up to 23% faster on the wide-end)
New high ISO NR mode
Improved auto white balance
Active mode (Power O.I.S)
New miniature mode effect
Shutter speed limit extended to 250sec
Improved shutter operation

I expect that Leica will release a similar firmware update for their D-Lux 5 model in the next few months.

Press release

Panasonic Updates Firmware of DMC-LX5 to Enhance Its Performance with a Functional Upgrades and Improvements

A new firmware will be released for the LUMIX premium manual compact digital camera DMC-LX5. The firmware version 2.0 improves the camera’s performance and upgrades the various functions while enhancing the usability.

The redesigned algorithm makes it possible to speed up the AF time by reducing it approx. 23% at wide-end, which is the fastest level of speed in class. The High ISO NR (Noise Reduction) mode is newly added for offering deliberate noise reduction specially to the images shot at high ISO1600 / 3200 sensitivity. The performance of auto white balance adjustment is improved in low light situations.

For functional upgrades, the Active mode is integrated to its effective handshake correction system POWER O.I.S. to help users to shoot stable video even while walking. The Popular Miniature Effect mode is added to the My Color mode which can be applied to both photo and video. The conventional 60 second of shutter speed limit is now extended to max. 250 second for shooting fireworks, night scenery or astrograph.

In pursuit of operability, shutter operation is improved so that the continuous focusing with half-shutter and shooting with full shutter is realized as is available in the system cameras. The combination use of AF / MF is now easier even in situations where severe focusing accuracy is demanded. The size and the location of focusing area once set can be resumed which is convenient for shooting using a tripod. Now the brightness, contrast / saturation and red / blue tint of the LCD monitor / the External Live Viewfinder (optional) is adjusted manually to reproduce the color setting more true to the user’s intention on the monitor.

Panasonic invites all users of DMC-LX5 to apply the updated firmware. The new firmware will be available worldwide at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/, at GMT 5:00 on 13th of September, 2011.