Panasonic Lumix LC33K

LifeWorld · 18th January 2004

After months of hesitations, I bought this small and good looking camera Lumix LC33K.

Compared to LC20K, the LC33K is very fast. Quite like film camera. Oh it could shoot in unlimited movie mode too. Though at 10fps, it seems acceptable to me.

Any LC33K owners in this forum?

LifeWorld · 19th January 2004

Sample shot by DMC-LC33K. Look at avatar!
8s night shot.

Brucie · 20th January 2004

Very Nice Photo!! Im im lookin got buy this camera for my wife, do you recommend it.. also how much did you pay for it, did you get and free gifts etc?

Best regards

eric69 · 20th January 2004

TCW.

Seem abit too much in-camera sharpening. But lovely shot. I like it.

jlpk007 · 20th January 2004

Originally Posted by LifeWorld

Sample shot by DMC-LC33K. Photo not enhanced!
Indoor shot in Macro mode using tripod. No flash used.
Light source: Ceiling Fluorescent 40watt.

View it:

http://www.pbase.com/image/25286533

u so fast sian of ur LC20???? ....me intend to get FZ10....have to work hard and save first....now economy no good...so must plan properly....

LifeWorld · 20th January 2004

Well, this camera can set to 'simple' mode and 'normal picture' mode. In simple mode, the menu is simple and it's a point and shoot camera for anyone including amateur and children. The normal picture mode allows adjusting the colour tone or contrast + quite a number of features like auto bracketing, manual WB, spot metering, scene selection and mega burst mode, etc.. Best of all has very little shutter lag between shots! And it's cheap, made in Japan some more.

MScolor equoted $365 with original case.
CP offered $440 with original case.
I bot at IQ (Courts) in Funan for $453 X 8% discount = $417 with original case, mini tripod, lens cleaner, and extra 32mb SD card.

*********
The pic was taken with auto setting except set in 'Macro' mode. There's a 'Natural' mode which would soften the pic.

**********
I am not 'sianz' with LC20K yet. Just this LC33K attracted me! FZ10 not bad too, except big la. Can't carry it daily like my LC20K or LC33K! Perhaps get it later....when I am expert or price dropped.

Mac2004 · 21st January 2004

Just bought mine for $360 plus GST and original lumix LC33 bag, im really impressed with build quality, packaging. manuals etc. Will use this as a fun camera, tried to take indoor pics, was not so impressed, but then i better learn how to use camera first by reading the manual!

Any tips would be much appreciated to fully utilize this little black gem!

Marx · 21st January 2004

Originally Posted by Mac2004

Just bought mine for $360 plus GST and original lumix LC33 bag, im really impressed with build quality, packaging. manuals etc. Will use this as a fun camera, tried to take indoor pics, was not so impressed, but then i better learn how to use camera first by reading the manual!

Any tips would be much appreciated to fully utilize this little black gem!

Hi Mac2004,

Where did you buy your LC33 and does it come with freebies also?

Thks.

LifeWorld · 21st January 2004

mac2004 got a good price for it!!!

Mac2004 · 23rd January 2004

I have been trying the LC33 for past couple of days, and realise the camera over sharpens the pics, and suggestions on the best settings for the camera to get the best out of it,

LifeWorld · 23rd January 2004

Originally Posted by Mac2004

I have been trying the LC33 for past couple of days, and realise the camera over sharpens the pics, and suggestions on the best settings for the camera to get the best out of it,

Most people wish their camera could take sharp pic, perhaps you can try shaking the camera while you press the shuttle!!! Just kidding.......

I too find the camera takes very sharp pic. Too sharp!

Page 47 of the manual show you how to soften the pic by setting the picture adjustment to 'natural'.

LifeWorld · 30th January 2004

Originally Posted by Mac2004

I have been trying the LC33 for past couple of days, and realise the camera over sharpens the pics, and suggestions on the best settings for the camera to get the best out of it,

MAC2004,
Are you still 'playing' with this superb camera? Or dump it liao?
Share some of your findings leh!

mfo · 16th February 2004

i just got one too... what annoys me is that the camera can't throttle down it's flash, it'll use F2.8 in close-ups with flash on... it wont turn down the intensity, or use higher f-stops... so it'll just come out too bright... my solution was to put a piece of masking tape on the front of the flash, limits the range of the flash a bit, but i can boost it to ISO100 to get a longer range...

another complain is the noise reduction feature... not the hot pixels from longer exposures, but from ISO... it makes the pictures look very artificial at full resolution...

also, it takes soft focus in dimly lit areas, i guess i cant expect too much without an AF-assist lamp....

overall the camera is pretty good, i just got this camera to bring around everywhere i go, so i dont have to wield my uzi(oly c2100uz) around, and the fact that the camera uses AA batteries is pretty nifty too... planning to get a bigger better camera anyways... so...

another thing that pissed me off is that the Panasonic FX1 came out a week after i bought this camera..... the OIS in the FX1 would be just so handy (i'm a firm believer in IS systems)...

LifeWorld · 16th February 2004

Hi mfo,
By reducing the exposure compensation (EV). I could control the light intensity. Likewise, you may boost the flash range by increasing it(EV).

For noise reduction, i think it kicks in at certain exposure time. Not too sure the exact timing! i think it's 1/25 or slower. When I print the night shot (8s), it (4R) looks okay to me.

With EV control in night mode, you could set the camera to shoot in 8s, 4s, 2s, and 1s night shot!

Not sure of soft focus in dimly lit areas, perhaps try to set the picture adjustment to vivid!

Like you, I bring this camera whenever I go. Just snap snap snap! I could keep it, with case, in my pant's pocket. But I put it in my backpack la.

3X zoom doesn't matter whether got IS or not. Of course with it is better la. Good for those hands that always shake! So far when zoomed to 3X, pic still sharp le! I find the size is just right. Not too small or big!

Hope you could experiment and let me know your result, if any.
Overall this is a good and cheap camera.

mfo · 17th February 2004

Originally Posted by LifeWorld

By reducing the exposure compensation (EV). I could control the light intensity. Likewise, you may boost the flash range by increasing it(EV).

the exposure compensation just shortens the shutter speed, doesnt alter the flash intensity, nor does it increase the f-stop.... so that doesnt help, a lot of objects 20~30cm away still shows up too bright, and this is using the natural mode as well, so its not the contrast set too high...

even at like a distance of 60~70 cm away from an object the flash could just wash out the obejcts... like the example below, with tape, and without tape.. not exactly a fair comparison, cause the distances arent exactly the same...

w/o tape on the flash

w tape

its much better with the tape on... but i've just realized how much range i loose out with the tape... a bit too much... damn...

LifeWorld · 17th February 2004

mfo,
A sub $400 camera doesn't allow to control 'flash intensity'. Have you come across any that does?
What about trying forced flash off, and with proper room's lighting? I managed to take good shot this way using tripod.

mfo · 17th February 2004

Originally Posted by LifeWorld

mfo,
A sub $400 camera doesn't allow to control 'flash intensity'. Have you come across any that does?
What about trying forced flash off, and with proper room's lighting? I managed to take good shot this way using tripod.

not manual flash intensity control, but the camera could automatically compensate right... it is a point and shoot...

yeah i could force the flash off, but its gonna be my carry-around camera, im not gonna have a tripod handy all the time... im just a bit miffed cause i plan to use the flash a lot on this camera, u know take random photos when im around with friends or something and in a situation where i gotta use the flash to take a sharp pciture....

but considering the price, the camera is very good

.... very sharp pictures, good color saturation, fast smooth LCD viewfinder, decent movie mode...

18th January 2004	#1
LifeWorld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,318	Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC33K After months of hesitations, I bought this small and good looking camera Lumix LC33K. Compared to LC20K, the LC33K is very fast. Quite like film camera. Oh it could shoot in unlimited movie mode too. Though at 10fps, it seems acceptable to me. Any LC33K owners in this forum? Last edited by LifeWorld; 30th January 2004 at 12:07 PM.

19th January 2004	#2
LifeWorld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,318	Sample shot by DMC-LC33K. Look at avatar! 8s night shot. Last edited by LifeWorld; 16th February 2004 at 01:03 PM.

20th January 2004	#6
LifeWorld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,318	Well, this camera can set to 'simple' mode and 'normal picture' mode. In simple mode, the menu is simple and it's a point and shoot camera for anyone including amateur and children. The normal picture mode allows adjusting the colour tone or contrast + quite a number of features like auto bracketing, manual WB, spot metering, scene selection and mega burst mode, etc.. Best of all has very little shutter lag between shots! And it's cheap, made in Japan some more. MScolor equoted $365 with original case. CP offered $440 with original case. I bot at IQ (Courts) in Funan for $453 X 8% discount = $417 with original case, mini tripod, lens cleaner, and extra 32mb SD card. ******* The pic was taken with auto setting except set in 'Macro' mode. There's a 'Natural' mode which would soften the pic. ******** I am not 'sianz' with LC20K yet. Just this LC33K attracted me! FZ10 not bad too, except big la. Can't carry it daily like my LC20K or LC33K! Perhaps get it later....when I am expert or price dropped. Last edited by LifeWorld; 21st January 2004 at 07:12 AM.

21st January 2004	#9
LifeWorld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,318	mac2004 got a good price for it!!! Last edited by LifeWorld; 31st January 2004 at 08:36 AM.

16th February 2004	#13
mfo New Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 38	i just got one too... what annoys me is that the camera can't throttle down it's flash, it'll use F2.8 in close-ups with flash on... it wont turn down the intensity, or use higher f-stops... so it'll just come out too bright... my solution was to put a piece of masking tape on the front of the flash, limits the range of the flash a bit, but i can boost it to ISO100 to get a longer range... another complain is the noise reduction feature... not the hot pixels from longer exposures, but from ISO... it makes the pictures look very artificial at full resolution... also, it takes soft focus in dimly lit areas, i guess i cant expect too much without an AF-assist lamp.... overall the camera is pretty good, i just got this camera to bring around everywhere i go, so i dont have to wield my uzi(oly c2100uz) around, and the fact that the camera uses AA batteries is pretty nifty too... planning to get a bigger better camera anyways... so... another thing that pissed me off is that the Panasonic FX1 came out a week after i bought this camera..... the OIS in the FX1 would be just so handy (i'm a firm believer in IS systems)... Last edited by mfo; 16th February 2004 at 04:48 PM.

20th January 2004	#3
Brucie New Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 40	Very Nice Photo!! Im im lookin got buy this camera for my wife, do you recommend it.. also how much did you pay for it, did you get and free gifts etc? Best regards

20th January 2004	#4
eric69 Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Global Village Posts: 444	TCW. Seem abit too much in-camera sharpening. But lovely shot. I like it.

21st January 2004	#7
Mac2004 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 63	Just bought mine for $360 plus GST and original lumix LC33 bag, im really impressed with build quality, packaging. manuals etc. Will use this as a fun camera, tried to take indoor pics, was not so impressed, but then i better learn how to use camera first by reading the manual! Any tips would be much appreciated to fully utilize this little black gem!

23rd January 2004	#10
Mac2004 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 63	I have been trying the LC33 for past couple of days, and realise the camera over sharpens the pics, and suggestions on the best settings for the camera to get the best out of it,

16th February 2004	#14
LifeWorld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,318	Welcome to the world of Lumix Hi mfo, By reducing the exposure compensation (EV). I could control the light intensity. Likewise, you may boost the flash range by increasing it(EV). For noise reduction, i think it kicks in at certain exposure time. Not too sure the exact timing! i think it's 1/25 or slower. When I print the night shot (8s), it (4R) looks okay to me. With EV control in night mode, you could set the camera to shoot in 8s, 4s, 2s, and 1s night shot! Not sure of soft focus in dimly lit areas, perhaps try to set the picture adjustment to vivid! Like you, I bring this camera whenever I go. Just snap snap snap! I could keep it, with case, in my pant's pocket. But I put it in my backpack la. 3X zoom doesn't matter whether got IS or not. Of course with it is better la. Good for those hands that always shake! So far when zoomed to 3X, pic still sharp le! I find the size is just right. Not too small or big! Hope you could experiment and let me know your result, if any. Overall this is a good and cheap camera. Last edited by LifeWorld; 17th February 2004 at 12:08 AM.

17th February 2004	#16
LifeWorld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,318	mfo, A sub $400 camera doesn't allow to control 'flash intensity'. Have you come across any that does? What about trying forced flash off, and with proper room's lighting? I managed to take good shot this way using tripod. Last edited by LifeWorld; 17th February 2004 at 11:37 AM.