A
common interface design is used for the Lumix LC33 and LC43. In use, the
LCD monitor displays basic camera settings: shooting mode, flash mode,
ISO setting, image size, compression, battery state, and the number of
frames remaining. In addition, the display indicates the AF area with
green brackets, and when focus is achieved, a green dot appears above
the brackets. Moreover, then the image is focused and the camera is ready
to shoot, the display indicates the aperture and shutter speed selected
by the camera; useful for the user should the shutter speed be low, and
the user needs to hold the camera very steadily.
The menu design is also similar. Whether in the Recording mode, or the
Playback mode, an access is provided to the Setup menu of the camera.
Many of the options found there are common to both modes, but more options
are shown in the Recording mode's Setup menu which spread over 3 screens,
than in the Playback's version of the Setup menu which is limited to 2
screens. All the options available in the Setup menus are shown here,
and those from the Recording mode are marked with a red square while those
found in Playback are marked with a green square:
Monitor:
is to adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor.
Auto
Review: sets the image display time after capture (1 or 3 seconds
or Off).
Power
Save: automatically turns off the LC33 (2, 5, 10 min orOff).
Economy:
On or Off. Turns off the LCD monitor after 15 seconds if the camera
isn't used.
Beep:
On or Off. Controls the camera beeps.
No.
Reset: resets file numbering to 0.
Reset:
returns the camera to factory settings.
Clock
Set: to set the time and date on the LC33.
Language:
select either English or Japanese.
Video
Out: NTSC or PAL.
A printed manual is provided with the Panasonic Lumix DM-LC33. The manual
is simple but covers all the camera's functions generally well. Still,
a bit more detail might be desirable for users concerning the shooting
modes, and the Scene modes.
Software
A
single CD-ROM is included with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC43 and LC33 cameras.
The disk contains a software suite from ArcSoft, Panasonic's own
SD Viewer (Windows only), Adobe Acrobat, and Apple's
Quicktime. The USB driver necessary for Windows 98 and Windows 98SE
is also included.
For
Windows:
SD Viewer Version 2.0 for DSC
SD
Viewer instructions [PDF file]
ArcSoft Software Suite
QuickTime 5.0
USB device driver for digital camera
Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0
For
Macintosh:
ArcSoft PhotoImpression
ArcSoft Panorama Maker
ArcSoft PhotoPrinter
ArcSoft PhotoBase
QuickTime 5.0
Panasonic's
SD Viewer (shown at right) is a tool to organize, print, resize,
and view images.
The program can show images and the shooting data. The shooting data is
displayed to the right of the thumbnail but the information the program
provides does not include the focal length used. Images can be resized,
rotated, copied and re-saved, leaving the original file intact, if desired.
For image editing,
the best tool offered is ArcSoft's PhotoImpressions 4. That program allows
a fair amount of control over the image. Adjustment is possible for brightness,
contrast, saturation and hue, amongst others. PhotoImpressions 4 also
supports a type of layering that makes it possible to control specific
parts of an image while leaving others intact and also supports cloning.
PanoramaMaker serves to assemble large panoramic images from a series
of overlapping photos. Images can be assembled horizontally, vertically,
or tiled to create even larger images. Moreover, the program can assemble
a series of photos captured in a full circle (360°) and these can
be assembled together to form a 360° image.
