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Gail's Panasonic FZ18 Blog
My Picture Adjust Settings
I'm frequently asked about my picture adjust settings. They are:
- Contrast -2
- Sharpness -1
- Saturation +1
- Noise Reduction -2
I choose these settings because I want to have more control how these parameters are applied to my photos, rather than leave it up to the camera.
Sharpening
I turn sharpening down because I want to control the degree of sharpening in a photo. Sometimes I selectively sharpen parts of an image. If I the camera oversharpens an image, it can not be undone. However, for those who do not edit photos, they may want to bump up sharpening.
Noise Reduction
My thinking is the same for Noise Reduction. In-camera noise reduction can smear detail, especially in Panasonic cameras. I prefer to do the noise reduction when necessary and use the free version of Neat Image.
Contrast
I reduce the contrast setting because I take most of my photos outside in bright sun. By reducing contrast, my goal is to minimize blown highlights, though proper exposure plays an even more important role in controlling blown highlights.
Saturaton
I increase saturation a tad because I'm so used to Canon cameras that produce much more saturated colors. This is just a personal preference and not as important to me as the settings mentioned above. It's important not to increase satuaration to the point that light skin tones don't look too red, especially when taking flash photos.
Experiment
It's important to understand that these settings my not be appropriate for everyone, particularly those who do not like to edit their photos. So experiment until you find a picture adjust combination that works best for you.
