Treating the Lumix jpg file with Lightroom :: PYKtures tricks

Lumix cameras are the pioneers of compact camera technology. They started with designs and philosophies inspired by Leica and have today’s most effective optical stabilization and intelligent auto mode (a scene recognition mode). Though they current rock at the top spot, only one major flaw prevents them to be perfect: noise.


Now there is a way to treat such an issue with the power of post processing and I will show you how in this blog article.

1- Open Lightroom
2- Go into develop mode (D)
3- Go to the noise reduction tab
4- Reduce color noise to the max
5- Edit the jpg

When processing Lumix files, please notice that the “extensibility” of the file is very limited. Thus if you start seeing pixilation, it’s best to stop or find another way to get where you want (probably by reducing luminance noise… then again that would also dramatically reduce detail and sharpness).

Also, it is crucial that you only work from ISO 80-400 (ISO 400 is near limit). The ISO 800 files are untouchable (the ISO 1600 files, unless the BW film grain mode is used, are of no man’s land). Because Lumix files are mostly jpg, it is best to nail the white balance before the shot.

It is also best indoors that you DO NOT ZOOM with the FH20, to use the high aperture (low F number) to suck in the biggest amount of light possible. Only then can you achieve my results.