Processing time on longer exposures

[-Tom-]

Ever since I got my first Lumix I had to deal with "wait for it" screen after taking a longer exposure pic...just wondering - why?

If I make a 30 second exposure pic - why do I have to wait additional 30 seconds more to get the preview of the pic? And also, is there a way to cancel the process, other than shutting the camera off?

 

[daihard]

Its because its processing the noise from the image. Usually, it takes the same amount *exposure time/s = processing time/s*. (20sec exposure = 20sec processing) for most cameras.
I had a LX5 a while back, and I know panasonic does a good job with "menu" features. Maybe you can turn off the lowlight/noise image processing within the menu.
Other factors can affect this as well. Shooting in RAW, a fast Memory card, loads of darks (landscape) vs. lights (city).
Most pocket shooters build in this "low light" processing, its sorta unavoidable at this level of camera.
No way to cancel this, without a battery pull... unless the camera provides this option (which obviously the LX doesn't).

 

[-Tom-]

Would it be any different if I used another SD card (using Transcend 32 GB Class 10 SDHC)

 

[ErikTande]

I believe you can turn the Long Exposure NR (noise reduction) off in the menu, which will keep it from doing that. You'll get noisier pics though.