Panasonic DMC-FZ2 User Manual

Recording images (advanced)

Taking Pictures with the Sports Mode

When you take photos of outdoor sports, this mode allows you to capture a still action photo

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• [AUTO] setting in [W.BALANCE] works best when recording outdoors in the daytime. When using indoors, the colour balance can change. You can change the white balance setting. (P60)

• Sport Mode sets the camera to use a high shutter speed. It works best when used in very brightly illuminated situations. To enhance this feature, try following the action with the camera.

easily. Please note that this mode is suitable to take photos of the subject from distances of more than 5 m and in daylight situations.

1 Set the mode dial to Sports mode [ ]. 2 Take a picture.

Recording images (advanced)

Taking Pictures with the Panning Mode

Panning is a technique of moving the camera

while tracking a subject in motion. Using a slower shutter speed when tracking a subject, you can sharply photograph a subject in motion while blurring the background. In the very bright summer daylight, if the shutter speed can not be set slower enough to blur the background, please use the ND filter (DMW-LND55, optional). (P65) Please try to use the prefocus technique to reduce the time for focusing while shooting a fast moving subject. (P41)

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1 Set the mode dial to Panning mode

[].

2 Take a picture.

1 Move the camera smoothly while tracking a subject in motion. 2 Press the shutter button while moving the camera. 3 Keep moving the camera continuously.

It is difficult to adjust the focus when the subject comes in to the shot. Adjust the focus in advance at the point where the photo is to be taken.

• Set the AF trigger to [FOCUS] and you can fix the focus even if you press the shutter button halfway. (P41)

• [AUTO] setting in [W.BALANCE] works best when recording outdoors in the daytime. When using indoors, the colour balance can change. You can change the white balance setting. (P60)

• The stabilizer function is effective only when taking a picture horizontally moving the camera from side to side.

Recording images (advanced)

Taking Pictures with the Night Portrait Mode

The Night Portrait mode combines the electronic flash with a “slow shutter” mode.

This unique feature allows you to photograph close subjects against the natural night background. Since the shutter speed is slow, we highly recommend using a tripod to steady the camera. The subject should be positioned within the available flash range. (When setting to ISO100, about 30 cm – 2.1 m) We recommend you to set the zoom lever towards W.

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1 Press [ OPEN] button to open the

flash.

2 Set the mode dial to Night portrait

mode [ ].

3 Take a picture.

When taking picture of only a landscape at night

• You can obtain a good picture of a nightscape (including no other subjects) by closing the flash.

• The shutter speed is about 8 seconds.

• Be sure to close the flash when you do not use the flash.

• Flash setting is fixed to Slow sync./Red-eye reduction [ ].

• White balance is set to [AUTO] in the default position. You can change the setting. (P60)

• The shutter may be kept closed (Max: about 8 seconds) after taking a picture with slow shutter speed, but it is not a malfunction.

• When taking a picture in a dark place, the noise may appear. To avoid the noise, we recommend you to set the picture adjustment to [NATURAL]. (P59)

Recording images (advanced)

Taking Pictures with the Spot Mode

When this mode is selected, both the focus

and the exposure will be adjusted to spot on a limited area. This is suitable when you take pictures in delicate light conditions and intend to take a picture of a specific area.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1,4

2,3

1 Press the [MENU] button. 2 Press 3/4 to select [SPOT MODE]. 3 Press 1 to set to [ON].

2,3

REC

SPOT MODE

SENSITIVITY AUDIO REC.

C-AF

CONT.AF

SELECT

SETUP

OFF ON

SET

EXIT

AUTO OFF OFF

4 Press the [MENU] button.

• The menu will disappear.

• The spot AF area 1 and spot metering target 2 appear.

5 Centre the subject in the spot AF

area.

6 Take a picture.

• When the subject is dark, the focus may not be adjusted properly.

• Surroundings become dark or whitish depending on the subject to set to appropriate exposure in the spot AF area.

• If the subject is out of the spot AF area, use the AF/AE lock. (P57)

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Recording images (advanced)

Compensating the Exposure

In some situations the illumination of the background and your subject may differ. Auto exposure systems may not always calculate the proper exposure correctly. This is a normal situation. This feature allows you to manually compensate the exposure.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1 Press 3 until [ EXPOSURE] is

selected.

2 Press 2/1 to compensate the

exposure.

• You can compensate from j2 EV to i2 EV with 1/3 EV step.

(EV is an abbreviation of Exposure Value, and it is the amount of light given to the CCD by the aperture value and the shutter speed)

3 Press the 4/[REVIEW/SET] button.

• The adjustment display will disappear.

• The exposure compensation indication 1 will appear.

4 Take a picture.

SELECT

1,2,3

EXPOSURE

EXIT

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• Depending on brightness of the subject, the range for which it is possible to compensate the exposure will be limited.

Recording images (advanced)

Taking Pictures with Auto (AE) Bracket

Pressing the shutter button once, the camera will automatically take 3 pictures changing exposure according to the set exposure compensation value.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1 Press 3 until [ AUTO BRACKET]

is selected.

2 Press 1, then press 2/1 to set the

exposure compensation range.

•OFF

• n1/3EV

• n2/3EV

• n1EV

3 Press the 4/[REVIEW/SET] button.

• The adjustment display will disappear.

• The auto bracket indication 1 appears.

4 Take a picture.

SELECT

1,2,3

AUTO BRACKET

EXIT

• Once you take a picture, auto bracket will be cancelled automatically.

• When flash fires, you can take only 1 picture. Auto bracket setting cannot be cancelled.

• The digital zoom magnification is limited to 2 times.

• When setting auto bracket, you cannot take a still picture with audio.

• When setting auto bracket and the burst mode simultaneously, auto bracket will be performed.

• Depending on the brightness of the subject, the range for which it is possible to compensate the exposure pictures using auto bracket will be limited.

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Recording images (advanced)

Using the AF/AE Lock

If the subject is out of the AF area and you press the shutter button, the subject’s focus is not adjusted. After locking focus and

1,2

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F2.8 1/25

exposure (AF/AE lock), you can take a clear picture with adjusted focus. AF: Auto focus AE: Auto exposure

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except []. (P27)

1 Aim the camera at the subject on

which you want to adjust the focus to enter the AF area 2 on the LCD monitor/Viewfinder and then keep pressing the shutter button halfway (AF/AE lock).

• When the focus is adjusted, the focus

indication 1 [¥] appears.

2 Move the camera keeping the chosen

composition and press the shutter button all the way.

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• Before pressing the shutter button, you can set the AF/AE lock again and again.

Recording images (advanced)

Using the Colour Effect

This function makes it possible to use colour effect on pictures, such as bluish, reddish, and black and white.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1 Press the [MENU] button. 2 Press 3/4 to select [COL.EFFECT]. 3 Press 2/1 to select [OFF], [COOL],

1,4

2,3

REC

AF TRIGGER D.ZOOM

COL.EFFECT

PICT.ADJ.

SELECT

COOL

2,3

COOL WARM

OFF

SET

SETUP

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OFF

B/W

STANDARD

EXIT

[WARM] or [B/W].

• [COOL]: The picture becomes bluish.

• [WARM]: The picture becomes reddish.

• [B/W]: The picture becomes black

4 Press the [MENU] button.

• The menu will disappear.

•The indication [//] 1

will appear.

• When using the colour effect mode, you cannot adjust the white balance.

and white.

COOL WARM

B/W

Recording images (advanced)

Adjusting the Colour Tone or the Contrast (Picture Adjustment)

This function enables you to adjust the colour tone or the contrast.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1 Press the [MENU] button.

1,4

2,3

REC

AF TRIGGER D.ZOOM COL.EFFECT

PICT.ADJ.

SELECT

2,3

SETUP

OFF OFF

NATURAL STANDARD

EXIT

SET

2 Press 3/4 to select [PICT.ADJ.]. 3 Press 2/1 to select [NATURAL],

[STANDARD] or [VIVID].

• [NATURAL]: The picture becomes soft.

• [VIVID]: The picture becomes sharp.

4 Press the [MENU] button.

• The menu will disappear.

• When taking a picture in a dark place, the noise may appear. To avoid the noise, we recommend you to set the picture adjustment to [NATURAL].

Recording images (advanced)

Setting the White Balance

Auto White Balance is designed to automatically adjust the camera to produce natural flesh tones. In most situations it works fine. In some situations where several different types of lighting are present, enhanced performance can be achieved by setting the white balance manually.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1,4

2,3

1 Press the [MENU] button. 2 Press 3/4 to select [W.BALANCE]. 3 Press 2/1 to select the mode.

2,3

REC

W.BALANCE

AE MODE PICT.SIZE QUALITY

SELECT

AUTO

SET

SETUP

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EXIT

• [AUTO]: if the auto white balance is set

• [ ] (Daylight): for recording outdoors on a bright day

• [ ] (Cloudy): for recording under cloudy and shady sky

• [ ] (Halogen): for recording under halogen lighting

• [ ] (White set): for manual setting (Read the following page where the manual setting is explained in detail)

4 Press the [MENU] button.

• The menu will disappear.

• In simple mode [ ] or motion image mode [ ], the white balance is fixed to [AUTO].

• The setting of the white balance is applied to the other recording modes.

• When taking a picture with the flash, the white balance will be automatically adjusted (only when in [AUTO], halogen mode [ ]), but the white balance may not be properly adjusted when the flash light is insufficient.

1,6

2,3,4

2,3

SET

SETUP

EXIT

REC

W.BALANCE

AUTO

AE MODE PICT.SIZE QUALITY

SELECT

WHITE SET

AIM THE CAMERA AT A WHITE SURFACE AND PRESS THE SHUTTER

CANCEL

Recording images (advanced)

ª To set manually (White set)

Here the white set mode of white balance is explained.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1 Press the [MENU] button. 2 Press 3/4 to select [W.BALANCE]. 3 Press 1 to set to white set [ ].

Only when setting the white balance again

4 Press 1.

5 Aim the camera at a white paper 1 or

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6 Press the [MENU] button.

• When taking a picture with the flash after setting the white balance manually, the white balance may not be properly adjusted. We recommend to set the white balance to

[AUTO] when using the flash.

• The message “AIM THE CAMERA AT A WHITE SURFACE AND PRESS THE SHUTTER” is displayed.

similar objects so that it completely fills the frame to white on the screen and press the shutter button all the way.

• White balance is set.

• The menu will disappear.

Recording images (advanced)

Finely Adjusting the White Balance

If you cannot acquire the desirable hue with

[W.BALANCE] because of different light sources, etc., adjust the fine white balance as follows.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

• Set the white balance to [ ]/[ ]/[ ]/ [].

RED BLUE

SELECT

1,2,3

WB ADJUST.

EXIT

1 Press 3 until [ WB ADJUST.] is

selected.

2 Adjust the white balance with 2/1.

1 [BLUE]: Press when the hue is

reddish.

2 [RED]: Press when the hue is

bluish.

3 Press the 4/[REVIEW/SET] button.

• The adjustment display will disappear.

• The colour of the white balance icon is turned into red or blue.

4 Take a picture.

• When you set the white balance by the white set mode [ ], the adjustment level is set to 0.

• You can set the value independently for each of the modes in [W.BALANCE].

• When using the colour effect mode, you cannot adjust the white balance.

Recording images (advanced)

Setting ISO Sensitivity

ISO sensitivity is a value that corresponds to the sensitivity to light. The higher it is, the better the camera performs in dark places.

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except [ ]/[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

1 Press the [MENU] button. 2 Press 3/4 to select [SENSITIVITY].

1,4

2,3

REC

SPOT MODE

SENSITIVITY

AUTO

AUDIO REC.

C-AF

CONT.AF

SELECT SET

2,3

SETUP

OFF

50 100 200 400

OFF OFF

EXIT

3 Press 2/1 to select the sensitivity.

• [AUTO]: From ISO50 to 400 (From

• [50]: ISO50

• [100]: ISO100

• [200]: ISO200

• [400]: ISO400

4 Press the [MENU] button.

• The menu will disappear.

ISO100 to 200 when using the flash) The ISO sensitivity is automatically adjusted. If your picture is still too dark, please use the flash.

• In motion image mode [ ] or simple mode [ ], ISO sensitivity is fixed to [AUTO].

• When you take a picture in high ISO sensitivity, the picture noise appears and the picture quality deteriorates.

Recording images (advanced)

Taking Pictures with Burst Mode

By continuously pressing the shutter button, it is possible to record in burst mode.

Number of recordable

Burst speed

pictures

4 frames/

second

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to any position except

2 frames/

second

[ ]/[ ]. (P27)

Max

4 frames

Max

4 frames

1 Press [ ].

• Every time you press it, what is displayed changes as shown below.

: High speed

: Low speed

When these indicators are not displayed, burst mode is cancelled.

2 Press the shutter button halfway to

lock the focus, then press it fully to take pictures in sequence.

• It is possible to record 4 frames in 1 second in burst mode, at a shutter speed higher than 1/60th, but the flash does not fire simultaneously.

• If the flash fires, it is possible to record only 1frame.

• In simple mode [ ], the shutter speed is fixed to the low speed.

• You cannot take still pictures with audio in the burst mode.

• When setting auto bracket and the burst mode simultaneously, auto bracket will be performed.

Max

7 frames

Max

7 frames

OFF

Recording images (advanced)

Using the MC Protector/ND Filter

The MC protector (DMW-LMC55; optional) neither affects the colours nor the amount of

light, so it can always be left attached to protect the Digital Camera’s lens. The ND filter (DMW-LND55; optional) reduces the amount of light to approximately 1/8th without affecting the colour balance.

[Preparation]

• Check that the camera switch is set to [OFF] and the lens barrel is fully retracted.

• Close the flash. (P39)

1 Remove the lens ring. 2 Attach the lens hood adapter 1. 3 Install the MC protector 2 or the ND

filter 3.

• The lens hood 4 and lens cap 5 can be attached when installing the MC protector or ND filter.

• When taking pictures with the flash using the MC protector/ND filter, the vignetting effect may occur.

• Do not use the conversion lens. If it is used with the supplied lens hood adapter, it may break.

Playback

Playing Back Still Pictures

1 Set the mode dial to playback [ ].

• The last recorded picture is played back.

2 Press 2 to play back the previous

picture. Press 1 to play back the following picture.

• Every time you press 2/1, the previous (next) picture is played back.

• The picture following the last one is the first picture.

ª Fast forwarding/Fast rewinding

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10:00 11.

• This camera is based on the DCF standards (Design rule for Camera File system) which were established by JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association).

• The file format that can be played back with this camera is JPEG. (Some JPEG pictures may not be compatible with this camera.)

• When playing back still pictures that have been recorded with other equipment, the quality of pictures may be deteriorated and pictures may not be able to be played back.

• When changing the folder name or file name on PC, the pictures may not be able to be played back.

• When playing back a file out of standard, the folder/file number is indicated by [-] and the screen may become black.

AUG

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During playback, continue pressing 2/1.

1: Fast forward 2: Fast rewind

• The file number increases/decreases. When

releasing 2/1, the picture corresponding to the current file number is displayed.

Playback

Playing Back Still Pictures with Audio

1 Set the mode dial to playback [ ].

2,6

PLAY AUDIO

2,3

3,4,5

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2 Press 2/1 to select the file with

audio icon [ ] 2.

3 Press the 4/[REVIEW/SET] button to

play back the audio.

• You can hear audio from the speaker

ª To adjust the sound volume A

Set the mode dial to playback [ ].

Press the [MENU] button.

Press 1 to select the [SETUP] menu.

Press 3/4 to select [VOLUME].

Press 2/1 to adjust the sound volume.

Press the [MENU] button.

• The menu will disappear.

10:00 11.

PLAY

MONITOR

VOLUME

BEEP

POWER SAVE

SELECT SET

AUG

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SETUP

2MIN.

EXIT

Playback

9 Images Multi Playback

It is possible to display 9 images at once.

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

SELECT

13 14

CANCEL

11 12

[Preparation]

• Set the mode dial to playback [ ]. (P27)

1 During playback, rotate the zoom

lever towards [ ].

• Multi playback (9 frames) starts.

2 Press 3/4/2/1 to select images.

• To return to the normal indication, rotate the zoom lever towards [ ]. The image with the file number coloured in yellow is displayed.

SELECT

CANCEL

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