Panasonic Digital Camera Dmc L1k Operating Instructions

							Advanced
51VQT0W82
 Hold the camera gently with both hands, 
keep your arms still at your side and stand 
with your feet slightly apart.
 Make sure the camera does not shake 
when you press the shutter button.
 Do not cover the AF assist lamp, IR 
sensor etc. with your fingers or other 
objects.
 If the LCD monitor screen is difficult to see 
because of light from the sun etc. shining 
on it, we recommend using your hand or 
another object to block the light when 
using the camera.
 When holding the camera vertically, hold it 
with the AF assist lamp A at the top of the 
camera.
Press [DISPLAY] to switch the 
monitor screen.
A: [DISPLAY] button
B: LCD monitor
 The [DISPLAY] button is not activated 
when the menu screen is displayed.
 You can set the information to display 
on the LCD monitor. (P87)C:Normal display
D: Display with histogram
E: No display (Recording guide line 1)
F: No display (Recording guide line 2)
G: No display
¢Histogram
∫Recording guide lines display
When you align the subject on the 
horizontal and vertical guide lines or the 
cross point of these lines, you can take 
pictures with well-designed composition by 
viewing the size, the slope and the balance 
of the subject.
Guide line 1
Tips for taking good pictures with 
Live View
Changing the Information 
Displayed
A
A
B
STDSTD1919
ISOISO100100F5.6F5.6125125P
STDSTD1919
ISOISO100100F5.6F5.6125125PC
D
EFG 
						

							Advanced
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∫Histogram
A histogram is a graph that displays 
brightness along the horizontal axis (black 
to white) and the number of pixels at each 
brightness level on the vertical axis.
It allows you to easily check a picture’s 
exposure.
1When the values are distributed evenly, 
the exposure is proper and the 
brightness is well-balanced.
2When the values are concentrated on 
the left, the picture is under exposed.
3When the values are concentrated on 
the right, the picture is over exposed.
Examples of histogram
AProperly Exposed
BUnder Exposed
COver Exposed
¢Histogram
 When the recorded picture and the 
histogram do not match each other 
under the following conditions, the 
histogram is displayed in orange.
– When the flash is activated.
– When the flash is closed.
1When the brightness of the LCD 
monitor is not correctly displayed in 
dark places.
2When the exposure is not 
adequately adjusted.
 The histogram is an approximation in 
recording mode.
 The histogram of a picture may not match 
in recording mode and playback mode.
 The histogram displayed in this camera 
does not match histograms displayed by 
picture editing software used in PCs etc.
 Check for any white saturated areas with 
the highlight feature when the auto review 
function is activated. (P29)
ISOISO100100F2.8F2.8100100P
ISOISO100100F2.8F2.8200200P
ISOISO100100F2.8F2.85050P
STDSTD1919
STDSTD1919
STDSTD1919
A
B
C2 1
2 2
2 3 
						

							Advanced
53VQT0W82
The LCD monitor becomes easier to see 
when recording a picture with the camera 
held high above your head if the camera is 
held as shown in the following illustration.
This is useful when you cannot get close to 
the subject because there is a person in the 
way.
 Press [DISPLAY] A for 1 second.
CHigh angle mode icon If you press [DISPLAY] for 1 second, 
high angle mode is activated. The LCD 
monitor B becomes brighter and easier 
to see when the camera is held away 
from you. (However it becomes more 
difficult to see when looked at straight 
on.)
∫Canceling High angle mode
Press and hold [DISPLAY] again for 
1 second or turn the camera off.
 High angle mode is also canceled if power 
save mode is activated.
 Pictures are displayed on the LCD monitor 
with increased brightness in High angle 
mode. Therefore, some subjects may look 
different on the LCD monitor. However, 
this does not affect the recorded pictures.
 You may not notice the High angle mode 
effect if the LCD monitor is difficult to see 
because of light from the sun etc. shining 
on it. In this case, we recommend using 
your hand or another object to block the 
light when using the camera.
 High angle mode is not activated in the 
following cases:
– In playback mode
– While the menu screen is displayed
Recording a picture with the 
camera held high above your head
(High angle mode)
ISOISO100100P
STDSTD1919
ISOISO100100P
STDSTD1919
C
B
A 
						

							Advanced
54VQT0W82
1Set the focus mode lever to [AFS]. 
(P32)
2Aim the AF frame D to the point 
you want to focus on and then 
press the shutter button halfway.
 When you press the shutter button 
halfway, the mirror goes down and then 
goes up to enable the camera to focus. 
At this time, the same sound is heard as 
when the shutter button is pressed fully. 
However a picture is not taken.
 The camera beeps and the focus 
indication lights (green) C when the 
subject is focused.
 The focus indication blinks (green) 
when the subject is not focused. In this 
case, a picture is not taken. Press the 
shutter button halfway to focus on the 
subject again.
 Refer to P34 for information about 
subjects that are difficult to focus on.
 You can check the aperture value A 
and the shutter speed B. The camera focuses on any of the 
3 focus area points-left, right or 
center-in the AF frame and the focus 
position indication lights where the 
subject is focused. You can change the 
setting for the AF frame in the 
[CUSTOM] menu. (P85)
 Refer to P33 for information about the 
program shift.
 The focus range is 29 cm (0.95 feet) 
to ¶. (when the supplied lens is 
attached)
3Press the shutter button fully to 
take the picture.
 A picture is not taken until the subject is 
brought into focus.
 If you want to press the shutter button 
fully to take a picture even when the 
subject is not focused, set 
[FOCUS PRIORITY] in the [CUSTOM] 
menu to [OFF]. (P86)
 The shutter sound is heard twice when 
1 picture is taken. The first shutter 
sound is heard when the shutter returns 
to the position before a picture is taken 
and the second shutter sound is heard 
when the picture is actually taken.
 If the shutter button is pressed fully and 
then released, the shutter sound is heard. 
However a picture is not taken.
 The time between pressing the shutter 
button fully and the picture being taken 
(release time lag) is longer than when 
taking pictures with the Viewfinder. 
Therefore, we recommend checking the 
pictures using Auto Review.
 If you press the shutter button halfway 
when the exposure is not adequate, the 
aperture value and the shutter speed turn 
red. (They do not turn red when the flash 
is activated.)
 The brightness of the LCD monitor may 
differ from the brightness of the recorded 
pictures especially when recording in dark 
places.
Auto focus when taking pictures 
with Live View
AFS
AFCAFL
AELMF
F5.6F5.6P125125
A
BC
D 
						

							Advanced
55VQT0W82
1Set the focus mode lever to [MF].
2Rotate the focus ring to focus on 
the subject.
A: [0.29] m (0.95 feet) to [¶]
 The focus distance indicator ([0.29] m 
(0.95 feet) to [¶]) show the approximate 
“in focus” distance from the focus 
distance reference line. (P42)
3Take the picture.
∫Technique for Manual focus
1Rotate the focus ring.
2Rotate it a little more.
3Finely focus on the subject by rotating 
the focus ring slowly in reverse.
∫About MF Assist
If [MF ASSIST] is set to [4a] or [10a] while 
taking pictures with manual focus, MF 
assist is activated and the screen is 
enlarged when you press [MENU/SET] 
after pressing 2/1. This allows you to 
focus on the subject more easily.
1Press 2/1 to display the MF 
assist screen.
2Press 3/4/2/1 to change the 
position of the MF assist screen.
Manual focus when taking pictures 
with Live View
AFS
AFCAFL
AELMF
A
PISOISO100100
STDSTD1919
1 11 2
1 3
MENUSET
MENUSET 
						

							Advanced
56VQT0W82
3Press [MENU/SET] to magnify the 
MF assist screen.
 Rotate the focus ring to focus on the 
subject.
 The enlarged area can be moved by 
pressing 3/4/2/1.
4Press [MENU/SET] to close MF 
assist.
 The screen returns to the previous 
screen.
∫Changing the magnification 
1Press [MENU/SET] and then 
press 2.
2Press 4 to select the [SETUP] 
menu icon [ ] and then press 1.
3Press 3/4 to select [MF ASSIST] 
and then press 1.
4Press 3/4 to select [4a] or [10a] 
and then press [MENU/SET].
[4a]: The whole of the screen is 
enlarged 4 times.
[10a]: The whole of the screen is 
enlarged 10 times.
[OFF]: The screen is not enlarged.
5Press [MENU/SET] to close the 
menu.
 You can also close the menu by 
pressing the shutter button halfway.
∫Changing the magnification with the 
MF assist screen
You can magnify the whole of the screen 
10 times or 4 times while the MF assist 
screen is enlarged by rotating the 
command dial.
MENU
SETMENU
CANCEL
SETMENU
PISOISO100100
STDSTD1919
1/3
OFF
SETMENU
MENUSELECTEXIT
REC
FILM MODE
PICT.SIZE
QUALITY
RAW REC.
ASPECT
1/3
MENU
0 n
SELECT
SET UPCLOCK SETWORLD TIMEMONITOR
AUTO REVIEW
POWER SAVE5 MIN.EXIT
EXITMENU
SET UP
SELECT
2/34kBEEP
RESET
MF ASSIST
NO.RESET
USB MODE
SETMENU
SET UP2/3
BEEPMF ASSIST4k
10kOFF
SELECTSETMENU
RESETNO.RESET
USB MODE 
						

							Advanced
57VQT0W82
 The MF assist disappears in the following 
cases.
– About 10 seconds after you stop 
pressing 3/4/2/1 or rotating the focus 
ring or the command dial
– When the shutter button is pressed 
halfway
 The MF assist returns to the center of the 
screen when the camera is turned off and 
then on again.
 You cannot use MF assist when using the 
digital zoom.Checking the Depth of 
Field
You can check the depth of field (effective 
focus range) before taking a picture by closing 
the leaf shutter to the aperture value you set.
Press [ ] A (aperture stopping 
down button).
 While you are pressing [ ] (aperture 
stopping down button), the brightness 
of the screen is automatically adjusted 
and you can check the depth of field 
without the screen becoming dark when 
the leaf shutter closes.
∫Depth of field properties
¢1 Recording conditions
¢2 Example: When you want to take a 
picture with a blurred background etc.
¢3 Example: When you want to take a 
picture with everything in focus 
including the background etc.
 The screen may become dark depending 
on the subject, settings on the camera etc.
 [ ] (aperture stopping down button) is 
not activated when taking pictures with the 
Viewfinder.
¢1
Aperture 
valueSmall Large
Focus 
length of 
the lensTe l e W i d e
Distance to 
the subjectNear Distant
Depth of field 
(effective focus 
range) Shallow 
(Narrow)
¢2 Deep 
(Wide)¢3
A 
						

							Advanced
58VQT0W82
Taking Pictures using 
the Built-in Flash
∫Open the flash
Press the [ OPEN] button A.
 If you press the [ OPEN] button lightly, 
the flash will open to the bounce flash 
position B. If you press the [ OPEN] 
button fully, the flash will open to the 
normal flash position C.
 Use the flash in the normal flash position 
when taking pictures with the flash normally.
∫Close the flash
1: Press the flash down until it locks into 
the bounce flash position.
2: Close the flash firmly.
 This camera is compatible with bounce 
flash so the flash opens and closes in two 
steps.
Refer to P62 for information about the 
bounce flash.
 Be sure to close the flash when not in use.
∫Switching to the appropriate flash 
setting
Set the flash to match the recording.
1Press [ ] D.
E: Viewfinder Display
F: When taking pictures with Live View
2Rotate the command dial G and 
select the flash setting.
 Refer to “Available flash setting by 
recording mode” on P59 for information 
about the flash settings for the built-in 
flash that can be selected.
 Refer to P83 for setting the 1st and 2nd 
curtain.
C B
A
F
STANDARDSTANDARD
ISOISO100100AUTOAUTOWBWB
1919
SINGLESINGLENORMALNORMALCUSTOMCUSTOM
P
ISOISO100100P
STDSTD1919
E
AUTO
D
STANDARDSTANDARD
ISOISO100100AUTOAUTOWBWB
1919
SINGLESINGLENORMALNORMALCUSTOMCUSTOM
P
G 
						

							Advanced
59VQT0W82
3Press the shutter button halfway 
to set the selected flash setting.
 You can also set the selected flash 
setting by doing the following:
– Pressing [ ]
– Not operating the camera for a few 
seconds
:AUTO
The flash is automatically activated when 
the recording conditions make it necessary.
: AUTO/Red-eye reduction¢
The flash is automatically activated when 
the recording conditions make it necessary.
It is activated once before the actual 
recording to reduce the red-eye 
phenomenon (eyes of the subject 
appearing red in the picture) and then 
activated again for the actual recording.
 Use this when you take pictures of 
people in low lighting conditions.
: Forced ON
The flash is activated every time regardless 
of the recording conditions.
 Use this when your subject is back-lit 
or under fluorescent light.
: Forced ON/ Red-eye reduction¢
The flash is activated every time regardless 
of the recording conditions. Simultaneously 
it reduces the red-eye phenomenon.
 Use this when your subject is back-lit 
or under fluorescent light.
: Slow sync.
If you take a picture with a dark background 
landscape, this feature will slow the shutter 
speed when the flash is activated so that 
the dark background landscape will 
become bright.
 Use this when you take pictures of 
people in front of a dark background.
: Slow sync./Red-eye reduction¢
If you take a picture with a dark background 
landscape, this feature will slow the shutter 
speed when the flash is activated so that 
the dark background landscape will 
become bright. Simultaneously it reduces 
the red-eye phenomenon.
 Use this when you take pictures of 
people in front of a dark background.
: Forced OFF
The flash is fixed to Forced OFF [ ] 
when it is closed.
The flash is not activated in any recording 
conditions.
 Use this when you take pictures in 
places where the use of the flash is not 
permitted.
¢The flash is activated twice. The 
interval between the first and 
second flash is longer when [ ], 
[ ] or [ ] is set. The 
subject should not move until the 
second flash is activated.
∫Available flash setting by recording 
mode
The available settings for the built-in flash 
differ depending on the recording mode.
(±: Available, —: Not available)
¢When setting to the 2nd Curtain 
Synchro, flash setting is not available.
±±±j
±¢±¢±¢j
±±±±
±¢±¢±¢±¢
±±jj
±¢±¢jj
±±±± 
						

							Advanced
60VQT0W82
∫The available flash range to take 
pictures (when the supplied lens is 
attached)
The available flash settings for the built-in 
flash differ depending on the ISO sensitivity 
setting.
 Refer to P71 for the ISO sensitivity.
 Refer to P34 for the focus range.
 If ISO sensitivity is set to [AUTO] when 
using the flash, it will be automatically 
increased to a maximum of [ISO400]. If the distance between the camera and 
the subject is less than 2.5 m (8.2 feet) 
when taking a picture with the flash, the 
photo flash will be obscured by the lens 
and one part of the screen will become 
dark. Check the distance between the 
camera and the subject when taking a 
picture.
 To avoid picture noise, we recommend 
reducing the ISO sensitivity before taking 
pictures. (P71)
∫Shutter speed for each flash setting 
(When the built-in flash is activated)
 The flash sync. speed becomes more 
than 1/160th of a second.
 Do not look directly at the flash at 
close range when it is activated.
 Do not bring the flash too close to 
objects or close the flash while it is 
activated. The objects may be 
discolored by its heat or lighting.
 Do not cover the photo flash with your 
fingers or other objects.
 Do not carry the camera using the opened 
built-in flash.
 Do not close the flash soon after it is 
activated prior to taking pictures due to 
auto/red-eye reduction etc. It causes a 
malfunction.
 If you press the shutter button halfway 
when the flash is activated, the flash icon 
on the LCD monitor turns red.
ISO 
sensitivitythe available flash range 
to take pictures
WideTe l e
AU TO2.5 m　 
(8.2 feet) to 
7.0 m
(23.0 feet)1.0 m 
(3.3 feet) to 
5.6 m 
(18.4 feet)
ISO1002.5 m　 
(8.2 feet) to 
3.5 m
(11.5 feet)1.0 m 
(3.3 feet) to 
2.8 m 
(9.2 feet)
ISO2002.5 m　 
(8.2 feet) to 
5.0 m
(16.4 feet)1.0 m 
(3.3 feet) to 
4.0 m 
(13.1 feet)
ISO4002.5 m　 
(8.2 feet) to 
7.0 m
(23.0 feet)1.0 m 
(3.3 feet) to 
5.6 m 
(18.4 feet)
ISO8002.5 m　 
(8.2 feet) to 
9.8 m
(32.1 feet)1.0 m 
(3.3 feet) to 
7.8 m 
(25.6 feet)
ISO16002.5 m　 
(8.2 feet) to 
14.0 m
(46.0 feet)1.0 m 
(3.3 feet) to 
11.2 m 
(36.7 feet)
1/30th of a 
second
60 seconds 
to 1/160th of 
a secondcannot set a 
flash setting
1/30th of a 
second to 
1/160th of a 
secondB (Bulb) to 
1/160th of a 
second
1 second 
to 1/160th 
of a secondcannot set a flash setting