Panasonic Dmc Fz18 Operating Instructions Manual

							Basic
31VQT1F83
 When you rotate the zoom lever, you may 
hear some sound from the camera or the 
camera may shake. This is not a 
malfunction.
 When using the zoom function, an 
estimate of the focus range will appear in 
conjunction with the zoom display bar.
(Example: 0.99 ft. –¶)
This camera has a 18k optical zoom. 
However, if the picture size is not set to the 
highest setting for each aspect ratio [ /
/ ], a maximum of 28.7k optical 
zoom can be achieved with no picture 
quality deterioration.
∫Extended optical zoom mechanism
When you set the picture size to [ ] 
(3M EZ) (3 million pixels), the 8M 
(8.1 million pixels) CCD area is cropped to 
the center 3M (3 million pixels) area, 
allowing a picture with a higher zoom effect.
∫Picture size and maximum zoom 
magnification
(±: Available, —: Not available)
 “EZ” is an abbreviation of 
“Extended optical Zoom”.
 If you set a picture size that activates the 
extended optical zoom, the extended 
optical zoom icon [ ] is displayed on the 
screen when you use the zoom function.
 The on-screen zoom indication may not 
change consecutively if you rotate the 
zoom lever near the Tele position when 
the extended optical zoom is used. This is 
not a malfunction.
 The indicated zoom magnification is an 
approximation.
 In [HIGH SENS.] in scene mode, the 
extended optical zoom does not work.
A maximum of 72k zoom can be achieved 
with the 18k optical zoom and the 4k 
digital zoom when [D.ZOOM] is set to [ON] 
in the [REC] mode menu. However, if a 
picture size that can use extended optical 
zoom is selected, a maximum of 115k 
zoom can be achieved with the 28.7k 
extended optical zoom and the 4k digital 
zoom.
∫Menu operation
1Press [MENU/SET]. When in advanced scene mode or 
scene mode, select the [REC] mode 
menu ( ) and then press 1.
2Press 3/4 to select [D.ZOOM] 
and then press 1.
Using the Extended Optical Zoom 
(EZ)
Aspect 
ratio 
(P75)Picture size 
(P76)Maximum 
zoom magni-
fication (Tele)Extended 
optical 
zoom
 (8M)
18k— (7M)
(6M)
(5M EZ)
23k
±(4.5M EZ)
(3.5M EZ)
(3M EZ)
(2M EZ)
(0.3M EZ)28.7k±(2.5M EZ)
(2M EZ)
Using the Digital Zoom 
Further extending the zoom
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							Basic
32VQT1F83
3Press 4 to select [ON] and then 
press [MENU/SET].
4Press [MENU/SET] to close the 
menu.
You can also press the shutter 
button halfway to close the menu.
∫Entering the digital zoom range
The on-screen zoom indication may 
momentarily stop moving when you rotate 
the zoom lever to the extreme Tele position. 
You can enter the digital zoom range by 
continuously rotating the zoom lever to Tele 
or releasing the zoom lever once and then 
rotating it to Tele again.
(When using the digital zoom and the 
extended optical zoom [ ] (3M EZ) at the 
same time)
1Optical zoom
2Digital zoom
3Extended optical zoom
 A big AF area (P78) is displayed when 
using the digital zoom. Also, the stabilizer 
function may not be effective.
 In digital zoom, the larger the picture the 
lower the picture quality.
 When using the digital zoom, we 
recommend using a tripod and the 
self-timer (P44) for taking pictures. The indicated zoom magnification is an 
approximation.
 The digital zoom is temporarily set to 
[OFF] in the following cases.
– When the quality is set to [RAW] or 
[RAWiJPEG] (P76)
 The digital zoom does not work in the 
following cases:
– In intelligent auto mode [ ]
– In [INDOOR PORTRAIT] in [PORTRAIT] 
mode
– In [NORMAL SPORTS], [OUTDOOR 
SPORTS] and [INDOOR SPORTS] in 
[SPORTS] mode
– In [HIGH SENS.], [BABY1]/[BABY2] and 
[PET] in scene mode
– When [INTELLIGENT ISO] is set to [ON]
Checking the 
Recorded Picture 
(Review)
You can check the recorded pictures while 
still in [REC] mode.
1Press 4 [REV].
 The last recorded picture appears for 
about 10 seconds.
 Review is canceled when the shutter 
button is pressed halfway or the 4 
[REV] is pressed again.
 You can change the information 
displayed during review by pressing 
[DISPLAY].
MENUSET
W
W
WT
T T≥[OFF]:
≥[ON]:
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							Basic
33VQT1F83
2Press 2/1 to select the picture.
∫Enlarging the picture
1Rotate the zoom lever towards 
[ ] [T].
 Rotate the zoom lever to [ ] [T] for a 
4k magnification and then rotate it 
even more for a 8k magnification. 
When you rotate the zoom lever 
towards [ ] [W] after enlarging the 
picture, the magnification becomes 
lower.
2Press 3/4/2/1 to move the 
position.
 When you change the magnification or 
the position to be displayed, the zoom 
position indication A appears for about 
1 second. 
 When you press 2/1 on the joystick, 
you can scroll through subsequent and 
previous images at the enlarged picture 
size.
∫Deleting the recorded picture during 
Review (Quick deletion)
A single picture, multiple pictures or all the 
pictures can be deleted during review. Refer to P33 to 35 for information about 
how to delete pictures.
 When [ROTATE DISP.] is set to [ON], 
pictures recorded holding the camera 
vertically are played back vertically 
(rotated).
Playing back/Deleting 
Pictures
The picture data on the built-in memory is 
played back or deleted when a card is not 
inserted. The picture data on the card is 
played back or deleted when a card is 
inserted.
Once deleted, pictures cannot be 
recovered. Check the pictures one by 
one and delete unwanted pictures.
∫Playing back pictures
Press 2/1 to select the picture.
2: Play back the previous picture
1: Play back the next picture
or
A2: Play back the previous picture
1: Play back the next picture
or
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							Basic
34VQT1F83
∫Fast forwarding/Fast rewinding
Press and hold 2/1 during 
playback.
 The file number A and the picture 
number B only change one by one. 
Release 2/1 when the number of the 
desired picture appears to play back the 
picture.
 If you keep pressing 2/1, the number 
of pictures forwarded/rewound 
increases.
 In review playback in recording mode 
and in multi playback (P88), the 
pictures can only be forwarded or 
rewound one by one.
 This camera is based on the DCF 
standard “Design rule for Camera File 
system” which was established by the 
“JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information 
Technology Industries Association)”.
 The LCD monitor may not be able to 
display the details of the recorded 
pictures. You can use the playback zoom 
(P90) to check the details of the pictures.
 If you play back pictures that have been 
recorded with other equipment, the picture 
quality may deteriorate. (The pictures are 
displayed as [THUMBNAIL IS 
DISPLAYED] on the screen.)
 If you change a folder name or file name 
on your PC, the pictures may not play 
back on the camera.
 If you play back a non-standard file, the 
folder/file number is indicated by [—] and 
the screen may turn black.
 The lens barrel retracts about 15 seconds 
after switching from [REC] mode to [PLAY] 
mode. Depending on the subject, an interference 
fringe may appear on the screen. This is 
called moire. This is not a malfunction.
∫To delete a single picture
1Press [ ] while the picture is 
being played back.
2Press 3 to select [YES] and then 
press [MENU/SET].
 While the picture is being deleted, [ ] 
appears on the screen.
∫To delete [MULTI DELETE]/
[ALL DELETE]
1Press [ ] twice.
2Press 3/4 to select 
[MULTI DELETE] or 
[ALL DELETE] and then press 
[MENU/SET].
 [MULTI DELETE] > step3.
 [ALL DELETE] > step5.
 [ALL DELETE EXCEPT ] (When 
[FAVORITE] (P98) is set only) > 
step
5.
(However, this cannot be selected if 
none of the pictures have [ ]  
displayed.) 2: Fast rewind
1: Fast forward
A
B
or
MENUSET
MENUSET
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							Basic
35VQT1F83
3Press 2/1 to select the picture 
and then press 4 to set.
(Only when selecting [MULTI DELETE])
 Repeat the above procedure.
 [ ] appears on the selected pictures. If 
4 is pressed again, the setting is 
canceled.
 The icon [ ] blinks red if the selected 
picture is protected and cannot be 
deleted. Cancel the protect setting and 
then delete the picture. (P104)
4Press [ ].
5Press 3 to select [YES] and then 
press [MENU/SET] to set.
(Screen when selecting 
[MULTI DELETE])
 When you delete pictures, only pictures 
in either of the built-in memory or the 
card can be deleted. (You cannot delete 
pictures in both the built-in memory and 
the card at the same time.)
 [DELETE ALL PICTURES ON THE 
BUILT-IN MEMORY?] or 
[DELETE ALL PICTURES
ON THE MEMORY CARD?] is 
displayed when using [ALL DELETE] 
and [DELETE ALL EXCEPT ?] is 
displayed when using 
[ALL DELETE EXCEPT ]. If you press [MENU/SET] while deleting 
pictures using [ALL DELETE] or 
[ALL DELETE EXCEPT ], the 
deleting will stop halfway.
 Do not turn off the camera while deleting.
 When deleting pictures, use a battery with 
sufficient battery power or the AC adaptor 
(DMW-AC7PP; optional).
 It is possible to delete up to 50 pictures at 
one time using [MULTI DELETE].
 The greater the number of pictures the 
longer it takes to delete them.
 If there are pictures that are protected 
[ ] (P104), do not conform to the DCF 
standard or are in a card with the 
Write-Protect switch slid to the [LOCK] 
side, they are not deleted even if 
[ALL DELETE] or 
[ALL DELETE EXCEPT ] is selected.
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
36VQT1F83
Advanced (Recording pictures)
About the LCD 
Monitor/Viewfinder
1Switching the LCD monitor/Viewfinder
Press [EVF/LCD] to switch the monitor 
screen.
 When the LCD monitor turns on, the 
Viewfinder turns off (and vice versa).
2Selecting the screen to be used
Press [DISPLAY] to change the display.
 When the menu screen appears, the 
[DISPLAY] is not activated. During 
playback zoom (P90), while playing back 
motion pictures (P91) and during a slide 
show (P94), you can only select “Normal 
display H” or “No display J”.In recording mode
¢1 Histogram
¢2 When the number of pictures remaining 
is more than 1000 or the time 
remaining in motion picture mode is 
more than 1000 seconds, [ ] is 
displayed.
¢3 Set the pattern of the guide lines 
displayed by setting [GUIDE LINE] in 
[SETUP] menu. You can also set 
whether or not to have the recording 
information and histogram displayed 
when the guide lines are displayed.
Changing the information 
displayed
ALCD monitor (LCD)
BViewfinder (EVF)
CNormal display
DDisplay with histogram
EOut-of-frame display
FNo display (Recording guide line)
¢3
GNo display
2
66
1
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
37VQT1F83
In playback mode
¢4 Displayed if birthday setting and [AGE] 
were set to [ON] in [BABY1]/[BABY2] 
(P61) or [PET] (P62) in scene mode 
before taking pictures.
¢5 When characters are registered under 
[BABY1]/[BABY2] (P61) or [PET] (P62) 
name settings in scene mode, 
[TITLE EDIT] (P99) in [PLAY] mode 
menu, the recorded date and time 
appears after the registered characters 
are displayed for a few seconds.
¢6 The number of days that have passed 
since the travel date are displayed if 
you set [TRAVEL DATE] (P67) before 
taking pictures.
 With [NIGHT PORTRAIT] mode (P58) and 
[STARRY SKY] or [FIREWORKS] in 
scene mode (P59), the guide lines will be 
shown in gray.∫Out-of-frame display
Recording information is displayed on the 
bottom and right edges of the screen. You 
can therefore concentrate on the subject 
when taking pictures without being 
obstructed by information displayed on the 
screen.
∫Diopter adjustment
Adjust the diopter to suit your vision so that 
you can see the Viewfinder clearly.
 Press [EVF/LCD] to display the viewfinder.
Look at the display on the Viewfinder 
and rotate the diopter adjustment dial to 
where the screen is clearest.
∫Monitor priority
When [PLAY ON LCD] is set to [ON] on the 
[SETUP] menu (P21), the LCD monitor is 
turned on in the following cases.
You can save the time it would take to 
switch the display to the LCD monitor even 
when using the Viewfinder to record.
 When switching from recording mode to 
playback mode.
 When reviewing pictures. (P32)
 When turning the camera on in playback 
mode. HNormal display
IDisplay with recording information and 
histogram
JNo display
F2.8 1/30ISO100AWB
9months 10days
1/6
1/6
10:00  DEC.1.2007
10:00  DEC.1.2007
1ST DAY
645
6
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
38VQT1F83
∫Recording guide line
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.
∫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.
 It is very useful if manual adjustments of 
the lens aperture and shutter speed are 
available, especially in those situations 
where automatic exposure may be difficult 
due to uneven lighting. Using the 
histogram feature allows you to get the 
maximum performance from your camera.
AWhen the values are concentrated on 
the left, the picture is under exposed.
BWhen the values are distributed evenly, 
the exposure is proper and the 
brightness is well-balanced.
CWhen the values are concentrated on 
the right, the picture is overexposed.Examples of histogram
AUnder Exposed
BProperly Exposed
COverexposed
¢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 manual exposure assistance 
is other than [n0EV] during exposure 
compensation or in the manual 
exposure mode
– When the flash is activated
– In [STARRY SKY] or [FIREWORKS] in 
scene mode (P59)
– When the flash is closed
 When the brightness of the screen is 
not correctly displayed in dark places
 When 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.
 The histogram does not appear during the 
following.
– Intelligent auto mode [ ]
– Motion picture mode [ ] A[]: This is used when dividing the 
entire screen into 3k3 for 
taking pictures with a 
well-balanced composition.
B[]: This is used when you want to 
position the subject at the 
exact center of the screen.
ISO100AWB10:00  DEC. 1.2007
1/6
F2.8 1/100
100_
0001
ISO100AWB10:00  DEC. 1.2007
1/6
F2.8 1/200
100_
0001
ISO100AWB10:00  DEC. 1.2007
1/6
F2.8 1/50
100_
0001
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
39VQT1F83
– Multi playback
– Calendar playback
– Playback zoom
1Press [LCD MODE] for 1 second.
2Press 3/4 to select a mode.
3Press [MENU/SET].
AThe [AUTO POWER LCD] icon ([ ] 
([ ])), [POWER LCD] icon ([ ]) or 
[HIGH ANGLE] icon ([ ]) appears.
∫Canceling setting
If you press and hold [LCD MODE] again 
for 1 second the screen shown in step 
2 is 
displayed. Select [OFF] to cancel a setting.
 High angle mode is also canceled if you 
turn the camera off or power save mode is 
activated.
Brightening the LCD Monitor
[]:
[AUTO 
POWER LCD]The Power LCD is 
automatically activated in 
bright places such as 
outdoors etc. When the 
Power LCD is activated, 
[ ] changes to [ ].
[]:
[POWER LCD]The LCD monitor 
becomes brighter and 
easier to see even when 
taking pictures outdoors.
or
[]:
[HIGH 
ANGLE]The LCD monitor is 
easier to see when taking 
pictures with the camera 
held high above your 
head. This is useful when 
you cannot get close to 
the subject because 
there is a person in the 
way. (However it 
becomes more difficult to 
see when looked at 
straight on.)
[OFF]The LCD monitor returns 
to the normal brightness.
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
40VQT1F83
 The brightness of the pictures displayed 
on the LCD monitor screen are increased 
in Auto power LCD, Power LCD and High 
angle modes. Therefore, some subjects 
may look different on the LCD monitor. 
However, this does not affect the recorded      
pictures.
 The LCD monitor automatically returns to 
normal brightness after 30 seconds when 
recording in Power LCD mode. Press any 
button to make the LCD monitor bright 
again.
 If the screen is difficult to see because of 
light from the sun etc. shining on it, use 
your hand or another object to block the 
light.
 Auto power LCD mode or High angle 
mode is not activated in the following 
cases.
– In playback mode [ ]
– In print mode [ ]
– While the menu screen is displayed
– While the review screen is displayed
Taking Pictures using 
the Built-in Flash
ATo open the flash
Press the flash open button.
BTo close the flash
Press the flash until it clicks.
 Be sure to close the flash when not in use.
 The flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF 
[ ] while the flash is closed.∫Switching to the appropriate flash 
setting
Set the flash to match the recording.
1Press 1 [].
2Press 3/4 to select a mode.
 You can also press 1 [ ] to select.
 For information about flash settings that 
can be selected, refer to “Available flash 
settings by recording mode”. (P41)
3Press [MENU/SET].You can also press the shutter 
button halfway or press the center of 
the joystick to finish.
 The menu screen disappears after 
about 5 seconds. At this time, the 
selected item is automatically set.
OPEN
: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.
or
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