Panasonic Dmc Fz18 Operating Instructions Manual

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
41VQT1F83
¢The flash is activated twice. The 
subject should not move until the 
second flash is activated.
∫Available flash settings by recording 
mode
The available flash settings depend on the 
recording mode.
(±: Available, —: Not available, ¥: Initial 
setting)
¢When AUTO [ ] is selected, 
AUTO [ ], AUTO/Red-eye  : 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 setting is set to Forced ON/
Red-eye reduction only when you set 
[PARTY] (P60) or [CANDLE LIGHT] 
(P60) in scene mode.
: 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 not activated in any recording 
conditions.
Use this when you take pictures in 
places where the use of the flash is 
not permitted.
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1
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
42VQT1F83
reduction [ ] or Slow sync./
Red-eye reduction [ ] is set 
depending on the type of subject and 
brightness.
 The flash setting may change if the 
recording mode is changed. Set the flash 
setting again if necessary.
 The flash setting is memorized even if the 
camera is turned off. However, the 
advanced scene mode or the scene mode 
flash setting is reset to the initial setting 
when the advanced scene mode or the 
scene mode is changed.
∫The available flash range to take 
pictures The available flash range is an 
approximation.
 In [HIGH SENS.] (P61) in scene mode, 
the ISO sensitivity automatically switches 
to between [ISO1600] and [ISO6400] and 
the available flash range also differs.
Wide:
Approx. 1.15 m (3.77 feet) to approx. 
24.2 m (79.4 feet)
Te l e :
Approx. 1 m (3.28 feet) to approx. 16.1 m 
(52.8 feet)
 The available focus range differs 
depending on the recording mode. (P134)
 When the flash is used at the intelligent 
ISO (P74) setting, the ISO sensitivity is 
increased automatically to maximum ISO 
sensitivity level.
 When the flash is used at the ISO 
sensitivity [AUTO] setting, the ISO 
sensitivity is increased automatically to 
the maximum [ISO400] level.
ISO sensitivityAvailable flash range
[AUTO]
Wide
30 cm (0.98 feet) to 
6.0 m (19.7 feet)
Te l e
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
4.0 m (13.1 feet)
[ISO100]
Wide
30 cm (0.98 feet) to 
3.0 m (9.84 feet)
Te l e
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
2.0 m (6.56 feet)
[ISO200]
Wide
40 cm (1.31 feet) to 
4.2 m (13.8 feet)
Te l e
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
2.8 m (9.19 feet)
[ISO400]
Wide
60 cm (1.97 feet) to 
6.0 m (19.7 feet) 
Te l e
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
4.0 m (13.1 feet) 
[ISO800]
Wide
80 cm (2.62 feet) to 
8.5 m (27.9 feet)
Te l e
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
5.7 m (18.7 feet)
[ISO1250]Wide
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
10.7 m (35.1 feet)
Te l e
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
7.1 m (23.3 feet)
[ISO1600]
Wide
1.15 m (3.77 feet) to 
12.1 m (39.7 feet)
Te l e
1.0 m (3.28 feet) to 
8.0 m (26.3 feet)
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
43VQT1F83
∫Shutter speed for each flash setting
¢[PARTY] (P60) in scene mode
 Refer to P52 for the Aperture-priority AE, 
Shutter-priority AE or Manual exposure 
mode.
 There will be differences in the above 
shutter speeds in the following advanced 
scene mode or scene modes. 
– [NIGHT SCENERY]:
8 seconds to 1/2000th of a second
– [STARRY SKY]:
15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds
– [FIREWORKS]:
1/4th of a second, 2 seconds
 In intelligent auto mode [ ], shutter 
speed changes depending on the 
identified scene.
∫Adjusting flash output
Adjust the flash output when the subject is 
small or reflection ratio is extremely high or 
low.
1Press 3 [ ] several times until 
[FLASH] appears and then press 
2/1 to set the flash output.
 Select [0] to return to the original flash 
output.
2Press [MENU/SET] to finish.
 You can adjust from [j2EV] to [i2EV] in 
steps of [1/3 EV].
 When the flash output is adjusted, the 
flash output value appears on the upper 
left of the screen.
 The flash output setting is memorized 
even if the camera is turned off.
 The flash output cannot be adjusted in the 
following cases:
– In intelligent auto mode [ ]
– In motion picture mode [ ]
– In [SCENERY] mode
– In [NIGHT SCENERY], 
[ILLUMINATIONS] or [CREATIVE 
NIGHT SCENERY] in [NIGHT 
PORTRAIT] mode
– In [SUNSET], [STARRY SKY], 
[FIREWORKS] or [AERIAL PHOTO] in 
scene mode
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.
 If you press the shutter button halfway 
when the flash is activated, the flash icon 
turns red.
 When you take a picture beyond the 
available flash range, the exposure may 
not be adjusted properly and the picture 
may become bright or dark.
 The white balance may not be properly 
adjusted if the flash level is insufficient for 
the subject. (P72)
Flash settingShutter speed 
(Sec.)
:AUTO1/30 to 1/2000
:AUTO/
Red-eye 
reduction
1/30 to 1/2000
:
:Forced ON
Forced ON/
Red-eye 
reduction
: Slow sync./
Red-eye 
reduction1 to 1/2000 
1/8 to 1/2000
¢
: Forced OFF1 to 1/2000
(In program AE 
mode)
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
44VQT1F83
 When the shutter speed is fast, the flash 
effect may not be sufficient.
 It may take time to charge the flash if you 
repeat taking a picture. Take a picture 
after the access indication disappears.
 When the flash is being charged, the flash 
icon blinks red, and you cannot take a 
picture even when you press the shutter 
button fully.
When taking a picture with the flash, 
we recommend removing the lens 
hood. In some cases it may not allow 
the scene to be illuminated properly.
 Do not close the flash soon after the flash 
is activated prior to taking pictures due to 
AUTO/Red-eye reduction etc. It causes a 
malfunction.
 The red-eye reduction effect differs 
between people. Also, if the subject was 
far away from the camera or was not 
looking at the first flash, the effect may not 
be evident.
 When using a tele conversion lens 
(optional) or a close-up lens (optional), the 
built-in flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF 
[]. 
 When you set burst mode or auto bracket, 
only 1 picture is recorded for every flash 
activated.
Taking Pictures with 
the Self-timer
1Press 2 [].
2Press 3/4 to select a mode.
 You can also press 2 [ ] to select.
 If you set [10S/3PICTURES], after 
10 seconds the camera takes 3 pictures 
at about 2 second intervals.
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.
4Press the shutter button halfway 
to focus and then press it fully to 
take the picture.
APress the shutter button halfway to 
focus.
BPress the shutter button fully to take 
the picture.
 The self-timer indicator C blinks and 
the shutter is activated after 10 seconds 
(or 2 seconds).
 When [10S/3PICTURES] is selected, 
the self-timer indicator blinks again after 
the first and the second pictures are 
taken and the shutter is activated 
2 seconds after it blinks.
 If you press [MENU/SET] while the 
self-timer is set, the self-timer setting is 
canceled.
or
A
B
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
45VQT1F83
 When using a tripod etc., setting the 
self-timer to 2 seconds is a convenient 
way to avoid the jitter caused by pressing 
the shutter button.
 When you press the shutter button once 
fully, the subject is automatically focused 
just before recording. In dark places, the 
self-timer indicator will blink and then may 
turn on brightly operating as an AF assist 
lamp (P82) to allow the camera to focus 
on the subject.
 In intelligent auto mode [ ], the 
self-timer is fixed to 10 seconds.
 When you set the self-timer to [2SEC.] or 
[10SEC.] in burst mode, the camera starts 
taking pictures 2 or 10 seconds after the 
shutter button is pressed. The number of 
pictures taken at one time is fixed to 3.
 We recommend using a tripod when 
recording with the self-timer.
 Depending on the recording conditions, 
the recording interval may become more 
than 2 seconds when [10S/3PICTURES] 
is selected.
 The flash output may not be constant 
when [10S/3PICTURES] is selected.
 You cannot select [10S/3PICTURES] 
when auto bracket is set.
 You cannot use the following functions 
when [10S/3PICTURES] is selected.
– Burst mode
– [AUDIO REC.]Compensating the 
Exposure
Use this function when you cannot achieve 
appropriate exposure due to the difference 
in brightness between the subject and the 
background. Look at the following 
examples.
Compensate the exposure towards 
positive.
Compensate the exposure towards
negative.
Under exposed
Properly 
exposed
Overexposed
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
46VQT1F83
∫Operation with the joystick
Select [ ] with 2 on the joystick 
and then compensate the 
exposure with 3/4.
 You can compensate from [j2EV] to 
[i2 EV] in steps of [1/3 EV].
 Select [ ] only to return to the original 
exposure (0 EV).
∫Operation with the cursor buttons
1Press 3 [ ] until [EXPOSURE] 
appears, compensate the 
exposure with 2/1.
 You can compensate from [j2EV] to 
[i2 EV] in steps of [1/3 EV].
 Select [0 EV] to return to the original 
exposure.
2Press [MENU/SET] to finish.You can also press the shutter 
button halfway to finish.
 EV is an abbreviation of [Exposure Value]. 
It refers to the amount of light given to the 
CCD by the aperture value and the shutter 
speed.
 The exposure compensation value 
appears on the lower left of the screen.
 The set exposure value is memorized 
even if the camera is turned off. The compensation range of the exposure 
will be limited depending on the 
brightness of the subject.
 Exposure compensation is not available in 
the following case.
– [STARRY SKY] in scene mode
Taking Pictures using 
Auto Bracket
In this mode, 3 pictures are automatically 
recorded in the selected exposure 
compensation range each time the shutter 
button is pressed. You can select the 
picture with the desired exposure from the 
3 pictures with different exposures.
1Press 3 [ ] several times until 
[AUTO BRACKET] appears, set 
the compensation range of the 
exposure with 2/1.
 You can select [OFF] (0), [d1/3 EV], 
[d2/3 EV] or [d1EV].
 When you do not use auto bracket, 
select [OFF] (0).
2Press [MENU/SET] to finish.You can also press the shutter 
button halfway to finish.
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
47VQT1F83
 When setting auto bracket, the auto 
bracket icon [ ] appears on the screen.
 When taking pictures using auto bracket 
after setting the exposure compensation 
range, the pictures taken are based on the 
selected exposure compensation range.
When the exposure is compensated, the 
exposure compensation value appears on 
the lower left of the screen.
 The auto bracket setting is canceled if you 
turn the camera off or power save mode is 
activated.
 When setting auto bracket and burst mode 
simultaneously, auto bracket will be 
performed.
 When auto bracket is set, the auto review 
function is activated regardless of the auto 
review setting. (The picture is not 
enlarged.) You cannot set the auto review 
function in the [SETUP] menu.
 When auto bracket is activated, 
[AUDIO REC.] cannot be used. 
 The exposure may not be compensated 
with auto bracket depending on the 
brightness of the subject.
 In shutter-priority AE and manual 
exposure, if the shutter speed is set to 
more than 1 second auto bracket is 
disabled.
 When the flash is activated or the number 
of recordable pictures is 2 or less, you can 
take only 1 picture.
 You cannot use the following functions.
– [STARRY SKY] in scene mode
– When the quality is set to [RAW] or 
[RAWiJPEG]
Taking Pictures using 
Burst Mode
1Press and hold the single or burst 
mode button until 
[BURST SHOOTING] appears.
2Press 3/4 to select a mode.
 You can also press the single or burst 
mode button to select.
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.
4Take a picture. Hold down the shutter button fully to 
activate the burst mode.
or
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
48VQT1F83
∫Number of pictures recorded in burst 
mode
¢The burst speed is constant regardless 
of the transfer speed of the card.
 The number of pictures indicated is when 
the shutter speed is faster than 1/60 and 
the flash is not activated.
 The burst speed (pictures/second) may 
become slower depending on the 
recording environment such as in dark 
places, if the ISO sensitivity is high etc.
 If you take pictures in burst mode with the 
built-in memory, it will take time to write 
the picture data.
When the burst mode setting is set to 
Unlimited
–The burst speed becomes slower 
halfway. The exact timing of this 
depends on the type of card, the picture 
size and the quality.
– You can take pictures until the capacity 
of the built-in memory or the card is full.
 The focus is fixed when the first picture is 
taken.
 The exposure and the white balance vary 
depending on the burst mode setting. 
When burst mode is set to [ ], they are 
fixed to the values set for the first picture.
When the burst speed is set to [ ], they 
are adjusted each time you take a picture.
 If you are following a moving subject while 
taking pictures in a place (landscape) 
indoors, outdoors etc. where there is a 
large difference between the light and 
shade, it may take time until the exposure 
is stable. If burst is used at this time, the 
exposure may not become optimal. When the self-timer is used, the number 
of recordable pictures in burst mode is 
fixed to 3.
 Burst mode is not canceled when the 
camera is switched off.
 When auto bracket and burst mode are 
set simultaneously, auto bracket will be 
performed.
 When burst mode is set, the auto review 
function is activated regardless of the auto 
review setting. (The picture is not 
enlarged.) You cannot set the auto review 
function in the [SETUP] menu.
 When burst mode is activated, 
[AUDIO REC.] cannot be used.
 When the flash is activated, you can take 
only 1 picture.
 Burst mode settings are not available in 
the following cases.
– When the quality is set to [RAW] or 
[RAWiJPEG]
– [STARRY SKY] and [BEACH] in scene 
modeTaking Close-up 
Pictures 
This mode allows you to take close-up 
pictures of a subject, e.g. when taking 
pictures of flowers. You can take pictures of 
a subject as close as 1 cm (0.03 feet) from 
the lens by rotating the zoom lever upmost 
to Wide (1k).
As you rotate the zoom lever towards Tele, 
the distance from the subject that you can 
take close-up pictures increases in steps 
up to a maximum of 2 m (6.56 feet). (6k to 
11k)
Burst speed 
(pictures/
second)Number of recordable pic-
tures (pictures)
3¢max. 4 max. 7
approx. 2Depends on the 
remaining capacity of the 
built-in memory/card.
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
49VQT1F83
Press the AF macro/focus switch 
button.
 The AF macro icon [ ] appears.
∫Focus range
 The indicated zoom magnification is an 
approximation.
 The zoom magnification values will 
change when using the extended optical 
zoom.
∫Tele-macro function
If you zoom to a magnification of 12k to 
18k (close to Tele), you can take a picture 
of an object that is only 1 m (3.28 feet) from 
the lens. (The tele-macro icon [ ] 
appears.) It is convenient when taking 
close-up pictures of flowers blooming near 
the ground while standing up or when taking close-up pictures of insects from a 
distant position.
 We recommend using a tripod and the 
self-timer in macro mode.
 When a subject is close to the camera, the 
effective focus range (depth of field) is 
significantly narrowed. Therefore, if the 
distance between the camera and the 
subject is changed after focusing on the 
subject, it may become difficult to focus on 
it again.
 In tele macro mode, the depth of field is 
narrowed and camera jitter occurs easier 
than usual. Therefore, when you cannot 
use a tripod, we recommend taking 
pictures with a brightness equivalent to 
having the aperture value set to F4.0 or a 
higher number and the shutter speed is 
set to 1/125th of a second or faster to 
keep the depth of field and the 
performance of the stabilizer function.
 If the distance between the camera and 
the subject is beyond the focus range of 
the camera, the picture may not be 
properly focused even if the focus 
indication lights.
 AF Macro gives priority to a subject close 
to the camera. Therefore, if the distance 
between the camera and the subject is 
more than 1 m (3.28 feet) it takes longer 
to focus than in program AE mode [ ].
 The available flash range is about 30 cm 
(0.98 feet) to 6.0 m (19.7 feet) (Wide). 
(When the ISO sensitivity is set to 
[AUTO].) We recommend setting the flash 
to Forced OFF [ ] when you take 
pictures at close range.
 If you focus on the subject at 2 m 
(6.56 feet) or less distant position with 
tele-macro function when setting the 
optical zoom magnification in 18k and 
then rotate the zoom lever for setting the 
optical zoom magnification to 11k or less, 
the subject becomes unfocused.
 When you take pictures at close range, 
the resolution of the periphery of the 
picture may decrease slightly. This is not a 
malfunction.
1 cm (0.03 feet)
2 m (6.56 feet)
1 m (3.28 feet)
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
50VQT1F83
 If the lens becomes dirty with fingerprints 
or dust, the lens may not be able to focus 
on the subject correctly.
Aperture-priority AE
Set the aperture value to a higher number 
when you want a sharp focus background. 
Set the aperture value to a lower number 
when you want a soft focus background.
1Tilt the joystick towards 3/4 to 
set the aperture value.
2Take a picture.
 Refer to P52 for the available aperture 
values and the shutter speed.
 Set the aperture value to a higher number 
when the subject is too bright. Set the 
aperture value to a lower number when 
the subject is too dim.
 The brightness of the LCD monitor/
Viewfinder and the recorded pictures may 
differ. Check the pictures using the review 
function or playback mode.
 The aperture value and the shutter speed 
displayed on the screen turn red when the 
exposure is not adequate.
Shutter-priority AE
When you want to take a sharp picture of a 
fast moving subject, set with a faster 
shutter speed. When you want to create a 
trail effect, set to a slower shutter speed.
1Tilt the joystick towards 3/4 to 
set the shutter speed.
2Take a picture.
 Refer to P52 for the available aperture 
values and the shutter speed.
 The brightness of the LCD monitor/
Viewfinder may differ from the brightness 
of the actual pictures. Check the pictures 
using the review function or playback 
mode.
 You cannot set the following items in 
Shutter-priority AE.
– Slow sync./Red-eye reduction [ ]
– [INTELLIGENT ISO]
 The aperture value and the shutter speed 
displayed on the screen turn red when the 
exposure is not adequate.
 We recommend using a tripod when the 
shutter speed is slow.
6
F2.8F2.8
F3.2F3.21/301/30
6
1/301/30
F3.2F3.21/401/40
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