Panasonic Dmc Fz18 Operating Instructions Manual

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
61VQT1F83
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
Select this when you want to take pictures 
of a sunset. This allows you to take vivid 
pictures of the red color of the sun.
 The flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF 
[].
 The setting on the AF assist lamp is 
disabled.
 The white balance cannot be set.
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
Select this for high-sensitivity processing. 
The sensitivity automatically switches to 
between [ISO1600] and [ISO6400].
∫Picture size and aspect ratio
Press 3/4 to select the picture size and 
aspect ratio and then press [MENU/SET] to 
set.
 The picture size becomes 3M (4:3), 2.5M 
(3:2) or 2M (16:9).
 [QUALITY] is automatically fixed to [ ].
 The resolution of the recorded picture 
decreases because of high sensitivity 
processing. This is not a malfunction.
 The focus range is 5 cm (0.16 feet) 
(Wide)/2 m (6.56 feet) (Tele) to ¶.
 You can take pictures suitable for 4qk6q/
10k15 cm printing.
 You can set the flash to AUTO [ ] or 
Forced ON [ ].
 When the flash is used, it becomes 
relatively easier for “orbs” (the phenomenon caused by the light 
reflecting on dust in the air) to appear.
 The extended optical zoom and digital 
zoom cannot be used.
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
This takes pictures of a baby with a healthy 
complexion. When you use the flash, the 
light from it is weaker than usual.
It is possible to set different birthdays and 
names for [BABY1] and [BABY2]. You can 
select to have these appear at the time of 
playback, or have them stamped on the 
recorded image using [TEXT STAMP] 
(P101).
 The age of the baby can be printed out 
using the [LUMIX Simple Viewer] or 
[PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer-] software on 
the CD-ROM (supplied). To print out the 
baby’s name, use 
[PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer-]. [For details 
on printing, refer to the operating 
instructions (PDF file) of the software.]
∫Birthday/Name setting
1Press 3/4
 to select [AGE] or [NAME] 
and then press 1.2Press 3/4 to select [SET] and then 
press [MENU/SET].
3Enter the birthday or name.
– Birthday:
2/1: Select the items (year/month/
day).
3/4:Setting.
[MENU/SET]: Exit.
–Name:
For details on how to enter 
characters, read the [TITLE EDIT] 
section on P99.
[SUNSET]
[HIGH SENS.]
MENUSET
MENUSET
[BABY1]/[BABY2]1
2
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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 When the birthday or name is set, 
[AGE] or [NAME] is automatically set 
to [ON].
∫Display the age/name
1Press 3/4
 to select [AGE] or [NAME] 
and then press 1.2Press 3/4 to select [ON] and then 
press [MENU/SET].
 If [ON] is selected when the birthday 
or name has not been registered, the 
setting screen appears automatically.
If [AGE] or [NAME] is set to [OFF] 
even when the birthday or name 
has been set, the age or name will 
not be displayed. Before taking 
pictures, set [AGE] or [NAME] to 
[ON].
 The focus range is 5 cm (0.16 feet) 
(Wide)/2 m (6.56 feet) (Tele) to ¶.
 [INTELLIGENT ISO] is activated, and 
maximum ISO sensitivity level becomes 
[ISO400], in [BABY1]/[BABY2].
 If the camera is turned on with [BABY1]/
[BABY2] set, the age and name are 
displayed on screen for about 5 seconds, 
along with the current date and time.
 The age display style differs depending on 
the language setting in the recording 
mode.
 If the age is not properly displayed, check 
the clock and birthday settings.
 If the quality is set to [RAW] or 
[RAWiJPEG] and pictures are taken, the 
name is not registered on the pictures.
 The birthday setting and name setting can 
be reset with [RESET].
 Digital zoom cannot be used.
 The initial setting for [AF MODE] is [ ].Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
Select this when you want to take pictures 
of a pet such as a dog or a cat.
You can set your pet’s birthday and name. 
You can select to have these appear at the 
time of playback, or have them stamped on 
the recorded image using [TEXT STAMP] 
(P101).
 The age of the pet can be printed out 
using the [LUMIX Simple Viewer] or 
[PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer-] software on 
the CD-ROM (supplied). To print out the 
pet’s name, use 
[PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer-]. [For details 
on printing, refer to the operating 
instructions (PDF file) of the software.]
For information about [AGE] or [NAME], 
refer to [BABY1]/[BABY2] on P61.
 The initial setting for the AF assist lamp is 
[OFF]. (P82)
 Years prior to 2000 cannot be selected for 
the [AGE] setting.
 [INTELLIGENT ISO] is activated, and 
maximum ISO sensitivity level becomes 
[ISO800], in [PET].
 The initial setting for the AF mode is [ ].
 Refer to [BABY1]/[BABY2] for other 
information about this mode.
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
When you move the camera to follow a 
subject moving in one direction such as a 
runner or car, the background becomes a 
blur and the subject stays focused. This 
effect is called “panning”. This mode allows 
you to obtain this effect easier.
∫Technique for Panning mode
To obtain good pictures in panning mode, 
move the camera in a horizontal plane as 
you take the pictures.
[PET]
[PANNING]
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MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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 We recommend that you do not follow the 
subject with the camera alone, but stand 
facing the subject with shoulders squared, 
and follow it using your entire body, while 
twisting at the waist.
 Once the subject is in front of you, press 
the shutter button. Do not stop moving the 
camera even after you press the shutter 
button.
1Move the camera smoothly while 
following the subject in the viewfinder.
2Press the shutter button while you are 
moving the camera.
3Move the camera continuously.
 We recommend the following:
– Using the Viewfinder.
– Selecting a subject with quick motion.
– Using prefocus.
– Use this mode with burst mode. 
(You can then select the best pictures 
from all the pictures taken.)
∫Setting the shutter speed
1Press 3/4 to select 
[SHUTTER-PRIORITY] and press 
[MENU/SET].
 It is also possible to select this using 
the quick setting (P71). 
 If you select [AUTO], it will not be 
possible to select the shutter speed.2Set the shutter speed using 3/4 on 
the joystick.
 The shutter speed in panning mode 
becomes slower to achieve the panning 
effect. As a result, jitter can easily occur.
 The panning function does not work well 
in the following situations.
– During very bright days in summer. We 
recommend using an ND filter 
(DMW-LND46; optional). (P118)
– When the shutter speed is faster than 1/
100th.
– When you move the camera too slowly 
because the subject is moving slowly. 
(The background will not become a blur.)
– When the camera cannot follow the 
subject well
 You cannot set the stabilizer function 
mode to [MODE2]. When you set it to 
[MODE1], only vertical jitters can be 
compensated in panning mode.
 The settings on the continuous AF and the 
AF assist lamp are disabled.
 The white balance cannot be set.
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
This allows you to take vivid pictures of a 
starry sky or a dark subject.
∫Setting the shutter speed
Select a shutter speed of [15 SEC.], 
[30 SEC.] or [60 SEC.].
[STARRY SKY]
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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1Press 3/4 to select the number of 
seconds and then press [MENU/SET].
 It is also possible to change the number 
of seconds using the quick setting 
(P71).
2Take pictures.
 Press the shutter button fully to display the 
countdown screen. Do not move the 
camera after this screen is displayed. 
When countdown finishes, 
[PLEASE WAIT...] is displayed for the 
same length of time as the set shutter 
speed for signal processing.
 Press [MENU/SET] to stop taking the 
picture while the countdown screen is 
displayed.
∫Technique for Starry sky mode
 The shutter opens for 15, 30 or 
60 seconds. Be sure to use a tripod. We 
also recommend taking pictures with the 
self-timer.
 We recommend using prefocus (P54) to 
focus in advance on a subject, such as a 
bright star or a distant light, that is easy to 
focus on.
 The LCD monitor automatically becomes 
darker.
 Histograms are always displayed in 
orange.
 The flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF 
[].
 The optical image stabilizer function is 
fixed to [OFF]. The following functions cannot be used.
– [EXPOSURE]
– [AUTO BRACKET]
–[BURST]
– [W.BALANCE]
– [AUDIO REC.]
– [CONT.AF]
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
This mode allows you to take beautiful 
pictures of fireworks exploding in the night 
sky.
∫Technique for Fireworks mode
We recommend performing the following 
steps to prefocus on the point the pictures 
will be taken so that you do not miss taking 
pictures of the fireworks when they are 
fired.
1Aim the camera at an object, such as a 
distant light, that is about the same 
distance from the camera as the point 
where the fireworks will rise.
2Press the shutter button halfway until 
the focus indication (P25) lights.
3Press the [AF/MF] to select [MF]. (P52)
4Aim the camera in the direction that the 
fireworks will be fired and wait.
5Press the shutter button fully to take 
the picture when the fireworks are fired.
 If zoom was used, the focus position will 
not be correct. Perform steps 2 to 5 
again.
 We recommend using a tripod.
 The focus range is 5 m (16.4 feet) to ¶ in 
AF mode. (We recommend performing 
steps 1 to 5 for prefocus.)
 The shutter speed becomes the following.
– When [OFF] is set on the optical image 
stabilizer function: Fixed to 2 seconds
– When [MODE1] or [MODE2] is set on 
the optical image stabilizer function:
1/4th of a second or 2 seconds (The 
shutter speed becomes 2 seconds only 
when the camera has determined that 
[FIREWORKS]
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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there is little jitter such as when using a 
tripod etc.)
– You can change the shutter speed by 
compensating the exposure.
 Histograms are always displayed in 
orange.
 The flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF 
[].
 The setting on the continuous AF and the 
AF assist lamp are disabled.
 The white balance cannot be set.
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
This allows you to take even more vivid 
pictures of the blue color of the sea, sky 
etc. It also prevents under exposure of 
people under strong sunlight.
 Do not touch the camera with wet hands.
 Sand or seawater will cause the camera to 
malfunction. Make sure that sand or 
seawater does not get into the lens or the 
terminals.
 Problems caused by sand or seawater are 
not covered by the product warranty.
 The white balance cannot be set.
 The initial setting for [AF MODE] is [ ].
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
This allows you to take pictures that show 
the snow as white as possible at a ski 
resort or a snow-covered mountain.
 The white balance cannot be set.
Press [ ] to display the [SCENE MODE] 
menu and select a scene mode. (P59)
This mode allows you to take pictures 
through an airplane window.∫Technique for Aerial photo mode
 We recommend using this technique if it is 
difficult to focus when taking pictures of 
clouds etc. Aim the camera at something 
with high contrast, press the shutter 
button halfway to fix the focus and then 
aim the camera at the subject and press 
the shutter button fully to take the picture.
 The focus range is 5 m (16.4 feet) to ¶.
Turn the camera off when taking off or 
landing.
When using the camera, follow all 
instructions from the cabin crew.
 Be careful about the reflection from the 
window.
 The flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF 
[].
 The setting on the AF assist lamp is 
disabled.
 The white balance cannot be set.
Motion Picture Mode
1Press the shutter button halfway 
to focus and then press it fully to 
start recording.
AAudio recording
 The available recording time B is 
displayed on the top right and the 
elapsed recording time C is displayed 
on the bottom right of the screen.
 When the subject is focused, the focus 
indication lights.
[BEACH]
[SNOW]
[AERIAL PHOTO] 
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
3
:
R50
:
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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 The focus, zoom and aperture value are 
fixed to the setting when recording 
starts (the first frame).
 The audio is also recorded 
simultaneously from the built-in 
microphone on this unit. (Motion 
pictures cannot be recorded without 
audio.)
 When using the stabilizer function, it is 
fixed to [MODE1].
2Press the shutter button fully to 
stop recording.
 If the built-in memory or the card 
becomes full in the middle of recording, 
the camera stops recording 
automatically.
∫Changing the settings for the aspect 
ratio and the picture quality
1Press [MENU/SET].
2Press 3/4 to select 
[ASPECT RATIO] and then press 
1.
3Press 3/4 to select the item and 
then press [MENU/SET].
4Press 3/4 to select [PICT.MODE] 
and then press 1.
5Press 3/4 to select the item and 
then press [MENU/SET].
If you selected [ ] on the screen 
shown in step 2
If you selected [ ] on the screen 
shown in step 2
 fps “frames per second”; This refers to 
the number of frames used in 1 second.
 You can record smoother motion 
pictures with “30 fps”.
 You can record longer motion pictures 
with “10 fps” although the picture quality 
is lower.
 The file size with [10fpsQVGA] is small 
so it is suitable for e-mails.
You can only record motion pictures 
to the built-in memory when the 
[ASPECT RATIO] is [ ] and the 
picture size is [30fpsQVGA] or 
[10fpsQVGA] (320k240 pixels).
6Press [MENU/SET] to close the 
menu.
You can also press the shutter 
button halfway to close the menu.
 Refer to P132 for information about the 
available recording time.
 The available recording time displayed on 
the LCD monitor/Viewfinder may not 
decrease regularly.
 This unit does not support recording 
motion pictures on MultiMediaCards.
 When you set the picture quality to 
[30fpsVGA] or [30fps16:9], we 
recommend using a high speed SD 
Memory Card with “10MB/s” or greater 
displayed on the package.
 Depending on the type of the card, 
recording may stop in the middle.
ItemPicture sizefps
[30fpsVGA]
640k480 pixels30[10fpsVGA]10
[30fpsQVGA]320k240 pixels30[10fpsQVGA]10
ItemPicture sizefps
[30fps16:9]
848k480 pixels30[10fps16:9]10
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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We recommend using Panasonic’s SD 
Memory Cards/SDHC Memory Cards.
 Depending on the type of the card, the 
card access indication may appear for a 
while after recording motion pictures. This 
is not a malfunction.
 Motion pictures can be recorded 
continuously up to 2 GB.
The maximum available recording time for 
up to 2 GB only is displayed on the 
screen.
 When motion pictures recorded with the 
camera are played back on other 
equipment, the quality of the picture and 
sound may deteriorate and it may not be 
possible to play them back. Also the 
recording information may not be 
displayed correctly.
 In motion picture mode [ ], the following 
functions cannot be used.
– [ ] in the AF mode
– Direction detection function
– Review function
– [MODE2] on the optical image stabilizer 
function
 The bundled software includes QuickTime 
to play back motion picture files recorded 
with the camera on the PC.
Recording which Day 
of the Vacation You 
Take the Picture
If you set the departure date of the vacation 
in advance, the number of days that have 
passed since the departure date (which 
day of the vacation it is) is recorded when 
you take the picture. You can display the 
number of days that have passed when 
playing back the pictures and stamp it on 
the recorded pictures with [TEXT STAMP] 
(P101).AThe number of days that have passed 
since the departure date 
 The number of days that have passed 
since the departure date can be printed 
on each picture by using the software 
[LUMIX Simple Viewer] or 
[PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer-] in the 
CD-ROM (supplied). [For printing the 
pictures, refer to the operating instructions 
(PDF file) of the software.]
∫Setting the departure/return date
(e.g.: The following are examples of the 
screen in program AE mode [ ].)
1Press [MENU/SET] and then 
press 2.
2Press 4 to select the [SETUP] 
menu icon [ ] and then press 1.
3Press 3/4 to select 
[TRAVEL DATE] and then press 
1.
4Press 4 to select [SET] and then 
press [MENU/SET].
A
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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5Press 3/4/2/1 to set the 
departure date and then press 
[MENU/SET].
6Press 3/4/2/1 to set the return 
date and then press [MENU/SET].
 The travel date is automatically 
canceled if the current date is after the 
return date.
 If you do not want to set the return date, 
press [MENU/SET] while the date bar is 
displayed.
7Press [MENU/SET] to close the 
menu.
8Take a picture.
AThe number of days that have passed 
since the departure date 
 The number of days that have passed 
since the departure date is displayed for about 5 seconds if this unit is turned on 
etc. after setting the travel date or when 
the travel date is set.
 When the travel date is set, [ ] 
appears on the lower right of the 
screen. (It is not displayed if the current 
date is after the return date.)
∫Canceling the travel date
The travel date is automatically canceled if 
the current date is after the return date. If 
you want to cancel the travel date before 
the end of the vacation, select [OFF] on the 
screen shown in step 
4 and then press 
[MENU/SET] twice.
 The travel date is calculated using the 
date in the clock setting and the departure 
date you set. If you set [WORLD TIME] 
(P69) to the travel destination, the travel 
date is calculated using the date in the 
clock setting and the travel destination 
setting.
 The travel date setting is memorized even 
if the camera is turned off.
 If you set a departure date and then take a 
picture on a date before this departure 
date, [-] (minus) is displayed in orange 
and the day of the vacation that you took 
the picture is not recorded.
 If you set a departure date and then 
change the clock setting to the date and 
time at the travel destination, [-] (minus) is 
displayed in white and the day of the 
vacation that you took the picture is 
recorded when the travel destination date 
is, for example, one day before the 
departure date.
 If [TRAVEL DATE] is set to [OFF], the 
number of days that have passed since 
the departure date will not be recorded 
even if you set the travel date or the return 
date. Even if [TRAVEL DATE] is set to 
[SET] after taking the pictures, which day 
of the vacation you took them is not 
displayed.
 Set the clock if the message [PLEASE 
SET THE CLOCK] appears. 2/1: Select the desired item.
3/4: Set the year, month and date.
2/1: Select the desired item.
3/4: Set the year, month and date.
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A
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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Displaying the Time at 
the Travel Destination 
(World Time)
If you set your home area and the travel 
destination area when traveling abroad 
etc., the local time at the travel destination 
area can be displayed on the screen and 
recorded on the pictures taken.
Select [CLOCK SET] to set the current 
date and time in advance. (P17)
1Press [MENU/SET] and then 
press 2.
2Press 4 to select the [SETUP] 
menu icon [ ] and then press 1.
3Press 3/4 to select 
[WORLD TIME] and then press 1.
 If you are setting the world time for the 
first time, the message [PLEASE SET 
THE HOME AREA] appears. If this 
message appears, press [MENU/SET] 
and then set home area from the 
screen shown in step 2 in “Setting the 
home area [HOME]”.
∫Setting the home area [HOME]
(Perform steps 1, 2 and 3.)
1Press 4 to select [HOME] and then 
press [MENU/SET] to set.
2Press 2/1 to select your home area 
and then press [MENU/SET] to set.
 The current time is displayed on the top 
left of the screen and the time 
difference from GMT “Greenwich Mean 
Time” is displayed on the bottom left of 
the screen.
 If daylight saving time [ ] is used at 
the home area, press 3. Press 3 
again to return to the original time.
 The daylight saving time setting for the 
home area does not advance the 
current time. Advance the clock setting 
by one hour.
∫Finishing setting the home area
 If you are setting the home area for the 
first time, the screen returns to the screen 
shown in step 1 of “Setting the home 
area [HOME]” after you press [MENU/
SET] to set your home area. Press 2 to 
return to the screen shown in step 
3 and 
then press [MENU/SET] to close the 
menu.
 If you are setting the home area for the 
second time etc., the screen returns to the 
screen shown in step 
3 after you press 
[MENU/SET] to set your home area. 
Press [MENU/SET] again to close the 
menu.
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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∫Setting the travel destination area
(Perform steps 
1, 2 and 3.)
1Press 3 to select [DESTINATION] and 
then press [MENU/SET] to set.
ADepending on the setting, the time at 
the travel destination area or the home 
area is displayed.
 If you are setting the travel destination 
area for the first time, the date and time 
are displayed as shown in the screen 
above.
2Press 2/1 to select the area the travel 
destination is in and then press 
[MENU/SET] to set.
 The current time at the selected travel 
destination area is displayed on the top 
right of the screen and the time 
difference from the home area is 
displayed at the bottom left of the 
screen.
 If daylight saving time [ ] is used at 
the travel destination, press 3. (The 
time advances by one hour.) Press 3 
again to return to the original time.
3Press [MENU/SET] to close the menu.
 The icon changes from [ ] to [ ] 
after setting the travel destination. Return the setting to [HOME] when the 
vacation is finished by performing steps 
1, 2, 3 and then steps 1 and 2 of 
“Setting the home area [HOME]”. (P69)
 If you cannot find the travel destination in 
the areas displayed on the screen, set by 
the time difference from the home area.
 The travel destination icon [ ] appears 
when playing back pictures taken at the 
travel destination.
MENUSET
A
MENUSET
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