Panasonic Dmc Fz200 Owners Manual

							- 101 -
Recording
1Focus by rotating the rear dial.
2 Press the cursor button a few times 
furthermore in the same direction.
3 Finely focus on the subject by pressing the 
cursor button in reverse.
∫ Prefocus
This is a technique for focusing in advance on t he point the pictures will be taken when it is 
difficult to focus on the subject with Auto Focus due to its quick motion. (e.g. [Panning] in Scene 
Mode)
This function is suitable when the distance bet ween the camera and the subject is certain.
∫ One shot AF
You can focus on the subject with Auto Focus by pressing [FOCUS] button 
during Manual Focus.
This is convenient for prefocus.
Note
•
If you use the zoom function after focusing on the subject, focus on the subject again.
•The MF Assist is disabled in the Digital Zoom range or when recording motion pictures.•The distance to the subject displayed on the screen in Manual Focus is an approximation of the 
focus position. Use the MF Assist screen for a final check of the focus.
•After canceling Sleep Mode, focus on the subject again.•Using MF Assist in combination with AE Lock makes it easy to check the focus.
Technique for Manual Focus 
						

							- 102 -
Recording
Fixing the Focus and the Exposure (AF/AE Lock)
Applicable modes: 
This is useful when you want to take a picture of a subject outside the AF area or the contrast is 
too strong and you cannot ac hieve appropriate exposure.
1Aim the AF area at the subject.
2Press [AF/AE LOCK] to fix the focus and exposure.
•This does not work when AF tracking is active.•The setting is canceled by pressing the [AF/AE LOCK] again.
3Move the camera to compose the picture and then press the shutter 
button fully.
•When [AE] is set, after pressing the shutter button halfway to focus, 
press the shutter button fully.
 (DMC-FZ200) ¢ To use as the [AF/AE LOCK] button, set [AF/AE LOCK /Fn2] in the [Setup] menu to [AF/AE 
LOCK].  (P57)
 (DMC-FZ60) ¢ To use as the [AF/AE LOCK] button, set [AF/AE LOCK /Fn1] in the [Setup] menu to [AF/AE 
LOCK].  (P57)
Fn2
AF/AE
LOCK
(DMC-FZ200) 
Fn1
AF/AE LOCK
(DMC-FZ60) 
2.8 300-3+3AEL AFL 
						

							- 103 -
Recording
∫AF/AE Lock
Locking of the focus and exposure can be set in [AF/AE Lock] in the [Rec] menu.
Note
•
When AE lock is performed, the brightness of the recording screen that appears on the LCD monitor/
Viewfinder is fixed.
•AF Lock only is effective when taking pictures in Manual Exposure Mode or Scene Mode.•AE Lock only is effective when taking pictures with Manual Focus.
•AE Lock and AF Lock must be activated before motion picture recording begins.•When recording motion pictures after locking, you can continue to record in a locked state in 
Creative Video Mode. Lock will be canceled in other modes than Creative Video Mode.
•Lock is canceled when zooming is performed after locking. Perform the locking again.•The exposure is set, even if the brightness of the subject changes.•The subject can be focused again by pressing the shutter button halfway even when AE is locked.
•Program Shift can be set even when AE is locked.
ItemDescription of settings
[AF]
Only the focus is locked.
•[AFL] and focus indication are displayed when the subject comes into focus.
[AE]
Only the exposure is locked.
•[AEL], aperture value, and shutter speed are displayed when the exposure is 
adjusted.
[AF/AE]
Both focus and exposure are locked.
•[AFL], [AEL], the focus indication, aperture value and shutter speed are displayed 
when the focus and the exposure are optimized. 
						

							- 104 -
Recording
Using the function button
You can assign the recording function, etc. to the function buttons. Press the buttons to 
instantly access assigned functions.
1Select [Fn Button Set] on the [Setup] menu. (P52)
2Press 3/4 to select the button to assign and then press [MENU/SET].
3Press 3/4 to select the function to assign and then press [MENU/SET].
•Exit the menu after it is set.
 (DMC-FZ200) ¢ To use as the function button, set [AF/AE LOCK /Fn2] in the [Setup] menu to [Fn2].  (P57)
 (DMC-FZ60) ¢ To use as the function button, set [AF/AE LOCK /Fn1] in the [Setup] menu to [Fn1].  (P57)
Assignable functions
[Photo Style] (P133) [Guide Line] (P59)
? [Aspect Ratio]  (P134) [Video Rec Area] (P60)
A [Quality]  (P137) [Remaining Disp.] (P61)
C [Metering Mode]  (P140) [Flash] (P75)
(DMC-FZ60)  [Flash Adjust.] (P145)
[AF Mode]  (P92) [Auto Bracket] (P146)
[AF Style]  (P139) (DMC-FZ200) 
[i.Dynamic]  (P141)    [Side Lever] (P57)
Fn3
Fn1
Fn2
AF/AE
LOCKFn1
AF/AE LOCK
Fn2
(DMC-FZ200) 
(DMC-FZ60) 
AF 
						

							- 105 -
Recording
Taking Pictures by Specifying the Aperture/
Shutter Speed
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.
1Set the mode dial to [ ].
2Rotate the rear dial to set the aperture value.
AAperture Value
B Exposure meter
•It will switch between aperture setting operation and Exposure 
Compensation operation every time the rear dial is pressed.
¢ 1 Some aperture values are not selectable when using conversion lens.
¢ 2 Depending on the zoom position, some of the values cannot be selected.
¢ 3 The shutter speed varies depending on the [Sensitivity] setting.  (P87)
Set with a faster shutter speed when you want to take a sharp picture of a fast moving subject. 
Set to a slower shutter speed when you want to create a trail effect.
1Set the mode dial to [ ].
2Rotate the rear dial to set the shutter speed.
C Shutter Speed
D Exposure meter
•It will switch between shutter speed setting operation and Exposure 
Compensation operation every time the rear dial is pressed.
¢ 1 Depending on the zoom position, some of the values cannot be selected.
¢ 2 The shutter speed varies depending on the [Sensitivity] setting.  (P87)
Aperture-Priority AE Mode
Available Aperture Value¢1,2
(Per 1/3 EV)Shutter Speed¢2 (Sec)
F2.8 to F8.0 (DMC-FZ200) 
8 to 1/4000
(DMC-FZ60)  4
¢3 to 1/2000
Shutter-Priority AE Mode
Available Shutter Speed (Sec)
(Per 1/3 EV)Aperture Value¢1
(DMC-FZ200)  8 to 1/4000
(DMC-FZ60)  4¢2 to 1/2000 F2.8 to F8.0
F F
F
SS
SS8460
5.64.0 1530
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
AB
F
SS SS
SS
SS
SS5.6 4.02.8
2000
2000
2000
200010005004000
CD 
						

							- 106 -
Recording
Determine the exposure by manually setting the aperture value and the shutter speed.
1Set the mode dial to [ ].
2Rotate the rear dial to set the aperture and shutter 
speed.
EManual Exposure Assistance
F Exposure meter
•It will switch between aperture setting operation and shutter speed 
setting operation every time the rear dial is pressed.
¢ 1 Some aperture values are not selectable when using conversion lens.
¢ 2 Depending on the zoom position, some of the values cannot be selected.
¢ 3 The shutter speed varies depending on the [Sensitivity] setting.  (P87)
∫Manual Exposure Assistance
•
The Manual Exposure Assistance is an approximation. We recommend checking the pictures on the 
playback screen.
Note
•The brightness of the LCD monitor/Viewfinder a nd the recorded pictures may differ. Check the 
pictures on the playback screen.
•Set the aperture value to a higher number when the su bject is too bright. Set the aperture value to a 
lower number when the subject is too dim.
•The aperture value and the shutter speed displayed on the screen turn red when the exposure is not 
adequate.
•Display of the shutter speed will count down when the shutter speed is set to slow and the shutter 
button is pressed all the way.
•We recommend using a tripod when the shutter speed is slow.
•The [Sensitivity] is automatically set to [AUT O] when you switch the Recording Mode to 
Shutter-Priority AE Mode while the [Sensitivity] is set to [ ].
•The [Sensitivity] is automatically set to [100] when you switch the Recording Mode to Manual 
Exposure Mode while the [Sensitivity] is set to [AUTO] or [ ].
Manual Exposure Mode
Available Aperture Value¢ 1,2
(Per 1/3 EV)Available Shutter Speed¢2 (Sec)
(Per 1/3 EV)
F2.8 to F8.0 (DMC-FZ200) 
60
¢3 to 1/4000
(DMC-FZ60)  4¢3 to 1/2000
The exposure is adequate.
Set to faster shutter speed or larger aperture value.
Set to slower shutter speed or smaller aperture value.
F
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							- 107 -
Recording
Taking Pictures that Match the Scene Being 
Recorded
 (Scene Mode)
Recording modes: 
When you select a Scene Mode to match the subject and recording situation, the camera sets 
the optimal exposure and hue to obtain the desired picture.
1Set the mode dial to [ ].
2Press 3/4/2/1 to select the Scene Mode and then 
press [MENU/SET].
•If you press [DISP.] when selecting a Scene Mode, explanations 
about each Scene Mode are displayed.
Note
•To change the Scene Mode, press [MENU/SET] and then press  1, and return to step 2 above.
When taking pictures of people outdoors during the  day, this mode allows you to improve the 
appearance of the persons concerned and make their skin tones look healthier.
∫ Technique for Portrait Mode
To make this mode more effective:
1 Rotate the zoom lever as far as possible to Tele.
2 Move close to the subject to make this mode more effective.
[Portrait] 
						

							- 108 -
Recording
When taking pictures of people outdoors during the daytime, this mode enables the texture of 
their skin to appear even softer than with [Portrai t]. (It is effective when taking pictures of people 
from the chest up.)
∫ Technique for Soft Skin Mode
To make this mode more effective:
1 Rotate the zoom lever as far as possible to Tele.
2 Move close to the subject to make this mode more effective.
Note
•
If a part of the background etc. is a color close to skin color, this part is also smoothed.•This mode may not be effective when there is insufficient brightness.
This allows you to take pictures of a wide landscape.
[Soft Skin]
[Scenery] 
						

							- 109 -
Recording
Pictures are recorded continuously while moving the camera horizontally or vertically, and are 
combined to make a single panorama picture.
1Press  3/4  to select the recording direction and then press 
[MENU/SET].
2After confirming the recording direction, press [MENU/SET].
•The horizontal/vertical guideline will be displayed.
3Press the shutter button halfway to focus.
4Press the shutter button fully and record a picture while moving the camera in a 
small circle in the direction selected in Step 1.
∫ Technique for Panorama Shot Mode
5Press the shutter button once again to end the still picture recording.
•Recording can also be canceled by k eeping the camera still while recording.
[Panorama Shot]
Recording from left to right
Move the camera in a single panning motion for about 8 seconds.
•
Move the camera at a constant speed.
Pictures may not be able to be recorded properly if the camera is moved too fast or too slow.
A 1 second
B 2 seconds C
3 seconds
D Recording direction and panning (Guide)
E Move the camera in the recording direction without shaking it. If the camera shakes too 
much, pictures may not be able to be recorded, or the recorded panorama picture may 
become narrower (smaller)
F Move the camera towards the edge of the range you wish to record. (The edge of the range 
will not be recorded in the last frame)
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							- 110 -
Recording
Note
•The zoom position is fixed to Wide.•The focus, white balance, and exposure are fixed at the optimum values for the first picture. As a 
result, if the focus or brightness changes substantially during recording, the entire panorama picture 
may not be recorded at the suitable focus or brightness.
•When multiple pictures are combined to create  a single panorama picture, the subject may appear 
distorted or the connection points may be noticeable in some cases.
•The number of recording pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions of the panorama picture 
varies depending on the recording direction and the number of combined pictures. The maximum 
number of pixels is shown below.
•A panorama picture may not be able to be created, or the pictures may not be combined properly 
when recording the following subjects or under the recording conditions below.
–Subjects with a single, uniform color or repetitive pattern (such as the sky or a beach)–Moving subjects (person, pet, car, waves, flowers blowing in the breeze, etc.)–Subjects where the color or patterns change in a short time (such as an image appearing on a 
display)
–Dark places–Locations with flickering light sources such as fluorescent lights or candles
∫ About playback
Playback zoom can be performed even for pictures  that were recorded using [Panorama Shot].
Also, if  3 is pressed during playback, the screen will aut omatically scroll in the same direction 
during recording.
¢ You can perform frame-by-frame forward/rewind by pressing 1/2 during a pause.
Recording directionHorizontal ResolutionVertical Resolution
Horizontal 8000 pixels1080 pixels
Vertical 1440 pixels8000 pixels
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