Panasonic Dmc Fz300 Owners Manual

							141
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Auto Focus
Setting the AF area position with the touch pad
Recording mode: 
You can move the AF area displayed on the viewfinder by 
touching the monitor.
 • If you touch the monitor when the 
Auto Focus Mode is set to 
[Custom Multi] such as [
  ], the AF area setting screen will 
be displayed.  (→134)
 →  [Custom] → [Touch Settings ] → [Touch Pad AF]
[EXACT]Moves the AF area of the viewfinder by 
touching a desired position on the touch 
pad.
[OFFSET]Moves the AF area of the viewfinder 
according to the distance you drag the 
touch pad (→52).
[OFF] —
 • Press the shutter button halfway to determine the focus position. If you\
 press the 
[DISP .] button before determining the focus position, the focus position retu\
rns to the 
center.
 • T

o cancel the settings for the AF area when the Auto Focus Mode (→130) is set to [
  ] 
(Face/Eye Detection), [  ] (AF Tracking), or [  ] (49-area-focusing), press [MENU/
SET].
 ●The Touch Shutter function (→54) is disabled when using [ Touch  Pad AF]. ●[Touch  Pad AF] is not available when [Pull Focus] in [Snap Movie] is set to [ON]. 
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							142
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Auto Focus
Optimizing the focus and brightness for a touched position
Recording mode: 
You can optimize the focus and brightness for the position you have touch\
ed.
1Set the menu
 →  [Custom] → [Touch Settings] → [Touch AF] → [AF+AE]
2Touch the subject you want to optimize the brightness 
for
 • The AF area setting screen appears.  (→138) • The brightness optimization position is displayed on the center of 
the 
AF area. The position follows the movement of the AF area.
 • [Metering Mode] is set to [  ], which is used exclusively for the 
[
Touch AE].
 • T

ouching [Reset] returns the brightness optimization position and 
the AF area to the center.SetSet
ResetReset
3Touch [Set] • The AF area with the same function as [  ] is displayed on the touched position. • If you touch [  ], the Metering Mode returns to the original setting, and the brightness\
 
optimization position is canceled.  The AF area setting is also canceled.
 • If you touch [  ], the Metering Mode returns to the origina l setting, and the brightness 
optimization position is canceled.
When the background has become too bright, etc., 
the brightness contrast with the background can be 
adjusted by compensating the exposure.
 ●When recording with the Touch Shutter, the focus and brightness are optimized for the touched 
position before recording takes place.
 ●At the edge of the screen, the metering may be affected by the brightness around the touched 
location.
 ●The [AF+AE] does not function in the following cases: • When using the Digital Zoom • When the 

AF area has been set by using the cursor button 
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							143
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Auto Focus
Setting your preferred focusing method
You can use the [Custom] menu to set the focusing method in detail.
Enabling/disabling focus adjustment when the shutter button is 
pressed halfway
 →  [Custom] → [Shutter AF] → [ON] / [OFF]
Enabling/disabling shutter release when the shutter button is 
pressed halfway
 →  [Custom] → [Half Press Release] → [ON] / [OFF]
Focusing using the [AF/AE LOCK] button
You can use the [AF/AE LOCK] button instead of the shutter button to focu\
s on a subject.
1Set the menu
 →  [Custom] → [Shutter AF] → [OFF]
 →  [Custom] → [AF/AE Lock] → [AF-ON]
2Press the [AF/AE LOCK] button • The camera focuses on a subject.3
2
3
Press the shutter button to take a picture • The camera takes a picture by adjusting the exposure.
Enabling/disabling pre-adjustment of focus
 →  [Custom] → [Quick AF] → [ON] / [OFF]
The focus is automatically adjusted when camera blurring is small even w\
hen the shutter
button is not pressed. (Increases battery consumption)
 ●Press shutter button halfway if focus is difficult to align. ●This function is not available in the following cases: • Preview Mode • When the lighting is low 
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							144
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Auto Focus
Turning on/off the AF Assist Lamp
 →  [Custom] → [AF Assist Lamp] → [ON] / [OFF]
Illuminates the AF Assist Lamp when the shutter button is pressed halfway when it is too 
dark to facilitate focusing. (A large AF area is displayed based on recording conditions.)
 ●The AF Assist Lamp has an effective distance of 1.5 m (4.9 feet). ●AF Assist Lamp is effective for a subject at the center of the screen. ●Remove the lens hood. ●If you do not want to illuminate the AF Assist Lamp when you take a picture in a dark 
location (e.g. taking a picture of an animal in the dark), set this fu\
nction to [OFF]. When 
the AF Assist Lamp is set to [OFF], sharper focusing will become difficult.
 ●The setting is fixed to [OFF] in the following cases: • [Distinct Scenery], [Bright Blue Sky], [Romantic Sunset Glow], [V ivid Sunset Glow], 
[Glistening Water], [Clear Nightscape], [Cool Night Sky], [Warm Glowing Nightscape], 
[Artistic Nightscape], [Handheld Night Shot] (Scene Guide Mode)
 • When [Silent Mode] is set to [ON] • When [Conversion] is set to [  ] or [  ]
Enabling/disabling recording when a subject is out of focus
 →  [Custom] → [Focus/Release Priority]
[FOCUS]: 
 Recording is disabled unless the focusing is performed properly
 .
[RELEASE]:
 

 
Recording is performed when you fully press the shutter bu
 tton to 
place priority on the shutter release timing that helps to avoid missed \
opportunities.
Enabling/disabling manual focus adjustment after AF
 →  [Custom] → [AF+MF] → [ON] / [OFF]
You can manually perform fine focusing by rotating the side dial during AF Lock (pressing 
the shutter button halfway when the focus mode is set to [AFS] or setting AF Lock using 
the [AF/AE LOCK] button). 
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							145
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking close-up pictures  (Macro recording)
Recording mode: 
This mode allows you to take close-up pictures of a subject, e.g. when t\
aking pictures of 
flowers.
1Set the focus mode lever to [AFS/AFF] or 
[AFC]
2Press the side button
 • If you cannot select the macro recording mode, set the [Side Button Setting] under the [Custom] menu to  
[AF
  /FOCUS], and then press the side button.
3Press   to select the item and press [MENU/SET]
[  ]
([AF Macro]) Y
ou can take pictures of a subject as close as 1 cm (0.033 feet) from 
the lens by rotating the zoom lever upmost to Wide (1x).
[
  ]
([Macro Zoom]) Use this setting to get close to the subject and then further enlarge 
when taking the picture. 
You can take a picture with the Digital Zoom 
up to 3x while maintaining the distance to the subject for the extreme 
Wide position (1 cm (0.033 feet)).
 • Note that enlarging will decrease picture quality

.
 • Zoom range will be displayed in blue. (digital zoom range)
[
  ]
([Off]) — 
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							146
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking close-up pictures  (Macro recording)
 ●When recording a subject close to the camera, we recommend taking a pict\
ure without using the 
flash.
 ●A picture may be out of focus when the subject is out of focus range, eve\
n if the focus display is lit. ●When a nearby subject is to be recorded • Using a tripod and [Self T
imer] (→180) is recommended.
 • The ef

fective focus range (depth of field) is significantly narrowed. Therefore, if the distance 
between the camera and the subject is changed after focusing on the subj\
ect, it may become 
difficult to focus on it again.
 • Resolution may be slightly reduced around the edges of the picture. 

This is not a malfunction.
 ●Cannot set to [Macro Zoom] in the following cases: • [Handheld Night Shot] (Scene Guide Mode) • Panorama Shot Mode • During [High Speed V
ideo] recording
 • [

Impressive Art], [Toy Effect], [Toy Pop], [Miniature Effect] (Creative Control Mode)
 • When [Burst Rate] is set to [SH] • When [HDR] is set to [ON] • When [Multi Exp.] is set • When [Quality] is set to [  ], [  ] or [  ] • When [Conversion] is set to [  ] or [  ] 
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							147
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Manual Focus
Recording mode: 
Manual Focus is convenient when you want to lock the focus to take pictu\
res or when it is 
difficult to adjust focus using Auto Focus.
1Set the focus mode lever to [MF]
2Press [  ] button (  )
3Set the focus position with    , and 
press [MENU/SET]
 • The screen changes to the assist screen and an 
enlarged display appears. (MF  Assist)
 • Y

ou can also enlarge the area by pinching out  (→52) 
the screen or touching the screen twice.
 • Y

ou can also adjust the focus position by dragging 
(→52) the screen.
 • If you press [DISP

.] button, the area to be enlarged will 
be reset to the center.
4Rotate the side dial to adjust focus
Rotating the side dial to the side :
Focusing on a nearby subject
Rotating the side dial to the side 
:
Focusing on a distant subject
 • Color is added to the portions of the image that are in  focus. (Peaking) (→ 151)
 • About the MF Guide (→

150)MF Assist
(Enlarged screen)
Peaking
MF Guide 
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							148
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Manual Focus
Button 
operation Touch 
operation Description
   Drag
Moves the enlarged area.
— Pinch in / 
Pinch out Enlarges/reduces the AF area in small steps.
—
Enlarges/reduces the AF area in large steps.
—
Switches the enlarged display. (windowed/full screen)
[DISP.] [Reset] Resets the area to be enlarged back to the center.
 • The image of a part of the screen can be enlarged or reduced approximate\
ly 3 to 
6 times.  The image of the entire screen can be enlarged or reduced approximately 
3 to 10 times.
 • If you use the HDMI output during recording, the screen cannot be enlarg\
ed in  windowed mode.
Changing the MF Assist display
 →  [Custom] → [MF Assist Display]
[FULL]: Enlarges the assist screen using the entire screen.
[PIP]: Enlarges the assist screen on part of the screen.
 • The display of the assist screen can also be switched by touching [  ].
5Press the shutter button halfway
 • The assist screen will close.  The recording screen will be displayed. • Y
ou can also exit MF Assist by pressing [MENU/SET].
 ●If you press the cursor button when [Direct  Focus Area] in the [Custom] menu is set to [ON], the 
setting screen for the enlarged position appears.
 ●MF Assist is not displayed in the following cases: • During motion picture recording • When recording with [  ] ([4K Pre-Burst]) of the 4K Photo function • When using the Digital Zoom 
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							149
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Manual Focus
Quickly adjusting the focus using Auto Focus
In Manual Focus, the focus can be set on the subject through Auto Focus. (One shot AF)
1Press the side button • If Auto Focus does not work, set the [Side Button Setting] under the [Custom] menu to [AF  /FOCUS], and then press the side 
button.
 ●Auto Focus is activated at the center of the frame. ●When Auto Focus is activated on the MF Assist screen, the camera will adjust the focus at the 
center of the MF Assist screen.
 ●Auto Focus also works with the following operations. • Pressing the [AF/AE LOCK] button to which [AF-ON] is assigned (→ 152)
 • Pressing the function button to which [AF-ON] is assigned • T

ouch [
  ] • Dragging the monitor and releasing your finger at the position you want \
to focus on 
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							150
Adjusting the focus and brightness (exposure)
Taking pictures with Manual Focus
Technique for Manual Focus
1Rotate the side dial to focus on the 
subject12
3
2
Rotate it a little more
3Finely focus on the subject by rotating 
the side dial slowly in reverse
 ●After canceling [Sleep Mode], be sure to readjust the focus. ●When a nearby subject is to be recorded (→146)
Setting the display method of MF Assist
 →  [Custom] → [MF Assist]
[  ]
Rotate the side dial or press the [  ] button (  ) to enlarge the image.
[
  ] Rotate the side dial to enlarge the image.
[
  ] Press the [  ] button (  ) to enlarge the p osition.
[OFF] The side dial or [
  ] button (  ) cannot be used to enlarge the image.
Enabling/disabling MF Guide display
 →  [Custom] → [MF Guide ] → [ON] / [OFF]
When [MF Guide] on the [Custom] menu is set to [ON] and 
you focus manually, the MF guide is displayed on the screen. 
You can check whether the point of focus is to the near side 
or the far side.
Indicator for  (infinity) 
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