Panasonic Dmc Fz40 Operating Instructions Manual

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Advanced (Recording pictures)
[REC] Mode: 
Taking Close-up Pictures
Press and hold [AF/AF#/MF] until the 
focus switching screen appears.
Press  3/4 to select [AF MACRO] or 
[MACRO ZOOM].
Press [MENU/SET].
•You can also press the shutter button halfway to finish.•The menu screen disappears after about 5 seconds. At this time, the selected item is 
automatically set.
Press the shutter button halfway to focus 
and then press it fully to take the picture.
•[ ] is displayed during AF Macro Mode and [ ] 
is displayed during Macro Zoom Mode.
•To cancel, select the [AF] in step 2.•Zoom range, focus range, and zoom magnification 
are displayed during zooming. 
						

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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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 (0.04 feet) from the lens by 
rotating the zoom lever upmost to Wide (1 k).
As you rotate the zoom lever towards Tele, the distance at which you can take close-up 
pictures changes in steps. The maximum distance for close-up pictures is 1 m (3.28 feet).
∫ Focus range
¢ The focus range changes in 
steps.
You can take a picture with the Digital Zoom up to 3k  while maintaining the distance to the 
subject for the extreme Wide position [1 cm (0.04 feet)].
A Recording distance range
B Zoom range
•Recording distance range will be 1 cm (0.04 feet) to  ¶ during 
Macro Zoom Mode regardless of the zoom position.
•Zoom range will be displayed in  blue. (digital zoom range)•The image quality is poorer than during normal recording.•Macro Zoom recording is not available in the following 
settings.
–When [ ] in [AF MODE] is set.–When the [CONVERSION] (P144) is set to [ ] or [ ].•The following functions are not activated.–Extended Optical Zoom–Intelligent Zoom
Note
•We recommend using a tripod and the Self-Timer.•We recommend setting the flash to [ Œ] when you take pictures at close range.•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.
•When a subject is close to the camera, the effective focus range 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.
•AF Macro Mode gives priority to a subject close to the camera. Therefore, if the distance 
between the camera and the subject is far, it takes longer to focus on it.
•When you take pictures at close range, the resolution of the periphery of the picture may 
decrease slightly. This is not a malfunction.
•If the lens becomes dirty with fingerprints or dust, the lens may not be able to focus on the 
subject correctly.
 [AF MACRO]
 [MACRO ZOOM]
1 m (3.28 feet)T
W
1 cm (0.04 feet)
A
BC 
						

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Advanced (Recording pictures)
[REC] Mode: 
Taking Pictures with Manual Focus
Use this function when you want to fix the focus or when the distance between the lens 
and the subject is determined and you do not want to activate Auto Focus.
Press and hold [AF/AF #/MF] until the focus switching screen 
appears.
Press  3/4 to select [MF] and then press [MENU/SET].
•[MF] is displayed while in Manual Focus Mode.
Press the rear dial a few times to enable 
the manual focus operation. 
•Enabled operation will switch every time the rear 
dial is pressed.
•Manual focus operation is enabled when [ ] at 
the bottom right of the screen changes to orange.
Rotate the rear dial.
• Focus range is displayed.
Press 2/ 1 or rotate the rear dial to focus 
on the subject.
•It may be difficult to make fine adjustments when 
using the rear dial. If you have any difficulty, we 
recommend adjusting using the cursor button.
•Pressing and holding down the cursor button 
causes the focus position to move continuously.
•MF assistance disappears about 2 seconds after you stop operating the rear dial.•Focus range disappears about 5 seconds after you stop operating the rear dial.
Take the picture.
•To cancel, select the [AF] in step 2.
A Focus range 
						

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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∫MF assistance
If [MF ASSIST]  (P34) in the setup menu is set to [ON], when you rotate the rear dial, MF 
assistance is activated and the screen is enlarged allowing you to focus on the subject 
more easily.
1 Rotate the rear dial to display MF 
assistance on the screen.
2 Display MF area (enlarged area) by 
pressing [MENU/SET].
3 Move the MF area (enlarged area) by 
pressing  3/4 /2 /1  on the cursor 
button.
4 Return to MF assistance by pressing [MENU/SET].
•
The magnification of the enlarged area can be changed by pressing the rear dial when MF 
assistance is activated or the MF area is moving.
•The following will return the MF assi stance to the original position.–Changing the picture size or aspect.–Turning the camera off.
∫Technique for Manual Focus
1 Focus 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  the 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] 
(P98)  in Scene Mode)
This function is suitable when the distance between the camera and the subject is certain.
∫ One shot AF
You can focus on the subject with Auto Focus by pressing [FOCUS] button when [MF] is 
displayed.
This is convenient for prefocus.
Note
•
If you focus on the subject in Wide and then rotate the zoom lever to Tele, the focus may not be 
adequate. In this case, focus on the subject again.
•The MF assistance does not appear when using the Digital Zoom.•The distance to the subject displayed on the screen in Manual Focus is an approximation of the 
focus position. Use the MF assistance screen for a final check of the focus.
•After canceling Sleep Mode, focus on the subject again.•Using MF assistance in combination with AE lock makes it easy to check the focus. 
						

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Advanced (Recording pictures)
[REC] Mode: 
Taking Pictures with the Self-Timer
Note
•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  (P142) to allow the camera to focus on the subject.
•We recommend using a tripod when recording with the Self-Timer.•The number of pictures which can be taken in Burst Mode is fixed to 3.•The number of pictures which can be taken in [FLASH BURST]  (P97) is fixed to 5.•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.•[10S/3PICTURES] cannot be set when any of Intelligent Auto Mode, Auto Bracket or 
[PANORAMA ASSIST], [FLASH BURST] or [PHOTO FRAME] in Scene Mode is set.
•You cannot use Burst Mode when [10S/3PICTURES] is selected.•Setting of the self-timer cannot be performed in following conditions.–In [HI-SPEED BURST] in Scene Mode–When recording motion pictures
Press  2 [ë].
Press  3/4 to select a mode.
•You can also press  2 [ë] to select.•If you set [10S/3PICTURES], after 10 seconds the 
camera takes 3 pictures at about 2 second intervals.
Press [MENU/SET].
•You can also press the shutter button halfway to finish.•The menu screen disappears after about 5 seconds. At this time, the selected item is 
automatically set.
Press the shutter button halfway to focus 
and then press it fully to take the picture.
•The Self-Timer indicator  A blinks and the shutter is 
activated after 10 seconds (or 2 seconds).
•If you press [MENU/SET] while the Self-Timer is set, 
the Self-Timer setting is canceled.
•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.
A 
						

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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[REC] Mode: 
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.
∫ Operate with the rear dial
1Press the rear dial to select [ È], and then rotate 
the rear dial to compensate the exposure.
AExposure compensation value
2Press the shutter button halfway to finish.
Note
•
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 cannot be used when in [STARRY SKY] in Scene Mode.
Under exposed Properly exposed Overexposed
Compensate the exposure 
towards positive. Compensate the 
exposure towards 
negative.
Press 
3 [È] until [EXPOSURE] appears, 
compensate the exposure with 2 /1.
•Select [0 EV] to return to the original exposure.
Press [MENU/SET] to finish.
•You can also press the shutter button halfway to finish. 
						

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Advanced (Recording pictures)
[REC] 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 p ictures with different exposures.
With Auto Bracket  d1EV
Note
•
When Auto Bracket is set, [ ] is displayed 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 exposure may not be compensated with Auto Bracket depending on the brightness of the 
subject.
•The Auto Bracket setting is canceled if you turn the camera off or [SLEEP MODE] is activated.•The Auto Review function is activated regardless of the Auto Review setting. You cannot set 
the Auto Review function in the [SETUP] menu.
•In Shutter-Priority AE and Manual Exposure, if the shutter speed is set to more than 1 second, 
Auto Bracket is canceled.
•[ Œ ] is set for the flash when Auto Bracket is set.•Burst or White Balance Bracket is canceled when Auto Bracket is set.•You cannot use the Auto Bracket in following conditions.–In [PANORAMA ASSIST], [HI-SPEED BURST], [FLASH BURST], [STARRY SKY] and 
[PHOTO FRAME] in Scene Mode
–When recording motion pictures  
1st picture 2nd picture 3rd picture
d 0EV j1EV i1EV
Press 3 [È ] several times until [AUTO BRACKET] 
appears, set the compensation range of the 
exposure with  2/1.
•When you do not use Auto Bracket, select [OFF] (0).
Press [MENU/SET] to finish.
•You can also press the shutter button halfway to finish. 
						

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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[REC] mode: 
Setting the Light Sensitivity
This allows the sensitivity to light (ISO sensitivity) to be set. Setting to a higher figure 
enables pictures to be taken even in dark plac es without the resulting pictures coming out 
dark.
Press  1 ().
Press  3/4 to select the ISO sensitivity and then 
press [MENU/SET] to set.
•You can also press  1 [ ] to select.•You can also press the shutter button halfway to set.•The menu screen disappears after about 5 seconds. At this 
time, the selected item is automatically set.
¢ When the [ISO LIMIT SET] of [REC] mode menu  (P127) is set to anything except 
[AUTO], it is set automatically within the value set in [ISO LIMIT SET].
It is set as following when the [ISO LIMIT SET] is set to [AUTO].
•When [AUTO] is selected, ISO sensitivity is adjusted automatically depending on 
brightness within a maximum setting of [ISO400]. ([ISO800] when the flash is used)
•When setting to [ ], ISO sensitivity will adjus t automatically depending on brightness 
within the maximum setting of [ISO1600]. ([ISO800] when the flash is used)
•ISO sensitivity will operate as [AUTO] in Motion  Picture Recording other than Creative Motion 
Picture. Also, [ISO LIMIT SET] will not function.
ISO sensitivity80 1600
Recording location 
(recommended) When it is light (outdoors) When it is dark
Shutter speed Slow Fast
Noise Less Increased
ISO sensitivitySettings
AUTO¢The ISO sensitivity is automatica lly adjusted according to the 
brightness.
¢
(Intelligent) The ISO sensitivity is adjusted according to the movement of 
the subject and the brightness.
80/100/200/400/800/1600 The ISO sensitivity is fixed to various settings. 
						

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Advanced (Recording pictures)
∫About [ ] (Intelligent ISO sensitivity control)
The camera automatically sets the optimum ISO sensitivity and shutter speed to suit the 
movement of the subject and brightness of the scene to minimize the jitter of the subject.
•
The shutter speed is not fixed when the shutter button is pressed halfway. It is continuously 
changing to match the movement of the subject until the shutter button is pressed fully. Confirm 
the actual shutter speed on the information display for the picture being played back.
Note
•The higher the value set for the ISO sensitivity, the more the jitter is reduced but the greater the 
amount of picture noise.
•Refer to P69  for the flash range.•Depending on the brightness and how fast the su bject is moving, jitter may not be avoided even 
if [ ] is selected.
•Movements may not be detected when a moving subject is small, when a moving subject is at 
the edge of the screen or when a subject has moved at the very moment when the shutter 
button was pressed fully.
•The ISO sensitivity is fixed to [AUTO], when it  is set to something other than [CUSTOM] in My 
Color Mode.
•The setting is fixed to [ ] in the following cases.–In [INDOOR PORTRAIT] in [PORTRAIT]–In [SPORTS]–In [BABY1]/[BABY2], [PET] and [FLASH BURST] in Scene Mode•Program Shift cannot be activated when the ISO sensitivity is set to [ ].•You cannot select [ ] in Shutter-Priority AE Mode and Manual Exposure Mode.•To avoid picture noise, we recommend reducing the ISO sensitivity, setting 
[NOISE REDUCTION] in [PICT. ADJ.] towards [ _] or setting the items except 
[NOISE REDUCTION] towards [ `] to take pictures.  (P140) 
						

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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[REC] Mode: 
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.
Set the mode dial to  [ ].
Rotate the rear dial to set the aperture 
value.
•It will switch between aperture setting operation and 
Exposure Compensation operation every time the rear 
dial is pressed.
Take a picture.
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.
Set the mode dial to  [ ].
Rotate the rear dial to set the shutter speed.
•It will switch between shutter speed setting operation 
and Exposure Compensation operation every time the 
rear dial is pressed.
Take a picture.
Note
•Refer to P82  for the available aperture values and the shutter speed.•The brightness of the LCD monitor/Viewfinder and  the recorded pictures may differ. Check the 
pictures using the Playback Mode.
•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 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.•[ ] cannot be set for Shutter-Priority AE.
 Aperture-Priority AE
 Shutter-Priority AE