Panasonic Dmc Fz50 Operating Instructions Manual

							Preparation
31 VQT0X92
[SCENE MENU]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select this item. (P27)
[AUTO]:[SCENE MODE] menu appears 
automatically when setting the 
mode dial to scene mode. Select 
the desired scene mode. (P64)
[OFF]:[SCENE MODE] menu does not 
appear when setting the mode 
dial to scene mode and the 
camera is operated in scene 
mode currently selected. If you 
change the scene mode, press 
[MENU/SET] to display the 
[SCENE MODE] menu and then 
select the desired scene mode.
[LANGUAGE]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select this item. (P27)
Set the language on the menu screen from 
the following languages. Set to the desired 
language with / and store it with 
[MENU/SET].
[ENGLISH] :English
[DEUTSCH] :German
[FRANÇAIS] :French
[ESPAÑOL] :Spanish
[ITALIANO] :Italian
[] :Chinese (Traditional)
[]:Japanese
• If you set a different language by mistake, 
select [ ] from the menu icons to set the 
desired language.
SETMENU
SETMENU 
						

							Basic
32VQT0X92
Basic
Taking Pictures
The camera automatically sets the shutter 
speed and the aperture value according to 
the brightness of the subject.
• Remove the lens cap.
1Turn the camera on.
Select program AE mode [ ].
• The power indicator  (green) lights. 
When it blinks, the remaining battery 
power is low. Insert a fully charged 
battery.
2Aim the AF area  to the point 
you want to focus on and then 
press the shutter button halfway.
•: Press the shutter button halfway to 
focus.
•: Program shift
• The focus indication  lights and then 
the aperture value 	 and the shutter 
speed 
 are displayed.• When the ISO sensitivity is set to 
[ ], the shutter speed will not be 
displayed. (P85) 
• If [ ] or [ ] is used in AF mode, 
the AF area does not appear until the 
subject is brought into focus. (P90)
• The AF area displayed is bigger than 
usual when using the digital zoom or 
when taking pictures in dark places. 
(P90)
• Refer to P33 for information about 
Program shift.
3Take a picture.
•: Press the shutter button fully to take 
the picture.
• We recommend checking that the clock is 
set properly before taking pictures. (P26)
• When you press the shutter button, the 
screen may become bright or dark for a 
moment. This function allows easy 
adjustment of focus and the recorded 
picture will not be affected.
• When a time is set for power save (P29), 
the camera automatically turns off if you 
do not operate it within the set time. To 
operate the camera again, press the 
shutter button halfway or turn the camera 
off and on.
AMCUSTOM
SCN
S
P
OFF ON
1/25F2.8PROGRAM SHIFT
When the 
subject is not 
focusedWhen the 
subject is 
focused
Focus 
indicationBlinks (green) On (green)
AF area Turns white to 
red or no AF 
areaTurns white to 
green
Sound Beeps 4 times Beeps 2 times 
						

							Basic
33 VQT0X92
• To avoid picture noise, we recommend 
decreasing the ISO sensitivity, and/or 
setting [NOISE REDUCTION] in 
[PICT.ADJ.] to [HIGH] or setting every 
item except [NOISE REDUCTION] to 
[LOW]. (P94).
(ISO sensitivity is set to [AUTO] when the 
camera is shipped. Therefore, when 
taking pictures indoors etc. the ISO 
sensitivity increases.)
wProgram shift
In program AE mode, you can change the 
preset aperture value and shutter speed 
without changing the exposure. This is 
called program shift.
You can make the background more blurred 
by decreasing the aperture value or record 
a moving subject more dynamically by 
slowing the shutter speed when taking a 
picture in program AE mode.
• If the direct exposure compensation function 
(P93) is activated, the way in which the dial 
is operated changes. The explanation shows 
the direct exposure compensation function 
deactivated as an example. 
• Press the shutter button halfway and then 
rotate the rear dial to activate the Program 
shift while the aperture value and the 
shutter speed are displayed on the screen 
(for about 10 seconds).• The program shift indication  appears 
on the screen when program shift is 
activated.
• Program shift is canceled if the camera is 
turned off or the rear dial is rotated left 
and right until the program shift indication 
disappears.
wExample of program shift
(A): Aperture value
(B): Shutter speed
Program shift amount
Program shift line chart 
Program shift limit 
• If the exposure is not adequate when the 
shutter button is pressed halfway, the 
aperture value and shutter speed turns red.
• Program shift is canceled and the camera 
returns to normal program AE mode if 
more than 10 seconds pass after program 
shift is activated. However, the program 
shift setting is memorized.
• Depending on the brightness of the 
subject, program shift may not be 
activated.
• Program shift cannot be activated when 
the ISO sensitivity is set to [ ].
wTips for taking good pictures
• Hold the camera gently with both hands, 
keep your arms still at your side and stand 
with your feet slightly apart.
• When taking pictures, make sure your 
footing is stable and there is no danger of 
colliding with another person, a ball etc.
3
1/30F4.0PROGRAM SHIFT
3
1/60F2.8PROGRAM SHIFT
1  2 3  4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
1 1
/
21
/
41
/
81
/
151
/
301
/
601
/
1251
/
2501
/
5001
/
10001
/
2000
2
2.8
4
5.6
8
11
(B)
(A)
14 
						

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34VQT0X92
• Make sure the camera does not shake 
when you press the shutter button.
• Do not cover the microphone or the AF assist 
lamp with your fingers or other objects.
• Do not touch the front of the lens.
• If the LCD monitor screen is difficult to see 
because of light from the sun etc. shining 
on it, we recommend using your hand or 
another object to block the light when 
using the camera.
When recording with LCD Monitor
When recording with Viewfinder
: When holding the camera vertically
wDirection detection function
Pictures recorded with the camera held 
vertically are played back vertically 
(rotated). (Only when [ROTATE DISP.] 
(P104) is set to [ON])
• Pictures may not be displayed vertically if 
they were taken with the camera aimed up 
or down.
• Pictures cannot be displayed vertically 
when recording motion pictures or 
creating flip animations.
wWhen you want to take a subject 
outside the AF area (AF/AE Lock)
When recording a picture of people with a 
composition like the following picture, you 
will not be able to focus the camera on the subject because the people are outside the 
AF area.
In this case,
1Aim the AF area at the subject.
2 Press the shutter button halfway to fix 
the focus and the exposure.
• The focus indication lights when the 
subject is focused.
3 Press and hold the shutter button 
halfway while moving the camera as you 
compose the picture.
4Press the shutter button fully.
• You can repeatedly retry AF/AE lock 
before pressing the shutter button fully.
wFocusing
• The focus range is 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 
c(Wide), 2 m (6.56 feet) to c (Tele). To 
take pictures of subjects nearby, use 
the AF Macro function. (P56)
• 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.
• In the following cases, the camera will not 
focus on subjects properly.
– When there are both near and distant 
subjects in a scene.
– When there is dirt or dust on glass 
between the lens and the subject.
– When there are illuminated or glittering 
objects around the subject.
– When taking a picture in dark places.
– When the subject is moving fast.
– When the scene has low contrast.
– When jitter occurs.
– When recording a very bright subject.
We recommend taking pictures using 
prefocus (P61) and [FOCUS/AE LOCK]. 
3
1/25F2.81/25F2.8 
						

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35 VQT0X92
In dark places, the AF assist lamp (P91) 
may turn on to focus on the subject.
• Even when the focus indication appears 
and the subject is focused, it is canceled if 
you release the shutter button. Press the 
shutter button halfway again.
• Please do not rotate the zoom ring during 
auto focus.
wPreventing jitter (camera shake)
• Be careful of jittering when pressing the 
shutter button.
• If jitter could occur because of slow 
shutter speed, the jitter alert  appears.
•
When the jitter alert appears, we 
recommend using a tripod. Also, be 
careful how you hold the camera (P34). 
Using the self-timer (P51) or the shutter 
remote control (DMW-RSL1; optional) 
(P120) prevents jittering caused by 
pressing the shutter button when you are 
using a tripod.
• Shutter speed will be slower particularly in 
the following cases. Keep the camera still 
from the moment the shutter button is 
pressed until the picture appears on the 
screen. We recommend using a tripod.
– Slow sync./Red-eye reduction (P47)
– [NIGHT PORTRAIT] (P66)
– [NIGHT SCENERY] (P66)
– [PARTY] (P67)
– [CANDLE LIGHT] (P68)
– [FIREWORKS] (P68)
– [STARRY SKY] (P68)
– When you set to a slow shutter speed 
(P57, 58)
wExposure
• If you press the shutter button halfway 
when the exposure is not adequate, the aperture value and the shutter speed turn 
red. (They do not turn red when the flash 
is activated.)
• The brightness of the screen may differ 
from the brightness of the recorded 
pictures especially when recording in low 
light conditions.
• When most of the subjects on the screen 
are bright (e.g. a blue sky on a clear day, a 
snowy field etc.), the recorded pictures 
may become dark. In this case, 
compensate the exposure value on the 
camera. (P52)
wConcerning the [FOCUS/AE LOCK] 
button
• In situations where the subject is outside 
the AF area or the subject contrast is too 
strong to compensate the exposure, for 
instance, this button makes it possible to 
take pictures using the focus and 
exposure that you fixed ahead of time.
: FOCUS/AE lock indication
• Refer to P92 for information about 
[FOCUS/AE LOCK].
1/8F2.8PROGRAM SHIFT
3
1/60F2.8
3
1/60F2.8PROGRAM SHIFT
FOCUS/AE LOCKA 
						

							Basic
36VQT0X92
Taking Pictures in 
Auto Mode
This mode allows beginners to take pictures 
easily. The settings for those functions which 
are easy to make mistakes with are fixed at 
the time of purchase allowing pictures to be 
taken with fewer mistakes.
wAuto Mode Settings
In auto mode the following items are fixed 
at the time of purchase to prevent mistakes 
being made when using the camera.
• Select [AF] or [AF MACRO] with the focus 
switch.wThe Backlight Compensation
Backlight refers to when light comes from 
the back of a subject.
In this case, the subject, such as a person, 
will become dark.
If you press , the compensating backlight 
ON indication appears and the 
backlight compensation function is 
activated. This function compensates the 
backlight by brightening the whole of the 
picture.
• If you press  while [ ] is displayed, 
[ ] disappears and the backlight 
compensation function is canceled.
• We recommend using the flash when you 
use the backlight compensation function.
(When using the flash, it is fixed to Forced 
ON [ ].)
• The flash setting is fixed to AUTO/Red-eye 
reduction [ ] when the backlight 
compensation function is set to [OFF].
• Even if the focus switch is set to [AF], you 
can take pictures approaching the subject 
at a distance of up to 5 cm (0.16 feet) from 
the lens by rotating the zoom ring upmost 
to Wide the same as if [AF MACRO] was 
selected.
• The settings for [ASPECT RATIO], 
[PICT.SIZE], [QUALITY] and 
[CONVERSION] in auto mode  are 
applied to other recording modes.
• You cannot use the following functions in 
auto mode.
– [WB ADJUST.]
– Exposure compensation
– Auto bracket
– Flash Output Adjustment
– [D.ZOOM]
– [COL.EFFECT]
– [FOCUS/AE LOCK] [W.BALANCE] [AUTO]P83
[SENSITIVITY] [ ]P85
[AUDIO REC.] [OFF]P89
[METERING MODE][] P89
[AF MODE] [ ] P90
[CONT.AF] [OFF]P91
[AF ASSIST LAMP][ON]P91
[PICT.ADJ.] [STD.]P94
[FLIP ANIM.]Cannot be set P95
[EXT.FLASH]Automatically 
switches 
between 
PRESET/TTL 
AU TOP99
AF
FOCUS MF AFMACRO
33
BACKLIGHTBACKLIGHT 
						

							Basic
37 VQT0X92
Taking Pictures with 
the Zoom
You can make people and subjects appear 
closer with the 12M optical zoom and 
landscapes can be recorded in wide angle. 
(35 mm film camera equivalent: 35 mm to 
420 mm)
wTo make subjects appear closer use 
Te l e
Rotate the zoom ring  towards 
the right.
• When the setting for picture size is 
[ ] (10M).
wTo make subjects appear further away 
use Wide
Rotate the zoom ring towards 
the left.
• When the setting for picture size is 
[ ] (10M).
• Depending on the zoom magnification, the 
picture may have some distortion. 
Distortion will be more visible when using 
a wider area of the zoom lens as you 
move closer to the subject.• Depending on the zoom magnification, the 
picture may have some colored fringes 
around the subject. This is called 
chromatic aberration and may be more 
visible when recording distant subjects.
• If you use the zoom function after focusing 
on the subject, focus on the subject again.
• The indicated zoom magnification is an 
approximation.
• When you rotate the zoom ring, you 
may hear some sound from the camera 
or the camera may be shaken. This is 
not a malfunction.
This camera has a 12M optical zoom. 
However, if the picture size is not set to the 
highest setting for each aspect ratio [ /
/ ], a maximum of 21.4M optical 
zoom can be achieved with no picture 
quality deterioration.
wExtended optical zoom mechanism
When you set the picture size to [ ] 
(3M EZ) (3 million pixels), the 10M 
(10 million pixels) CCD area is cropped to 
the center 3M (3 million pixels) area, 
allowing a picture with a higher zoom effect.
Using the Optical Zoom
12X
3
3
1X
Using the Extended Optical Zoom 
(EZ)
Picture size with the 
extended optical zoom 
not activated [example: 
[ ] (10M)]Picture size with the 
extended optical zoom 
activated [example: 
[] (3MEZ)] 
						

							Basic
38VQT0X92
wPicture size and maximum zoom 
magnification
(n: Available, —: Not available)
• Refer to P87 for aspect ratio settings and 
P87 for picture size.
• “EZ” is an abbreviation of 
“Extended optical Zoom”.
• You can further enhance the zoom 
magnification with the extended optical 
zoom without worrying about further 
picture distortion. 
• If you set a picture size that activates the 
extended optical zoom, the extended 
optical zoom icon [ ] is displayed on the 
screen when you use the zoom function.
• The indicated zoom magnification is an 
approximation.
• The on-screen zoom indication may not 
change consecutively if you rotate the zoom 
ring near the Tele position when the extended 
optical zoom is used. This is not a malfunction.
• In motion picture mode [ ] and 
[HIGH SENS.] in scene mode, the 
extended optical zoom does not work.The digital zoom can be set to [2
M] or [4M]with [D.ZOOM] in the [REC] menu and a 
maximum of 48
M zoom can be achieved. 
However, if a picture size that can use the 
extended optical zoom (P87) is selected, a 
maximum of 85.5
M zoom can be achieved 
with the 21.4M extended optical zoom and 
the 4M digital zoom.
wMenu operation
1Press [MENU/SET].
• When a scene mode is selected, press 
 in the [SCENE MODE] menu (P64), 
press  to select the [REC] menu icon 
[ ] and then press .
2Press  to select [D.ZOOM] 
and then press .
3Press  to select [2M] or [4M]
and then press [MENU/SET].
4Press [MENU/SET] to close the 
menu.
• You can also press the shutter 
button halfway to close the menu.
Aspect 
ratioPicture sizeMaximum 
zoom 
magnificationExtended 
optical 
zoom
(10M)
12M— (8.5M)
(7M)
(8M EZ)
13.4M
n (7M EZ)
(5.5M EZ)
(5M EZ)
17.1M
(4.5M EZ)
(3M EZ)
(2M EZ)
21.4M
(2.5M EZ)
(2M EZ)
Using the Digital Zoom 
Further extending the zoom
SETMENUSELECT
REC3/5
OFF OFF Focus/AE
OFFCOL.EFFECT
AF ASSIST LAMP
FOCUS/AE LOCK
DIRECT EX.COMP.
ON
OFF
k
kD.ZOOM
SETMENU 
						

							Basic
39 VQT0X92
wEntering the digital zoom range
In the [REC] menu (P82), setting [D.ZOOM] 
to [2M] or [4M] allows you to magnify a 
subject up to a maximum of 48 times. 
(Except when using extended optical 
zoom.)
Optical zoom
Digital zoom
wThe digital zoom and extended optical 
zoom can be used together.
Example: When the digital zoom is set to 
[4M] and the picture size to [ ] (3M EZ), 
you can use the extended optical zoom at 
the same time.
	When using the digital zoom [4M] and 
the extended optical zoom   [3M EZ 
(maximum 21.4 times )] together.
• When using the digital zoom, the AF area 
on the center of the screen is displayed 
and it is bigger than usual. (P90)
• In digital zoom, the larger the picture the 
lower the picture quality.
• In the digital zoom range, the stabilizer 
function may not be effective.
• When using the digital zoom, we 
recommend using a tripod and the 
self-timer (P51) for taking pictures.
• The indicated zoom magnification is an 
approximation.
• The digital zoom is temporarily set to 
[OFF] in the following cases.
– When taking pictures in auto mode 
[ ] (P36)– When the quality is set to [RAW] (P87)
– When [CONVERSION] on the [REC] 
menu is set to [ ] (P97)
• The digital zoom does not work in the 
following cases:
– In [HIGH SENS.] in scene mode.
– When the ISO sensitivity has been set to 
[ ]. 
Checking the 
Recorded Picture 
(Review)
You can check the recorded pictures while 
still in [REC] mode.
1Press  [REV].
• The last recorded picture appears for 
about 10 seconds.
• Review is canceled when the shutter 
button is pressed halfway or the 
[REV] is pressed again.
• You can check other pictures by 
pressing /.
• When the recorded pictures are too 
bright or too dim, compensate the 
exposure. (P52)
2Rotate the front dial to the right to 
enlarge the picture.
• Rotate the front dial to the right for a 4M
magnification and then rotate it even 
more for a 8M magnification. When you 
rotate the front dial towards the left after 
enlarging the picture, the magnification 
becomes lower.
W
W
WT
T T
WT
REVIEW1X
DELETE4XEXIT 
						

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40VQT0X92
3Press to move the 
position.
• When you change the magnification or 
the position to be displayed, the zoom 
position indication  appears for about 
1 second so that you can check the 
enlarged area.
wDeleting the recorded picture during 
Review (Quick deletion)
1Press [ ].
2Press  to select [YES].
3Press [MENU/SET].
• Once deleted, pictures cannot be 
recovered. Double-check pictures 
before deleting them.
• Multiple pictures or all the pictures can 
be deleted. For information about how 
to delete pictures, refer to P41.
• When [ROTATE DISP.] is set to [ON], 
pictures recorded holding the camera 
vertically are played back vertically 
(rotated). (P104)
Playing Back Pictures
Press to select the picture.
/ : Play back the previous picture
/ : Play back the next picture
• The first recorded picture will be 
displayed after the last recorded 
picture.
• When [ROTATE DISP.] (P104) is set to 
[ON], pictures recorded by holding the 
camera vertically are played back 
vertically.
wFast forwarding/Fast rewinding
Press and hold during playback
: Fast rewind
: Fast forward
• The file number  and the picture 
number  only change one by one. 
Release  when the number of the 
desired picture appears to play back the 
picture.
• If you press and hold , the number 
of files forwarded/rewound at one time 
increases. The actual number of files 
forwarded/rewound at one time depends 
on the number of files recorded.
1XDELETE8X
REVIEW4X
DELETE THIS PICTURE?
DELETE SINGLE
MULTI/ALLSELECT
SETMENU
NOYES
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