Panasonic Dmc Fz8 Operating Instructions Manual

							Preparation
21VQT1B25
Setting the Menu
∫Displaying the menu screens
Press [MENU/SET].
AMenu icons
BCurrent page
CMenu items and settings
 Rotate the zoom lever to switch to the 
next/previous page easily.
 The menu icons and the menu items that 
are displayed differ depending on the 
position of the mode dial.
∫About the menu icons
[REC] mode menu (P76):
This is displayed when the mode dial is set 
to [ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ].
[PLAY] mode menu (P97):
This is displayed when the mode dial is set 
to [ ].
[SCENE MODE] menu (P62):
This is displayed when the mode dial is set 
to [ ].
[SETUP] menu (P22):
This is displayed when the mode dial is set 
to [ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/
[].
∫Setting menu items
 The following example shows how to set 
[QUALITY] when program AE mode [ ] 
is selected.
1Press 3/4 to select the menu 
item.
 Press 4 at A to switch to the next 
screen.
2Press 1.
3Press 3/4 to select the setting.
4Press [MENU/SET] to set.
EXITMENUSELECT
REC1/4AWB
AUTO
SENSITIVITY WB ADJUST.
PICT.SIZEASPECT RATIO
W.BALANCE
EXITMENU
REC1/4AWB
AUTO
SENSITIVITY WB ADJUST.ASPECT RATIO
W.BALANCE
REC2/4
OFFMETERING MODE
CONT.AF AF MODEOFF
AUDIO REC.
PICT.SIZE
SELECT
EXITMENUSELECT
QUALITY
or
REC2/4
OFFMETERING MODE
CONT.AF AF MODEOFF
AUDIO REC.
SELECTSETMENU
QUALITY
or
REC2/4
OFFMETERING MODE
CONT.AF
AF MODEOFF
AUDIO REC.
SELECTSETMENU
QUALITY
or
MENUSET
EXITMENUSELECT
REC2/4
OFFMETERING MODE
CONT.AF
AF MODEOFF
AUDIO REC.QUALITY
or
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							Preparation
22VQT1B25
∫Closing the menu screen
Press [MENU/SET].
 When the mode dial is set to 
[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/[ ]/
[ ], you can also close the menu 
screen by pressing the shutter 
button halfway or press the center of 
the joystick to finish.
∫Switching to the [SETUP] menu
1Press 2 on a menu screen.
2Press 4 to select the [SETUP] 
menu icon.
3Press 1.
 Select a menu item next and set it.
About the Setup Menu
 Set items as required. (Refer to P22  to 25 
for each menu item.)
 Select [RESET] to return the settings to 
the initial settings at the time of purchase. 
(P24)
 [CLOCK SET], [AUTO REVIEW] and 
[POWER SAVE] are important items. 
Check their settings before using them.
[CLOCK SET] (P19)
(Changing the date and time.)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Change date and time.
[AUTO REVIEW]
(Displaying the recorded picture.)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set the length of time that the picture is 
displayed after taking it.
[1SEC.], [3SEC.], [ZOOM], [OFF]
 The auto review function is not activated 
in motion picture mode [ ].
 When pictures are recorded in auto bracket 
(P49) or burst mode (P51), the auto review 
function is activated regardless of the 
setting on the auto review function. (The 
picture is not enlarged.)
 The auto review function is activated while 
pictures with audio (P82) are being 
recorded regardless of its setting. (The 
picture is not enlarged.)
 When the quality is set to [RAW], the auto 
review function works until the end of 
recording onto the card. (The picture is 
not enlarged.)
 The auto review setting is disabled when 
using auto bracket or burst mode, in motion 
picture mode 
[], when [AUDIO REC.] is 
set to [ON] or when the quality is set to 
[RAW].
 In simple mode [ ], the auto review 
function is fixed to [1SEC.].
EXITMENU
REC1/4AWB
AUTO
SENSITIVITY WB ADJUST.ASPECT RATIO
W.BALANCE
SELECTPICT.SIZE
or
SETUP
EXIT
MENUSELECT
0 nMONITOR WORLD TIME
CLOCK SET
1/5
OFFTRAVEL DATEGUIDE LINEor
SETUP
0 nMONITOR WORLD TIME
1/5
OFFTRAVEL DATEGUIDE LINE
CLOCK SET
EXITMENUSELECT
or
MENUSET
MENUSET
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							Preparation
23VQT1B25
[POWER SAVE]
(Turning off this unit automatically.)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Power save mode is activated (the camera 
is automatically turned off to save the 
battery life) if the camera has not been 
used for the time selected on the setting.
[1MIN.]/[2MIN.]/[5MIN.]/[10MIN.], [OFF]:
 Press the shutter button halfway or turn 
the camera off and on to cancel power 
save mode.
 In simple mode [ ], power save mode is 
fixed to [5MIN.].
 Power save mode is not activated in the 
following cases.
– When using the AC adaptor 
(DMW-AC7PP; optional)
– When connecting to a PC or a printer
– When recording or playing back motion 
pictures
– During a slide show (P97)
[WORLD TIME] (P74)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set the time in your home area and travel 
destination.
[]:Home area.
[]:Travel destination area.
[MONITOR/VIEWFINDER]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
You can adjust the brightness of the 
monitor or the Viewfinder in 7 steps. 
[GUIDE LINE]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set the pattern of the guide lines displayed 
when taking pictures.
You can also set whether or not to have the 
recording information and histogram 
displayed when the guide lines are 
displayed. (P38, 40)
[REC. INFO.]: [ON]/[OFF]
[HISTOGRAM]:[ON]/[OFF]
[PATTERN]: [ ]/[ ]
[TRAVEL DATE] (P72)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set the departure date and the return date 
of the vacation.
[SET], [OFF]
[PLAY ON LCD] (P40)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
If you selected the Viewfinder in a 
recording mode, the display will 
automatically switch to the LCD monitor 
when reviewing or playing back the 
pictures.
[ON], [OFF]
[ZOOM RESUME]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
The zoom position is stored when this unit 
is turned off. When this unit is turned on 
again, the zoom automatically returns to 
the position it was at when this unit was 
turned off. (P32)
[ON], [OFF]
 The zoom resume cannot be set in the 
following cases.
– In simple mode [ ].
– When [CONVERSION] on the [REC] 
mode menu is set to [ ] or [ ].
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
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							Preparation
24VQT1B25
[MF ASSIST] (P59)
(Recording mode only)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
In manual focus, the assistance screen 
appears on the center of the screen to 
facilitate focusing on the subject.
[MF1]:The center of the screen is 
enlarged. You can adjust the focus 
while determining the composition 
of the whole of the screen.
[MF2]:The whole of the screen is enlarged. 
This is convenient for adjusting the 
focus in Wide angle shots.
[OFF]:The screen is not enlarged.
[BEEP]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
This allows you to set the beep.
[]:No operation sound
[]:Soft operation sound
[]:Loud operation sound
[AF BEEP]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select this item. (P21)
This allows you to set the AF beep.
[]:No AF beep
[]:Soft AF beep
[]:Loud AF beep
[SHUTTER]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
This allows you to set the shutter sound.
[]:No shutter sound
[]:Soft shutter sound
[]:Loud shutter sound
[VOLUME]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
The volume of speakers can be adjusted in 
7 steps from level 6 to 0.
 When you connect the camera to a TV, 
the volume of the TV speakers does not 
change.
[NO.RESET]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
The folder number is updated and the file 
number starts from 0001. (P111)
 A folder number between 100 and 999 
can be assigned.
When the folder number reaches 999, the 
number cannot be reset. We recommend 
formatting the card after saving the data 
on a PC or elsewhere.
 To reset the folder number to 100, format 
the built-in memory (P109) or the card first 
and then use this function to reset the file 
number.
A reset screen for the folder number will 
then appear. Select [YES] to reset the 
folder number. (P111)
[RESET]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
The [REC] or [SETUP] menu settings are 
reset to the initial settings.
 [FAVORITE] (P99) is fixed to [OFF] and 
[ROTATE DISP.] (P99) is fixed to [ON].
 If the [SETUP] menu settings are reset, 
the following settings are also reset. 
– The birthday settings for [BABY1]/
[BABY2] (P66) and [PET] (P67) in scene 
mode.
– The number of days that have passed 
since the departure date in 
[TRAVEL DATE]. (P72)
– The [WORLD TIME] (P74) setting.
– [ZOOM RESUME] (P23)
 The folder number and the clock setting 
are not changed.
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
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							Preparation
25VQT1B25
[VIDEO OUT] (P117)
(Playback mode only)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set to match the color television system in 
each country.
[NTSC]:Video output is set to NTSC 
system.
[PAL]:Video output is set to PAL 
system.
[TV ASPECT] (P117)
(Playback mode only)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set to match the type of TV.
[ ]: 
When connecting to a 16:9 screen TV.
[]:
When connecting to a 4:3 screen TV.
[MF m/ft] (P59)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Change the unit displayed for the focus 
distance in manual focus.
[m]:The distance is displayed in metres.
[ft]:The distance is displayed in feet.
[SCENE MENU] (P62)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set the screen that will appear when the 
mode dial is set to [ ].
[AUTO]:The [SCENE MODE] menu 
screen appears.
[OFF]:The recording screen in the 
currently selected scene mode 
appears.
 [DIAL DISPLAY] (P20)
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set whether or not to show the mode dial 
display when the mode dial is rotated.
[ON], [OFF]
[LANGUAGE]
Press [ ] to display the [SETUP] menu 
and select the item to set. (P21)
Set the language displayed on the screen.
[ENGLISH], [DEUTSCH], [FRANÇAIS], 
[ESPAÑOL], [ITALIANO], [ ]
¢, 
[]
¢Not displayed on DMC-FZ8P.
 If you set a different language by mistake, 
select [ ] from the menu icons to set the 
desired language.
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
MENUSET
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							Preparation
26VQT1B25
LCD Monitor Display/
Switching the LCD 
Monitor Display
∫Screen display in program AE mode 
[ ] (at the time of purchase)
1 Recording mode
2 Flash mode (P43)
3 AF area (P27)
 The AF area displayed is bigger than 
usual when taking pictures in dark 
places.
4 Focus (P27)
5 Picture size (P80)
6 Quality (P80)
: Jitter alert (P29)
7 Battery indication
 The indication turns red and blinks if 
the remaining battery power is 
exhausted. (The status indicator blinks 
when the LCD monitor turns off.)
Recharge the battery or replace it with 
fully charged battery.
 It does not appear when you use the 
camera with the AC adaptor 
(DMW-AC7PP; optional) connected.
8 Number of recordable pictures (P131)
9 Built-in memory/Card The access indication lights red when 
pictures are being recorded on the 
built-in memory (or the card).
– When using the built-in memory
– When using the card
 Do not do the following when the 
access indication lamps lights. The 
card or the data on the card may be 
damaged and this unit may no 
longer operate normally.
– Turn this unit off.
– Remove the battery or the card. 
(when using a card)
– Shake or bump this unit.
– Disconnect the AC adaptor. 
(DMW-AC7PP; optional) (when 
using the AC adaptor)
 Do not do the above when pictures are 
being read or deleted or the built-in 
memory (or the card) is being 
formatted (P109).
 The access time for the built-in memory 
may be longer than the access time for a 
card.
10 Recording state
11 AF area selection (P84)
12 Joystick operation (P29, 36, 56, 57)
13 Shutter speed (P27)
14 Aperture value (P27)
 If the exposure is not adequate, the 
aperture value and the shutter speed 
turn red. (They do not turn red when 
the flash is activated.)
15 Exposure compensation (P48)
16 Metering mode (P82)
17 Optical Image Stabilizer (P50)
 Refer to P119 for information about other 
screen displays.
∫Switching the screen display
You can change the screen display by 
pressing [DISPLAY]. This allows you to 
display information while taking pictures 
such as the picture size or the number of 
recordable pictures or take pictures without 
displaying any information. Refer to P38 for 
details. 
8
10 9
43
717
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12
16
15
567
13 14 12 11
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							Basic
27VQT1B25
Basic
Taking Pictures
The camera automatically sets the shutter 
speed and the aperture value according to 
the brightness of the subject.
1: Shutter button
 The status indicator 3 lights for about 
1 second when you turn this unit on 2.
(When using the LCD monitor.)
 The status indicator continues to light if 
you turn the camera on when using the 
viewfinder.
1Hold this unit gently with both 
hands, keep your arms still at 
your side and stand with your feet 
slightly apart.
A: AF assist lamp
B: When holding the camera vertically
2Aim the AF area at the point you 
want to focus on.
3Press the shutter button halfway 
to focus.
 The focus indication 2 lights green and 
the AF area 1 turns white to green.
3: Aperture value
4: Shutter speed
 The subject is not focused in the 
following cases.
– The focus indication blinks (green).
– The AF area turns white to red or 
there is no AF area.
– The focus sound beeps 4 times.
 If the distance is beyond the focus 
range, the picture may not be properly 
focused even if the focus indication 
lights.
4Press the shutter button fully to 
take a picture.
 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.
 Be careful not to move the camera 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.
 When taking pictures, make sure your 
footing is stable and there is no danger of 
colliding with another person, a ball etc.
OFF ON
BA
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							Basic
28VQT1B25
∫Exposure (P48)
 The exposure is automatically adjusted to 
the appropriate exposure on this unit 
(AE=Auto Exposure). However, 
depending on the recording conditions 
such as when there is backlight, the 
recorded picture will be dark.
In this case, compensate the exposure. 
This allows you to take bright pictures.
∫Focusing (P28, 54, 61)
 The picture is automatically focused on 
this unit (AF=Auto Focus). However, the 
picture may not be properly focused in the 
following cases.
The focus range is 30 cm (0.98 feet) to ¶ 
(Wide), 2 m (6.56 feet) to ¶ (Tele)
– 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 recording a very bright subject.
– When taking close-up pictures of a 
subject.
– When jitter occurs.
Try using prefocus, the AF/AE lock 
technique or [AF MACRO].
∫Color (P77, 78)
 The color of the subject will differ if the 
color of the light surrounding it differs such 
as when the light comes from sunlight or 
halogen lighting. However, this unit 
automatically adjusts the hue to one close 
to real life. (auto white balance)
Set the white balance if you want to 
change the hue you get with auto white 
balance.
Adjust the white balance finely for 
additional white balance adjustment. ∫When 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.
∫Direction detection function
Pictures recorded with the camera held 
vertically are played back vertically 
(rotated). (Only when [ROTATE DISP.] 
(P99) 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.
P7
PP
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							Basic
29VQT1B25
∫Preventing jitter (camera shake)
 Be careful of jittering when pressing the 
shutter button.
 If jitter could occur because of slow 
shutter speed, the jitter alert A appears.
 When the jitter alert appears, we 
recommend using a tripod. If you cannot 
use a tripod, be careful how you hold the 
camera (P27). The use of the self-timer 
prevents jittering caused by pressing the 
shutter button when you are using a tripod 
(P47).
 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 (P43)
– [NIGHT PORTRAIT] (P64)
– [NIGHT SCENERY] (P65)
– [PARTY] (P65)
– [CANDLE LIGHT] (P65)
– [STARRY SKY] (P67)
– [FIREWORKS] (P68)
– When you set to a slow shutter speed 
(P56, 57)
∫Program 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.
 Press the shutter button halfway and then 
use the joystick to activate program shift 
while the aperture value and the shutter 
speed are displayed on the screen (about 
10 seconds).
 The program shift indication D appears on 
the screen when program shift is activated. Program shift is canceled if the camera is 
turned off or the joystick is moved up and 
down until the program shift indication 
disappears.
∫Example of program shift
(A): Aperture value
(B): Shutter speed
1Program shift amount
2Program shift line chart 
3Program 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.
1/101/10F2.8F2.87
1/301/30F4.0F4.0
1/601/60F2.8F2.8
1  2 3  4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
1 1
/
2 1
/
4 1
/
8 1
/
15 1
/
30 1
/
60 1
/
125 1
/
250 1
/
500 1
/
1000 1
/
2000
2 
2.8 
4 
5.6 
8 
11
(B)
(A)
14
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							Basic
30VQT1B25
Taking Pictures in 
Simple Mode
This mode allows beginners to take 
pictures easily. Only the basic functions 
appear in the menu to make operations 
simple.
∫Basic menu settings
1Press [MENU/SET].
2Press 34 to select the desired 
menu item and then press 1.
3Press 34 to select the desired 
setting and then press [MENU/
SET].
4Press [MENU/SET] to close the 
menu.
 You can also press the shutter 
button halfway to close the menu.
 You can also use the joystick to perform 
2 to 4.
∫Settings in Simple mode
[PICT.MODE][AUTO REVIEW]
[BEEP]
[CLOCK SET]
Change date and time. (P19)

[ 4qk6q/10k15cm] or [  E-MAIL ] is 
set in [PICT.MODE], the extended optical 
zoom is activated. (P33)
 The settings for [BEEP] and 
[CLOCK SET] in simple mode are also 
applied to other recording modes.
 The settings for [WORLD TIME] (P23), 
[MONITOR/VIEWFINDER] (P23), 
[TRAVEL DATE] (P23), [ZOOM RESUME] 
(P23), [BEEP] (P24), [AF BEEP] (P24), 
[SHUTTER] (P24), [NO.RESET] (P24), 
[DIAL DISPLAY] (P25) and [LANGUAGE] 
(P25) in the [SETUP] menu are applied to 
simple mode.
∫Other Settings in Simple mode
In simple mode, other settings are fixed as 
follows. For more information about each 
setting, refer to the page indicated.
 [AUTO REVIEW] (P22):
[1SEC.]
 [POWER SAVE] (P23):
[5MIN.]
 Self-timer (P47):
10 seconds
 Optical Image Stabilizer (P50):
[MODE1]
 Burst speed (P51):
Low speed (2 frames/second)
 [W.BALANCE] (P77):
[AWB] [ENLARGE]Suitable for enlarging the 
pictures to be printed to 
8qk10q size, letter size 
etc.
[4qk6q/
10k15cm]Suitable for regular size 
printing.
[E-MAIL]Suitable for attaching 
pictures to e-mails or 
adding pictures to 
websites.SIMPLE MODE
BEEP
CLOCK SET
SELECT SETMENU
AUTO REVIEWPICT.MODEENLARGE4k6
/10k15 cmE-MAIL
[OFF]The recorded picture does not 
automatically appear.
[ON]The recorded picture 
automatically appears on the 
screen for about 1 second.
[OFF]No operation sound
[LOW]Soft operation sound
[HIGH]Loud operation sound
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