Panasonic Dmc Fz8 Operating Instructions Manual

							Advanced (Recording pictures)
81VQT1B25
∫When the aspect ratio is [ ].
∫When the aspect ratio is [ ].
∫Quality
 The number of pixels that can be selected 
differs depending on the aspect ratio. If 
you change the aspect ratio, set the 
picture size.
 “EZ” is an abbreviation of 
“Extended optical Zoom”. (P33) 
 The extended optical zoom does not work 
in [HIGH SENS.] in scene mode so the 
picture size for [EZ] is not displayed.
 Pictures may appear mosaic depending 
on the subject and the recording 
conditions. 
 Refer to P131 for information about the 
number of recordable pictures.
 When the quality is set to [RAW]
– A JPEG file is also created 
simultaneously. Its quality is equal to 
[ ] and its size is fixed to [ ], [ ] 
or [ ].
– When the RAW file is deleted on the 
camera, the created JPEG file is also 
deleted. If a RAW picture is recorded with the 
built-in memory, it will take time to write 
the picture data.
 When the quality is set to [RAW], the 
digital zoom cannot be used.
 The quality cannot be set to [RAW] in the 
[HIGH SENS.] mode (P67).
 In simple mode [ ], the settings become 
as follows.
– [ ENLARGE]:
: (7M)/
–[ 4qk6q/10k15cm]:
: (2.5M EZ)/
– [ E-MAIL]:
: (0.3M EZ)/
 You cannot select the following functions 
when the quality is set to [RAW].
– Burst mode
– Auto Bracket
– Audio Recording 
– Date Stamp
– Audio Dubbing
–Resize
–Trimming
– Aspect Ratio Conversion
 You can enjoy more advanced picture 
editing if you use RAW files. You can save 
RAW files in a file format (JPEG, TIFF 
etc.) that can be displayed on your PC 
etc., develop them and edit them using the 
software “SILKYPIX Developer Studio” by 
Ichikawa Soft Laboratory on the CD-ROM 
(supplied).  (6M)3072k2048 pixels
 (2.5M EZ)2048k1360 pixels
 (5.5M)3072k1728 pixels
 (2M EZ)1920k1080 pixels
Fine (Low compression):
This gives priority to picture quality. 
Picture quality will be high.
Standard (High compression):
This gives priority to the number of 
recordable pictures. Standard 
quality pictures are recorded.
RAW file:
Set this when altering the pictures 
on a PC.
RAW
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
82VQT1B25
Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
You can record audio with the still picture if 
this is set to [ON]. This means you can 
record the conversation that took place 
when you were recording or an explanation 
of the picture.
 [ ] appears on the screen when you set 
[AUDIO REC.] to [ON].
 Focus on the subject and press the 
shutter button to start recording. 
Recording will automatically stop about 
5 seconds later. There is no need to press 
and hold the shutter button.
 Audio is recorded from the built-in 
microphone on the camera.
 If you press [MENU/SET] during audio 
recording, the audio recording is 
canceled. The audio is not recorded.
 The total number of pictures that can be 
stored on each card will decrease slightly 
when audio is recorded with each picture.
 You cannot take pictures with audio in the 
following cases:
– Auto bracket
– Burst mode
– When the quality is set to [RAW]
– [STARRY SKY] in scene modePress [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
You can switch to the following metering 
modes.
 Metering mode is fixed to multiple [ ] in 
simple mode [ ].
[AUDIO REC.] 
Recording still pictures with audio
MENUSET
[METERING MODE]
Deciding the method to measure 
brightness
Multiple:
This is the method in which the 
camera measures the most suitable 
exposure by judging the allocation of 
brightness on the whole screen 
automatically. Usually, we 
recommend using this method.
Center weighted:
This is the method used to focus on 
the subject on the center of the 
screen and measure the whole 
screen evenly.
Spot:
This is the method to measure the 
subject in the spot metering target 
A.
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
83VQT1B25
Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
Select the mode that matches the 
recording conditions and the composition.∫About [ ] or [ ]
 You can focus on the subject more quickly 
than other AF modes.
 The picture may stop moving for a 
moment before being brought into focus 
when you press the shutter button 
halfway. This is not a malfunction.
 The AF area displayed is bigger than 
usual when taking pictures in dark places 
or when using the digital zoom.
 The camera is focusing on all the AF 
areas when multiple AF areas (max. 
5 areas) light at the same time.
The focus position is not predetermined. It 
is set to a position automatically 
determined by the camera at the time of 
focusing. If you want to determine the 
focus position to take pictures, switch the 
AF mode to [ ], [ ] or [ ].
 If the AF mode is set to [ ] or [ ], 
the AF area is not displayed until the 
picture is brought into focus.
 Switch the AF mode to [ ] or [ ] 
mode if it is difficult to focus using [ ].
 The AF mode cannot be set in simple 
mode [ ].
[AF MODE]Setting the focus method
 Multi-area-focusing:
The camera focuses on 
any of the selected 
areas. This is effective 
when the subject is not 
in the center of the 
screen.
 3-area-focusing (High speed):
The camera quickly 
focuses on any of 
3 focus areas points – 
left, right or center. 
This is effective when 
the subject is not in the 
center of the screen.
 1-area-focusing (High speed):
The camera quickly 
focuses on the subject 
in the AF area on the 
center of the screen.
 1-area-focusing:
The camera focuses on 
the subject in the AF 
area on the center of 
the screen.
 Spot-focusing:
The camera focuses on 
a limited narrow area in 
the screen.
MENUSET
P
1/601/60F5.0F5.0
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
84VQT1B25
∫About AF area selection
You can select the AF area when [ ], 
[ ], [ ] or [ ] is selected.
1Press the focus switch button until the 
focus mode appears and then press 
3/4 to select [AF] or [AF MACRO].
2Select AF area with 1 on the joystick 
and then press the center of the joystick.
3Move the AF area with the cursor 
buttons or 3/4/2/1 on the joystick.
4Press [MENU/SET] or press the center 
of the joystick to set.
When selecting [ ], [ ] or [ ]
You can select 1 AF area from the 11 areas.
When selecting [ ]
You can select AF areas as shown in the 
following illustration by tilting the joystick 
towards 3/4/2/1.
 The spot metering target can also be 
moved to match the AF area when using 
[]. 
 The following operations will return the AF 
area to the previous position.
– When the mode dial is set to simple 
mode [ ]
– When the power save mode is activated
– When this unit is turned off
Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
This mode allows you to compose a picture 
more easily by always focusing on the 
subject.
The time required for focusing when the 
shutter button is pressed halfway will be 
reduced when the AF mode is set to 
[ ], [] or [].
 The [ ] indication appears when it is set 
to [ON].
7
or
[CONT.AF]
Continuously focusing on a 
subject
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
85VQT1B25
 The battery will be consumed faster than 
usual.
 It may take time to focus on the subject if 
you rotate the zoom lever from Wide to 
Tele or suddenly change the subject from 
a distant one to a nearby one.
 Press the shutter button halfway again 
when it is difficult to focus on the subject.
 The [CONT.AF] setting is fixed to [OFF] in 
[PANNING] (P64), [NIGHT PORTRAIT] 
(P64), [NIGHT SCENERY] (P65), 
[STARRY SKY] (P67) and [FIREWORKS] 
(P68) in scene mode, in simple mode [ ] 
and when manual focus is set.
Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
Illuminating the subject makes it easier for 
the camera to focus when recording in low 
light conditions that make focusing difficult.
 If the AF assist lamp is 
set to [ON], an AF area 
with a size wider than 
usual is displayed and the 
AF assist lamp A turns 
on when you press the 
shutter button halfway in dark places etc.
 Be careful about the following when using 
the AF assist lamp.– Do not look at the AF assist lamp from 
close up.
– Detach the lens hood.
– Do not cover the AF assist lamp with 
your fingers or other objects.
 When you do not want to use the AF 
assist lamp (e.g. when taking pictures of 
animals in dark places), set the 
[AF ASSIST LAMP] to [OFF]. In this case, 
it will become more difficult to focus on the 
subject.
 The setting for [AF ASSIST LAMP] is fixed 
to [ON] in simple mode [ ].
 A vignetting effect may appear on the 
circumference of the AF assist lamp 
because the AF assist lamp may be 
obscured by the lens, however, this does 
not cause a problem with the performance 
of the camera.
 The setting for the [AF ASSIST LAMP] is 
fixed to [OFF] in [SCENERY] (P63), 
[PANNING] (P64), [NIGHT SCENERY] 
(P65), [SUNSET] (P67), [FIREWORKS] 
(P68) and [AERIAL PHOTO] (P69) in 
scene mode.
 The initial setting for [PET] (P67) in scene 
mode is [OFF] .
Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
Select a color effect that matches the 
recording conditions and your image of the 
recording.
[AF ASSIST LAMP]
Focusing in low light conditions 
becomes easier
[ON]The AF assist lamp turns on in low 
light conditions. At this time, the 
AF assist lamp icon [ ] appears 
on the screen. The effective range 
of the AF assist lamp is 1.5 m 
(4.92 feet).
[OFF]The AF assist lamp does not turn 
on.
MENUSET
[COL.EFFECT]
Setting color effects for the 
recorded pictures
[COOL]The picture becomes bluish.
[WARM]The picture becomes reddish.
[B/W]The picture becomes black and 
white.
[SEPIA]The picture becomes sepia.
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
86VQT1B25
Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
Select an effect that matches the recording 
situation and your image of the recording.
 When you take pictures in dark places, 
noise may become visible. To avoid 
picture noise, we recommend setting 
[NOISE REDUCTION] in [PICT.ADJ.] to 
[HIGH] or setting the items except 
[NOISE REDUCTION] to [LOW] to take 
pictures.Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
This camera allows you to create motion 
picture files up to 20 seconds long by 
connecting images recorded in flip 
animation mode.
Example:
When capturing images of the subject in 
sequence moving the camera little by little 
and aligning the images, the subject looks 
as if it is moving.
 You can play back created flip animations 
with the same method used to play back 
motion pictures. (P94)
[PICT.ADJ.]
Adjusting the picture quality for 
the recorded pictures
[CONTRAST]
[HIGH]Increases the difference between 
the brightness and the darkness 
in the picture.
[LOW]Decreases the difference 
between the brightness and the 
darkness in the picture.
[SHARPNESS]
[HIGH]The picture is sharply defined.
[LOW]The picture is softly focused.
[SATURATION]
[HIGH]The colors in the picture become 
vivid.
[LOW]The colors in the picture become 
natural.
[NOISE REDUCTION]
[HIGH]The noise reduction effect is 
enhanced.
Picture resolution may 
deteriorate slightly.
[LOW]The noise reduction effect is 
reduced.
You can obtain pictures with 
higher resolution.
MENUSET
[FLIP ANIM.]
Connecting images to create 
a motion picture file
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
87VQT1B25
1Press 34 to select [FLIP ANIM.] 
and then press 1.
2Select [PICTURE CAPTURE] and 
then press 1.
 The picture size is 320k240 pixels.
3Press the shutter button and 
capture the images one frame at a 
time.
 You can check the recorded image with 
4 and the previous or following image 
with 2/1.
 Delete unnecessary images with the 
[ ] button.
 You can record up to 100 pictures. The 
number of recordable pictures 
displayed is an approximation.
4Press [MENU/SET], press 34 to 
select 
[CREATE MOTION PICTURE] and 
then press 1.
5Select [FRAME RATE] and then 
press 1.
6Press 34 to select [5fps] or 
[10fps] and then press [MENU/
SET].
REC3/4
OFF
OFFCOL.EFFECT
PICT.ADJ.D.ZOOMONAF ASSIST LAMP
FLIP ANIM.EXITMENUSELECT
CREATE MOTION PICTURE
DELETE STILL PICTURES PICTURE CAPTURE
FLIP ANIM.
MENUSELECTEXIT
892REMAIN
EXITMENU
[5fps]5 frames/sec.
[10fps]10 frames/sec. (The motion 
pictures become smoother.)
DELETE STILL PICTURES PICTURE CAPTURE
SELECT
FLIP ANIM.
EXITMENU
CREATE MOTION PICTURE
MENUSET
CREATE MOTION PICTURE
SELECTEXITMENU
CREATE MOTION PICTURE
5fpsFRAME RATE
CREATE MOTION PICTURE
SELECTSETMENU
CREATE MOTION PICTURE
5fps
10fpsFRAME RATE
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
88VQT1B25
7Press 4 to select 
[CREATE MOTION PICTURE], 
press 1 and then create a flip 
animation.
 The file number appears after creating 
a flip animation.
 Press [MENU/SET] three times to close 
the menu after creating the flip 
animation.
∫Deleting all still images used to create 
flip animation
When selecting [DELETE STILL 
PICTURES] in [FLIP ANIM.] menu, a 
confirmation screen appears. Select [YES] 
with 3 and then press [MENU/SET].
 You cannot use the direction detection 
function, burst mode, auto bracket and 
[AUDIO REC.].
 The images in each frame do not appear 
in normal review. (P35)
 If you execute [CREATE MOTION 
PICTURE], flip animation is made from all 
pictures recorded for flip animation. 
Delete unnecessary pictures.
 Audio cannot be recorded.
 You cannot record audio using the audio 
dubbing. (P105)
 Playback may not be possible on other 
equipment. You may also hear noise 
during playback on other equipment which 
does not have a mute function.Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
The tele conversion lens (DMW-LT55; 
optional) allows you to record even more 
close-up pictures (1.7k more). The wide 
conversion lens (DMW-LW55; optional) 
allows you to record even wider angle 
pictures (0.7k wider). The close-up lens 
(DMW-LC55; optional) allows you to take 
close-up pictures of a small subject.
 The lens adaptor (DMW-LA2; optional) is 
necessary to attach a conversion lens or 
close-up lens.
1Remove the lens cap, lens hood 
and hood adaptor.
2Attach the lens adaptor 
(DMW-LA2; optional).
 Conversion lens cannot be used 
together with the ND filter 
(DMW-LND52) and the MC protector 
(DMW-LMC52).
Always detach the ND filter or MC 
protector before attaching the 
conversion lens.
 Rotate the lens slowly and carefully.
FRAME RATE
SELECTEXITMENU
CREATE MOTION PICTURECREATE MOTION PICTURE
5fps
[CONVERSION]
Using an optional lens
MENUSET
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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3Attach the conversion lens or 
close-up lens.
 You cannot attach a conversion lens or 
the close-up lens to the hood adaptor 
(supplied).
4Turn the camera on, press 34 
to select [CONVERSION] and then 
press 1.
5Press 34 to set to [ ], [ ] or 
[ ] and then press [MENU/SET].
 [OFF]:
When you do not attach the conversion 
lens.
 ]:
When you attach the wide conversion 
lens.
 ]:
When you attach the tele conversion 
lens.
 ]:
When you attach the close-up lens
 Press the shutter button halfway or 
press [MENU/SET] to close the menu 
after finishing the setting.
EXITMENUSELECT
REC4/4OFFCONVERSIONCLOCK SET
C
SELECT
CONVERSION
SETMENU
C
OFF
MENUSET
C
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							Advanced (Recording pictures)
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∫Recordable range when using a 
conversion lens
When attaching the tele conversion lens
When attaching the wide conversion lens
When attaching the close-up lens
 The zoom is fixed to Tele when using the 
tele conversion lens and is fixed to Wide 
when using the wide conversion lens.¢The actual magnification when using the 
digital zoom (P34) and the extended 
optical zoom (P33) is 1.7k the zoom 
magnification displayed when set to Tele.
 The full range of the zoom can be used 
when using the close-up lens.
 Digital zoom cannot be used when using a 
wide conversion lens.
 When there is dirt (water, oil, and 
fingerprints, etc.) on the surface of the 
lens, the image may be affected. Lightly 
wipe the surface of the lens with a soft, 
dry cloth before and after taking pictures.
 Ensure that [CONVERSION] is set to 
[OFF] when not using a conversion lens.
 When using the conversion lens or 
close-up lens:
– The built-in flash cannot be activated.
– If you set [CONVERSION] to [OFF], the 
performance of the conversion lens or 
close-up lens will not be optimal.
 When using the tele conversion lens:
–We recommend using a tripod.
– The stabilizer function may not work 
sufficiently.
– The focus indication may light due to the 
jitter even if the subject is not focused.
– The time required for focusing may 
become longer than usual.
 If you set [CONVERSION] to [ ], [ ] or 
[ ], you cannot use the built-in flash or 
AF assist lamp. (P85)
 Read the operating instructions of the 
conversion lens for details.
Press [ ] to display the [REC] mode 
menu and select the item to set. (P76)
Change date and time. (P19)
WideTe l e
Normal—5.4 m (18 feet) 
to ¶
Macro—5.4 m (18 feet) 
to ¶
WideTe l e
Normal15 cm 
(0.5 feet) to ¶—
Macro15 cm 
(0.5 feet) to ¶—
WideTe l e
Normal
20 cm 
(0.7 feet) to 
50 cm 
(1.7 feet)40 cm 
(1.3 feet) to 
50 cm 
(1.7 feet)
Macro
5cm 
(0.17 feet) to 
50 cm 
(1.7 feet)40 cm 
(1.3 feet) to 
50 cm 
(1.7 feet)
Te l e  
Macro—33 cm 
(1.1 feet) to 
50 cm 
(1.7 feet)
IndicationActual 
magnification
Te l e  
conver-
sion 
lens
12k20.4k¢
Wide 
conver-
sion 
lens
1k0.7k
[CLOCK SET]
Set the date, time and display
C
MENUSET
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