Panasonic Dmc G2k Operating Instructions Manual

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Advanced (Recording pictures)
∫When operating the touch panel
1Touch the subject.
•The AF area turns yellow and the subject is locked.
It will continuously adjust the focus and exposure automatically 
following the movement of the subject. (Dynamic Tracking)
•Lock is canceled when [CANCEL] is touched.2Press the shutter button halfway to focus and then press it 
fully to take the picture.
∫ When operating buttons
Note
•
If it fails to lock, AF area will flash in red, and disappear. Try to lock again.•AF Tracking will not operate when it has failed to AF track. AF Mode will be switched to [ Ø] in 
that case.
•[FACE RECOG.] does not work when AF tracking is active.•In the following cases, [ ] operates as [ Ø]
–When the Film Mode is [STANDARD]( ), [DYNAMIC]( ), [SMOOTH]( )–When My Color Mode is [MONOCHROME]•Dynamic Tracking function may not work in the following cases:–When the subject is too small–When the recording location is too dark or bright–When the subject is moving too fast–When the background has the same or similar color to the subject–When jitter is occurring–When zoom is operated
Setting up [ ] (AF Tracking)
1Bring the subject to the AF tracking 
frame, and press the shutter button 
halfway to lock the subject.
A AF tracking frame (White)
B AF tracking frame (Yellow) Before locking Locked
•When the subject is recognized, AF area will turn green and the subject will be locked. 
Focus and exposure will be fixed automatically and continuously in accordance with the 
movement of the subject when you release the shutter button (Dynamic Tracking). AF 
area will be displayed in yellow in this case.
•Lock is canceled when [MENU/SET] is pressed.
2Press the shutter button halfway to focus and then press it fully to take the 
picture.
AB
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
•AF areas up to a maximum of 23 are lit when the shutter button is pressed halfway, and each 
AF area can be brought into focus.
The 23 AF areas can be divided into 9 areas and the selected areas can be also brought 
into focus.
Touch the screen to display the AF area setting 
screen, and select the AF area frame as shown in the 
figure on the right.
•
After releasing you finger from the touch panel for a while, 
AF area frame will disappear, and only [ i] display (center 
point of selected AF area frame) will remain on the screen.
•Press and hold the [Q.MENU] button until the AF area 
setting screen is displayed. The AF area frame can then also 
be selected by pressing the cursor button toward  3/4/2/1  or by rotating the rear dial.
•Setting of the AF area frame is canceled when [CANCEL] is touched.•When the [FOCUS AREA SET] is set to [Fn BUTTON SET] (P136), AF area setting screen can 
also be displayed by pressing 4 .
AF area can be moved when [Ø] is selected. The size of AF area can also be changed.
1Touch the subject to move the AF area.
•AF area setting screen is displayed.•Press and hold the [Q.MENU] button until the AF area 
setting screen is displayed. AF area can then also be 
moved by pressing the cursor button toward  3/4/2 /
1.
•You can set to arbitrary position of the screen. 
(It cannot be set to edge of the screen)
•The AF area returns to the center when [ ‚] is pressed.•When the [FOCUS AREA SET] is set to [Fn BUTTON SET] (P136), AF area setting 
screen can also be displayed by pressing  4.
2Touch the slide bar to change the size of the AF area frame.
•For details on enlarging the AF area frame, read step 2 of “About [š] (Face Detection)” 
procedure on P79.
3To u c h  [ S E T ] .
∫ Move the AF area easily with button operations
When the [DIRECT FOCUS AREA] (P138) in the [CUSTOM] menu is set to [ON] while 
[ š ], [ ] or [ Ø] is selected, it is possible to move the AF area directly with  3/4 /2 /1 . It 
is also possible to change the size of the AF area frame by rotating the rear dial in the 
screen to set the position for [ š] or [ Ø].
•
[SENSITIVITY] (P89), [Fn BUTTON SET] (P136), [FILM MODE] (P91), or [WHITE BALANCE] 
(P86) cannot be set with 3/ 4/2 /1. Make the setting with the Quick Menu (P33).
Note
•The spot metering target can also be moved to match the AF area when using [ Ù]. (P128)•Set the size of AF area to “normal”, “large”, or “extra large” when it is hard to focus using the 
“spot”.
•[DIRECT FOCUS AREA] is fixed to [OFF] in My Color Mode.
About [ ] (23-area-focusing)
About [ Ø] (1-area-focusing)
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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.
Set the focus mode lever to [MF].
Rotate the focus ring to focus on the subject.
•When the [MF ASSIST] (P139) in the [CUSTOM] menu is set 
to [ON], screen will be enlarged about 5 times as MF assist.
•MF guide A is displayed on the screen when the focus ring is 
rotated if the [MF GUIDE] (P139) in the [CUSTOM] menu is set 
to [ON]. You can check the direction of rotation of the focus ring 
is toward the near side or the far side.
•The enlarged area can be moved by dragging the screen (P15), or pressing the cursor 
button toward 3/ 4/2 /1.
•MF assist is enlarged from 5 times to 10 times when [ ] is touched. It will return to 
5 times by touching [ ].
•MF assist or MF guide will disappear about 10 seconds after you stop operating the 
focus ring, touch panel, or  3/4/2/1 .
Take the picture.
∫ MF ASSIST
Even without rotating the focus ring, the MF assist can be displayed with the following 
operations.
When operating the touch panel
1Touch the place to enlarge, and display the MF 
assist.
•
For the operations while displaying the MF assist, refer 
to step 2 of the “Taking Pictures with Manual Focus” 
procedure.
2Touch [CANCEL] to close MF assist.
•The screen returns to the previous screen.
When operating buttons
1Press and hold [Q.MENU] button until MF assist position setting 
screen is displayed.
•
When the [FOCUS AREA SET] is set to [Fn BUTTON SET] (P136), MF assist 
position setting screen can also be displayed by pressing  4.
2Press 3/4/2 /1  to change the position of the MF 
assist screen.
•
The following will return the MF assistance to the 
original position.
–When the Focus Mode is set to other than [MF]–Changing [ASPECT RATIO] or [PICTURE SIZE].–Turning the camera off.
A
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
3Press [MENU/SET] and enlarge the MF Assist position setting screen.
•MF Assist is enlarged from 5 times to 10 times when the rear dial is rotated right. It will 
return to 5 times by rotating the rear dial left.
•For the operations while displaying the MF Assist, refer to step 2 of the “Taking Pictures 
with Manual Focus” procedure.4Press [MENU/SET] to close MF Assist.
•The screen returns to the previous screen.
∫ Move the MF Assist easily with button operations
When the [DIRECT FOCUS AREA] (P138) in the [CUSTOM] menu is set to [ON], it is 
possible to move the MF Assist directly with  3/4/2/1 .
•
[SENSITIVITY] (P89), [Fn BUTTON SET] (P136), [FILM MODE] (P91), or [WHITE BALANCE] 
(P86) cannot be set with 3/ 4/2 /1. Make the setting with the Quick Menu (P33).
∫ Technique for Manual Focus
1 Rotate the focus ring to focus on the 
subject.
2 Rotate it a little more.
3 Finely focus on the subject by rotating the 
focus ring slowly in reverse.
∫ About the focus distance reference mark
The focus distance reference mark is a mark 
used to measure the focus distance.
Use this when taking pictures with Manual 
Focus or taking close-up pictures.
A Focus distance reference mark
B Focus distance reference line
C 0.3 m (0.99 feet) (When the 
14 – 42 mm/
F3.5–5.6 lens included in DMC-G2K is used)
•If you are taking close-up pictures–We recommend using a tripod and the self-timer (P77).–The effective focus range (depth of field) is si gnificantly 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.
–The resolution of the periphery of the picture may decrease slightly. This is not a malfunction.
Note
•When the MF Assist is started by the touch panel operation or button operation, MF Assist will 
continue to display even after about 10 seconds have passed without operating the focus ring, 
touch panel, or  3/4 /2/ 1.
•If you use the zoom function after focusing on the subject, focus on the subject again.•The MF Assist does not appear when using the Digital Zoom or recording motion pictures.•After canceling Sleep Mode, focus on the subject again.•MF Assist or MF guide may not display depending on the lens used.
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
[REC] Mode: 
Fixing the Focus and the Exposure (AF/AE Lock)
This is useful when you want to take a picture of a subject outside the AF area or the 
contrast is too strong and you cannot achieve appropriate exposure.
∫ Fixing the exposure only
Align the screen with the subject.
Press and hold [AF/AE LOCK] to fix the 
exposure.
A [AF/AE LOCK] button
•The aperture value and the shutter speed light.•If you release [AF/AE LOCK], AE Lock is canceled.
While pressing [AF/AE LOCK], move the 
camera as you compose the picture.
BAE lock indication
Press the shutter button halfway to focus 
on the subject and then press it fully.
∫Fixing the focus or the focus/the exposure
1Select [AF/AE LOCK] in the [CUSTOM] menu. (P32)2Press  3/4 to select [AF] or [AF/AE] and then press 
[MENU/SET].
3Press [MENU/SET] to close the menu.
•You can also press the shutter button halfway to close the menu.
Taking pictures when [AF] or [AF/AE] is set
1 Aim the lens at the subject.
2 Press and hold [AF/AE LOCK] to fix the focus and the exposure.
•
When [AF] is selected, [AFL], the focus indication, aperture value, the shutter speed light 
when the subject is focused.
•When [AF/AE] is selected, [AFL], [AEL], the focus indication, aperture value and the 
shutter speed light when the subject is focused and the exposure is set.
•If you release [AF/AE LOCK], AF/AE Lock is canceled.3 While pressing [AF/AE LOCK], move the camera to the composition you would like to 
take and then press the shutter button fully.
B
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
Note
•If you set [AF/AE LOCK HOLD] in the [CUSTOM] menu to [ON], you can fix the focus and the 
exposure even if you release [AF/AE LOCK] after pressing it. (P137)
•The brightness of the image displayed on the LCD monitor/viewfinder (Live View) will be also 
locked when the AE lock is performed.
•AF Lock only is effective when taking pictures in Manual Exposure Mode.•AE Lock only is effective during Manual Focus or Preview Mode.•AE Lock and AF lock can be used during motion picture recording, but AE/AF lock cannot be 
performed again during motion picture recording. During motion picture recording only 
cancellation of AE/AF lock can be performed.
•The exposure is set, even if the brightness of the subject changes.•The subject can be focused again by pressing the shutter button halfway even when AE is 
locked.
•Program Shift can be set even when AE is locked.
[REC] Mode: 
Adjusting the White Balance
In sunlight, under incandescent lights or in ot her such conditions where the color of white 
takes on a reddish or bluish tinge, this item adjusts to the color of white which is closest to 
what is seen by the eye in accordance with the light source.
Press 1 ().
Touch the White Balance to select.
Touch [SET].
•You can also press the shutter button halfway to set.
¢ It will operate as [AWB] during motion picture recording.
ItemRecording conditions
[AWB] Automatic adjustment
[V ] When taking pictures outdoors under a clear sky
[Ð ] When taking pictures outdoors under a cloudy sky
[î ] When taking pictures outdoors in the shade
[Ñ ] When taking pictures under incandescent lights
[]
¢When taking pictures with the flash only
[] /[] When
 using the preset White Balance
[]
When using the preset color temperature setting
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
∫Auto White Balance
Depending on the conditions prevailing when pictur es are taken, the pictures may take on 
a reddish or bluish tinge. Furthermore, when a multiple number of light sources are being 
used or there is nothing with a color close to white, Auto White Balance may not function 
properly. In a case like this, set the White Balance to a mode other than [AWB].
1 Auto White Balance will work within this range.
2 Blue sky
3 Cloudy sky (Rain)
4 Shade
5 Sunlight
6 White fluorescent light
7 Incandescent light bulb
8 Sunrise and sunset
9 Candlelight
Kl Kelvin Color Temperature
Note
•
The optimal White Balance will differ depending on  the type of halogen lighting being recorded 
under so use [AWB], [ ] or [ ].
•The White Balance might not be adjusted for a subject that the flash cannot reach when the 
flash is used.
•The White Balance is memorized even if the camera is turned off, but [WHITE BALANCE] for 
the Advanced Scene Mode or the Scene Mode is set to [AWB] when the Advanced Scene 
Mode or the Scene Mode is changed.
•White Balance is fixed to [AWB] in following conditions.–In Intelligent Auto Mode–In [OUTDOOR PORTRAIT] and [INDOOR PORTRAIT] in [PORTRAIT]–In [SCENERY]–In [OUTDOOR SPORTS] and [INDOOR SPORTS] in [SPORTS]–In [FOOD] in [CLOSE-UP]–In [NIGHT PORTRAIT]–In [SUNSET] or [PARTY] in Scene Mode–My Color Mode•The camera will not be able to operate with 3 /4 /2/ 1 if the [DIRECT FOCUS AREA] (P138) is 
set to [ON]. Set using the Quick Menu (P33).
Set the White Balance value. Use to match the condition when taking photographs.
Select [ ] or [ ] and then touch 
[WHITE SET].
•The White Balance setting screen can also be 
displayed by pressing the cursor button toward  3.
Aim the camera at a sheet of white paper etc. 
so that the frame in the center is filled by the 
white object only and then touch [SET].
Note
•You may not be able to properly set a White Balance if the subject is too bright or too dark. In 
this case, adjust the subject to an appropriate brightness and then reset the White Balance.
Setting the White Balance manually
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
12
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
You can set the color temperature manually for taking natural pictures in different lighting 
conditions. The color of light is measured  as a number in degrees Kelvin. As the color 
temperature increases, the pi cture becomes more bluish. As the color temperature 
decreases, the picture becomes more reddish.
Select [ ] and then touch [WB K SET].
•The color temperature setting screen can also be 
displayed by pressing the cursor button toward 3.
Touch the color temperature setting bar.
•It is also possible to set the values by touching 
[3]/[4] or pressing 3/4 of the cursor button.•You can set a color temperature from [2500K] to [10000K].
Touch [SET].
You can finely adjust the White Balance w hen you cannot acquire the desired hue by 
setting the White Balance.
Select the White Balance and then touch 
[ADJUST.].
•The White Balance adjust screen can also be 
displayed by pressing the cursor button toward 4.
Touch within the frame to finely adjust.
•You can finely adjust also by touching [G_]/[M`]/[A]/[B], or pressing  3/4 /2/ 1 of the 
cursor button.
Touch [SET].
Note
•If you finely adjust the White Balance to A (amber), the White Balance icon on the screen will 
change to orange. If you finely adjust the White Balance to B (blue), the White Balance icon on 
the screen will change to blue.
•If you finely adjust the White Balance to G _ (green) or M ` (magenta), [ _] (green) or [ `] 
(magenta) appears beside the White Balance icon on the screen.
•Press [DISPLAY] to return to the center point.•Select the center point if you are not finely adjusting the White Balance.•The White Balance fine adjustment setting is reflected in the picture when using the flash.•You can finely adjust the White Balance independently for each White Balance item.•The White Balance fine adjustment setting is memorized even if the camera is turned off.
Setting the color temperature
Finely adjusting the White Balance [ ]
2  : A (AMBER: ORANGE)
1  : B (BLUE: BLUISH)
3  :
G_ (GREEN: GREENISH)
4 :M` (MAGENTA: REDDISH)
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
•The White Balance fine adjustment level returns to the standard setting (center point) in the 
following cases.
–When you reset the White Balance in [ ] or [ ]–When you reset the color temperature manually in [ ]
Bracket setting is performed based on the adjustment values for the White Balance fine 
adjustment, and 3 pictures with different colors are automatically recorded when the 
shutter button is pressed once.
Finely adjust the White Balance in step 2 of the 
“Finely adjusting the White Balance” procedure, 
and touch [ ]/[ ] to set the bracket.
•Bracket settings can also be made by rotating the rear dial.
[ ] or rear dial right: Horizontal (A to B)
[ ] or rear dial left: Vertical (Gi to M j)
Touch [SET].
Note
•[ ] is displayed in White Balance icon in the screen when the White Balance Bracket is set.•The White Balance Bracket setting is released when the power has been turned off (including 
Sleep Mode).
•Pictures can be taken with White Balance Bracket regardless of the drive mode settings.•You will only hear the shutter sound once.•White Balance Bracket cannot be set when the [QUALITY] is set to [ ], [ ], or [ ].•White Balance Bracket will be disabled when the Multi Film Bracket is set.•White Balance Bracket does not work when recording motion pictures.
[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 places without the resulting pictures coming out 
dark.
Press  3 ().
Touch the ISO sensitivity to select.
Touch [SET].
•You can also press the shutter button halfway to set.
White Balance Bracket
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Advanced (Recording pictures)
¢When the [ISO LIMIT SET] of [REC] Mode menu (P131) is set to anything except [OFF], 
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 [OFF].
•When [AUTO] is selected, ISO sensitivity is adjusted automatically depending on 
brightness within a maximum setting of [ISO400].
•When setting to [ ], ISO sensitivity will adjust automatically depending on brightness 
within the maximum setting of [ISO800]. ([ISO400] when the flash is used)
•The ISO sensitivity will be set to [AUTO] when recording motion pictures. Also, the 
[ISO LIMIT SET] will not operate.
∫About [ ] (Intelligent ISO sensitivity control)
The camera automatically sets the optimum IS O 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 subject 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 setting is fixed to [ ] in the following cases.–In [BABY1]/[BABY2] and [PET] in Scene Mode–In [INDOOR PORTRAIT], [NORMAL SPORTS], [OUTDOOR SPORTS] and [INDOOR 
SPORTS] in Advanced 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. Also, you 
cannot select [AUTO] in Manual Exposure Mode.
•To avoid picture noise, we recommend reducing the ISO sensitivity, setting [NOISE 
REDUCTION] in [FILM MODE] towards [ _] or setting the items except [NOISE REDUCTION] 
towards [ `] to take pictures. (P92)
•The camera will not be able to operate with  3/4/ 2/1 if the [DIRECT FOCUS AREA] (P138) is 
set to [ON]. Set using the Quick Menu (P33).
ISO sensitivity100 6400
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 automatically adjusted according to the 
brightness.
¢
(Intelligent) The ISO sensitivity is adjusted according to the movement of 
the subject and the brightness.
100/200/400/800/1600/3200/
6400 The ISO sensitivity is fixed to various settings.
(When the [ISO INCREMENTS] in [REC] Mode menu 
(P131) is set to [1/3 EV], items of ISO sensitivity that can 
be set will increase.)
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