Panasonic Dmc G3 Owners Manual

							- 101 -
Recording
Applicable modes: 
The effects of aperture and shutter speed can be checked by using the Preview Mode.
•
Confirm the effects of aperture:  You can check the depth of field (effective focus range) 
before taking a picture by closing the leaf shutter to the aperture value you set.
•Confirm the effects of shutter speed: Movement can be confirmed by displaying the actual 
picture that will be taken with that shutter speed. When the shutter speed is set for high speed, 
display in the shutter speed preview will be displayed like a time-release film. It is used in cases 
such as stopping the movement of running water.
•The initial setting of [Fn2] is set to [PREVIEW].
1Set [Fn BUTTON SET] in the [CUSTOM] menu to [PREVIEW].  (P56)
2Switch to confirmation screen by pressing [Fn2].
•Screen is switched every time [Fn2] is pressed.
∫Depth of field properties
¢1 Recording conditions
¢ 2 Example: When you want to take a picture with a blurred background etc.
¢ 3 Example: When you want to take a picture with everything in focus including the background 
etc.
Note
•It is possible to record while in Preview Mode.•Range for shutter speed effect check is 8 seconds to 1/1000th of a second.
Confirm the Effects of Aperture and Shutter Speed (Preview Mode)
Normal recording  screen  Effects of Aperture
Effects of Shutter 
Speed
¢1
Aperture valueSmallLarge
Focus length of the lensTe l eWide
Distance to the subjectNearDistant
Depth of field (effective focus range)  Shallow (Narrow)¢ 2 Deep (Wide)¢3 
						

							Recording
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Recording Mode: ±´²
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.
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.
Aperture-priority AE
Shutter-priority AE 
						

							- 103 -
Recording
Determine the exposure by manually setting the aperture value and the shutter speed.
The Manual Exposure Assistance appears on the lower portion of the screen to indicate 
the exposure.
Set the mode dial to [²].
Rotate the rear dial to set the aperture and shutter 
speed.
•It will switch between aperture setting operation and shutter 
speed setting operation every time the rear dial is pressed.
A Manual Exposure Assistance
∫Manual Exposure Assistance
•
The Manual Exposure Assistance is an approximation. We recommend checking the pictures 
on the playback screen.
∫ About [B] (Bulb)
If you set the shutter speed to [B], the shutter stays open while the shutter button is 
pressed fully (up to about 120 seconds).
The shutter closes if you release the shutter button.
Use this when you want to keep the shutter open for a long time to take pictures of 
fireworks, a night scene etc.
•
We recommend using a tripod or the remote shutter (DMW-RSL1; optional) when you take 
pictures with the shutter speed set to [B]. Refer to  P184 for information about the remote 
shutter.
•If you set the shutter speed to [B], [B] is displayed on the screen.•When you take pictures with the shutter speed set to [B], use a sufficiently charged battery. 
(P19)
•When you take pictures with the shutter speed se t to [B], noise may become visible. To avoid 
picture noise, we recommend setting [LONG SHTR NR] in the [REC] Mode menu to [ON] 
before taking pictures.  (P130)
•The Manual Exposure Assistance does not appear.•It can only be used with Manual Exposure Mode.
Manual Exposure Mode
The exposure is adequate.
Set to faster shutter speed or larger aperture value.
Set to slower shutter speed or smaller aperture value.
A 
						

							Recording
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Note
•Aperture or shutter speed can be set by touching [F] (aperture) or [SS] (shutter speed) and then 
dragging the exposure meter bar in the Quick Menu  (P59).
•The brightness of the LCD monitor/Viewfinder and  the recorded pictures may differ. Check the 
pictures on the playback screen.
•Rotate the rear dial to display the [EXPO.ME TER]. Unsuitable areas of the range are displayed 
in red.
•If the exposure is not adequate, the aperture value and the shutter speed turn red and blink 
when the shutter button is pressed halfway.
•Display of the shutter speed will count down when the shutter speed is set slow and the shutter 
button is pressed all the way.
•We recommend using a tripod when the shutter speed is slow.•When the flash is activated, the fastest shutter speed that can be selected is 1/160th of a 
second.  (P75)
•The [SENSITIVITY] is automatically set to [AUTO] when you switch the Recording Mode to 
Shutter-Priority AE Mode while the [SENSITIVITY] is set to [ ] (Intelligent).
•The [SENSITIVITY] is automatically set to [ISO160] when you switch the Recording Mode to 
Manual exposure while the [SENSITIVITY] is set to [AUTO] or [ ] (Intelligent).
•When you use a lens with an aperture ring, the setting for the rear dial becomes effective if you 
rotate the aperture ring to the [A] position and the aperture ring setting takes priority if you 
rotate the aperture ring to a position other than [A] in Aperture-Priority AE Mode.
•The setting of the aperture ring takes priority when you use a lens with an aperture ring during 
the manual exposure. 
						

							- 105 -
Recording
Recording Mode: ¿
Taking Pictures that match the Scene being 
recorded
 (Scene Mode)
If you select a Scene Mode to suit the subject and recording conditions, the camera will set 
optimal exposure, color, and focus, allowing you to record in a manner appropriate to the 
scene.
Set the mode dial to  [ ].
Touch the Scene Mode to select.
•The item can be switched by touching [ ]/[ ].
Touch [SET].
Note
•To change the Scene Mode, press [MENU/SET], select [SCENE MODE] from the menu, and 
return to above step 2.•The following items cannot be set in Scene Mode because the camera automatically adjusts 
them to the optimal setting.
–[SENSITIVITY]/Items other than [STANDARD] and [MONOCHROME] in [PHOTO STYLE]/
[METERING MODE]/[FLASH SYNCHRO]¢/[I.RESOLUTION]/[I.DYNAMIC]/[ISO LIMIT SET]/
[DIGITAL ZOOM]
¢ Can be set only when [PERIPHERAL DEFOCUS] is set.
When taking pictures of people outdoors during t he day, this mode allows you to improve 
the appearance of the persons concerned and make their skin tones look healthier.
∫ Technique for Portrait Mode
To make this mode more effective:
1 Rotate the zoom ring as far as possible to Tele. (when a lens with a zoom function is 
used)
2 Move close to the subject to make this mode more effective.
[PORTRAIT] 
						

							Recording
- 106 -
When taking pictures of people outdoors during the daytime, this mode enables the texture 
of their skin to appear even softer than with [PORTRAIT]. (It is effective when taking 
pictures of people from the chest up.)
∫ Technique for Soft Skin Mode
To make this mode more effective:
1 Rotate the zoom ring as far as possible to Tele. (when a lens with a zoom function is 
used)
2 Move close to the subject to make this mode more effective.
Note
•
If a part of the background etc. is a color close to skin color, this part is also smoothed.•This mode may not be effective when there is insufficient brightness.
This allows you to take pictures of a wide landscape.
This setting takes sharp photographs of arch itecture. The guide lines are displayed.
Set here when you want to take pictures of sports scenes or other fast-moving events.
[SOFT SKIN]
[SCENERY]
[ARCHITECTURE]
[SPORTS] 
						

							- 107 -
Recording
This mode makes it easy to pick out the subject on which to focus and blurs the 
background to make the subject stand out.
∫Setting the AF area
1Touch the subject to move the AF area.
•AF area can also be moved by pressing the cursor button.2Touch [SET].
Note
•
Quick AF is performed automatically.•Use the functions that are assigned to the cursor button, such as [WHITE BALANCE]  (P92), by 
assigning them to the menu item of the Quick Menu  (P59).
•AF area setting screen is displayed by pressing the cursor button. Press [ ] to return the 
AF area to the center of the screen.
•The obtained effects will differ depending on factor s such as the distance to the subject and 
background, and the type of lens used. For best results, we recommend getting as close as 
possible to the subject when taking pictures.  (P91)
Flowers outdoors are recorded with natural colors in macro settings. The guide lines are 
displayed.
∫Technique for Flower Mode
•
We recommend using a tripod and the self-timer.•We recommend setting the flash to [ Œ] when you take pictures at close range.
Note
•The focus range is different depending on lens used. Refer to “About the focus distance 
reference mark” on  P91  for the focus range.•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.
•Close-up regions are prioritized when taking pictures, and so time is required to focus if you 
take a picture of a distant subject.
•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.
[PERIPHERAL DEFOCUS]
[FLOWER] 
						

							Recording
- 108 -
You can take pictures of food with a natural hue without being affected by the ambient light 
in restaurants etc.
∫Technique for Food Mode
•
We recommend using a tripod and the self-timer.•We recommend setting the flash to [ Œ] when you take pictures at close range.
Note
•Refer to [FLOWER] for other information about this mode.
You can take clear and vivid pictures of accessories or small objects in a collection.
∫ Technique for Object Mode
•
We recommend using a tripod and the self-timer.•We recommend setting the flash to [ Œ] when you take pictures at close range.
Note
•Refer to [FLOWER] for other information about this mode.
This allows you to take pictures of a  person and the background with near real-life 
brightness.
∫ Technique for Night Portrait Mode
•
Open the flash. (You can set to [ ].)•We recommend using a tripod and the Self-timer for taking pictures.•When [NIGHT PORTRAIT] is selected, keep the subject still for about 1 second after taking the 
picture.
Note
•The shutter may remain closed after taking the picture. This is due to signal processing and is 
not a malfunction.
•Noise may become visible when you take pictures in dark places.
[FOOD]
[OBJECTS]
[NIGHT PORTRAIT] 
						

							- 109 -
Recording
This allows you to take vivid pictures of the nightscape.
∫Technique for Night Scenery Mode
•
We recommend using a tripod and the Self-timer for taking pictures.
Note
•The shutter may remain closed after taking the picture. This is due to signal processing and is 
not a malfunction.
•Noise may become visible when you take pictures in dark places.
Illuminations are photographed beautifully.
∫ Technique for ILLUMINATIONS Mode
•
We recommend using a tripod and the self-timer.
Note
•The shutter may remain closed after taking the picture. This is due to signal processing and is 
not a malfunction.
•Noise may become visible when you take pictures in dark places.
[NIGHT SCENERY]
[ILLUMINATIONS] 
						

							Recording
- 110 -
This takes pictures of a baby with a healthy complexion. When you use the flash, the light 
from it is weaker than usual.
It is possible to set different birthdays and names for [BABY1] and [BABY2]. You can 
select to have these appear at the time of playback, or have them stamped on the 
recorded image using [TEXT STAMP]  (P152).
∫ Birthday/Name setting
1Press  3/4  to select [AGE] or [NAME] and then press  
[MENU/SET].
2Press  3/4  to select [SET] and then press [MENU/SET].3Enter the birthday or name.
•
When the birthday or name is set, [AGE] or [NAME] is automatically set to [ON].•If [ON] is selected when the birthday or name has not been registered, the setting screen 
appears automatically.
4Press  3/4  to select [EXIT] and then press [MENU/SET] to finish.
∫ To cancel [AGE] and [NAME]
Select the [OFF] setting in step 
2.
Note
•
The age and name can be printed out using the “PHOTOfunSTUDIO” bundled software on the 
CD-ROM (supplied).
•If [AGE] or [NAME] is set to [OFF] even when the birthday or name has been set, the age or 
name will not be displayed.
[BABY1]/[BABY2]
Birthday: 2/1: Select the items (year/month/day).
3 /4: Setting.
[MENU/SET]: Set.
Name: For details on how to enter characters, refer to  “Entering Text” on  P122.