User manual PANASONIC DMC-FX8

Operating Instructions Digital Camera Model No. DMC-FX8PP Before connecting, operating or adjusting this product, please read the instructions completely. For USA assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033 or send e-mail to : digitalstillcam@panasonic.com For Canadian assistance, please call: 1-800-561-5505 or visit us at www.panasonic.ca VQT0R26 Before Use Before Use Dear Customer, We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for purchasing this Panasonic Digital Camera. Please read these Operating Instructions carefully and keep them handy for future reference. Information for Your Safety WARNING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD AND ANNOYING INTERFERENCE, USE ONLY THE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES AND DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER (OR BACK); THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. Carefully observe copyright laws. Recording of pre-recorded tapes or discs or other published or broadcast material for purposes other than your own private use may infringe copyright laws. Even for the purpose of private use, recording of certain material may be restricted. · Please note that the actual controls and components, menu items, etc. of your Digital Camera may look somewhat different from those shown in the illustrations in these Operating Instructions. · SD Logo is a trademark. · Other names, company names, and product names printed in these instructions are trademarks or registered trademarks of the companies concerned. THE SOCKET OUTLET SHALL BE INSTALLED NEAR THE EQUIPMENT AND SHALL BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. CAUTION Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions. RBRC TM Li-ion A lithium ion/polymer battery that is recyclable powers the product you have purchased. Please call 1-800-8-BATTERY for information on how to recycle this battery. 2 VQT0R26 Before Use FCC Note: (U.S. only) This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. · Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. FCC Caution: To assure continued compliance, follow the attached installation instructions and use only shielded interface cables with ferrite core when connecting to computer or peripheral devices. Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. Trade Name: Panasonic Model No.: DMC-FX8 Responsible party: Panasonic Corporation of North America One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 Support Contact: Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company 1-800-272-7033 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 3 VQT0R26 Before Use -If you see this symbolInformation on Disposal in other Countries outside the European Union This symbol is only valid in the European Union. If you wish to discard this product, please contact your local authorities or dealer and ask for the correct method of disposal. Care for the camera · Do not shake or cause impact to the camera. The camera may not be operated normally or recording of pictures may be disabled, or the lens may be damaged. · Sand or dust may cause a malfunction of the camera. When you use the camera on a beach etc., take care so that sand or dust does not get into the camera. · When you use the camera on a rainy day or on a beach, take care so that water does not get into the camera. · If seawater splashes onto the camera, wet a soft cloth with tap water, wring it well, and use it to wipe the camera body carefully. Then, wipe it again with a dry cloth. About the LCD monitor · Do not press the LCD monitor strongly. It may cause uneven colors on the LCD monitor or a malfunction of the LCD monitor. · In a place with drastic temperature changes, condensation may form on the LCD monitor. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. · If the camera is extremely cold when you turn the camera on, the image on the LCD monitor is slightly darker than usual at first. However, as the internal temperature increases, it goes back to the normal brightness. Extremely high precision technology is employed to produce the LCD monitor screen. The result is more than 99.99% effective pixels with a mere 0.01% of the pixels inactive or always lit. However, this will not be recorded on the pictures in the card. 4 VQT0R26 Before Use About the Lens · Do not direct the lens to the sun or strong light sources. It may cause not only a malfunction of the camera but irreversible damage to your eye. · Do not press the lens strongly. · Leaving the camera with the lens facing the sun may cause a malfunction. Be careful when you put the camera outside or near a window. About Condensation (When the lens is fogged up) Condensation takes place when the ambient temperature or humidity is changed as follows: Be careful of condensation since it causes stains on the lens, fungus or malfunction. · When the camera is brought inside from the cold to a warm room. · When the camera is moved from outside to an air-conditioned car. · When cool wind from an air conditioner or other is directly blown onto the camera. · In humid places Put the camera into plastic bag until the temperature of the camera is close to the ambient temperature to avoid condensation. In case of condensation, turn the camera off and then leave it for about 2 hours. When the camera becomes close to the ambient temperature, the fog disappears naturally. If you will not be using the camera for a long time · Store the battery in a cool and dry place with a relatively stable temperature. [Recommended temperature: 15 oC to 25 oC (59 oF to 77 oF), Recommended humidity: 40% to 60%] · Be sure to remove the battery and the card from the camera. · When the battery is left inserted in the camera for a long time, discharge takes place even if the camera is turned off. If you leave the battery inserted for an extended period of time, it will be excessively discharged and it may become unusable even after it is charged. · To store the battery for a long period of time, we recommend charging it once every year and storing it again after you completely use up the charged capacity. · When you keep the camera in a closet or a cabinet, we recommend storing it with the desiccant (silica gel). 5 VQT0R26 Before Use About These Operating Instructions Please note that the description on this page is a sample and all pages are not described in this manner. Compensating the Exposure Use this function when you cannot achieve appropriate exposure due to the difference of brightness between the subject and the background. · EV is an abbreviation of Exposure Value, and it is the amount of light given to the CCD by the aperture value and the shutter speed. 1 Modes indicated here allow you to use the functions or settings described on this page. Set the Mode dial to any of the modes to use the functions or settings. 2 Convenient or helpful information for use of the camera is described. About illustrations in these operating instructions Please note that the appearance of the product, the illustration or the menu screen are a little different from those in actual use. About illustrations of the cursor button In these operating instructions, the operations on the cursor button are described as illustrated below. MENU e.g.: When you press the 4 button REV 6 VQT0R26 Contents Before Use Information for Your Safety ....................... 2 About These Operating Instructions ......... 6 Recording pictures (advanced) Using the Mode Dial ............................... 51 · Macro mode...................................... 51 · Motion image mode .......................... 51 · Scene mode...................................... 54 ­ Portrait mode ................................. 55 ­ Sports mode .................................. 55 ­ Food mode .................................... 56 ­ Scenery mode ............................... 56 ­ Night portrait mode ........................ 57 ­ Night scenery mode....................... 57 ­ Baby mode .................................... 58 ­ Soft skin mode............................... 59 ­ Party mode .................................... 59 ­ Fireworks mode ............................. 60 ­ Snow mode.................................... 60 ­ Self portrait mode .......................... 61 Preparation Standard Accessories ............................... 9 Names of the Components ..................... 10 Quick Guide ............................................ 12 Charging the Battery with the Charger ... 13 About the Battery .................................... 14 Inserting/Removing the Battery .............. 15 Inserting/Removing the Card .................. 16 About the Card........................................ 17 Approximate number of recordable pictures and the size ..... 18 Setting Date/Time (Clock Set) ................ 19 About the Setup Menu ............................ 20 About the LCD Monitor ........................... 24 Recording Menu Settings Using the [REC] mode menu .................. 62 · White Balance [W.BALANCE] .......... 63 · ISO Sensitivity [SENSITIVITY] ......... 65 · Aspect Ratio [ASPECT RATIO] ........ 65 · Picture Size [PICT.SIZE] .................. 66 · Quality [QUALITY] ............................ 66 · Audio Recording [AUDIO REC.] ....... 67 · AF Mode [AF MODE]........................ 67 · AF Assist Lamp [AF ASSIST LAMP] .......................... 68 · Slow Shutter [SLOW SHUTTER]...... 69 · Digital Zoom [D.ZOOM] .................... 70 · Color Effect [COL.EFFECT].............. 70 · Picture Adjustment [PICT.ADJ.]........ 70 Recording pictures (basic) Taking Pictures ....................................... 27 Taking Pictures in Simple Mode ............. 32 Checking the Recorded Picture (Review) .............................................. 35 Using the Optical Zoom .......................... 36 Taking Pictures using the Built-in Flash........................ 37 Taking Pictures with the Self-timer ......... 40 Compensating the Exposure .................. 41 Taking Pictures using Auto Bracket ........ 42 Optical Image Stabilizer.......................... 43 Taking Pictures using Burst Mode .......... 44 Playback (basic) Playing Back Pictures ............................. 46 9 Pictures Multi Playback........................ 47 Using the Playback Zoom ....................... 48 Deleting Pictures..................................... 49 7 VQT0R26 Playback (advanced) Playing Back Pictures with Audio/ Motion Images..................................... 71 Using the [PLAY] mode menu ................ 72 · Playing Back with Slide Show [SLIDE SHOW]................................. 73 · Displaying pictures in a direction at the time of recording [ROTATE DISP.] .............................. 74 · Rotating the Picture [ROTATE] ........ 75 · Setting the Picture to be Printed and the Number of Prints [DPOF PRINT].................................. 76 · Preventing Accidental Erasure of the Picture [PROTECT] ................ 78 · Adding Audio to Recorded Pictures [AUDIO DUB.] .................................. 79 · Resizing the Pictures [RESIZE] ........ 80 · Trimming the Pictures [TRIMMING] ..................................... 81 · Clean-up [CLEAN UP] ...................... 82 · Initializing the Card [FORMAT] ......... 83 Playing Back Pictures on a TV Screen ... 84 Others Screen Display........................................ 92 Cautions for Use ..................................... 95 Message Display .................................... 97 Troubleshooting ...................................... 99 Specifications........................................ 103 Digital Camera Accessory System ....... 105 Digital Camera Accessory Order Form (For USA Customers)........................ 106 Request for Service Notice (For USA Only).................................. 107 Limited Warranty (For USA Only) ......... 108 Customer Services Directory (For USA Only).................................. 110 Index ..................................................... 111 Spanish Quick Use Guide/ Guía rápida en español..................... 113 Connecting to a PC or Printer Before Connecting to the PC or the Printer [USB MODE] ................. 85 Connecting to a PC................................. 86 Connecting to a PictBridge-compliant Printer.................................................. 88 8 VQT0R26 Preparation Preparation Standard Accessories Before using your camera, check the contents. 1 2 RP-SD016B CGA-S005A 3 4 1 SD Memory Card (16 MB) (In the text, it is indicated as "Card") 2 Battery Pack (In the text, it is indicated as "Battery") 3 Battery Charger (In the text, it is indicated as "Charger") 4 USB Connection Cable 5 AV Cable 6 CD-ROM 7 Strap 8 Battery Carrying Case · For information about optional accessories, please refer to "Digital Camera Accessory System". (P105) · If any of the accessories are lost, please contact Panasonic's parts department at 1 800 833-9626 (For USA) or in Canada call 1 800 561-5505 for more details on how to obtain replacement parts. DE-A11B K1HA08CD0004 5 6 K1HA08CD0005 7 8 VFC4090 VYQ3509 9 VQT0R26 Preparation Names of the Components 1 2 3 1 Photo Flash (P37) 2 Lens (P5) 3 Self-timer Indicator (P40) AF Assist Lamp (P68) 4 5 6 7 89 4 LCD Monitor (P24, 92) 5 Cursor Buttons 2/Self-timer Button (P40) 4/[REV] Button (P35) 1/Flash Setting Button (P37) 3/Exposure Compensation (P41)/Auto Bracket (P42)/White Balance Fine Adjustment (P64)/Backlight Compensation in Simple Mode (P34) Button 6 [MENU] Button (P20) 7 Status Indicator (P14, 22) 8 [DISPLAY/PWR LCD] Button (P24, 25) 9 Single or Burst Mode (P44)/ Delete (P49) Button 10 VQT0R26 Preparation 10 11 12 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Camera ON/OFF Switch (P12) Zoom Lever (P36, 70) Optical Image Stabilizer Button (P43) Speaker (P71) Microphone (P52, 67) Shutter Button (P28, 52) Mode Dial (P27) 13 14 15 16 17 18 17 Strap Eyelet AV OUT DIGITAL DC IN 19 20 18 Lens Barrel 19 [AV OUT/DIGITAL] Socket (P84, 86, 88) 20 [DC IN] Socket (P86, 88) · Please be sure to use genuine Panasonic AC adaptor (DMW-AC5; optional). · This camera cannot charge the battery even though the AC adaptor (DMW-AC5; optional) is connected to it. 21 Tripod Receptacle · When you use a tripod, make sure the tripod is stable when the camera is attached to it. 22 Card/Battery Door (P15, 16) 23 Release lever (P15, 16) 21 22 OPEN LOCK 23 11 VQT0R26 Preparation Quick Guide This is the overview of the procedure to record and playback pictures with the camera. For each operation, be sure to refer to the corresponding pages. 3 Turn the camera on to take pictures. · Set the clock. (P19) 1 Charge the battery. (P13) · When the camera is shipped, the battery is not charged. Charge the battery before use. OFF ON 2 Insert the battery and the card. (P15, 16) 1 Set the mode dial to [ ]. 2 Press the shutter button to take pictures. (P28) 4 Play back the pictures. 1 Set the mode dial to [ ]. 2 Select the picture you want to view. (P46) 12 VQT0R26 Preparation Charging the Battery with the Charger When the camera is shipped, the battery is not charged. Charge the battery before use. 3 Detach the battery after charging is completed. 1 Attach the battery with attention to the direction of the battery. 2 Connect the charger to the electrical outlet. · After charging is completed, be sure to disconnect the charger from the electrical outlet. · The battery becomes warm after use/ charge or during charge. The camera also becomes warm during use. However, it is not a malfunction. · The battery is exhausted when it is left for a long period of time after being charged. Recharge the battery when it is exhausted. · Use the dedicated charger and battery. · Charge the battery with the charger indoors. · Do not disassemble or modify the charger. · When the [CHARGE] indicator A lights in green, charging starts. · When the [CHARGE] indicator A turns off (in about 130 minutes), charging is completed. 13 VQT0R26 Preparation About the Battery Battery indication The remaining battery power appears on the screen. [It does not appear when you use the camera along with the AC adaptor (DMW-AC5; optional).] Playback time Playback time Approx. 330 min The number of recordable pictures and playback time will vary depending on the operating conditions and storing condition of the battery. Charging Charging time Approx. 130 min · The battery indication turns red and blinks. (When the LCD monitor is set to off by the economy mode, the status indicator blinks.) · Recharge the battery or replace it with fully charged battery. The battery life The number of recordable pictures by CIPA standard (In normal picture mode) · CIPA is an abbreviation of [Camera & Imaging Products Association]. Number of Approx. 300 pictures recordable pictures (Approx. 150 min) Charging time and the number of recordable pictures with the optional battery pack (CGA-S005A) are the same as above. · When charging starts, the [CHARGE] indicator lights. Charging error · If a charging error occurs, the [CHARGE] indicator blinks in about 1 second cycles. In this case, disconnect the charger from the electrical outlet, remove the battery and make sure that both room and battery temperature are not too low or high and then charge it again. If the [CHARGE] indicator still blinks even if you charge the battery for a while, consult the dealer or your nearest servicenter. · When the operating time of the camera becomes extremely short even if the battery is properly charged, the life of the battery may have expired. Buy a new battery. Charging conditions · Charge the battery under temperature of 10 oC to 35 oC (50 oF to 95 oF). (Battery temperature should be the same also.) · The performance of the battery may be temporarily deteriorated and the operating time may become shorter in low temperature conditions (e.g. skiing/ snowboarding). Recording conditions by CIPA standard · Temperature: 23 °C (73.4 °F)/ Humidity: 50% when LCD monitor is on.¢ · Using the supplied SD Memory Card (16 MB). · Using the supplied battery. · Recording starts 30 seconds after the camera is turned on. · Recording once every 30 seconds, with full flash every other recording. · Rotating the zoom lever towards Tele to Wide and vice versa in every recording. · Turn the camera off every 10 recordings./ Leaving the camera until the battery is cooled down. ¢When the Power LCD function (P25) is used, the number of recordable pictures decreases. The number of recordable pictures varies depending on the recording interval time. If the recording interval time becomes longer, the number of recordable pictures decreases. [e.g., when taking pictures every 2 minutes: about 1/4 of the amount (Approx. 75 pictures) when recording once every 30 seconds] 14 VQT0R26 Preparation Inserting/Removing the Battery · Check that the camera is turned off and that the lens is retracted. 1 Slide the release lever to the direction of arrow, and open the card/battery door. 3 1 Close the card/battery door. 2 Slide the release lever to the direction of arrow. OPEN LOCK OPEN LOCK · Please be sure to use genuine Panasonic batteries (CGA-S005A). 2 Insert: Insert the charged battery fully paying attention to the direction of the battery. Remove: Slide the lock A to remove the battery. OPEN LOCK · If you will not be using the camera for a long time, remove the battery. Store the removed battery in the battery carrying case (supplied). (P96) · When a fully charged battery has been inserted for more than 24 hours, the clock setting is stored (in the camera) for at least 3 months even if the battery is removed. (The storing time may be shorter if the battery is not charged sufficiently.) If more than 3 months has passed, the clock setting will be lost. In this case, set the clock again. (P19) · Do not remove the card and the battery while the card is being accessed. The data on the card may be damaged. (P17) · Do not remove the battery with the camera turned on since the settings on the camera may not be stored properly. · The supplied battery is designed only for the camera. Do not use it with any other equipment. 15 VQT0R26 Preparation Inserting/Removing the Card · Check that the camera is turned off and that the lens is retracted. · Check the direction of the card. · Do not touch the connection terminals on the back side of the card. · The card may be damaged if it is not fully inserted. 1 Slide the release lever to the direction of arrow, and open the card/battery door. 3 1 Close the card/battery door. 2 Slide the release lever to the direction of arrow. OPEN LOCK · The card and the data may be damaged if it is inserted or removed while the camera is turned on. · We recommend using Panasonic's SD Memory Card. (Use only genuine SD cards with an SD Logo.) OPEN LOCK 2 Insert: Insert the card fully with the label side facing the front of the camera until it clicks. Remove: Push the card until it clicks, then pull the card out upright. · If the card/battery door cannot be completely closed, remove the card and insert it again. 16 VQT0R26 Preparation About the Card Access to the card When pictures are being recorded onto the card, the card access indication A lights red. 3 SD Memory Card On this unit, you can use SD Memory Cards of the following capacity (from 8 MB to 2 GB). When the card access indication lights, pictures are being read or deleted, or the card is cleaned up (P82) or formatted, do not: · turn the camera off. · remove the battery or the card. · shake or impact the camera. The card and the data may be damaged and the camera may not operate normally. About handling a card Transfer important pictures/motion images from your card to your PC periodically (P86). The data on the card may be damaged or lost due to electromagnetic waves, static electricity, breakdown of the camera or a defective card. · Do not format the card on your PC or other equipment, format it with the camera only to ensure proper operation. (P83) SD Memory Card (supplied) and MultiMediaCard (optional) The SD Memory Card and MultiMediaCard are small, lightweight, removable external cards. The reading/writing speed of an SD Memory Card is fast. The SD Memory Card is equipped with a Write-Protect switch B that can inhibit writing and formatting a card. (When the switch is slid to the [LOCK] side, it is not possible to write or delete data on the card and format it. When the switch is unlocked, these functions become available.) 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB (Maximum) Please confirm the latest information on the following website. http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/cs (This Site is English only.) · This unit supports SD Memory Cards formatted in FAT12 system and FAT16 system based on SD Memory Card Specifications. · This unit does not support MultiMediaCard for recording motion images. · The reading/writing speed of a MultiMediaCard is slower than an SD Memory Card. When a MultiMediaCard is used, the performance of certain features may be slightly slower than advertised. · Keep the Memory Card out of reach of children to prevent swallowing. 17 VQT0R26 Preparation Approximate number of recordable pictures and the size Aspect ratio Picture size Quality 16 MB 32 MB 64 MB 128 MB 256 MB 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB Aspect ratio Picture size Quality 16 MB 32 MB 64 MB 128 MB 256 MB 512 MB 1 GB 2 GB 69 145 290 600 1170 2320 4650 8780 110 230 480 970 1900 3770 7550 12290 7 16 33 67 130 260 520 1040 15 32 65 130 250 510 1020 2040 13 28 58 115 230 450 910 1800 25 54 110 220 430 860 1720 3410 (640k480 pixels) (2560k1440 pixels) (1920k1080 pixels) 5 12 25 51 99 195 390 790 11 24 49 100 195 380 770 1530 9 19 39 79 150 300 610 1220 17 37 75 150 290 590 1180 2360 14 30 62 125 240 480 970 1920 28 59 120 240 470 940 1880 3610 22 46 94 190 370 730 1470 2920 41 86 175 350 690 1370 2740 5120 (2560k1920 pixels) (2048k1536 pixels) (1600k1200 pixels) (1280k960 pixels) · If you select a larger picture size, you can print pictures more clearly. When you select a smaller picture size, you can record more pictures. · The numbers are approximations. (The numbers vary depending on the recording condition and the type of the card.) · The number of recordable pictures varies depending on subjects. · The remaining number of recordable pictures displayed on the screen is an approximation. 18 VQT0R26 Preparation Setting Date/Time (Clock Set) Initial setting The clock is not set when the camera is shipped. When you turn the camera on, the following screen appears. 2 Select [M/D/Y], [D/M/Y] or [Y/M/D]. CLOCK SET 10:001DEC.11.2005 M/D/Y PLEASE SET THE CLOCK CLOCK SET MENU SELECT SET EXIT MENU · When pressing the [MENU] button, the screen shown in step 1 appears. · The screen disappears after about 5 seconds. Turn the camera on again or press the [MENU] button, select [CLOCK SET] in page 2/3 of the [SETUP] menu (P20) and set the clock in steps 1 and 2. · Close the menu by pressing the [MENU] button 2 times after finishing the setting. · Check if the clock setting is correct, after turning the camera off and on. 1 Set date and time. CLOCK SET 00 : 00 JAN . 11 . 2005 M/D/Y SELECT SET EXIT MENU · 2/1: Select the desired item. · 3/4: Set date and time. · When a fully charged battery has been inserted for more than 24 hours, the clock setting is stored (in the camera) for at least 3 months even if the battery is removed. (The storing time may be shorter if the battery is not charged sufficiently.) If more than 3 months has passed, the clock setting will be lost. In this case, set the clock again. · You can set the year from 2000 to 2099. The 24-hour system is used. · When you use a photo printing service, if the date is not set in the camera, it will not be printed, even if the store provides a date printing option to your photo. · For the date print setting, refer to P77. 19 VQT0R26 Preparation About the Setup Menu · Set the items if necessary. (Refer to P21­ 23 for each menu item.) 4 Select the desired item. SETUP MONITOR AUTO REVIEW POWER SAVE ECO ECONOMY BEEP SELECT SET EXIT MENU 1/ 3 1 Turn the camera on. OFF ON 5 Select the desired value. SETUP 1/ 3 · The menu items depend on the mode selected with the mode dial (P27). In this page, the items in normal picture mode [ ] are indicated. 2 Press the [MENU] button. REC MENU MONITOR AUTO REVIEW POWER SAVE ECO ECONOMY BEEP SELECT SET EXIT MENU 1/ 3 SETUP AUTO AUTO W.BALANCE SENSITIVITY ASPECT RATIO PICT.SIZE QUALITY SELECT Be sure to press 1 at the end to store the setting. · Close the menu by pressing the [MENU] button after finishing the setting. In recording mode, you can also close the menu by pressing the shutter button halfway. 5M EXIT MENU 3 Select the [SETUP] Menu. REC MONITOR AUTO REVIEW POWER SAVE ECO ECONOMY BEEP SELECT SETUP n0 1SEC. 2MIN. OFF 1/ 3 EXIT MENU · To forward or reverse the menu screen rotate the zoom lever A toward T or W. 20 VQT0R26 Preparation [MONITOR] Adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor in 7 steps. · The setting on the brightness of the LCD monitor also affects simple mode [ ]. [AUTO REVIEW] [OFF]: The recorded picture does not automatically appear. [1SEC.]: The recorded picture automatically appears on the screen for about 1 second. [3SEC.]: The recorded picture automatically appears on the screen for about 3 seconds. [ZOOM]: The recorded picture automatically appears on the screen for about 1 second. Then it is enlarged 4 times and appears for about 1 second. This mode is useful for confirming focus. Pictures in auto bracket, burst mode or pictures with audio are not enlarged even if [ZOOM] is selected. · In motion image mode [ ], auto review function is not activated. · When pictures are recorded in auto bracket [ ] (P42) or any speed ([ ], [ ] and [ ]) on burst mode (P44), 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 are recorded regardless of the setting on the auto review function. (The picture is not enlarged.) · The setting for the auto review function is disabled in auto bracket, burst mode, motion image mode, [SELF PORTRAIT] in scene mode (P54), or when [AUDIO REC.] is set to [ON]. [POWER SAVE] [1MIN.]/[2MIN.]/[5MIN.]/[10MIN.]: The 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. [OFF]: The power save mode is not activated. · Press the shutter button halfway or turn the camera off and on to cancel the power save mode. · When using the AC adaptor (DMW-AC5; optional)/connecting to a PC or a printer/ recording motion images/playing back motion images/during Slide Show, the power save mode is not activated. · In the economy mode and simple mode [ ], the setting for the power save mode is fixed to [2MIN.]. 21 VQT0R26 Preparation [ECONOMY] The brightness of the LCD monitor is reduced, and the battery life is saved by turning off the LCD monitor automatically while the camera is not in use in the recording mode. (Press any button to recover from the economy mode.) [LEVEL 1]: If you do not operate the camera for about 15 seconds in the recording mode, the LCD monitor is turned off. [LEVEL 2]: If you do not operate the camera for about 15 seconds in the recording mode, or if you do not operate the camera for about 5 seconds after you take a picture, the LCD monitor is turned off. [OFF]: Economy mode cannot be activated. · In the economy mode, the LCD monitor is turned off while the flash is being charged. · The status indicator lights while the LCD monitor is turned off. · In the economy mode, [POWER SAVE] is fixed to [2MIN.]. · The economy mode is not activated while the AC adaptor (DMW-AC5; optional) is used, the menu screen is displayed, the self-timer is set or recording motion images. · The brightness of the LCD monitor is not reduced when the power LCD function is activated. [BEEP] [BEEP LEVEL]: [ ]: No operational sound [ ]: Soft operational sound [ ]: Loud operational sound [BEEP TONE]: 1 2 3 [SHUTTER]: 1 2 3 · The settings on [BEEP] also affect simple mode [ ]. [VOLUME] The volume of speakers can be adjusted in 7 steps. (LEVEL 6 to 0) · When you connect the camera to a TV, the volume of the speakers of the TV is not changed. [CLOCK SET] Change date and time. (P19) [NO.RESET] Set this when you want to start the file number of the picture from 0001 on the next recording. (The folder number is updated, and the file number starts from 0001.) · The folder number can be assigned from 100 to 999. When the folder number reaches 999, you cannot reset the file number. We recommend formatting the card after saving the data on a PC or elsewhere. · To reset the folder number to 100, format the card first and then use this function to reset the file number. After that, the reset screen for the folder number appears. Select [YES] to reset the folder number. · Refer to P87 for detailed information about the file number and the folder number. · The file number reset also affects simple mode [ ]. 22 VQT0R26 Preparation [RESET] The settings on the [REC] or the [SETUP] menu are reset to the initial settings. · The birthday setting for [BABY] in the scene mode (P54) is also reset when the settings in the [SETUP] menu are reset. [ROTATE DISP.] (P74) in the [PLAY] mode menu is also reset to [ON]. · The folder number and the clock setting are not changed. [USB MODE] Set the USB communication system. · Set before connecting to a PC or a printer. (P85) [VIDEO OUT] (Playback mode only) (P84) [NTSC]: Video output is set to NTSC system. [PAL]: Video output is set to PAL system. [SCENE MENU] [AUTO]: Scene menu appears automatically when setting the mode dial to scene mode. Select the desired scene mode. [OFF]: Scene menu does not appear when setting the mode dial to scene mode and the camera is operated in the scene mode currently selected. If you change the scene mode, press the [MENU] button to display the scene menu and then select the desired scene mode. [LANGUAGE] Set to the language on the menu screen from the following languages. Set to the desired language with 3/4 and store it with 1. [ENGLISH]: English [DEUTSCH]: German [FRANÇAIS]: French [ESPAÑOL]: Spanish [ITALIANO]: Italian [ ]: Chinese (Traditional) [ ]: Japanese · When you set to other language by mistake, select [ ] from the menu icons to set the desired language. · The language setting also affects simple mode [ ]. 23 VQT0R26 Preparation About the LCD Monitor In recording mode (P28) 3 3 1 DISPLAY/PWR LCD A LCD monitor (LCD) Press the [DISPLAY] button to change the display. · When the menu screen appears, the [DISPLAY] button is not activated. During 9 pictures multi playback (P47) or playback zoom (P48), the indications on the screen can be turned on and off. In simple mode [ ] (P32) D Normal display E Display with histogram F No display (Recording guide line) G No display ¢1 Histogram In playback mode (P46) 3 100 _ 0001 1/3 BACKLIGHT B Normal display C No display 9 months 10days 10:00 DEC. 1.2005 2 100 _ 0001 1/3 F2.8 1/25 ISO100 AUTO 10:00 DEC. 1.2005 H Normal display I Display with recorded information and histogram J No display ¢2 Displayed when you set birthday setting for [BABY] in the scene mode (P54), and [WITH AGE] is selected at taking pictures. 24 VQT0R26 Preparation To view the LCD monitor outdoors on a bright sunny day (Power LCD function) When you press and hold the [PWR LCD] button for 1 second, the power LCD function is activated. The LCD monitor becomes brighter than usual and easier to see outdoors. 3 Recording guide line When you align the subject on the horizontal and vertical guide lines or the cross point of these lines, you can take pictures with well-designed composition by viewing the size, the slope and the balance of the subject. ON: PRESSPWRLCDFOR 1 SEC. 3 · The power LCD icon [ ] appears on the screen. · When you take pictures, the LCD monitor automatically reverts back to the normal brightness 30 seconds after the [PWR LCD] button is pressed. If you press any button, the LCD monitor turns on brightly again. · If you press and hold [PWR LCD] button for 1 second again, the power LCD function is canceled and the LCD monitor reverts back to its usual brightness. · In the power LCD function, the brightness and color tone are emphatically displayed on the LCD monitor. Therefore, the brightness and the color tone may look different from those in real life depending on the subject. However, this function does not affect recorded pictures. 25 VQT0R26 Preparation Histogram · A histogram is a graph that displays brightness along the horizontal axis (black to white) and the number of pixels at each brightness level on the vertical axis. · It allows the camera user to easily check the way a picture is being exposed. · It is very useful if manual adjustments of the lens aperture and shutter speed are available, especially in those situations where automatic exposure may be difficult due to uneven lighting. Using the histogram feature will allow you to get the best performance from the camera. A When the values are concentrated to the left, the picture is under exposed. B When the values in the histogram are distributed evenly, the exposure is adequate and the brightness is well-balanced. C When the values are concentrated to the right, the picture is over exposed. Example of histogram 100 _ 0001 1/3 F2.8 1/200 ISO100 AUTO 10:00 DEC. 1.2005 100 _ 0001 1/3 F2.8 1/100 ISO100 AUTO 10:00 DEC. 1.2005 100 _ 0001 1/3 F2.8 1/50 ISO100 AUTO 10:00 DEC. 1.2005 A Under Exposed B Properly Exposed C Over Exposed ¢Histogram · When you take pictures with the flash or in dark places, the histogram is displayed in orange because the recorded picture and the histogram do not match each other. · The histogram does not appear when in simple mode [ ], motion image mode [ ], during multi playback and playback zoom. · The histogram in the recording mode is an approximation. · The histogram in recording and playback may not match each other. · The histogram in the camera does not match the one displayed in image editing software used with a PC, etc. 26 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Recording pictures (basic) Taking Pictures The Mode Dial This camera has a mode dial to suit recording of many kinds of scenes. Select the desired mode and enjoy the variety of recording. Rotate it slowly and securely to adjust to each mode. : Normal picture mode (P28) Use this mode for usual recording. : Simple mode (P32) This is the recommended mode for beginners. : Macro mode (P51) This mode allows you to take a picture closely focusing on the subject. : Scene mode (P54) This mode allows you to take pictures depending on the recording scenes. : Motion image mode (P51) This mode allows you to record motion images with audio. : Playback mode (P46) This mode allows you to play back recorded pictures. 27 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Normal recording 3 Take a picture. The camera automatically sets the shutter speed and the aperture value according to the brightness of the subject. 1 1 Turn the camera on. 2 Select normal picture mode [ ]. OFF ON F2.8 1/25 · B: Press the shutter button fully to take the picture. When the subject is not focused Focus indication AF area Blink (green) Turns from white to red When the subject is focused On (green) Turns from white to green 2 Aim the AF area 1 to the point you want to focus and then press the shutter button halfway. Sound Beeps 4 times Beeps 2 times F2.8 1/25 · A: Press the shutter button halfway to focus. · The focus indication 2 is lit and then the aperture value 3 and the shutter speed 4 are displayed. 28 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) AF/AE Lock (AF: Auto focus/ AE: Auto exposure) 3 When recording a picture of people with a composition as the above picture, you cannot focus on the subject because it is out of AF area in usual operation. In this case, 1 Aim the AF area at the subject. 2 Press the shutter button halfway to fix the focus and the exposure. · When the subject is focused, the focus indication lights. 3 Keeping pressed the shutter button halfway, move the camera as you compose the picture. 4 Press the shutter button fully. · You can repeatedly retry AF/AE lock before pressing the shutter button fully. Tips for taking good pictures To take pictures without blurring: · Hold the camera gently with both hands, keep arms stationary at your side and stand with your feet slightly apart. · Make sure that camera shake does not occur when you press the shutter button. · Do not cover the photo flash or the AF assist lamp with your finger or other objects. · Do not touch the front of the lens. F2.8 1/25 F2.8 1/25 1: When holding the camera sideways 2: When holding the camera vertically A: Photo flash B: AF assist lamp · Especially in the following cases, the shutter speed will be slower. Keep the camera still from the moment you press the shutter button until the picture appears on the screen. We recommend using a tripod. The use of the self-timer (P40) prevents jittering caused by pressing the shutter button when you are using a tripod. ­ Slow sync./Red-eye reduction [ ] (P37) ­ [NIGHT PORTRAIT] (P57) ­ [NIGHT SCENERY] (P57) ­ [PARTY] (P59) ­ [FIREWORKS] (P60) ­ When the shutter speed is slowed in [SLOW SHUTTER] (P69) 29 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Focusing · The focus range is 50 cm (1.64 feet) to ¶. · When you press the shutter button fully with one stroke, pictures may be blurry or unfocused. · When the focus indication is blinking, the subject is not focused. Press the shutter button halfway and focus on the subject again. · If the camera will not focus after a few tries, turn it off and on and try again. · In the following cases, the camera will not focus on subjects properly. ­ When including both near and distant subjects in a scene. ­ When there is dirt or dust on the glass between the lens and the subject. ­ When there are illuminated or glittering objects around the subject. ­ When taking a picture in a dark place. ­ 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 AF/ AE lock (P29). In dark places, the AF assist lamp (P68) may turn on to focus on the subject. · Even if the focus indication appears and the subject is focused, it is canceled when you release the shutter button. Press the shutter button halfway again. Jitter (camera shake) · Be careful of jittering when pressing the shutter button, especially when fully zoomed into the subject. · When jitter could occur because of slow shutter speed, the jitter alert A appears. F2.8 1/8 · When the jitter alert appears, we recommend using a tripod. If you cannot use a tripod, be careful of how you hold the camera (P29). The use of the self-timer (P40) prevents jittering caused by pressing the shutter button when you are using a tripod. Direction detection function · If you take pictures by holding the camera vertically, the information of the rotation on the pictures is automatically added and recorded to the pictures. When [ROTATE DISP.] (P74) is set to [ON], you can rotate and display pictures on the screen or the TV according to the information of the rotation on the pictures. · When you take pictures by holding the camera vertically, read "Tips for taking good pictures" on P29 carefully. · This function may not work properly on pictures recorded by aiming the camera up or down. · In motion image mode [ ], you cannot use the direction detection function. 30 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Exposure · If you press the shutter button halfway when the exposure is not adequate, the indication of the aperture value and the shutter speed turns red. (However, the aperture value and the shutter speed do not turn red when the flash is activated.) · The brightness of the LCD monitor may differ from that of recorded pictures. The subject looks dark on the LCD monitor, but the actual picture is bright. · When most of the subjects in the screen are bright (e.g. blue sky on a clear day, snowy field, etc.), the recorded pictures may become dark. In this case, compensate the exposure value on the camera. (P41) · When you press the shutter button, the LCD monitor may become bright or dark for a moment. This function allows easy adjustment of focus and the recorded picture will not be affected. · We recommend making sure the clock is set properly before taking pictures. (P19) · When the time for power save is set (P20), the camera is automatically turned off if you do not operate within the set time. When operating the camera again, press the shutter button halfway or turn the camera off and on. · In some cases, if the distance between the camera and the subject is beyond the recordable range when you use the camera, the picture may not be properly focused even if the focus indication is lit. 31 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Taking Pictures in Simple Mode Settings in Simple mode [PICT.MODE] This mode allows beginners to take pictures easily. Only the most basic functions appear in the menu to make operations simple. ENLARGE Optimum for enlarging to 8qk10q, Letter etc. 4qk6q/ Optimum for regular size 10k15cm printing. E-MAIL Optimum for attaching to e-mails or insertion into website. 1 Select the desired item and set the desired value. SIMPLE MODE PICT.MODE AUTO REVIEW BEEP CLOCK SET SELECT MENU ENLARGE 4"k6"/10k15cm [AUTO REVIEW] OFF The recorded picture does not automatically appear. ON The recorded picture automatically appears on the screen for about 1 second. E-MAIL SET EXIT MENU [BEEP] OFF No operational sound LOW Soft operational sound HIGH Loud operational sound · Close the menu by pressing the shutter button halfway or the [MENU] button after finishing the setting. [CLOCK SET] Change date and time. (P19) 32 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Other Settings in Simple mode In Simple mode, other settings are fixed as follows. For details, refer to the pages corresponding to each item. Focus range [POWER SAVE] [ECONOMY] Self-timer Optical Image Stabilizer Burst speed 30 cm (0.98 feet) to ¶ (Tele) 5 cm (0.16 feet) to ¶ (Wide) [2MIN.] [OFF] 10 seconds [MODE2] Low speed Number of recordable pictures in burst mode · [ENLARGE]: max. 3 pictures · [4qk6q/10k15cm]: max. 5 pictures · [E-MAIL]: max. 5 pictures [W.BALANCE] [SENSITIVITY] [ASPECT RATIO] [PICT.SIZE] and [QUALITY] [AF MODE] [AUTO] [AUTO] [ ] (2560k1920 pixels)/Fine (1600k1200 pixels)/Standard (640k480 pixels)/Standard · [ENLARGE]: · [4qk6q/10k15cm]: · [E-MAIL]: [ ] (1-area-focusing) P63 P65 P65 P66 P20 P20 P40 P43 P44 P67 P68 P69 [AF ASSIST LAMP] [ON] [SLOW SHUTTER] [1/8 ­ ] 33 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) The Backlight Compensation Backlight is a situation where light comes from the back of subjects. Subjects such as people become dark when pictures are recorded in backlight. If you press 3, [ ] (compensating backlight ON indication) appears and the backlight compensation function is activated. This function compensates the backlight by brightening the whole of the picture. 3 BACKLIGHT · The settings on the simple mode are not applied to other recording modes except [CLOCK SET] and [BEEP]. · The setting on [MONITOR], [BEEP TONE], [SHUTTER], [NO.RESET] and [LANGUAGE] in the [SETUP] menu (P20) also affects the simple mode. · You cannot use the following functions in the simple mode. ­ White balance fine adjustment ­ Exposure compensation ­ Auto bracket ­ [AUDIO REC.] ­ [D.ZOOM] ­ [COL.EFFECT] ­ [PICT.ADJ.] 3 BACKLIGHT · If you press 3 while [ ] is displayed, [ ] disappears and the backlight compensation function is canceled. · When you use the backlight compensation function, we recommend using the flash. 34 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Checking the Recorded Picture (Review) · When you change the magnification or the position to be displayed, the zoom position indication A appears for about 1 second to check the enlarged area. Recorded pictures can be deleted during the review (Quick Deletion) DELETE SINGLE DELETE THIS PICTURE? EXIT 4X DELETE SELECT SET NO YES 1 Press 4. REVIEW1X MULTI/ALL · The last recorded picture appears for about 10 seconds. · Press the shutter button halfway or 4 to cancel the review. · You can check other pictures by pressing 2/1. · When the recorded pictures are too bright or dim, compensate the exposure. (P41) · Once deleted, pictures cannot be recovered. · Multi pictures or all pictures can be deleted. Read P49 or P50 to operate them. 2 Enlarge and shift the picture. REVIEW4X 1X W 8X T DELETE · · : 1k>4k>8k : 8k>4k>1k 35 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Using the Optical Zoom You can make people and subjects appear closer with the 3 times optical zoom, and landscapes can be recorded in wide angle. · The optical zoom is set to Wide (1k) when the camera is turned on. · The picture may have some distortion (typical example: vertical straight line bent outwards). This is due to the lens aberration, which is common to some extent with all photographic lenses. Distortion may be more visible when using a wider area of the zoom lens as you get closer to the subject. · When using the zoom lens at high magnification, the quality of the picture can be enhanced if a tripod is used. At high magnification, even small movements can cause a slight decrease in picture sharpness. · If you use the zoom function after focusing on the subject, focus on the subject again. · In motion image mode [ ], the zoom magnification is fixed to the value set at the start of recording. · The lens barrel (P11) is ejected or retracted according to the zoom position. · Take care not to interrupt the motion of the lens barrel while the zoom lever is rotated. · If you wish to make subjects appear even closer, use the digital zoom. Select [ON] for [D.ZOOM] in the [REC] mode menu for using the digital zoom. (P70) To make subjects appear further away use (Wide) 3 W T W T To make subjects appear closer use (Tele) 3 W T W T 36 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Taking Pictures using the Built-in Flash When you set the flash, you can take pictures using the built-in flash according to the recording condition. · The flash is activated twice. The first flash is activated only for a preparation of actual recording. The subject should not move until the second flash is finished. · Use this when you take pictures of people in low lighting conditions. : Forced ON The flash is activated every time regardless of the recording condition. · Use this when your subject is back-lit or under fluorescent light. : Forced ON/Red-eye reduction · The flash setting is set to Forced ON/ Red-eye reduction only when you set to [PARTY] in scene mode. (P54) : Slow sync./Red-eye reduction When you take a picture with a dark background landscape, this feature makes the shutter speed slow when the flash is activated, so that the dark background landscape will become bright. Simultaneously it reduces the red-eye phenomenon. · Use this when you take pictures of people in front of a dark background. : Forced OFF The flash is not activated in any recording condition. · Use this when you take pictures in places where the use of the flash is not permitted. A: Photo flash Do not cover it with your finger or any other items. Switching to the appropriate flash setting For the selectable flash settings, refer to "Available flash settings by recording mode" on P38. : AUTO The flash is automatically activated according to the recording condition. : AUTO/Red-eye reduction The flash is automatically activated according to the recording condition. It reduces the red-eye phenomenon (eyes of the subject appear red in the picture) by triggering the flash before actually recording the picture. After that, the flash is activated for actual recording again. 37 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Available flash settings by recording mode The available flash settings depend on the recording mode. (±: Available, --: Not available) ¢Not available in backlight compensation The available flash range to take pictures ISO sensitivity AUTO ISO80 ISO100 ISO200 ISO400 Available flash control range Wide 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 4.0 m (13.1 feet) 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 1.7 m (5.58 feet) 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 2.0 m (6.56 feet) 40 cm (1.31 feet) to 2.8 m (9.19 feet) 60 cm (1.97 feet) to 4.0 m (13.1 feet) Tele 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 2.2 m (7.22 feet) 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 1.0 m (3.28 feet) 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 1.1 m (3.61 feet) 30 cm (0.98 feet) to 1.5 m (4.92 feet) 40 cm (1.31 feet) to 2.2 m (7.22 feet) · The available flash range is an approximation. · Refer to P30 for the focus range. · Refer to P65 for the ISO sensitivity. · If the ISO sensitivity is set to [AUTO], it is automatically adjusted from [ISO100] to [ISO400] when you use the flash. · To avoid noise, we recommend decreasing the ISO sensitivity (P65) or setting [PICT.ADJ.] to [NATURAL]. (P70) 38 VQT0R26 Recording pictures (basic) Shutter speed for each flash setting Flash setting : AUTO : AUTO/Red-eye reduction : Forced ON : Forced ON/Red-eye reduction : Slow sync./Red-eye reduction Shutter speed (Sec.) 1/60 to 1/2000 1/60 to 1/2000 1/60 to 1/2000 1/8¢ to 1/2000 1/8¢ to 1/2000 : Forced OFF 8 to 1/2000 (In [NIGHT SCENERY] in scene mode) ¢The shutter speed changes depending on the slow shutter setting. (P69) · There may be differences in the above shutter speeds in scene mode. · Do not stare at the photo flash from close proximity. · If you bring the flash too close to the subjects, they may be distorted or discolored by its heat and lighting. · Do not cover the photo flash with your fingers or any other items. · While the flash is being charged in economy mode, the LCD monitor is turned off. · When you take a picture beyond the flash control range, the exposure may not be adjusted properly and the picture may become bright or dark. · When you repeat taking a picture, recording may be disabled even if the flash is activated. Take a picture after the access indication disappears. · When the jitter alert appears, we recommend using the flash. · When you set to burst mode or auto bracket, only 1 picture is recorded for every flash activated. · The flash icon turns red when activating the flash and pressing the shutter button halfway. · When the flash is being charged, the flash icon blinks red, and you cannot take a picture even when you press the shutter button fully. · When taking a picture with the flash, the white balance will be automatically adjusted [except for [ ] (Daylight)], but the white balance may not be properly adjusted if the flash level is insufficient. · When the shutter speed is fast, the flash effect may not be sufficient.