Operating Instructions Digital Camera Model No. DMC-FZ18 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@us.panasonic.com For Canadian assistance, please call: 1-800-99-LUMIX (1-800-995-8649) or send e-mail to: lumixconcierge@ca.panasonic.com P PC VQT1F83 Before Use Before Use Dear Customer, Thank you for choosing Panasonic! You have purchased one of the most sophisticated and reliable products on the market today. Used properly, we're sure it will bring you and your family years of enjoyment. Please take time to fill in the information on the below. The serial number is on the tag located on the underside of your Camera. Be sure to retain this manual as your convenient Camera information source. Information for Your Safety WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK OR PRODUCT DAMAGE, · DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN, MOISTURE, DRIPPING OR SPLASHING AND THAT NO OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS, SUCH AS VASES, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE APPARATUS. · USE ONLY THE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES. · 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. Model No. Serial No. RBRC TM Li-ion A lithium ion 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 VQT1F83 Before Use · 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. · SDHC Logo is a trademark. · Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH. · Elmarit is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG. · 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. Warning Risk of fire, explosion and burns. Do not disassemble, heat above 60 xC (140 oF) or incinerate. Product Identification Marking is located on the bottom of units. THE FOLLOWING APPLIES ONLY IN CANADA. This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. THE FOLLOWING APPLIES ONLY IN THE U.S.A. FCC Note: 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. 3 VQT1F83 Before Use Declaration of Conformity Trade Name: Panasonic Model No.: DMC-FZ18 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. -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. About the battery pack CAUTION Battery pack (Lithium ion battery pack) · Use the specified unit to recharge the battery pack. · Do not use the battery pack with equipment other than the specified unit. · Do not get dirt, sand, liquids, or other foreign matter on the terminals. · Do not touch the plug terminals (i and j) with metal objects. · Do not disassemble, remodel, heat or throw into fire. If any electrolyte should come into contact with your hands or clothes, wash it off thoroughly with water. If any electrolyte should come into contact with your eyes, never rub the eyes. Rinse eyes thoroughly with water, and then consult a doctor. 4 VQT1F83 Before Use About the battery charger CAUTION! DO NOT INSTALL OR PLACE THIS UNIT IN A BOOKCASE, BUILT-IN CABINET OR IN ANOTHER CONFINED SPACE. ENSURE THE UNIT IS WELL VENTILATED. TO PREVENT RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR FIRE HAZARD DUE TO OVERHEATING, ENSURE THAT CURTAINS AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS DO NOT OBSTRUCT THE VENTILATION VENTS. Battery charger This battery charger operates on AC between 110 V and 240 V. But · In the U.S.A. and Canada, the battery charger must be connected to a 120 V AC power supply only. · When connecting to an AC supply outside of the U.S.A. or Canada, use a plug adaptor to suit the AC outlet configuration. Care of the camera · Do not strongly shake or bump the camera by dropping it etc. This unit may malfunction, recording pictures may no longer be possible or the lens or the LCD monitor may be damaged. · Retract the lens before carrying the camera or playing back pictures. · Be particularly careful in the following places as they may cause this unit to malfunction. ­ Places with a lot of sand or dust. ­ Places where water can come into contact with this unit such as when using it on a rainy day or on a beach. · Do not touch the lens or the sockets with dirty hands. Also, be careful not to allow liquids to get into the space around the lens, buttons etc. · If water or seawater splashes on the camera, use a dry cloth to wipe the camera body carefully. About Condensation (When the lens or the Viewfinder is fogged up) · Condensation occurs when the ambient temperature or humidity changes. Be careful of condensation since it causes lens stains, fungus and camera malfunction. · If condensation occurs, turn the camera off and leave it for about 2 hours. The fog will disappear naturally when the temperature of the camera becomes close to the ambient temperature. Read together with the "Cautions for Use". (P120) About cards that can be used in this unit You can use an SD Memory Card, an SDHC Memory Card and a MultiMediaCard. · When the term card is used in these operating instructions this refers to the following types of Memory Cards. ­ SD Memory Card (8 MB to 2 GB) ­ SDHC Memory Card (4 GB) ­ MultiMediaCard (still pictures only) More specific information about memory cards that can be used with this unit. · You can only use an SDHC Memory Card if using cards with 4 GB or more capacity. · A 4 GB Memory Card without an SDHC logo is not based on the SD Standard and will not work in this product. OK 4 4 Please confirm the latest information on the following website. http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/cs (This Site is English only.) 5 VQT1F83 Contents Before Use Information for Your Safety....................... 2 Advanced (Recording pictures) About the LCD Monitor/Viewfinder ......... 36 · Changing the information displayed .......................................... 36 · Brightening the LCD Monitor ............ 39 Taking Pictures using the Built-in Flash ....................................................... 40 Taking Pictures with the Self-timer ......... 44 Compensating the Exposure .................. 45 Taking Pictures using Auto Bracket........ 46 Taking Pictures using Burst Mode .......... 47 Taking Close-up Pictures........................ 48 Aperture-priority AE ................................ 50 Shutter-priority AE .................................. 50 Manual exposure .................................... 51 Aperture Value and Shutter Speed......... 52 Taking Pictures with Manual Focus ........ 52 Registering Personal Menu Settings (Registering custom settings) ................. 55 Taking pictures in Custom mode ............ 56 Taking expressive portraits and landscape pictures (Advanced scene mode)...................................................... 57 · [PORTRAIT]...................................... 57 · [SCENERY] ...................................... 58 · [SPORTS] ......................................... 58 · [NIGHT PORTRAIT] ......................... 58 Taking pictures that match the scene being recorded (Scene mode) ................ 59 · [FOOD] ............................................ 60 · [PARTY]............................................ 60 · [CANDLE LIGHT].............................. 60 · [SUNSET] ......................................... 61 · [HIGH SENS.] ................................... 61 · [BABY1]/[BABY2].............................. 61 · [PET]................................................. 62 · [PANNING] ....................................... 62 · [STARRY SKY] ................................. 63 · [FIREWORKS] .................................. 64 · [BEACH] ........................................... 65 · [SNOW]............................................. 65 · [AERIAL PHOTO] ............................. 65 Motion Picture Mode............................... 65 Preparation Standard Accessories............................... 8 Names of the Components ....................... 8 Attaching the Lens Cap/Strap................. 10 Attaching the Lens Hood ........................ 11 Quick Guide ............................................ 12 Charging the Battery with the Charger ... 13 About the Battery (charging/number of recordable pictures) ................................ 13 Inserting and Removing the Card (optional)/the Battery .............................. 15 About the Built-in Memory/the Card (optional)................................................. 16 Setting Date/Time (Clock Set) ................ 17 · Changing the clock setting ............... 17 About the Mode Dial ............................... 18 Setting the Menu..................................... 19 About the Setup Menu ............................ 20 LCD Monitor/Viewfinder Display/ Switching the LCD Monitor/Viewfinder Display .................................................... 23 Basic Taking Pictures ....................................... 25 Taking pictures using the automatic function (Intelligent Auto Mode) .............. 28 Taking Pictures with the Zoom ............... 30 · Using the Optical Zoom .................... 30 · Using the Extended Optical Zoom (EZ) .................................................. 31 · Using the Digital Zoom Further extending the zoom ............. 31 Checking the Recorded Picture (Review).................................................. 32 Playing back/Deleting Pictures ............... 33 6 VQT1F83 Recording which Day of the Vacation You Take the Picture .............................. 67 Displaying the Time at the Travel Destination (World Time) ........................ 69 Using the [REC] Mode Menu .................. 71 · [W.BALANCE]................................... 72 · [WB ADJUST.] .................................. 73 · [INTELLIGENT ISO] ......................... 74 · [SENSITIVITY].................................. 75 · [ASPECT RATIO] ............................. 75 · [PICT.SIZE]/[QUALITY] .................... 76 · [AUDIO REC.]................................... 77 · [METERING MODE] ......................... 78 · [AF MODE] ....................................... 78 · [STABILIZER] ................................... 81 · [CONT.AF] .................. ...