Panasonic Digital Camera Dmc Gf2 Operating Instructions

							- 101 -
Recording
Note
•It will be a normal motion picture recording when recording a motion picture.•Aperture or shutter speed can be set by touching [F] (aperture) or [SS] (shutter speed) and then 
touching the exposure meter bar in the Quick Menu  (P58).
•The brightness of the LCD monitor and the record ed pictures may differ. Check the pictures on 
the playback screen.
•Set the aperture value to a higher number when the  subject is too bright in Aperture-Priority AE 
Mode. Set the aperture value to a lower number when the subject is too dim.
•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 aperture value and the shutter speed displayed on the screen turn red and blink when the 
exposure is not adequate.
•We recommend using a tripod when the shutter speed is slow.•In Shutter-Priority AE Mode, when the flash is activated, the fastest shutter speed that can be 
selected is 1/160th of a second. (P75)
•If you press the shutter button fully when the shutter speed is slow, the shutter speed on the 
screen counts down in Shutter-Priority AE Mode.
•In Shutter-Priority AE Mode the [ ] and [ ] mode are disabled.•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). 
						

							Recording
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[REC] Mode: ²
Taking Picture by Setting the Exposure Manually
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 [REC] Mode to [ ].
•For details on setting up [REC] Mode, refer to P30.
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.
•Rotate the rear dial to display the [EXPO.METER]. 
(P143)
•You can also set the focus manually by setting the [FOCUS MODE] to [MF].  (P91)
Press the shutter button halfway.
AManual Exposure Assistance
•Set the aperture value and the shutter speed again 
when the exposure is not adequate.
∫Manual Exposure Assistance
•
The manual exposure assistance is an approximation. We recommend checking the pictures 
on the playback screen.
The exposure is adequate.
Set to faster shutter speed or larger aperture value.
Set to slower shutter speed or smaller aperture value.
A
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							- 103 -
Recording
Note
•It will be a normal motion picture recording when recording a motion picture.•Aperture or shutter speed can be set by touching [F] (aperture) or [SS] (shutter speed) and then 
touching the exposure meter bar in the Quick Menu  (P58).
•The brightness of the LCD monitor and the record ed pictures may differ. Check the pictures on 
the playback screen.
•If the exposure is not adequate, the aperture value and the shutter speed turn red and blink 
when the shutter button is pressed halfway.
•In Manual Exposure Mode [ ‡], [ ], [ ] and [ ] are disabled.•The [SENSITIVITY] is automatically set to [ISO100] when you switch the Recording Mode to 
Manual exposure while the [SENSITIVITY] is set to [AUTO] or [ ] (Intelligent).
•If you press the shutter button fully when the shutter speed is slow, the shutter speed on the 
screen counts down.
•When you use a lens with an aperture ring, the aperture ring setting takes priority. 
						

							Recording
- 104 -
Using the function button
By assigning functions to the [Fn] (function) button, you can use [AF/
AE LOCK] that allows you to take pictures with fixed exposure or 
focus, [PREVIEW] that allows you to confirm the effect of aperture 
and shutter speed, and other functions.
Set [Q.MENU/Fn] in the [CUSTOM] menu to [Fn]. 
(P56)
A Q.MENU/Fn  button
Select [Fn BUTTON SET] in [CUSTOM] menu.
Select the function you want to assign and press [MENU/SET].
Note
•Some functions cannot be used depending on the mode or displayed screen.
[REC] Mode menu/Recording functions [CUSTOM] menu
[AF/AE LOCK]  (P105)/[PREVIEW]  (P106)/
[ASPECT RATIO]  (P129)/[QUALITY]  (P131)/
[FOCUS MODE]  (P32)/[METERING MODE]  (P133)/
[I.RESOLUTION]  (P134)/[I.DYNAMIC]  (P135)/
[EX. TELE CONV.]  (P136)/[PICTURE ADJUST]  (P137)[GUIDE LINE] (P67)/
[ REC AREA]  (P145) 
						

							- 105 -
Recording
Applicable modes: 
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 c annot achieve appropriate exposure.
1Set [Fn BUTTON SET] in the [CUSTOM] menu to [AF/AE LOCK]. (P56)2Align the screen with the subject.3Press [Q.MENU/Fn] to fix the focus or exposure.AAE lock indication•AF/AE Lock is canceled by pressing [Q.MENU/Fn] 
button again.
4Move the camera as you compose the picture and 
then press shutter button fully.
•
When [AE] is set, after pressing the shutter button 
halfway to focus, press the shutter button fully.
∫AF/AE Lock
Locking of the focus and exposure can be set in [AF/AE LOCK] in the [CUSTOM] menu.
Note
•
The brightness of the image displayed on the LCD monitor/Optional Live Viewfinder 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 when taking pictures with Manual Focus.•AE Lock and AF Lock must be activated before motion picture recording begins. 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.
Fixing the Focus and the Exposure (AF/AE Lock)
ItemSettings
[AE]Only the exposure is locked.
•[AEL], aperture value, the shutter speed light when the exposure is set.
[AF]
Only the focus is locked.
•[AFL], the focus indication, aperture value, the shutter speed light when the 
subject is focused.
[AF/AE ]
Both focus and exposure are locked.
•[AFL], [AEL], the focus indication, aperture value and the shutter speed light 
when the subject is focused and the exposure is set.
A
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							Recording
- 106 -
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.
1Set [Fn BUTTON SET] in the [CUSTOM] menu to [PREVIEW].  (P56)
2Switch to confirmation screen by pressing [Q.MENU/Fn].
•Screen is switched every time [Q.MENU/Fn] 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
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							- 107 -
Recording
[REC] Mode: ¿
Taking Pictures that match the Scene being 
recorded
 (Scene Mode)
When you select a Scene Mode to match the subject and recording situation, the camera 
sets the optimal exposure and hue to obtain the desired picture.
Set [REC] Mode to [ ].
•For details on setting up [REC] Mode, refer to P30.
Touch the Scene Mode to select.
•Description of the selected scene mode is displayed 
on the screen.
Touch [SET].
•The menu screen is switched to the recording screen in the selected Scene Mode.
Note
•The Scene Mode flash setting is reset to the initial setting when the Scene Mode is changed 
and then used.
•When you take a picture with a Scene Mode that is not adequate for the purpose, the hue of the 
picture may differ from the actual scene.
•The following items cannot be set in Scene Mode because the camera automatically adjusts 
them to the optimal setting.
–[SENSITIVITY]/[METERING MODE]/[I.RESOLUTION]/[I.DYNAMIC]/[ISO LIMIT SET]/
[DIGITAL ZOOM]/Items other than [COLOR] and [B/W] in [PICTURE ADJUST]
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.
Note
•
The initial setting for the AF Mode is [ š].
[PORTRAIT] 
						

							Recording
- 108 -
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.•The initial setting for the AF Mode is [ š].
This allows you to take pictures of a wide landscape.
Note
•
The flash setting is fixed to [ Œ].
This setting takes sharp photographs of archit ecture. The guide lines are displayed. (P67)
Note
•
The flash setting is fixed to [ Œ].
Set here when you want to take pictures of  sports scenes or other fast-moving events.
Note
•
Intelligent ISO sensitivity control is activated, and maximum ISO sensitivity level becomes 
[ISO800].
•The initial setting for the AF Mode is [ Ø].
[SOFT SKIN]
[SCENERY]
[ARCHITECTURE]
[SPORTS] 
						

							- 109 -
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
•
It will be a normal motion picture recording during the motion picture recording.•Quick AF is performed automatically.•Use the functions that are assigned to the cursor button, such as [WHITE BALANCE]  (P93), by 
assigning them to the menu item of the Quick Menu  (P58).
•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.  (P92)
•AF Mode will be fixed to a small point.
Flowers outdoors are recorded with natural colors in macro settings. The guide lines are 
displayed. (P67)
∫ 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  P92  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
- 110 -
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
•During motion picture recording, low light settings [ ] are used, which will provide 
better pictures in dimly lit rooms or at nightfall.
•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.•The initial setting for the AF Mode is [ š].
[FOOD]
[OBJECTS]
[NIGHT PORTRAIT]