Panasonic Digital Camera Dmc Gx8 Owners Manual For Advanced Features

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5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
Position and size of the AF area can be changed.
1Press 2 ().2Select [ š] or [Ø ] and press  4.
•AF area setting screen is displayed.
•You can also display the AF area setting screen by 
touching the screen.
3Change the position and size of the AF area.
•
If you set the AF area over an eye in the yellow frame when [š ] is selected, the eye to be 
in focus will be changed.  (P146)
4Press [MENU/SET] to set.
•AF area with the same function as [ Ø] is displayed in the touched position, when the [ š] 
is selected.
Setting of the AF area is cleared when [MENU/SET] is pressed or  [ ] is touched.
The 49 AF areas are divided into groups, each consisting of 9 
areas (on the edge of the screen, 6 or 4 areas).
1Press  2 ().2Select [ ] and press  4.
•AF area setting screen is displayed.
3Press  3/4 /2 /1 to select an AF area group.
•You can also select a group by touching the screen.
4Press [MENU/SET] to set.
•Only [i ] display (center point of selected group) will remain on 
the screen.
•Setting of the AF area frame is cleared when [MENU/SET] is 
pressed or [ ] is touched.
When selecting [ š], [Ø ]
Button 
operationTo u c h  
operationDescription of operation
3/ 4/2/1Touching Moves the AF area.
Pinching out/in Enlarges/reduces the AF area in small steps.
sEnlarges/reduces the AF area in large steps.
[DISP.][Reset] Resets the AF area back to the center.•If you press the button again, the frame size will 
be reset to the default setting.
When selecting [ ]
Examples of group 
						

							5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
152
You can set the focus position precisely by enlarging the screen.
•The focus position cannot be set at the edge of the screen.
1Press  2 ().2Select [ ] and press  4.3Press  3/4 /2 /1  to set the focus position and then 
press [MENU/SET].
•
The assist screen for setting the focus position is displayed 
in an enlarged size.
•The assist screen can also be displayed by touching the 
subject.
4Move [+] to the position to be in focus.
•
When the picture is displayed i n windowed mode, you can enlarge /reduce the picture by 
approximately 3 to 6k; when the picture is displayed in full screen, you can enlarge /
reduce the picture by approximately 3 to 10k.•If you use the HDMI output during recording, the screen cannot  be enlarged in windowed 
mode.
•On the assist screen, it is also possible to record a picture by touching [ ].
When selecting [ ]
Button 
operationTouch 
operationDescription of operation
3/ 4/2 /1Touching Moves [+].
Pinching out/in Enlarges/reduces the screen in small steps.
sEnlarges/reduces the screen in large steps.
s
Switches the enlarged display (windowed/full screen)
[DISP.][Reset] Resets [+] back to the center.
Setting the duration for which the screen is enlarged
>  [Custom]  > [Pinpoint AF Time]  >
[LONG]  (Approx. 1.5 seconds) /[MID] (Approx. 1.0 second) /[SHORT] 
(Approx. 0.5 second)
Changing the display of the assist screen >  [Custom]  > [Pinpoint AF Display]
[FULL]: Enlarges a picture in full screen.
[PIP]: Enlarges a picture in a window on the screen.
•
The display of the assist screen can also be switched by touchi ng [ ].
MENU
MENU 
						

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5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
Applicable modes: 
You can move the AF area displayed on the viewfinder by 
touching the monitor.
•
If you touch the monitor when the Auto Focus Mode is set to 
[Custom Multi] such as [ ], the AF area setting screen will be 
displayed. (P148)
•Press the shutter button halfway to determine the focus positio n.
If you press [DISP.] before determining the focus position, the  AF area frame returns to the 
center position.
•To cancel the AF area frame when the Auto Focus Mode  (P144) is set to [ š] ([Face/Eye 
Detection]), [ ] ([Tracking]) or [ ] ([49-Area]), press [MENU/SET ].
•The Touch Shutter function (P61) is disabled when using [Touch Pad AF].
Not available in these cases:
•[Touch Pad AF] is not available when [Pull Focus] in [Snap Movi e] is set to [ON].
Setting the AF area position with the Touch Pad
>[Custom]  > [Touch Settings]  > [Touch Pad AF]
[EXACT] Moves the AF area of the 
Viewfinder by touching a 
desired position on the Touch 
Pad.
[OFFSET] Moves the AF area of the 
viewfinder according to the 
distance you drag the touch 
pad 
(P59) .
[OFF] —
MENU 
						

							5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
154
Applicable modes: 
You can optimize the focus and brightness for the position you have touched.
1Select the menu. (P63)
2Touch the subject you want to optimize the 
brightness for.
•AF area setting screen is displayed. (P151)•The brightness optimization position is displayed on the 
center of the AF area. The position follows the movement 
of the AF area.
•[Metering Mode] is set to [ ] , which is used exclusively for the  Touch AE.•Touching [Reset] returns the brightness optimization position and the AF area to the 
center.
3Touch [Set].
•The AF area with the same function as [Ø] is displayed on the touched position.
•Touching [ ] returns [Metering Mode] to the original setting and  cancels the 
brightness optimization position. The AF area setting is also c anceled.
•Touching [ ] returns [Metering Mode] to the original setting and  cancels the 
brightness optimization position.
Optimizing the focus and brightness for a touched position
> [Custom]  > [Touch Settings]  > [Touch AF]  > [AF+AE]
When the background has become too bright, etc., the 
brightness contrast with the background can be 
adjusted by compensating the exposure.MENU
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AE 
						

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5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
•When recording with the Touch Shutter, the focus and brightness are optimized for the touched 
position before recording takes place.
•At the edge of the screen, the metering may be affected by the  brightness around the touched 
location.
Not available in these cases:
•
[AF+AE], which optimizes the focus and brightness, does not wor k in the following cases.–In Manual Focus
–When using the Digital Zoom–When the AF area has been set by using the cursor button
Using the [Custom] menu, you can set the focus method in detail.
Focusing/not focusing when the shutter button is pressed halfwa y
Releasing/not releasing the shutter by pressing the shutter button halfway
Focusing/Not focusing in advance
As long as the camera is held steady, the camera will automatic ally adjust the focus and 
focus adjustment will then be quicker when the shutter is press ed. This is useful when you 
do not want to miss a picture-taking opportunity.
•
The battery will be consum ed faster than usual.
•Press the shutter button halfway again when it is difficult to  focus on the subject.•This function is not available in the following cases:–In Preview Mode
–In low light situations–With lenses that only offer Manual Focus–With some Four Third lenses that do not support contrast AF
Setting the desired focus method
>[Custom]  > [Shutter AF]  > [ON]/[OFF]
>  [Custom]  > [Half Press Release]  > [ON]/[OFF]
>  [Custom]  > [Quick AF]  > [ON]/[OFF]MENU
MENU
MENU 
						

							5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
156
Turning on/not turning on the AF Assist Lamp
AF assist lamp will illuminate the subject when the shutter but ton is pressed halfway, 
making it easier for the camera to focus when recording in low  light conditions.
(Larger AF area is displayed  depending on the recording conditi ons.)
•
The effective range of the AF Assist Lamp is different dependin g on the lens used.–When the interchangeable lens (H-FS14140) is attached and at Wide:
Approx. 1.0 m (3.3 feet) to 3.0 m (9.8 feet)
–When the interchangeable lens (H-HS12035) is attached and at Wi de:
Approx. 1.0 m (3.3 feet) to 3.0 m (9.8 feet)
–When the interchangeable lens (H-FS1442A) is attached and at Wi de:
Approx. 1.0 m (3.3 feet) to 3.0 m (9.8 feet)
•The AF Assist Lamp is valid only for the subject in the center  of the screen. Use it by 
positioning the subject in the center of the screen.
•Remove the lens hood.•When you do not want to use the AF Assist Lamp (e.g. when takin g pictures of animals in dark 
places), set the [AF Assist Lamp] to [OFF]. In this case, it wi ll become more difficult to focus on 
the subject.
•The AF Assist Lamp gets slightly blocked when the interchangeable lens (H-FS14140/
H-HS12035/H-FS1442A) is used, but it does not affect the perfor mance.
•The AF Assist Lamp may be greatly blocked, and it may become ha rder to focus when a lens 
with large diameter is used.
•The setting is fixed to [OFF] in the following cases.
–When [Silent Mode] is set to [ON]
>  [Custom]  > [AF Assist Lamp]  > [ON]/[OFF]MENU 
						

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5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
Recording/not recording even when focus is not achieved
[FOCUS]:
You cannot take a picture until t he subject is brought into focus.
[RELEASE]:
This gives priority to the best time to take a picture so you c an take a picture when the 
shutter button is pressed fully.
•
When set to [RELEASE], please be aware that focus may not be ac hieved even with focus 
mode set to [AFS], [AFF] or [AFC].
Adjusting/not adjusting the focus manually after achieving Auto  Focus
When AF Lock is ON (press the shutter button halfway with the f ocus mode set to [AFS] or 
set AF Lock using [AF/AE LOCK]), you can make fine adjustments  to the focus manually.
>
 [Custom]  > [Focus/Release Priority]
>  [Custom]  > [AF+MF] >  [ON]/[OFF]
MENU
MENU 
						

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158
Adjusting Focus Manually
Applicable modes: 
Use this function when you want to fix the focus or when the distance between the lens 
and the subject is determined and you do not want to activate A uto Focus.
1Set the focus mode lever to [MF].
2Press 2 ().
3Press 3/ 4/2/1 to adjust the focus position, 
and press [MENU/SET].
•The assist screen is displayed, enlarging the area. (MF 
Assist)
•You can also enlarge the area by rotating the focus ring, 
moving the focus lever, or pinching out  (P59) the screen 
or touching the screen twice.
•You can also adjust the focus position by dragging  (P59) the screen.•Pressing [DISP.] resets the focus position back to the center. 
						

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5. Focus and Brightness (Exposure) Settings
4Adjust the focus.
The operations used to focus manually differ depending on the lens.
When using an interchangeable lens 
(H-FS14140/H-HS12035/H-FS1442A) with 
a focus ring When using the interchangeable lens 
having a focus lever
Rotate to  A side:
Focuses on nearby 
subject
Rotate to  B side:
Focuses on distant 
subjects Move to 
C side:
Focuses on nearby 
subject
Move to  D side:
Focuses on distant 
subjects
•
The focusing speed varies depending on how 
far you move the focus lever.
When using an interchangeable lens with no focus ring
Press  1: Focuses on nearby subject
Press  2: Focuses on distant subjects
ASlide bar•These operations are possible only on the focus 
adjustment screen.
•Pressing and holding  2/1 will increase the focus 
speed.
•Focus can also be adjusted by dragging the slide 
bar.
A
B
C
D
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A 
						

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AIndicator for ¶  (infinity)
B MF Assist (enlarged screen)
C Peaking
D MF Guide
•The in-focus portions will be highlighted. (Peaking)•You can check whether the point of focus is to the near 
side or to the far side. (MF Guide)
You can perform the following operations:
¢When using an interchangeable lens with no focus ring, you can perform these operations 
after pressing 4 to display the screen that lets you set the area to be enlarged .•When the picture is displayed in windowed mode, you can enlarge /reduce the picture by 
approximately 3 to 6k; when the picture is displayed in full screen, you can enlarge /
reduce the picture by approximately 3 to 10k.•If you use the HDMI output during recording, the screen cannot  be enlarged in 
windowed mode.
Button operationTouch operationDescription of operation
3 /4/ 2/1¢Dragging Moves the enlarged area
Pinching out/in Enlarges/reduces the screen in small steps.
sEnlarges/reduces the screen in large steps.
s
Switches the enlarged display (windowed/full 
screen)
[DISP.]¢[Reset]¢Resets the area to be enlarged back to the 
center.
Changing the display of the MF Assist
>  [Custom]  > [MF Assist Display]
[FULL]: Enlarges the display in full screen.
[PIP]: Enlarges the display in a window on the screen.
•
The display of the assist screen can also be switched by touchi ng  [ ]  on the focus 
adjustment screen.
AF
+
DA
CB
MENU