Panasonic Digital Camera Dmc Sz1 Owners Manual For Advanced Features

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Preparation
Tips for taking good pictures
Hold the camera gently with both hands, keep your arms still at your side 
and stand with your feet slightly apart.
•To prevent dropping, be sure to attach the supplied strap and fit it to your wrist. (P7)•Be careful not to move the camera when you press the shutter button.•Be careful not to put your fingers on the flash, AF assist lamp, microphone, speaker or lens etc.
∫Direction Detection Function ([Rotate Disp.])
Pictures recorded with the camera held vertica lly are played back vertically (rotated). (Only 
when [Rotate Disp.]  (P44)  is set)
•
When the camera is held vertically and tilted up and down to record pictures, the Direction 
Detection function may not work correctly.
•Motion pictures taken with the camera held vertically are not displayed vertically.
When the Jitter alert [ ] appears, use [Stabilizer]  (P75), a tripod or the Self-timer  (P53).
•Shutter speed will be slower particularly in the following cases. Keep the camera still from the 
moment the shutter button is pressed until the picture appears on the screen. We recommend 
using a tripod.
–Slow sync./Red-Eye Reduction–In [Night Portrait] or [Night Scenery] in Scene Mode
Fit the strap and hold the camera carefully
(DMC-SZ1) (DMC-SZ02) (DMC-FH8)
A St r ap
B Flash
C Microphone D
Speaker
E AF assist lamp
Preventing jitter (camera shake) 
						

							Basic
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BasicSelecting the Recording Mode
∫List of Recording Modes
Note
•
When the mode has been switched from Playback Mode to Recording Mode, the previously set 
Recording Mode will be set.
Slide the REC/PLAY switch to [ !].
Press [MODE].
Press  3/4/2/ 1 to select the Recording 
Mode.
Press [MENU/SET].
¦Intelligent Auto Mode  (P23)
The subjects are recorded using settings  automatically selected by the camera.
!Normal Picture Mode (P26)
The subjects are recorded  using your own settings.
Miniature Effect Mode (P55)
This is an imaging effect which defocuses the surroundings to make it look like a 
diorama. (also known as Tilt Shift Focus)
ÛScene Mode  (P56)
This allows you to take pictures that match the scene being recorded. 
						

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Basic
Recording Mode: 
Taking pictures using the automatic function 
(Intelligent Auto Mode)
The camera will set the most appropriate settings to match the subject and the recording 
conditions so we recommend this mode for beginners or those who want to leave the 
settings to the camera and take pictures easily.
•
The following functions are activated automatically.–Scene Detection /Backlight Compensation/Intelligent ISO sensitivity control/Auto White 
Balance/ Face Detection/[i.Exposure]/[i.Resolution]/[i.ZOOM]/[AF Assist Lamp]/
[Red-Eye Removal]/[Stabilizer]/[Continuous AF]
Slide the REC/PLAY switch to [!], 
and then press [MODE].
Press  3/4/2/ 1 to select [Intelligent Auto], 
and then press [MENU/SET].
Press the shutter button halfway to focus.
•The focus indication  1 (green) lights when the subject 
is focused.
•The AF area  2 is displayed around the subject’s face 
by the Face Detection function. In other cases, it is 
displayed at the point on the subject which is in focus.
• The minimal distance (how close you can be to the  subject) will change depending on the zoom factor. 
Please check with the recordable range display on 
the screen.
 (P27)•You can set the AF tracking by pressing  3. For details, 
refer to  P69. (AF tracking is canceled by pressing  3 
again)
Press the shutter button fully (push it in 
further), and take the picture.
1
2 
						

							Basic
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When the camera identifies the optimum scene, the icon of the scene concerned is 
displayed in blue for 2 seconds, after which its color changes to the usual red.
When taking pictures
When recording motion pictures
•
[¦] is set if none of the scenes are applicable, and the standard settings are set.•When [ ] or [ ] is selected, the camera automatically detects a person’s face, and it will 
adjust the focus and exposure. (Face Detection)
•If a tripod is used, for instance, and the camera has judged that camera shake is minimal when 
the Scene Mode has been identified as [ ], the shutter speed will be set to a maximum of 
8 seconds. Take care not to move the camera while taking pictures.
•Due to conditions such as the ones below, a different scene may be identified for the same 
subject.
–Subject conditions: When the face is bright or dark, the size of the subject, the color of the 
subject, the distance to the subject, the contrast of the subject, when the subject is moving
–Recording conditions: Sunset, sunrise, under low brightness conditions, when the camera is 
shaken, when zoom is used
•For the best results, it is recommended that you take pictures in the appropriate Recording 
Mode.
•The Backlight Compensation–Backlight refers to when light comes from the ba ck of a subject. In this case, the subject will 
become dark, so this function compensates the backlight by brightening the picture. In 
Intelligent Auto Mode, backlight compensation  works automatically. The [ ] is displayed on 
the screen when backlighting is detected. The actual backlighting conditions and [ ] may 
not always match.
Scene Detection
¦
>[i-Portrait] [i-Scenery]
[i-Macro] [i-Night Portrait]
¢
[i-Night Scenery][i-Sunset]
¢Only when [ ] is selected.
¦>[i-Portrait] [i-Scenery]
[i-Low Light] [i-Macro] 
						

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Basic
Following menus can be set.
•
For the setting method of the menu, refer to P37.
¢ Settings may be different from other Recording Modes.
•Menus specific to Intelligent Auto Mode–Color setting of [Happy] is available in [Color Mode]. It is possible to automatically take a 
picture with a higher level of brilliance for the color brightness and vividness.
•When [ ] is selected, [ ], [ ], [ ] or [ ] is set depending on the type of subject and 
brightness.
•When [ ], [ ] is set, Digital Red-Eye Correction is enabled.•Shutter speed will be slower during [ ] or [ ].
Changing the settings
MenuItem
[Rec] [Picture Size]¢/[Burst]¢/[Color Mode]¢
[Motion Picture][Rec Quality]
[Setup] [Clock Set]/[World Time]/[Beep]¢/[Language]/[Stabilizer 
Demo.]
About the flash (P49) 
						

							Basic
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Recording Mode: 
Taking pictures with your favorite settings 
(Normal Picture Mode)
The camera automatically sets the shutter speed and the aperture value according to the 
brightness of the subject.
You can take pictures with greater freedom by changing various settings in the [Rec] 
menu.
Slide the REC/PLAY switch to [ !], 
and then press [MODE].
Press  3/4/2/ 1 to select [Normal Picture], 
and then press [MENU/SET].
Aim the AF area at the point you want to focus on.
Press the shutter button halfway to focus 
and then press it fully to take the picture.
A ISO sensitivity
B Aperture value
C Shutter speed
•Aperture value and shutter speed is displayed in red 
when correct exposure is not achieved. (Exclude when 
using a flash)ABC 
						

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Basic
Focusing
Aim the AF area at the subject, and then 
press the shutter button halfway.
•The AF area may be displayed larger for certain zoom magnifications and in dark places.
∫About focus range
The focus range is displayed when operating the zoom.
•
The focus range is displayed in red when it is not focused after pressing 
the shutter button halfway.
The focus range may change gradually depending on the zoom 
position.
e.g.: Range of focus during the Intelligent Auto Mode
(DMC-SZ1) (DMC-SZ02) 
(DMC-FH8)
FocusWhen the subject is focusedWhen the subject is not 
focused
Focus indication  AOn Blinks
AF area B White>Green White>Red
Sound Beeps 2 timesBeeps 4 times
A
B
5 cm (0.16 feet)
1.5 m (4.9 feet)2 m (6.6 feet)
T
W
9
T
W
5 cm (0.16 feet)
1 m (3.3 feet) 
						

							Basic
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∫When the subject is not in focus (such as when it is not in the center of the 
composition of the picture you want to take)
1Aim the AF area at the subject, and press 
the shutter button half way to fix the 
focus and exposure.
2Press and hold the shutter button half 
way while moving the camera as you 
compose the picture.
•
You can repeatedly retry the actions in step 1 before pressing the shutter button fully.
∫ Subject and recording conditions which are difficult to focus in
•Fast-moving subjects, extremely bright subjects or subjects without contrast•When recording subjects through windows or near shiny objects•When it is dark or when jitter occurs•When the camera is too close to the subject or when taking a picture of both distant and near 
subjects 
						

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Basic
Applicable modes: 
Recording Motion Pictures
Start recording by pressing the motion picture 
button.
AAvailable recording time
B Elapsed recording time
•You can record motion pictures fitting each Recording Mode.•Release the motion picture button right after you press it.•The recording state indicator (red)  C will flash while recording 
motion pictures.
•For the setting of [Rec Quality], refer to  P76.
Stop the recording by pressing the motion picture button again.
∫About the recording format for recording motion pictures
This unit can record motion pictures in MP4 format.
MP4:
This is a simpler video format best used  when extensive editing is needed, or when 
uploading videos to the internet.
∫ About the compatibility of the recorded motion pictures
Even if a compatible MP4 playback device is  used, the video or sound quality of the 
recorded motion pictures may be poor, or they may not be able to be played. There may 
also be times when the recorded data is not  displayed properly. If you experience such 
issues, please play back the video on this camera. 
•
For details on MP4 compatible devices, refer to the support sites below.http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/(This Site is English only.)
B
AC 
						

							Basic
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Note
•When recording to the built-in memory, [Rec Quality] is fixed to [VGA].•The available recording time displayed on the screen may not decrease regularly.•Depending on the type of the card, the card access indication may appear for a while after 
recording motion pictures. This is not a malfunction.
•The screen may be blacked out momentarily, or the unit may record noise due to static 
electricity or electromagnetic waves etc. depending on the environment of the motion picture 
recording.
•Even if the aspect ratio setting is the same in  still pictures and motion pictures, the angle of 
view may change at the start of the motion picture recording. 
When [Video Rec Area]  (P42) is set to [ON], angle of view during motion picture recording is 
displayed.
•About zooming while recording motion pictures–If the Extended Optical Zoom was used before pressing the motion picture button, settings 
will be canceled, and the recordable range will change drastically.
–If you operate the zoom etc. while recording motion pictures, the sound of the operation may 
be recorded.
–(DMC-SZ1) (DMC-SZ02) 
The zoom speed will be slower than usual when recording motion pictures.
–(DMC-SZ1) (DMC-SZ02) 
Operating the zoom while recording motion pictures can take time for the image to come into 
focus.
–(DMC-FH8)
The optical zoom magnification cannot be changed after starting to record motion pictures. 
However, Intelligent Zoom can be  used by setting [i.Resolution] (P70) in the [Rec] menu to 
[i.ZOOM]. Also, the Digital Zoom can be used by setting the [Digital Zoom]  (P70) in the [Rec] 
menu to [ON]. For details about the zoom range, refer to  P47. If motion picture recording was 
started within the optical zoom area, the zoom setting returns to the original magnification 
when motion picture recording is finished.
•If you end motion picture recording after a shor t time when using Miniature Effect Mode, the 
camera may go on recording for a certain period. Continue to hold the camera until the 
recording ends.
•It is recommended to use a fully charged battery when recording motion pictures.•Motion pictures cannot be recorded with [Panorama Shot] in Scene Mode.•It will be recorded in following categories for certain Scene Modes. A motion picture recording 
matching each scene will be performed for the ones not listed below.
Selected Scene ModeScene Mode while recording motion picture
[Baby1]/[Baby2] Portrait Mode
[Night Portrait], [Night Scenery] Low Light Mode
[Sports], [Pet], [Photo Frame] Normal motion picture