Panasonic Digital Camera Dmc Sz8 Owners Manual For Advanced Features

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Recording
Taking panorama pictures (Panorama Shot Mode)
Recording Mode: 
Pictures are recorded continuously while moving the camera horizontally or vertically, and are 
combined to make a single panorama picture.
This mode allows you to add any of 13 types of effects before recording.
1Press [MODE].
2Press 3/ 4/2/1 to select [Panorama Shot], and then press [MENU/SET].
3Press 3/ 4 to select the recording direction and then 
press [MENU/SET].
4Press 3/ 4 to select image effects and then press [MENU/SET].
•You can add the same image effect as the Creative Control Mode with the same operation as 
the Creative Control Mode.
(except for [Toy Effect] and [Miniature Effect])  (P56–60)
•During panorama picture recording, the following image effect of the Creative Control Mode 
is not visible on the screen:
–[Star Filter]•If you are not going to add an image effect, select [No Effect].
5After confirming the recording direction, press [MENU/SET].
•If the selected recording direction is the same as that of the previous recording, the screen 
that lets you check the recording direction may not be displayed.
•A horizontal/vertical guide is displayed. 
If you press  1, you will return to step 
3.
6Press the shutter button halfway to focus. 
						

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Recording
7Press the shutter button fully and record a picture while moving the 
camera in a small circle in the direction selected in Step 
3.
8Press the shutter button once again to end the picture recording.
•Recording can also be ended by keeping the camera still while recording.
∫Technique for Panorama Shot Mode Recording from left to right
Trace a half-circle with the camera, taking about 4 seconds.
•
Move the camera at a constant speed.
Pictures may not be able to be recorded properly if the camera is moved too fast or slow.
A Recording direction and panning (Guide)
BMove the camera in the recording direction 
without shaking it.
(If the camera shakes too much, pictures 
may not be able to be recorded, or the 
recorded panorama picture may become 
narrower (smaller).)
C Move the camera towards the edge of the 
range you wish to record.
(The edge of the range will not be recorded 
in the last frame)
A

 
						

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Recording
•The zoom position is fixed to Wide.•[Stabilizer] is fixed to [OFF].•The focus, White Balance, and exposure are fixed at the optimum values for the first picture. As a 
result, if the focus or brightness changes substantially during recording, the entire panorama picture 
may not be recorded at the suitable focus or brightness.
•White Balance is fixed to [AWB] while an image effect is applied.
•When multiple pictures are combined to create a single panorama picture, the subject may appear 
distorted or the connection points may be noticeable in some cases.
•The number of recording pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions of the panorama picture 
varies depending on the recording direction and the number of combined pictures.
The maximum number of pixels is shown below.
•A panorama picture may not be able to be created, or the pictures may not be combined properly 
when recording the following subjects or under the recording conditions below.
–Subjects with a single, uniform color or repetitive pattern (such as the sky or a beach)–Moving subjects (person, pet, car, waves, flowers blowing in the breeze, etc.)–Subjects where the color or patterns change in a short time (such as an image appearing on a 
display)
–Dark places–Locations with flickering light sources such as fluorescent lights or candles
∫ About playback
¢ You can perform frame-by-frame forward/rewind by pressing  1/2 during a pause.
Recording directionHorizontal ResolutionVertical Resolution
Horizontal 3200 pixels720 pixels
Ver tical960 pixels3200 pixels
3 Start panorama playback/Pause
¢
[MENU/SET] Stop0ü0î0æ0ï0ö0Ð0ô0æ0õ0þ 
						

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Recording
Taking pictures that match the scene being 
recorded 
(Scene Mode)
Recording Mode: 
You can select any of 15 types of Scene Modes according to the subject and scene.
1Press [MODE].
2Press 3/4/2/1 to select [Scene Mode], and then press [MENU/SET].
3Press 3/ 4/2/1 to select the Scene Mode and then 
press [MENU/SET].
•To change the Scene Mode, press [MENU/SET], select [Scene Mode] using  3/4/ 2/1, and then 
press [MENU/SET].
•The following cannot be set in Scene Mode as the camera adjusts automatically.–[Sensitivity]/[i.Zoom]
CancelSelectSet
21
Scene Mode
Baby1
Suitable for taking pictures of your 
						

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Recording
When taking pictures of people outdoors during the daytime, this mode allows you to improve 
the appearance and make their skin tones look healthier.
∫ Technique for Portrait Mode
To make this mode more effective:
1 Rotate the zoom lever as far as possible to Tele.
2 Move close to the subject to make this mode more effective.
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 lever as far as possible to Tele.
2 Move close to the subject to make this mode more effective.
•
If a part of the background etc. is a color similar to skin color, this part is also smoothed.•This mode may not be effective when there is insufficient brightness.
This allows you to take pictures of a wide landscape.
Setting for when you want to take pictures of sports scenes or other fast-moving events.
•
This mode is suitable for taking pictures of subjects at distances of 5 m (16 feet) or more.
[Portrait]
[Soft Skin]
[Scenery]
[Sports] 
						

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Recording
This allows you to take pictures of a person and the background with near real-life brightness.
•
Use the flash. (You can set to [ ].)•Ask the subject not to move while taking a picture.•We recommend using a tripod and the Self-timer for taking pictures.
•Shutter speed may slow down up to 1/4 seconds.•Noise may become visible when you take pictures in dark places.
This allows you to take vivid pictures of the nightscape.
•
We recommend using a tripod and the Self-timer for taking pictures.•Shutter speed may slow down up to 8 seconds.•The shutter may remain closed (max. about 8 sec.) after taking the picture because of signal 
processing. This is not a malfunction.
•Noise may become visible when you take pictures in dark places.
You can combine several pictures with different levels of exposure into a single picture with rich 
gradation.
You can minimize the loss of gradations in bright areas and dark areas when, for example, the 
contrast between the backgr ound and the subject is large.
∫ Picture Size
Select the picture size of 3M (4:3), 2.5M (3:2), 2M (16:9) or 2.5M (1:1).
∫ What Is HDR?
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and refers to  a technique for expressing a wide contrast 
range.
•
Do not move the camera during the continuous shooting after pressing the shutter button.•You cannot take the next picture until the combination of pictures is complete.•A moving subject may be recorded with unnatural blurs.
•The continuous shooting may not work under certain recording conditions. In that case, a single 
picture is recorded.
This mode allows you to take pictures of food with a natural hue without being affected by the 
ambient light in restaurants, etc.
[Night Portrait]
[Night Scenery]
[HDR]
[Food] 
						

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Recording
This takes pictures of a baby with a healthy complexion.
It is possible to set different birthdays for [Baby1] and [Baby2]. You can display those during 
playback.
∫Birthday setting
1Press  3/4  to select [Age] and then press [MENU/SET].2Press  3/4  to select [SET] and then press [MENU/SET].
3Enter the birthday.
•
When the birthday is set, [Age] is automatically set to [ON].•If [ON] is selected when the birthday has not been registered, the setting screen appears 
automatically.
4Press  4 to select [Exit] and then press [MENU/SET] to finish.
∫ To cancel [Age]
Select the [OFF] setting in step 
2.
•
If [Age] is set to [OFF] even when the birthday has been set, the age will not be displayed.
Select this when you want to take pictures of a pet such as a dog or a cat.
You can set your pet’s birthday.
For information about [Age], refer to [Baby1]/[Baby2] on P67 .
Select this when you want to take pictures of a sunset view.
This allows you to take vivid pictures of the red color of the sun.
This mode minimizes the jitter of the subjects, and enables you to take pictures of these 
subjects in dimly lit rooms.
∫ Picture Size
Select the picture size of 3M (4:3), 2.5M (3:2), 2M (16:9) or 2.5M (1:1).
[Baby1]/[Baby2]
2 /1 : Select the items (year/month/day)
3 /4 : Setting
[MENU/SET]: Set
[Pet]
[Sunset]
[High Sens.] 
						

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Recording
This mode allows you to take vivid pictures of a starry sky or a dark subject.
∫Setting the shutter speed
Select a shutter speed of [15 sec.], [30 sec.] or [60 sec.].
•
Press the shutter button fully to display the countdown screen. Do not move the camera after this 
screen is displayed.
When countdown finishes, [Please wait...] is displayed for the same length of time as the set shutter 
speed for signal processing.
•The shutter opens for 15, 30 or 60 seconds. Be sure to use a tripod. We also recommend taking 
pictures with the Self-timer.
Objects in the distance are prioritized for focus.
This mode is ideal for taking pictures of sc enery and other landscapes through clear glass, 
such as in vehicles or buildings.
•
The camera may focus on the glass if it is dirty or has dust on it.•The pictures taken may not look natural if the glass is colored. When this happens, change the 
White Balance settings. (P71)
[Starry Sky]
[Glass Through] 
						

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Recording
Using the [Rec] Menu
For details on [Rec] menu settings, refer to P37.
Applicable modes: 
Set the number of pixels.
The higher the numbers of pixels, the finer the  detail of the pictures will appear even when they 
are printed onto large sheets.
¢ This item cannot be set in the Intelligent Auto Mode.
•In specific modes, Extended Optical Zoom cannot be used, and the picture size for [ ] is not 
displayed.
For details regarding modes in which Extended Optical Zoom cannot be used, refer to  P48.
•Pictures may appear mosaic depending on the subject and the recording conditions.
[Picture Size]
SettingsPicture Size
[] 4608k
3456
[]¢3264k2448
[] 2048k1536
[]¢640k480
[] 4608k
3072
[]¢3264k2176
[] 2048k
1360
[] 4608k
2592
[] 1920k
1080
[] 3456k
3456
[] 1536k
1536
X : Aspect ratio of a 4:3 TV
Y  :Aspect ratio of a 35 mm film camera
W  :Aspect ratio of a high-definition TV, etc.
 : Square aspect ratio
7
2.5
2.5 
						

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Recording
Applicable modes: 
This allows the Sensitivity to light (ISO sensitivity) to be set. Setting to a higher figure enables 
pictures to be taken even in dark places wi thout the resulting pictures coming out dark.
•
For the focus range of flash when [AUTO] is set, refer to  P52.•The ISO sensitivity is automatically set under the following conditions.
–When recording motion pictures–When [Burst] is set to [ ]
[Sensitivity]
SettingsDescription of settings
[AUTO] The ISO sensitivity is automatically adjusted according to the 
brightness.•Maximum [1600]
[]
The ISO sensitivity is adjusted according to the movement of the 
subject and the brightness.
•Maximum [1600]
[100]/[200]/[400]/[800]/
[1600]
The ISO sensitivity is fixed to various settings.
[100][1600]
Recording location 
(recommended) When it is light (outdoors)
When it is dark
Shutter speed SlowFast
Noise LessIncreased
Jitter of the subject IncreasedLess