Panasonic Digital Camera Dmc Sz9 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.
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 mode. (except for [Toy Effect] and [Miniature Effect])
•Read  P67–70 for details on the respective effects.
•During panorama picture recording, the following image effects of the Creative Control Mode 
are not visible on the screen:
–[Soft Focus]/[Star Filter]
•If you are not going to add an image effect, select [OFF].
5After confirming the recording direction, press [MENU/SET].
•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 still picture recording.
•Recording can also be ended by keeping the camera still while recording.
∫Technique for Panorama Shot Mode Recording from left to right
Move the camera in a single panning motion for about 8 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
1 second
B 2 seconds
C 3 seconds D
4 seconds
E Recording direction and panning (Guide)
F Move 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)
G 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)
E 
						

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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
¢1 If you have filtered images for playback by using [Slide Show]   (P104) or [Filtering Play]  (P106), 
the selection screen appears. Press  3/4  to select [Play Panorama], and then press [MENU/
SET] .
¢ 2 You can perform frame-by-frame forward/rewind by pressing 
1 /2 during a pause.
Recording directionHorizontal ResolutionVertical Resolution
Horizontal 8000 pixels1080 pixels
Vertical1440 pixels8000 pixels
3 Start panorama playback
¢1/Pause¢2
4 Stop 
						

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Recording
Taking pictures that match the scene being 
recorded 
(Scene Mode)
Recording 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.
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.Exposure]/[Min. Shtr Speed]/[i.Resolution]/[Color Mode] 
						

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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 [Portrai t]. (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 close 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.
•
Shutter speed may slow down up to 1 second.
•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.
∫ Technique for Night Portrait Mode
•
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 4 seconds.
•The shutter may remain closed (max. about 4 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.
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 4 seconds.
•The shutter may remain closed (max. about 4 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.
This mode allows you to record multiple pictures of night scenes at high speed, which are all 
combined to make a single picture. It will reduce the jitter and noise from the picture even when 
recording with the camera in your hand.
•
Do not move the camera while recording pictures continuously.•Noise may become visible when you take pictures in dark places or take pictures of moving subjects.
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]
[Handheld Night Shot]
[Food] 
						

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Recording
This takes pictures of a baby with a healthy complexion. When you use the flash, the light from 
it is weaker than usual.
It is possible to set different birthdays and names for [Baby1] and [Baby2]. You can select to 
have these appear at the time of playback, or have them stamped on the recorded image using 
[Text Stamp]  (P116).
∫ Birthday/Name setting
1Press  3/4  to select [Age] or [Name] and then press  [MENU/SET].2Press  3/4  to select [SET] and then press [MENU/SET].3Enter the birthday or name.
•
When the birthday or name is set, [Age] or [Name] is automatically set to [ON].•If [ON] is selected when the birthday or name has not been registered, the setting screen 
appears automatically.
4Press  4 to select [Exit] and then press [MENU/SET] to finish.
∫ To cancel [Age] and [Name]
Select the [OFF] setting in step 
2.
•
The age and name can be printed out using the “ PHOTOfunSTUDIO ” bundled software on the 
CD-ROM (supplied).
•If [Age] or [Name] is set to [OFF] even when the  birthday or name has been set, the age or name will 
not be displayed.
•Shutter speed may slow down up to 1 second.
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 and name.
For information about [Age] or [Name], refer to [Baby1]/[Baby2] on  P77.
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.
[Baby1]/[Baby2]
Birthday: 2/1: Select the items (year/month/day)
3/ 4: Setting
[MENU/SET]: Set
Name: For details on how to enter characters, refer to “Entering Text” on  P80.
[Pet]
[Sunset] 
						

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Recording
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).
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.] or [30 sec.].
•
Press the shutter button fully to display the countdown screen. Do not move the camera after this 
screen is displayed. When countdown finishes, [Pleas e wait...] is displayed for the same length of 
time as the set shutter speed for signal processing.
∫ Technique for Starry Sky Mode
•The shutter opens for 15 or 30 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.  (P84)
Record the image with a frame around it.
∫ Setting the frame
Select from 6 types of frames.
•
The picture size is fixed to 5M (4:3).
•The color of the frame displayed on the screen and the color of the frame around the actual image 
may differ, but this is not a malfunction.
[High Sens.]
[Starry Sky]
[Glass Through]
[Photo Frame] 
						

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Recording
Pictures are recorded continuously while moving the camera horizontally, and two pictures 
selected automatically are combined to make a single 3D picture.
To view 3D pictures, a television that supports 3D is required. (This unit will play back in 2D)
Refer to P174 for details about the playback method.
∫ Technique for 3D Photo Mode
Start the recording and then slide the camera horizontally 
straight from left to right.
•
A guide is displayed while recording.
•Move the camera approximately 10 cm (0.33 feet) within 
approximately 4 seconds using the guide.
∫ To avoid mistakes in 3D recording
•Take a picture of a subject that is not moving.•Take a picture in a well-lit place, such as outdoors, etc.•Fix the focus and exposure by pressing the shutter button halfway, then press the shutter button fully 
and move the camera.
•When you start recording with the su bject slightly to the right of the center, the subject will be close 
to the center in the final picture.
•You cannot record 3D pictures in vertical orientation.•The 3D pictures are saved in MPO format (3D).
•Zoom position is fixed to Wide.•The picture size is fixed to 2M (16:9).•The ISO sensitivity is automatically adjusted. However, the ISO sensitivity is increased to make the 
shutter speed become high-speed.
•Motion pictures cannot be recorded during 3D Photo Mode.•Recording may not be possible depending on the recording conditions for the following cases. You 
may not get a 3D effect or the picture may be warped even if it was possible to record.
–When the subject is too dark/bright–When the brightness of the subject changes
–When the subject is moving–Not enough contrast
[3D Photo Mode] 
						

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Recording
Entering Text
It is possible to enter babies’ and pets’ names and the locations when 
recording. When a screen that looks like the one on the right is displayed, 
you can enter characters. (Only alphabetical characters and symbols can 
be entered.)
1Press 3/ 4/2/1 to select text and then press [MENU/SET] to register.
•Move the cursor to [ ] and then press [MENU/SET] to switch text between [A] (capitals), [a] 
(lower case), [1] (numbers) and [&] (special characters).
•To enter the same character again, rotate the zoom lever towards [ Z] (T) to move the cursor.
•The following operations can be performed by moving the cursor to the item and pressing 
[MENU/SET]:
2Press 3/ 4/2/1 to move the cursor to [Set] and then press [MENU/SET] 
to end text input.
•Text can be scrolled if all of the entered text does not fit on the screen.
•It is displayed in order of title, location, [Name] ([Baby1]/[Baby2], [Pet]), [Name] ([Face Recog.]).
–[ ] ]: Enter a blank
–[Delete]: Delete a character
–[ ] : Move the entry position cursor to the left
–[ ]: Move the entry position cursor to the right
•A maximum of 30 characters can be entered. (Maximum of 9 characters when setting names 
in [Face Recog.])
A maximum of 15 characters can be entered  for [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ] and [ ] (Maximum of 
6 characters when setting names in [Face Recog.]).