Panasonic Digital Camera Dmc Zs15 Owners Manual For Advanced Features

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Using Zoom
Zoom types and use
The zoom ratio changes when the number of recording pixels is changed.
 ■Optical Zoom
Zooming in up to 16 times is possible if pictures without  have been selected by 
[Picture Size] on the [Rec] menu. (→80)
 ●Optical Zoom cannot be used in the following cases: • Scene Mode ([Panorama Shot]) • [Macro Zoom]
 ■Extended optical zoom
Zooming in up to 31.3 times is possible when pictures with  have been selected by 
[Picture Size] on the [Rec] menu (→80). EZ is short for “Extended optical zoom”.
 ●Extended optical zoom cannot be used in the following cases: • [Intelligent Auto] Mode (when [Motion Deblur] is [ON]) • [Macro Zoom]    • Motion picture    • When the [Burst] setting is set to ,  or  • Scene Modes ([Panorama Shot] [High Sens.] [HDR]) • [Creative Control] Mode ([Toy Ef fect])
To increase the zoom ratio further, the following zoom can be used in combination.
 ■[i.ZOOM]
You can use the camera’s Intelligent Resolution technology to increase the zoom ratio 
up to 2 times higher than the original zoom ratio with limited deterioration of picture 
quality. (→87)
 ●When [i.Resolution] is set to [i.ZOOM], Intelligent Resolution technology is applied to 
the picture.
 ●The [i.ZOOM] functions in the following cases. • [Intelligent Auto] Mode (except when [Motion Deblur] is [ON]) • Scene Modes ([Portrait] [Soft Skin] [Scenery] [Sports] [Night Portrait] [Night  Scenery] [Food] [Baby] [Pet] [Sunset] [Glass Through] [Underwater])
 ●[i.ZOOM] does not function in the following cases. • When the [Burst] setting is set to ,  or  • [Creative Control] Mode ([Toy Ef fect]) • [Macro Zoom]
 ■[Digital Zoom]
Zoom 4 times further than Optical/Extended optical zoom. Note that, with Digital Zoom, 
enlarging will decrease picture quality. Set the [Digital Zoom] in the [Rec] menu to [ON]. 
(→88)
 ●Digital Zoom cannot be used in the following modes: • [Intelligent Auto] Mode    • When the [Burst] setting is set to ,  or  • Scene Modes ([Panorama Shot] [Handheld Night Shot] [High Sens.] [HDR]) • [Creative Control] Mode ([Miniature Effect] [T
oy Effect])
 ●When Digital Zoom is used simultaneously with i.Zoom, you can only increase the 
zoom ratio up to 2 times.  
						

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Taking pictures with flash
Recording mode:          
Press  to display [Flash]
Use cursor button to select the desired type and press [MENU/
SET]
Type, operationsUses
∗1[Auto] • Automatically judges whether or not to flashNormal use
[Auto/Red-Eye]∗2 • Automatically judges whether or not to flash 
(reduce red-eye) Taking pictures of subjects in dark 
places
[Forced Flash On] • Always flash
Taking pictures with backlight or 
under bright lighting (e.g. fluorescent)[Slow Sync./Red-Eye]∗2 • Automatically judges whether or not to flash 
(reduce red-eye; slow shutter speed to take 
brighter pictures) Taking pictures of subjects against a 
nightscape (tripod recommended)
[Forced Flash Off] • Never flash
Places where flash use is prohibited∗1 Only in the  mode∗2  Two flashes will be emitted. Do not move until after the second flash. Interval between flashes varies 
according to brightness of subject.
 
If [Red-Eye Removal] on the [Rec] menu is [ON], the 
 appears with the flash icon, red-eye 
is automatically detected and still picture data is corrected. (Only when [AF Mode] is  (Face 
Detection))
 ■The available flash range when [Sensitivity] setting is [AUTO]
Max. W  Approx. 0.6 m-6.4 m (2.0 - 21 feet)
Max. T Approx. 1.0 m-3.5 m (3.3 - 11 feet)
 ●Do not put your hands over the light-emitting area of the flash (→8) or look at it 
from close range (a few centimeters away).
Do not use the flash at close distances to other subjects (heat/light may damage 
subject).
 ●Edges of picture may become slightly dark if using flash at short distances without 
using zoom (close to max. W). This may be remedied by using a little zoom.   
						

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Taking pictures with flash
 ●The effect of red-eye reduction varies depending on the subject and is affected by 
factors such as distance to the subject, whether the subject is looking at the camera 
during preliminary flash, and so on. In some cases, the effect of red-eye reduction may 
be negligible.
 ●Flash settings may be changed when changing recording mode. ●Scene Mode flash settings are restored to default when Scene Mode is changed. ●No pictures may be taken if these marks (e.g. ) are flashing (flash is charging). ●If light from the flash on a subject is insufficient, neither the proper exposure nor White 
Balance is achieved.
 ●The flash effect may not be sufficient in the following cases:  • Slow shutter speed • [Flash Burst] is set  ●Flash charging may take time if battery is low, or if using flash repeatedly.
 ■Available types in each mode (○: Available, –: Not available, : Default setting)
[Scene Mode]
  ○∗1○ ○ ○ ○ ○–○ ○ ○ ○ ○–○ ○ ○ ○– – –○– – ––○ ○ ○ ○ ○–○ ○ ○ ○ ○–○– – – –○– – – – –○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
∗1  Set to , ,  or  depending on the subject and brightness. • The flash cannot be used when recording motion pictures or in the , , , , ,  and  Scene Modes.
 ■Shutter speeds for each flash mode
  1/60∗2 - 1/4000th
 1∗2∗3 - 1/4000th
∗
2 Varies according to [Min. Shtr Speed] setting. ∗3  When [Min. Shtr Speed] is set to [AUTO], and a jitter is detected when [Stabilizer] is turned to 
[ON], the maximum speed is 1/4 second. Also varies according to [Intelligent Auto] Mode and 
Scene Modes, etc.  
						

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Taking close-up pictures
Recording mode:          
When you want to enlarge the subject, setting to [AF Macro] () enables you to take 
pictures at an even closer distance than the normal focus range (up to 3 cm (0.098 feet) 
for max. W). 
Press  to display [Macro Mode]
Use cursor button to select [AF Macro] and press [MENU/SET]
 display
 ■Taking close-up pictures without standing 
close to subject ( “Tele macro” function)
“Tele macro” operates automatically when zoom ratios 
are close to the maximum T setting. The focus can be 
aligned for distances as close as 1 m (3.3
 feet). 

 
(
 changes to )
[Macro Zoom]
To take even larger images of the subject, setting to [Macro Zoom] enables the subject to 
appear even larger than when using [AF Macro].
 
Press  to display [Macro Mode]
Use cursor button to select [Macro Zoom] and press [MENU/
SET]
Adjust the Digital Zoom magnification with the zoom lever
ReturnEnlarge
The zoom position is fixed at the Wide 
end.
Focus range is 3 cm (0.098 feet) - 
.
Digital Zoom magnification (1 x to 3 x)
 ●In [Macro Zoom], higher magnification results in lower picture quality . ●When [Macro Zoom] is set, Extended optical zoom or [i.ZOOM] does not work. ●The [Macro Zoom] cannot be set in the following cases:  • [Creative Control] Mode ([Toy Ef
fect] [Miniature Effect]) 
 • [3D Photo Mode] • When the [Burst] setting is set to ,  or  ●[Macro Zoom] cannot be set in [3D Photo Mode]. ●When [AF Tracking] is set, zoom macro is canceled.  
						

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Taking close-up pictures
 ●It may take some time until distant subjects come into focus. ●Using a tripod and [Selftimer] is recommended. Also, when recording a subject that is 
close to the camera, setting [Flash] to  [Forced Flash Off] is recommended. ●Moving the camera after aligning the focus is likely to result in poorly focused pictures 
if subject is close to the camera, due to the margin for focus alignment being severely 
reduced.
 ●Resolution may be reduced around the edges of the picture.
Focus range
When a subject is too close to the camera, the picture may not be properly focused. The 
shortest recording distance differs depending on the zoom ratio and the setting in macro 
recording mode.
 ■Shortest recording distance∗
Zoom [Macro Mode]OFF
Max. W  3 cm (0.098 feet) 50 cm (1.6 feet)
Max. T 1 m (3.3 feet) 2 m (6.6 feet)
∗   The shortest recording distance is the distance from the lens front to the subject. This 
distance changes gradually depending on the zoom position. (When zooming, even if 
[Macro Mode] is set to ON, the shortest recording distance is the same as when it is set 
to OFF.)
 ●Focus range is displayed when operating the zoom, etc.
Focus range  
						

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Taking pictures with self-timer
Recording mode:          
We recommend using a tripod. This is also effective for correcting jitter when pressing the 
shutter button, by setting the self-timer to 2 seconds.
Press  to display [Selftimer]
Use cursor button to select time duration and press [MENU/
SET]
Take a picture
Press the shutter button fully to start recording after the preset time.
Self-timer indicator
(Flashes for set duration)
 • To cancel while in operation → Press [MENU/SET]
 ●Focus will be automatically adjusted immediately before recording if the shutter button 
is pressed fully.
 ●After Self-timer indicator stops flashing, it may then be lit for AF Assist Lamp. ●This function cannot be used in the [Underwater] Scene Mode, or when recording 
motion pictures.  
						

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Corrects exposure when adequate exposure cannot be obtained (if difference between 
brightness of object and background, etc.).
 ■Recording mode:          
Press  to display [Exposure]
Use cursor button to select a value and press [MENU/SET]
 • If the picture is too dark, adjust the exposure  to the “+” direction.
 • If the picture is too bright, adjust the exposure to the “-” direction.
 • After exposure adjustment, the adjustment value ( for example) is displayed in the 
bottom-left corner of the screen.
Taking pictures with Exposure Compensation
 ●Depending on the brightness, this may not be possible in some cases. ●The Exposure Compensation value you set is retained even after the camera is turned 
off.  
						

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Taking pictures with Exposure Compensation
 ●Cannot be used with flash. ●When [Auto Bracket] is set, [Burst] is canceled. ●[Auto Bracket] cannot be used in the following cases: • [Creative Control] Mode ([Miniature Effect] [Soft Focus]) • Scene Modes ([Panorama Shot] [HDR] [Handheld Night Shot]) • Motion picture
Recording while exposure is changed automatically ([Auto Bracket])
Records 3 pictures in continuous succession while exposure is changed automatically. 
After exposure adjustment, the adjustment value is set as the standard.
 ■Recording mode:          
Press  several times to display [Auto Bracket]
Use cursor button to select a value and press [MENU/SET]
Value displayed 
after Exposure 
Compensation 
set
 • The first still picture is recorded without  compensation, the second still picture is 
recorded with exposure adjusted in the 
“-” direction, and the third still picture is 
recorded with exposure adjusted in the 
“+” direction.
 • Canceled when the power is turned off.  
						

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Determine aperture and shutter speed and record 
Recording mode:          
[Aperture-Priority] Mode
When recording, you can control the range of focus (depth of field) to meet your recording 
purposes.
Shutter speed is automatically adjusted to be appropriate for the set aperture value.
Set mode dial to  ([Aperture-Priority] Mode) 
Press [EXPOSURE] button and use cursor button to determine 
aperture value
Aperture value 
 • When the aperture value is increased, the range of depth in focus expands, and the 
picture shows up clearly from the position 
of the camera to the background.
 • When the aperture value is reduced, the range of depth in focus shrinks, and the 
background can get blurry.
Press [EXPOSURE] button
[Shutter-Priority] Mode
When recording, you can control the shutter speed to meet your recording purposes.
Aperture is automatically adjusted to be appropriate for the set shutter speed.
Set mode dial to  ([Shutter-Priority] Mode)
Press [EXPOSURE] button and use cursor button to determine 
shutter speed
Shutter speed
 • At faster shutter speeds, movements by the subject show as if they are still.
 • At slower shutter speeds, subjects that are moving show as jittery.
Press [EXPOSURE] button  
						

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Determine aperture and shutter speed and record 
[Manual Exposure] Mode
This mode of recording lets you set any aperture value and shutter speed when exposure 
adjustment prevents you from recording at the desired exposure (brightness/darkness). 
Also, long-exposure recording of up to 15 seconds is possible.
Set mode dial to  ([Manual Exposure] Mode)
 • Manual exposure assist is displayed.
Press [EXPOSURE] button and use cursor button to determine 
aperture value and shutter speed
Aperture value/shutter speed
Press [EXPOSURE] button
 ■Manual exposure assist (estimate) 
If the shutter button is pressed halfway, manual exposure assist is displayed. 
Shows pictures with standard brightness.
Shows brighter pictures. For standard brightness, either use a faster 
shutter speed or increase aperture value.
Shows darker pictures. For standard brightness, either use a slower 
shutter speed or reduce aperture value.
 ■Recording motion pictures in   
 • Aperture and shutter speed are automatically set.
 ●When the picture is too bright or too dark or there is incorrect exposure, the numbers 
for the aperture value and shutter speed are shown in red.
 ●LCD monitor brightness may vary from the actual still picture recorded.