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Friday, 4 August 2023

Setting up the Panasonic Lumix FZ10002 for still photos Revised August 2023

 



 * Before we start: Download and…RTFM   Although the language is a bit strangulated in parts it is reasonably easy to follow and is easier to digest than current Canon EOS manuals which have 937 pages.

* Fit a top quality 62mm protect or u.v. filter to the lens. I use Hoya HD.2 protect filters with no problems and no detectable adverse effect on image quality or focussing. Some users disagree with this recommendation preferring to leave the front element of the lens unprotected and clean it as required. However if we use the camera near the sea or in dusty conditions when frequent cleaning is necessary then we completely eliminate the risk of damaging the front element by fitting a filter.

* Remove the string from the lens cap or leave it unattached. The inner pinch bars on the lens cap are flat and smooth so they give no purchase to the fingers. This is a design fault which Panasonic has been repeating for many years. I cut two lengths each 20mm in length from flat sided toothpicks and superglue these towards the front of the flat faces of the pinch bars. Trimmed and painted black they look like original equipment and provide good purchase for the fingers.

* Locate a carry bag which is large enough to hold the camera, one or two spare batteries, microfiber cloth and lens wipe tissues. I am currently using a LowePro Toploader Zoom 45 AW 2 but there are many suitable bags available.

* The FZ1000.2 uses Panasonic DMW-BLC12E batteries. I get about 1000-1200 exposures per charge depending on usage, less if much chimping is involved. I take one spare battery on a day’s outing.

* Battery charger. There is no separate battery charger in the box. As supplied charging is by USB only, with the battery in the camera. This does the job and I should probably stop grumbling about it.

* Fit the hotshoe cover.

* Invest in some SDXC memory cards. The camera is compatible with UHS-1 cards. We can easily identify these as they have only one row of gold contacts. The faster  UHS-2 cards used in recent model cameras have two rows of contacts.  I use and recommend SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB, 170MB/s cards which have never given me any problem in many years of use.

* Wrist strap. Leave the dorky neck strap in the box and fit a cheap generic wrist strap. Carry the camera by the handle, ready for action at a moment’s notice.

* Check that all camera functions are operating as they should. Check the lens at wide angle, two or three  intermediate focal lengths and at full zoom. I use a test chart and several real world subjects. There is some sample variation in the lenses.

* My tests show that we can obtain MUCH better image quality with Raw capture and post processing than is possible with JPG capture. I use and recommend Adobe Bridge, Camera Raw and Photoshop. For people not familiar with image editing programmes the learning curve can be steep. However there are hundreds of good free training videos online for Adobe products to help us along the way.

* When we first power up the camera it will prompt us to set the date, time and time zone.

Dial and button functions

I try to set the camera up so operation is as efficient and streamlined as reasonably possible while keeping the user interface as simple as possible to reduce opportunities for confusion and mistakes.  To that end I disable several of the buttons so as to congregate adjustments to a small number of access points. This post describes what I do. There are billions of options however and each individual will likely evolve their own preferences as they accumulate experience with camera operation.

Button functions

Note:  I copy Fn Button Set to My Menu so I can access it quickly when I am experimenting with various button function settings. 

We set button functions from the Custom Menu [blue wrench+c] symbol > Operation > Fn Button Set > Setting in Rec Mode.  I leave settings in Playback Mode at default.

Fn1, Off

Fn2, Off

Fn3, Off

Fn4, ISO. I like this close to the front dial for easy access.

Fn5, Exposure compensation. In A and S Modes I use the rear dial for direct control of exposure compensation. But in M Mode I set shutter speed with the front dial and aperture with the rear dial. To set exposure compensation in M Mode I press the Fn 5 button which brings up an analogue scale on the screen. Now exposure compensation can be set by rotating either the front or rear dial. Half press the shutter button to resume normal operation.

Fn6, Q Menu.   I use a custom Q menu. We tell the camera whether we want the Preset Q Menu or a Custom Q Menu via Custom Menu > Operation > Q Menu > Preset/Custom.

How to set up a Custom Q Menu:

Press Fn6 to display the Q Menu.  Bottom left on the screen we see a little [Q+Wrench] icon. Touch this to display the adjustment start screen then touch the screen anywhere to display the first of five screens of options. Touch and drag items up or down to remove them from or send them to to the active icon bar near the bottom of the screen. We can only see a maximum of 5 icons at any time so I only allocate 5 items to the Custom Q Menu.

I put on the Custom Q Menu: Burst Rate, Stabiliser, Self timer control, Step/smooth zoom, AF Mode (active AF area).

Note about burst rate: We want to have AF,  AE and live view on each frame. The fastest rate which allows this is Burst M, which runs at about 6 fps.

Fn7, Off

Fn8, Macro

Fly-out onscreen virtual buttons Fn 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, all Off.

Now we come to Dial Settings, Custom Menu >  Operation > Dial Set.

* Assign Dial (F/SS). I assign shutter speed (SS) to the front dial, aperture (F) to the rear dial.

* Rotation (F/SS) Leave at default

* Exposure Comp. Rear dial

* Dial Operation Switch setup. I leave this well alone.




Rec Menu [red camera icon]

* Aspect ratio, 3:2

* Picture size (greyed out if Raw set below) L20M

* Quality, Raw

* AFS/AFF,  AFS

* AF Sensitivity (Photo) Applies only when using AFC, I use +2.

* Photo Style. The preview image we see in the viewfinder or on the screen is affected by this setting as is JPG output but not Raw output.

Note that on Panasonic cameras the preview and playback images are rather lacking in resolution and sharpness, presumably it is a lo-res image set that way so it loads and displays quickly. This is only noticeable when we enlarge the preview or playback image to check for sharpness.

I set Standard, with Contrast +/- 0,  Saturation +/- 0, Noise Reduction -1, Saturation +/- 0.

* Filter Settings OFF

* Color space sRGB

* Metering Mode Evaluative

* Highlight/Shadow leave at default, straight line.

* i.Dynamic  OFF

* i.Resolution  OFF

* Flash    I don’t use flash because I hate the look of pictures made with on camera flash. But if I did I would probably set Firing Mode TTL, Flash Mode single flash icon no red-eye reduction, Flash Synchro first curtain, Flash adjust minus 1 EV, Auto Exposure Comp Off.

* Red eye removal OFF

* ISO Auto Upper limit (photo) 6400

* Min. Shtr. Speed  Auto

* Long Shtr Noise Reduction  OFF

* Diffraction compensation   OFF

* Stabiliser: Assign this to the Custom Q Menu so it can be switched on and off without having to delve into the main menus.

* I Zoom (N/A with Raw)  OFF

* Digital zoom (N/A with Raw)  OFF

* Burst Rate M

* 4K Photo. I never use this . Please see page 118 of the Operating Instructions for Advanced Features.

* Self timer 2 seconds.  Assign this to the Custom Q Menu so 10 sec or 10 sec x 3 pictures can be set.

* Time lapse/Animation  See page 134 of the Instructions.

* Silent Mode  OFF

* Shutter Type  MSHTR   I think this is actually a first curtain electronic shutter type although I can’t find reference to this in the Instructions.

* Bracket  Off   This can be copied to My Menu if exposure or focus bracketing is contemplated.

* HDR  (N/A with Raw)  OFF

* Multi Exp   This could be copied to My Menu if we intend to experiment with the feature.

Custom Menu [blue wrench+c]

Exposure

* ISO increments 1/3 EV

* Extended ISO  OFF

* Exposure Comp Reset  On  The camera will automatically re-set exposure compensation to zero when the camera is powered off.

Focus

* AF/AE Lock     AF    This initiates focus with the AF/AEL button.  Focus stays locked if AF/AE Lock Hold (below) is ON  until we press the AF/AEL button again. A green dot top right on the screen reminds us that focus is locked. This is handy for street and documentary style photos.

* AF/AE Lock Hold    ON

* Shutter AF   ON

* Half press release   OFF

* Quick AF   OFF

* Eye Sensor AF   OFF

* Pinpoint AF Setting   AF Time  MID,   AF Display PIP

* AF Assist Lamp   OFF

* Direct Focus Area   ON   Allows us to move AF area position directly with the Cursor Buttons  (a.k.a. cross keys). Press Disp to re-center the AF area.

* Focus Release Priority  FOCUS for both AFS and AFC

* Focus switching for Vert/Hor   ON  This allows the focus area to be in one place for landscape orientation and a different place for portrait orientation. Useful if the subject is a person or a bird or animal such that we want to focus on the face/head.

* Loop Movement Focus Frame  ON

* AF Area Display  ON

* AF + MF   OFF

* MF Assist   Focus ring on lens barrel

* MF Assist Display  PIP  (picture in picture)

Operation

* Fn Button Set   See above

* ISO Displayed Setting   Front/Rear Dials (the top option)

* Exposure Comp Disp Setting   Cursor Buttons  OFF,  Front/Rear Dials  ON  (top option)

* Q Menu   Custom

* Dial Set   See above

* Control Ring   DEFLT

* Operation Lock Setting   Cursor  ON, Touch Screen  ON,  Dial  ON

* Video Button   ON

* Video Rec Button (Remote)  ON

* Touch settings   Touch Screen  ON, Touch Tab OFF. Touch AF  AF,                    Touch Pad AF  EXACT

* Zoom lever  Step or continuous. I put this on the Custom Q Menu so I can switch from one to the other if required.

* Zoom Compose Assist L

Monitor/Display

* Auto Review  OFF

* Monochrome Live View  OFF

* Constant Preview  ON

* Peaking  ON,   SET Detect level  LOW,   Display Color  Blue.

* Histogram  OFF

* Guide Line  Third option down, two intersecting lines, I place them to intersect in the center of the frame. Useful for lining up verticals on buildings.

* Center Marker  ON

* Highlight  ON  This is the blinkies seen on Playback warning of overexposed highlights.

* Zebra Pattern  I set Zebra 1 to 105% and ON to warn of highlight blowout before exposure.

* Expo. Meter  OFF

* MF Guide  ON

* LV Monitor Disp. Set   I set the LVF (EVF) with camera data below the image display and the Monitor screen with camera data superimposed over the lower section of the image display to gain maxim size of the monitor display.

* Monitor Info. Disp.  ON

* Rec Area  Camera Symbol

* Remaining Disp.  Camera icon

* Menu Guide ON initially then OFF when more familiar with camera operation.

Lens/Others

* Lens position Resume  ON

* Lens Retraction  OFF

* Face Recog.  OFF

* Profile Setup  OFF

Setup Menu [Blue wrench]

* Online Manual  Not accessed. Download PDF from Panasonic Website.

* Cust. Set. Mem.  Up to three Custom Capture Mode settings can be set  [C1, C2, C3]. This allows us to change many settings with one action.

To make a Custom Setting set up the camera for the desired subject , for instance landscape on tripod. In this case we set Stabiliser Off, Aperture Priority, f8, ISO 100, Timer 2 sec, AFS, AF area single, center. Check that the camera is doing what we want then press Cust. Set. Mem. and follow the prompts to overwrite current camera settings (the ones on the Custom setting if there are any) with Custom Set 1, 2 or 3. In this example also check that the Drive Mode Dial is at Timer delay (rotate dial fully clockwise) and the AF lever at AFS. Check again that the camera is operating as planned then go back to normal Mode Dial settings.

I copy Cust.Set.Mem. to My Menu for quick access.

* Clock set and world time should already be set by now.

* We can read about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth setup in the Instructions. The camera can be operated from a smrtphone.

I just leave most items in this menu at default except

* Monitor Display Speed   ECO 30 fps

* LVF Display Speed  60 fps

* Eye Sensor Sensitivity  LOW  

LVF/Monitor Switch  LVF/Mon Auto.

My Menu [lilac person icon]

On this I have Format, Cust. Set. Mem., Fn Button Set, Bracket, PhotoStyle.

Playback Menu [green right arrow]

I leave most things here at default.

* Rotate Disp.  ON

Auto Panorama

* Set the Mode Dial to the Panorama Icon.  Press the Menu/Set button. See a new Menu at the top of the screen with a red landscape icon. My practice and recommendation is to set the Direction to the bottom option with the arrow pointing down and the Picture Size to Standard. To make the panorama hold the camera in portrait orientation, handle up,  then half press and hold the shutter button with the camera pointing somewhere around the middle of the planned panorama. This sets and holds exposure and focus. Swing the camera across to the left of the planned panorama, fully depress and hold  the shutter button down and slowly swing the camera around towards the right. The process requires some practice and experience to get the speed of rotation correct and to keep the camera level from side to side during the swing. The process uses the electronic shutter and the camera generates the panorama shot as a JPG automatically.

And that is it for this summary about setting up the FZ1000.2 for still photos.

The camera has a vast array of functions and capabilities which I suspect many of us will not use. But they are all described in the Instructions in considerable detail for those of us who wish to explore further.

Setting up is boring and at times confusing but some other cameras are a whole lot worse.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

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