Trade Name: Panasonic Model No.: DMC-FZ15 Responsible party: Matsushita Electric Corporation of America One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 Support Contact: Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company 1-800-272-7033 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

DMC-FZ15

FZ15-PP.book 4
Care for the camera Do not shake or cause impact to the camera. The camera may not be operated normally or recording of pictures may be disabled, or the lens may be damaged. Sand or dust may cause a malfunction of the camera. When you use the camera on a beach etc., take care so that sand or dust does not get into the camera. When you use the camera on a rainy day or on a beach, take care so that water does not get into the camera. If seawater splashes onto the camera, wet a soft cloth with tap water, wring it well, and use it to wipe the camera body carefully. Then, wipe it again with a dry cloth. About the LCD monitor/Viewfinder Do not press the LCD monitor strongly. It may cause uneven colors on the LCD monitor or a malfunction of the LCD monitor. In a place with drastic temperature changes, condensation may form on the LCD monitor. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. If the camera is extremely cold when you turn the camera on, the image on the LCD monitor/Viewfinder is slightly darker than usual at first. However, as the internal temperature increases, it goes back to the normal brightness. Extremely high precision technology is employed to produce the LCD monitor/ Viewfinder screen. The result is more than 99.99% effective pixels with a mere 0.01% of the pixels inactive or always lit. However, this will not be recorded on the pictures in the card. About the Lens Do not direct the lens to the sun or strong light sources. It may cause not only a malfunction of the camera but irreversible damage to your eye. Do not press the lens strongly.
Leaving the camera with the lens facing the sun may cause a malfunction. Be careful when you put the camera outside or near a window. About Condensation Condensation takes place when the ambient temperature or humidity is changed as follows: Be careful of condensation since it causes stains on the lens, fungus or malfunction. (P105) When the camera is brought inside from the cold to a warm room. When the camera is moved from outside to an air-conditioned car. When cool wind from an air conditioner or other is directly blown onto the camera. In humid places If you will not be using the camera for a long time Store the battery in a cool and dry place with a relatively stable temperature. (Recommended temperature: 59oF 77oF (15oC 25oC), Recommended humidity: 40% 60%) Be sure to remove the battery and the card from the camera. When the battery is left inserted in the camera for a long time, discharge takes place even if the camera is turned off. If you leave the battery inserted for an extended period of time, it will be excessively discharged and it may become unusable even after it is charged. To store the battery for a long period of time, we recommend charging it once every year and storing it again after you completely use up the charged capacity. When you keep the camera in a closet or a cabinet, we recommend storing it with the desiccant (silica gel).

Playback (basic)

Playing Back Pictures.. Pictures Multi Playback. 47 Using the Playback Zoom.. 48 Deleting Pictures.. 49

FZ15-PP.book 7

Playback (advanced)
Playing Back Motion Images. 81 Using the [PLAY] mode menu. 82 Rotating the Picture [ROTATE]. 82 Setting the Picture to be Printed and the Number of Prints [DPOF PRINT].. 83 Preventing Accidental Erasure of the Picture [PROTECT].. 85 Playing Back with Slide Show [SLIDE SHOW].. 86 Resizing the Pictures [RESIZE]. 88 Trimming the Pictures [TRIMMING].. 89 Initializing the Card [FORMAT]. 91 Playing Back Pictures with a TV Screen.. 92

Others

Using the MC Protector/ND Filter.101 Screen Display..102 Cautions for Use.. 104 Message Display..107 Troubleshooting.108 Specifications..111 Digital Camera Accessory System. 113 Digital Camera Accessory Order Form (For USA Customers). 114 Request for Service Notice (For USA Only)..115 Limited Warranty (For USA Only).116 Customer Services Directory (For USA Only)..118 Index...119 Spanish Quick Use Guide/ Gua rpida en espaol.121
Connecting to a PC or Printer
Before Connecting with USB Connection Cable [USB MODE].. 93 Connecting to a PC.. 95 Connecting to a PictBridge-compliant Printer.. 97

FZ15-PP.book 8

Standard Accessories
Before using your camera, check the contents. SD Memory Card (8 MB) RP-SD008B (In the text, it is indicated as Card) Video Cable K1HA08CD0003
Battery Pack CGA-S002A (In the text, it is indicated as Battery)
USB Connection Cable K1HA08CD0001
Battery Charger DE-993B (In the text, it is indicated as Charger)

CD-ROM

FZ15-PP.book 9

Lens Cap VYK0W96

Strap VFC4078

Lens Hood VYQ3234

Lens Hood Adaptor VYQ3213

FZ15-PP.book 10

Names of the Components
1 Lens 2 Flash (P39) 3 Self-timer Indicator (P42) AF Assist Lamp (P74)
Diopter Adjustment Dial (P29) Viewfinder (P28, 102) [EVF/LCD] Button (P28) Flash Open Button (P39) [DISPLAY] Button (P28) [EXPOSURE] Button (P35, 51, 52, 53) Power Indicator (P32) Camera Switch (P12) LCD Monitor (P28, 102) [MENU] Button (P24) Delete Button (P49) Cursor buttons 2/Self-timer Button (P42) 4/[REVIEW] Button (P37) 1/Flash Mode Button (P39) 3/Flash Output Adjustment (P41)/ Exposure Compensation (P43)/Auto Bracket (P44)/White Balance Fine Adjustment (P69) Button Speaker (P26)

FZ15-PP.book 11

MF Ring (P65) Zoom Lever (P38, 74) Mode Dial (P31) Shutter Button (P32) Single/Burst Mode Button (P45)

22 Focus Switch (P62, 65) 23 Strap Eyelet (P19) 24 [V OUT / DIGITAL] Socket (P92, 95, 97) 25 [DC IN] Socket (P95, 97) Please be sure to use genuine Panasonic AC adaptor (DMW-CAC1; optional). 26 Terminal Door
27 Card/Battery Door (P15, 16) 28 Tripod Receptacle

FZ15-PP.book 12

Quick Guide
This is the overview of the procedure to record pictures with this camera. For each operation, be sure to refer to the corresponding pages.
3 Turn the camera on to take pictures.

Set the clock. (P22)

1 Charge the battery. (P13)
When the camera is shipped, the battery is not charged. Charge the battery before use.
2 Insert the battery and the card. (P15, 16)
1 Set the mode dial to [ ]. 2 Open the flash. (When using the flash) (P39) 3 Press the shutter button to take pictures. (P32)
4 Play back the pictures.
1 Set the mode dial to [ ]. 2 Select the picture you want to view. (P46)

FZ15-PP.book 13

Charging the Battery with the Charger
When the camera is shipped, the battery is not charged. Charge the battery before use. After charging is completed, be sure to disconnect the charger from the electrical outlet. The battery becomes warm after use/ charge or during charge. The camera also becomes warm during use. However, it is not a malfunction. Use the dedicated charger and battery. Charge the battery with the charger indoors. Do not disassemble or modify the charger.
1 Attach the battery to the charger.
2 Connect the charger to the electrical outlet.
When the [CHARGE] indicator A lights in green, charging starts. When the [CHARGE] indicator A turns off (in about 120 minutes), charging is completed.

3 Detach the battery.

FZ15-PP.book 14

About the Battery

Battery indication The remaining battery power appears on the screen. [It does not appear when you use the camera along with the AC adaptor (DMW-CAC1; optional).] > > > Playback time when using the LCD monitor
Playback time Approx. 240 min.
The indication turns red and blinks: Recharge or replace the battery. The lifetime of the battery The number of recordable pictures by CIPA standards CIPA is an abbreviation of [Camera & Imaging Products Association].

Number of Approx. 240 pictures recordable pictures (CIPA) Used media 16 MB SD Memory Card (optional)
The number of recordable pictures and playback time will vary depending on the operating conditions and storing condition of the battery. Charging
Charging time Approx. 120 min.
Charging time and the number of recordable pictures with the optional battery pack (CGA-S002A) are the same as above. When charging starts, the [CHARGE] indicator lights. Charging error If a charging error occurs, the [CHARGE] indicator blinks in 1 second cycles. In this case, disconnect the charger from the electrical outlet, remove the battery and make sure that both room and battery temperature are not too low or high and then charge it again. If the [CHARGE] indicator still blinks even if you charge the battery for a while, consult the dealer or your nearest servicenter. When the operating time of the camera becomes extremely short even if the battery is properly charged, the life of the battery may have expired. Buy a new battery. Charging conditions Charge the battery under temperature of 50oF 95oF (10oC 35oC). (Battery temperature should be the same.) The performance of the battery may be temporarily deteriorated and the operating time may become shorter in low temperature conditions (e.g. skiing/ snowboarding).
(Recording conditions by CIPA standards) Temperature: 73.4F (23C)/ Humidity: 50% when LCD monitor is on. Using the supplied battery. Recording starts 30 seconds after the camera is turned on. Record once every 30 seconds, with full flash every other recording. Rotating the zoom lever towards Tele to Wide and vice versa in every recording. Turning the camera off every 10 recordings. The number of recordable pictures when using the Viewfinder (Viewfinder is used for recording. Other recording conditions comply with CIPA standards.)
Number of recordable pictures Used media Approx. 270 pictures 16 MB SD Memory Card (optional)

FZ15-PP.book 15

Inserting/Removing the Battery
Check that the camera is turned off and that the lens is retracted. Close the flash.
1 Slide the card/battery door to open it.
Close the card/battery door. 2 Slide the card/battery door to the end and then close it firmly.

FZ15-PP.book 35

Program shift When you press the shutter button, the screen may become bright for a moment. This function allows easy adjustment of focus and the recorded picture will not be affected. We recommend setting the clock again before taking pictures. (P22) When the time for power save is set (P24), the camera is automatically turned off if you do not operate within the set time. When operating the camera again, press the shutter button or turn the camera off and on. In some cases, if the distance between the camera and the subject is beyond the recordable range when you use the camera, the picture may not be properly focused even if the focus indication is lit. In Program AE mode, you can change the preset aperture value and the shutter speed under the same exposure. This is called Program shift. By this function, you can make the background more blurred (by decreasing the aperture value) or record the moving subject more dynamically (by setting to slow shutter speed) in Program AE mode. Press the shutter button halfway and then press the [EXPOSURE] button while the aperture value and the shutter speed are displayed on the screen (for 10 seconds). Then press 2/1 to activate the Program shift.

PROGRAM SHIFT F2.8 1/60

EXPOSURE

PROGRAM SHIFT F4.0 1/30

When the Program shift is activated, the Program shift indication 1 appears on the screen.

FZ15-PP.book 36

Example of Program shift

2.13 14

5.1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000
(A): Aperture value (B): Shutter speed
Program shift can be set in Macro mode [ ] too. If the exposure is not adequate when pressing the shutter button halfway, the shutter speed turns red. When Program shift can be set, you cannot switch the flash mode or set the self-timer. Press the [EXPOSURE] button to cancel. When 10 or more seconds have passed after the Program shift becomes effective, the status to activate the Program shift is canceled and returned to the Program AE mode. However, the setting on the Program shift is memorized. Program shift is canceled when turning the camera off. The Program shift may not be activated depending on the brightness of the subject.

FZ15-PP.book 37

Checking the Recorded Picture (Review)

1 Press 4.

When you change the magnification or the position to be displayed, the zoom position indication A appears for about 1 second to check where is enlarged. Recorded pictures can be deleted during the review (Quick Deletion)

FZ15-PP.book 42

Taking Pictures with the Self-timer
1 Switch the self-timer setting.
: Self-timer set to 10 seconds ; : Self-timer set to 2 seconds ; No display (canceled)
2 Focus on the subject to take the picture.
When using a tripod or in other cases, setting the self-timer to 2 seconds is a convenient way to stabilize the jitter caused by pressing the shutter button. The self-timer indicator 1 blinks and the shutter is activated after 10 seconds (or 2 seconds). When you press the button fully with one stroke, the subject is automatically focused just before the recording. In dark places, the self-timer indicator blinks and then it may turn on brightly to work as the AF assist lamp (P74) for focusing on the subject. When you set the self-timer in the burst mode, the camera starts taking a picture 2 or 10 seconds after the shutter button is pressed. The number of pictures taken at a time is fixed to 3. We recommend using a tripod when setting the self-timer.

CANCEL MENU

If you press the [MENU] button when the self-timer is set, the self-timer setting is canceled.

FZ15-PP.book 43

Use this function when you cannot achieve appropriate exposure due to the difference of brightness between the subject and the background. Under exposed Compensate the exposure toward positive.
1 Press 3 several times until [ EXPOSURE] appears and then compensate the exposure.

Properly Exposed

You can compensate from j2 EV to i2 EV in steps of 1/3 EV.
Over exposed Compensate the exposure toward negative.
EV is an abbreviation of Exposure Value, and it is the amount of light given to the CCD by the aperture value and the shutter speed. The compensation range of the exposure will be limited depending on the brightness of the subject. The exposure compensation value appears on the lower left of the screen. The exposure value is memorized even if the camera is turned off.

FZ15-PP.book 44

Taking Pictures using Auto Bracket
In this mode, 3 pictures are automatically recorded by each press of the shutter button according to the compensation range of the exposure. You can select the desired exposure among the 3 types of pictures.
1 Press 3 several times until [ AUTO BRACKET] appears and then set the compensation range of the exposure.

AUTO BRACKET

When setting the auto bracket, the auto bracket icon appears on the lower left of the screen. When taking pictures using auto bracket after the exposure compensation, the pictures are based on the compensated exposure. When the exposure is compensated, the compensated exposure value appears on the lower left of the screen. When the flash is activated, you can take only 1 picture. When setting auto bracket, you cannot take a picture of which quality is [TIFF]. When setting auto bracket and the burst mode simultaneously, auto bracket will be performed. The exposure may not be compensated with auto bracket depending on the brightness of the subject.

FZ15-PP.book 50

3 Delete the pictures.
MULTI DELETE DELETE THE PICTURES YOU MARKED?
Once deleted, pictures cannot be recovered. Please double-check before deleting pictures. Do not turn off the camera while deleting. Pictures that are protected (P85) or that do not conform to DCF standards (P46) will not be deleted. When you delete pictures, use a battery with sufficient battery power (P14) or use with the AC adaptor (DMW-CAC1; optional).
It is possible to delete up to 50 pictures all at once. To delete all pictures

1 Select [ALL DELETE].

2 Delete all of the pictures.
ALL DELETE DELETE ALL PICTURES?

FZ15-PP.book 51

Using the Mode Dial

Aperture-priority AE

Refer to P55 for the available range of the aperture value and the shutter speed. The focus range is 0.16 feet (5 cm) (Wide), 6.56 feet (200 cm) (Tele). If the subject is too bright, set to a larger aperture value, if too dim, set to a smaller aperture value. The brightness of the screen may differ from that of the actual pictures. Check it using review function or setting to the playback mode. The ISO sensitivity cannot be set to [AUTO]. (P70) (When the recording mode is switched to Aperture-priority AE, the ISO sensitivity is automatically set to [ISO100] even though it was set to [AUTO] beforehand. Even though the ISO mode is set to [ISO100] automatically, you can also change ISO setting from [ISO64], [ISO200], [ISO400] on the menu.) When the exposure is not adequate, the aperture value and the shutter speed on the screen turn red.
When you want the background to be in sharp focus, set the aperture value to a higher number. The higher the aperture value is the smaller the aperture opening will be. For a soft focus background, set the aperture value to a lower number which corresponds to a larger aperture opening.
1 Set the aperture value and take the picture.

ISO100 2304

FZ15-PP.book 52

Shutter-priority AE

Refer to P55 for the available range of the aperture value and the shutter speed. The focus range is 0.16 feet (5 cm) (Wide), 6.56 feet (200 cm) (Tele). The brightness of the screen may differ from that of the actual pictures. Check it using review function or setting to the playback mode. You cannot set the following items in Shutter-priority AE. Slow sync./Red-eye reduction [ ] (P39) [AUTO] in ISO sensitivity (P70) (When the recording mode is switched to Shutter-priority AE, the ISO sensitivity is automatically set to [ISO100] even though it was set to [AUTO] beforehand. Even though the ISO mode is set to [ISO100] automatically, you can also change ISO setting from [ISO64], [ISO200], [ISO400] on the menu.) When the exposure is not adequate, the aperture value and the shutter speed on the screen turn red. When the shutter speed is slow, we recommend using a tripod.

FZ15-PP.book 56

Macro mode

Motion image mode

This mode allows you to take pictures closely focusing on the subject. (e.g. When taking pictures of flowers.) You can take pictures with the lens at a distance of up to 0.16 feet (5 cm) (Wide) from the subject.
You can record motion images without audio.

1 Select [MOTION RATE].

AUTO 10fps 30fps
W.BALANCE MOTION RATE METERING MODE AF MODE CONT.AF SELECT

Focus range Normal

0.98 feet (30 cm)

6.56 feet (200 cm)

Macro mode [

0.16 feet (5 cm)

We recommend using a tripod. When the camera lens is at a distance beyond the available range from the subject, the subject may not be focused even if the focus indication lights. You can also set the Program shift. (P35) The available flash range is about 0.98 feet (30 cm) 23.0 feet (7 m). (This is applied when you set the ISO sensitivity to [AUTO]. However, the flash mode should be set to the mode except Slow sync./ Red-eye reduction [ ].)
[10fps]: Recording motion images for a longer time is available though the quality will be less than the quality recorded at [30fps]. The file size is smaller, so the files are suitable to be attached to e-mails. [30fps]: The motion of the recorded image is smooth, but the file size is large. fps (frame per second); This refers to the number of frames used in 1 second. Close the menu by pressing the shutter button halfway or the [MENU] button after finishing the setting.

FZ15-PP.book 57

Available recording time (seconds)
SD Memory Card Capacity 8 MB 16 MB 32 MB 64 MB 128 MB 256 MB 512 MB 1 GB Motion rate 10fps 30fps 1027 1978
When the subject is focused, the focus indication 1 lights. The remaining recording time (approximation) appears on the screen.
The recordable time is an approximation.
3 Press the shutter button fully to start the recording.
By pressing the shutter button fully again, the recording stops. If the memory card becomes full during recording, the camera stops automatically.
The picture size is fixed to 320k240 pixels. The motion images cannot be recorded with audio. If using a MultiMediaCard, after recording motion images, the card access indication may appear for a while, but this is not a malfunction. The file is being loaded to the MultiMediaCard. The settings of auto focus/zoom/aperture values are fixed to what they are when recording starts (in the first frame). If you use a card with little capacity, recording may stop while you are recording motion images. When motion images recorded with this camera are played back on other equipment, the quality of pictures may be deteriorated or it may not be possible to play them back. The motion images recorded with setting [MOTION RATE] to [30fps] cannot be played back on a camera which does not support [30fps] of motion rate. The review function cannot be used. You cannot set [MODE2] on the Optical Image Stabilizer function. Keep the camera away from magnetized equipment or equipment which generates electromagnetic waves (e.g. a microwave oven, TV, cell phone or video game equipment, etc.) as far as possible. If not, pictures may be distorted due to electromagnetic wave radiation.

This mode allows you to take a picture of a nightscape. The landscape can be recorded vividly by using the slow shutter speed.
The focus range is 16.4 feet (5 m) . The ISO sensitivity is fixed to [AUTO]. The Flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF [ ]. The setting on the AF assist lamp is disabled.
Technique for Night scenery mode Since the shutter speed becomes slow (max. about 8 sec.), use a tripod. The focus range is 16.4 feet (5 m) . The shutter may be kept closed (max. about 8 seconds) after taking a picture with slow shutter speed, but it is not a malfunction. When you take pictures in dark places, noise may become visible. The ISO sensitivity is fixed to [ISO100]. The Flash setting is fixed to Forced OFF [ ]. The settings on the AF assist lamp and the continuous AF are disabled.

FZ15-PP.book 61

Night portrait mode
This mode allows you to take pictures against a night landscape. The subject can be recorded with brightness in real life by using the flash and the slow shutter speed.

Panning mode

When you take a picture following the motion of a subject which moves to a certain direction as a runner or a car, the background will show some motion blur. This special effect is called panning. This mode allows you to obtain this effect easier.
Technique for Night portrait mode Open the flash. (P39) Since the shutter speed becomes slow (max. about 1 sec.), we recommend using a tripod. Keep the subject still for about 1 second after taking a picture. Take a picture within the available flash range [max. about 11.5 feet (3.5 m)] of the subject. We recommend rotating the zoom lever to Wide.
Technique for Panning mode To achieve good pictures in panning mode, pick a horizontal plane and then pan as you fire shots.
The focus range is 6.56 feet (2 m) 16.4 feet (5 m). Be sure to close the flash when not in use. The shutter may be kept closed (max. about 1 sec.) after taking a picture with slow shutter speed, but this is not a malfunction. When you take pictures in dark places, noises may become visible. Flash setting is fixed to Slow sync./ Red-eye reduction [ ]. The ISO sensitivity is fixed to [AUTO]. The setting on the continuous AF is disabled.
1 Move the camera smoothly while tracking a subject in motion. 2 Press the shutter button while moving the camera. 3 Keep moving the camera continuously. Be careful of the following: Use the Viewfinder. (P28) Select a subject with quick motion. Prefocus to the point where the subject will come. (P66) Use this mode with burst mode (P45). Select the best picture from the pictures taken.

FZ15-PP.book 62

In panning mode, the shutter speed becomes slower than usual to achieve the panning effect. As a result, jitter can easily occur. Panning function does not work well in the following situations. Very bright scenes such as daytime in summer. We recommend using an ND filter (DMW-LND72; optional). (P101) When the shutter speed is faster than 1/100th. When the subject moves slowly and the tracking speed is too slow. (The background cannot be recorded dynamically.) The stabilizer function is fixed to [MODE1]. In Panning mode, only vertical jitters can be compensated. The ISO sensitivity is fixed to [ISO64]. The settings on the AF assist lamp and the continuous AF are disabled.

For details on how to playback pictures recorded using [HDTV] mode on a High-Definition TV (HDTV has a 16:9 aspect), refer to P92. Both ends of the pictures recorded using [HDTV] mode may be cut off in printing. Check the picture before printing. (P106)
In motion image mode [ ] or scene mode (P58), ISO sensitivity is fixed to [AUTO]. (In [NIGHT SCENERY] and [FIREWORKS] in scene mode, it is fixed to [ISO100], and in [PANNING], it is fixed to [ISO64].) You cannot select [AUTO] in Aperture-priority AE, Shutter-priority AE and Manual exposure mode. To avoid picture noises, we recommend reducing the ISO sensitivity, setting [NOISE REDUCTION] in [PICT.ADJ.] to [HIGH] or setting the items except [NOISE REDUCTION] to [LOW] to take pictures. (P75) Refer to P55 for the shutter speed.
In motion image mode [ ], the picture size is fixed to 320k240 pixels. Pictures may appear like a mosaic depending on the subject or the recording condition. The number of recordable pictures depends on the subject. The number of remaining pictures may not correspond with recorded frames. Refer to P18 for the number of recordable pictures.

FZ15-PP.book 71

Quality [QUALITY]
You can select 3 types of quality (compression rate) according to the usage of the picture. TIFF (Uncompressed): This type is suitable when editing and processing pictures with retouch software. Fine (Low compression): This type gives priority to picture quality. Picture quality will be high. Standard (High compression): This type gives priority to the number of recordable pictures and records standard quality pictures.
When the quality is set to [TIFF], a JPEG picture with the quality equal to the standard is created at the same time. Pictures may have a mosaic-like appearance depending on the subject or the recording condition. The number of recordable pictures depends on the subject. The number of remaining pictures may not correspond with recorded frames. The following functions cannot be used for pictures recorded in [TIFF]. Auto bracket Burst mode [ROTATE] [RESIZE] [TRIMMING] Refer to P18 for the number of recordable pictures.

4 Select [CREATE MOTION IMAGE].
FLIP ANIM. IMAGE CAPTURE CREATE MOTION IMAGE DELETE STILL IMAGES
The picture size is 320k240 pixels.

FZ15-PP.book 78

5 Select [FRAME RATE] and set the number of frames.
CREATE MOTION IMAGE FRAME RATE

5fps 10fps

Deleting all still images used to create flip animation When selecting [DELETE STILL IMAGES] in [FLIP ANIM.] menu, a confirmation screen appears. Select [YES] with 4 and then press 1. You cannot use burst mode and auto bracket. The images in each frame do not appear in normal review. (P37) If you execute [CREATE MOTION IMAGE], flip animation is made from all pictures recorded for flip animation. Delete unnecessary pictures. Flip animations may not be played back by other equipment.

CREATE MOTION IMAGE

5 frames/sec.
10fps 10 frames/sec. (The motion images become smoother.)
6 Select [CREATE MOTION IMAGE] and create a flip animation.

3 times

The file number appears after creating a flip animation.

FZ15-PP.book 79

Conversion Lens [CONVERSION]
3 Turn the camera on and select

[CONVERSION].

The tele conversion lens (DMW-LTZ10; optional) allows you to record pictures zooming in much more (1.5 times). The wide conversion lens (DMW-LWZ10; optional) allows you to record pictures with wider range of focus than usual (0.8 times).
1 Remove the lens cap and the lens ring.

4 Set to [

] or [

CONVERSION

Check that the camera is turned off and that the lens is retracted.
2 Attach the tele conversion lens 1 or wide conversion lens 2.
[OFF]: When you do not attach the conversion lens. [ ]: When you attach the wide conversion lens. [ ]: When you attach the tele conversion lens. Close the menu by pressing the shutter button halfway or the [MENU] button after finishing the setting.
Rotate the lens slowly and carefully.

FZ15-PP.book 80

Recordable range when using the conversion lens When using the tele conversion lens: Normal: 15.1 feet (4.6 m) Macro mode [ ]: 15.1 feet (4.6 m) When using the wide conversion lens: Normal: 0.56 feet (17 cm) Macro mode [ ]: 0.03 feet (1 cm)
Tele conversion lens Indication Actual magnification 35 mm film camera equivalent 6k 9k 12k 18k 48k 72k

315 mm 630 mm 2520 mm

Wide conversion lens Indication Actual magnification 35 mm film camera equivalent 1k 0.8k 28 mm 2k 1.6k 56 mm
Check to make sure the lens cap is removed before attaching the conversion lens. When using the conversion lens: The built-in flash cannot be activated. If you use a tripod, use the tripod adaptor supplied with the conversion lens, and then attach the tripod to the tripod adaptor. If you set [CONVERSION] to [OFF], the performance of the conversion lens will not be optimal. When using the tele conversion lens: We recommend using a tripod. The stabilizer function may not work sufficiently. The focus indication may light due to the jitter even if the subject is not focused. The time required for focusing may become longer than usual. If you set [CONVERSION] to [ ] or [ ], you cannot use the AF assist lamp. (P74) Read the operating instructions of the conversion lens for details.

FZ15-PP.book 108

Troubleshooting
If you put the menu back to the settings at the time of purchase, the conditions may be improved. Carry out the [RESET] in the setup menu. (P24) Conditions Causes
The camera will not turn Is the battery inserted correctly? on. Is the battery sufficiently charged? Use a battery that has been sufficiently charged. As the camera is turned on, it turns off immediately. Is the battery charge insufficient to operate the camera? Use a battery that has been sufficiently charged.
The brightness of the This phenomenon appears when pressing the shutter button screen becomes dark or halfway to set the aperture value and does not affect the bright for a moment. recorded pictures. The picture cannot be recorded. Is the card inserted? Is the mode dial correctly set? Is there any memory capacity left on the card? Before recording, delete some pictures. The picture is not displayed on the LCD monitor. The screen is too bright or dark. Flash is not activated. Does the picture appear on the Viewfinder? Press the [EVF/LCD] button to switch to LCD monitor display. Adjust the brightness of the screen. Is the flash closed? Press the [ OPEN] button to open the flash.
Unreadable language Select [ ] icon on the [SETUP] menu to set the desired was selected by mistake. language. The subject is not focused properly. The focus range varies depending on the recording mode. Rotate the mode dial to set to the proper mode for the distance to the subject. Is the subject out of the focus range? (P34) When you cannot focus on the subject even if you tried many times, turn the camera off once and turn it on again. The picture is not played Is the card inserted? back. Is there a picture in the card? Is the mode dial set to playback [ ]? The picture does not Is the camera connected to the TV correctly? appear on the television. Check it. Set the TV to video input mode.

FZ15-PP.book 109

Conditions When connecting to a PC, pictures cannot be transferred. The clock setting is reset.
Causes Is the camera connected to the PC correctly? Check it. Is the camera recognized by the PC correctly? Is the USB mode set correctly? If you do not use the camera for a long time, the clock setting may be reset. When the message [PLEASE SET THE CLOCK] appears, set the clock again. When you take a picture before setting the clock, [0:00 0. 0. 0] is recorded.
A certain part of the picture blinks.
This appears due to the highlight display function which shows white saturated areas. (P29)
When the shutter button In dark places, the AF assist lamp (P74) lights red to make it is pressed halfway, a red easier to focus on a subject. lamp turns on sometimes. The camera will make sounds caused by internal mechanical movement when it is shaken. The lens clicks. The sound arises when the lens moves. This is not a malfunction.

FZ15-PP.book 118

Customer Services Directory (For USA Only)
For Product Information, Operating Assistance, Literature Request, Dealer Locations, and all Customer Service inquiries please contact:
1-800-272-7033, Monday-Friday 8:30am-8pm EST. Web Site: http://www.panasonic.com/support
You can purchase parts, accessories or locate your nearest servicenter by visiting our Web Site.

Accessory Purchases:

Purchase Parts, Accessories and Instruction Books online for all Panasonic Products by visiting our Web Site at:
http://www.pasc.panasonic.com
or, send your request by E-mail to: npcparts@panasonic.com You may also contact us directly at: 1-800-332-5368 (Customer Orders Only) Panasonic Services Company 20421 84th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032 (6 am to 5 pm Monday - Friday; 6 am to 10:30 am Saturday; PST) (Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express, Check)

Product Repairs

Centralized Factory Servicenter
Panasonic Services Company 1705 N. Randall Road, Elgin, IL 60123-7847 Attention: Digital Camera Repair

MAIL TO :

Please carefully pack and ship, prepaid and insured, to the Elgin Centralized Factory Servicenter. Customer's in Puerto Rico, please ship or carry in to location below (Service in Puerto Rico).

Service in Puerto Rico

Matsushita Electric of Puerto Rico, Inc. Panasonic Sales Company/ Factory Servicenter: Ave. 65 de Infanteria, Km. 9.5, San Gabriel Industrial Park, Carolina, Puerto Rico 00985 Phone (787) 750-4300 Fax (787) 768-2910

As of November 2003

FZ15-PP.book 119
Adjusting Flash Output.. 41 AF Assist Lamp.. 74 AF Mode... 72 AF/AE Lock... 33 Aperture-priority AE. 51, 55 Auto Bracket.. 44 Auto Review.. 25 Auto White Balance.. 68 Fireworks Mode..62 Flip Animation.. 76 Focus.. 34 Formatting..91
HDTV... 70, 92 Highlight Display.. 26, 29 Histogram..30

ISO Sensitivity.. 70

Brightness of the LCD Monitor/Viewfinder. 25 Built-in Flash.. 39 Burst Mode.. 45

Jitter.. 34

Language setting..27 LCD Monitor..28, 102 Lens Cap...19 Lens Hood.. 20 Lens Hood Adaptor.. 20
Card.. 17 Card Access Indication.. 17 Center weighted.. 72 Charger... 105 Clock Set.. 22, 26 Color Effect.. 75 Condensation. 105 Continuous AF. 73 Conversion Lens.. 79
Macro Mode..56 Manual Exposure.. 53, 55 Manual Exposure Assistance.53 Manual Focus.. 65 MC Protector.. 101 Metering Mode.72 Monitor Priority..25, 29 Motion Image Mode.. 56 Motion Rate... 56 Multi Playback.. 47 Multiple.. 72
Date Printing. 84, 100 Deleting Pictures. 49, 50 Digital Zoom.. 74 Diopter Adjustment.. 29 DPOF Print Setting.. 83

ATP GPS Picture Tracker

Product Specification

Version. 1.5.0
Da t Tim e: 2 e: :50 -12 :35
2007 ATP Electronics Taiwan Inc.

Product Features

The ATP Photo Finder calculates and records GPS position data and allows you to precisely track the exact location and time of where your pictures were taken. Make sure that the Photo Finder is activated while youre taking pictures with your digital camera. After you finish taking pictures, simply insert your SD card or Memory Stick Pro Duo card into the Photo Finder card slot and the GPS data will be synchronized and added to all pictures on the card. Even more convenient is the fact that this is all performed on the go without a PC. All you need to carry with you is your digital camera to take the pictures and the ATP Photo Finder to log your location. Photos GPS tagged by the Photo Finger can be used with any GPS compatible photo software. For example, when used with the Google supplied software Picasa2, Google Earth, or Google Map, your photos will be shown on an online map, giving you a whole new way to organize, enjoy and share your pictures. Share your pictures and trip route with your friends and family. More importantly, never forget where you took a picture again. You can also use your GPS tagged photos in a compatible GPS navigation system, allowing for features such as choosing your destination and landmarks visually.
1. Function and keys description
LED 1: Yellow LED 2: Blue LED 3: Green/Red LCD Screen Mini USB connector Memory card slot
Flash memory status GPS status Power status Status display Connect to camera/Card reader SD/MMC/MS cards slot
Carabiner loop Power/Status button Select key 1 Select key 2 Battery cover
Attachment loop Power ON/Off, status select UI function select NO UI function select YES AAA battery cover
P.S. For detailed function descriptions, please see below.
Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved by ATP Electronics Taiwan Inc.
2. LED status description
2.1. LED 1: Power Status in Light Green/Red
LED1 Power Status: Green light
Date: 2007-04-12 Time: 09:50:35

Power Status: Red light

2.1.1: Power ON/OFF: Green Light will turn on for 2~3 seconds 2.1.2. Remaining Power Status: 70% or more power -> Continuous green light 70%~20% power -> Flashes in Green ~ Under 20% power -> Light in Red Low Power -> Auto Power Off

2.2. LED 2: GPS Status

LED2 GPS Status: Blue light
2.2.1. While GPS Signal is Active: Blue light flashes --5 seconds ---
2.3. LED 3: Memory Status/On the Go (OTG) Operating Mode Status
LED3 Memory Status: Yellow light
2.3.1. OTG data sync -> Flashes in Yellow while syncing data
3. LCD screen status description
LCD screen status PWR Key action

Push 3 seconds

Description/Action

Power ON and OFF

Flash Memory Status
Show Flash Memory Capacity

GPS Signal

Search GPS Signals UTC Time/Date Information , Refer to

UTC Time

This UTC and Adjust Digital Camera Time Clock Setting Accordingly

GPS Information

Show Current Location Information

Low Battery

Auto Power OFF, Change New Battery and Power ON Again

Internal Memory Full

Please Save the Data or Format System

Format System

Select to Format The GPS System
Syncing GPS Map Data Selection Mapping GPS/JPG files GPS Data Sync in Progress
Select to Sync The GPS Data to JPG Files
Show The JPG Files Amount
Please DO NOT Remove Any Card or USB Device

GPS Data Sync Complete

Please remove the memory card or the USB device
GPS/JPG Files Sync Status
Show the JPG files Sync Result
Device/Card Support Status
Remove Attached Device or Memory Card
Photo Finder Basic Usage Instructions and Features
The ATP Photo Finder records GPS log files of your position and time in 5 second intervals and stores this information in internal memory. Simply turn ON the power and the tracking/logging automatically starts. With an internal memory capacity of 32/128 MB (optional), the device can log your position information for over 130/550 hours.

Basic Features:

Simple operation Theres no need for a complex set-up or installation process. Turn on the Photo Finder to begin tracking and logging as youre taking pictures. Then sync the logged position information to your memory card. You now have GPS position tagged photos! Easy to carry With a compact and lightweight (only about 70 grams) design, the Photo Finder is convenient for travel and outdoor use. Store data for up to 130/550* hours; logging interval Approx. 5 seconds The ATP Photo Finder records approximately 130/550* hours of GPS data, equivalent to about 130/550* hours of continuous non-stop tracking. The logging interval is Approx. 5 seconds and you can get the detail GPS information. The number of log entries and recording time may differ depending on satellite coverage and signal strength. (*) Optional Flash memory capacity: store data for 130 hours is 32MB; 550 hours is 128MB. High Performance GPS Receiver The built-in high performance GPS antenna module can search and communicate with 20 channels/satellites simultaneously. On The Go mode data sync and GPS coordinates mapping Sync your pictures with GPS positioning data without the need for a PC environment.

Card reader

Digital camera
Built-in SD/MMC/MS Card Slot and direct USB Connectivity The ATP Photo Finder is compatible out of the box with most digital cameras, supporting SD/MMC/MS memory cards. CF/xD memory cards can also be synced with position data with use of a card reader.

SD/MMC/MS cards

Using GPS Photo Compatible Software
1. Picasa2 and Google Earth software can be downloaded from www.google.com for use on your PC. 2. Picasa2 is personal picture management software used for many functions such as editing, viewing and organizing your pictures.
3. Upon importing pictures with GPS tagging information into Picasa2, you will find a crossmark symbol in the lower right corner. This signifies that the picture has GPS position information included. Using your mouse, Right click on the screen and the GPS longitude and latitude information can be viewed.

Cross mark

4. Using Picasa2, pictures can also be viewed and organized using Google Earth. Google Earth can visually organize your pictures geographically and can be shared with friends and family.

Additional Information

1. Brief Specifications
128x32 Dot Matrix FSTN with backlight English (Default ) UI Language Japanese ( Optional ) Traditional Chinese ( Optional ) Simply Chinese ( Optional ) GPS Frequency Response Operating Temperature Storage Temperature Operating Time 1575.42 MHz (L1 Band, C/A code) -20 to +60 degrees C (-4 to +140 degrees F) -20 to +60 degrees C (-4 to +140 degrees F) More than 8 Hours Complies with Compact Flash Specification Revision 4.0 Connectivity Card Complies with SD 2.0 SDHC Complies with MMC 4.2 Complies with Memory Stick PRO/Duo OTG Interface Embedded Memory Battery USB cable Mini USB 128MB NAND Flash AAA x 2 Mini USB to Type A female connector cable

Display

GPS Module
Chipset Frequency Code Channels Sensitivity (Tracking) Cold start Warm start Hot start Reacquisition Position accuracy Maximum altitude Maximum velocity Trickle power mode Update rate Testability Protocol setup SiRF Star III L1 1575.42MHz. C.A. Code. 20 -155dBm. 45 sec 35 sec 1 sec 0.1sec typical 25m CEP. 18000 m 514 m/s Duty cycle 34%. (Variable) Default: disable (option: enable) Continuous operation: 1Hz It shall be able to be tested by SiRF test mode 4 and single channel simulator. It shall store the protocol setup in the SRAM memory. 30pin stamp holes DC 3.3 5% GPSM-013: Current 72mA@3.3V typical (w/o ext. antenna) Average current 39mA@3.3V typical (w/o ext. Antenna) -30 ~ 85 95%

240-0000477 240-0000478 240-0000478 240-0000478 240-0000478 240-0000477 240-0000477 240-0000476 240-0000477 240-0000476 240-0000476
2.11. Samsung series: Device
SamSung DigiMax V4 SamSung Digimax V50 SamSung Digimax V5 SamSung D-3100 (D-3000) SamSung Digimax V6 SamSung Digimax i5 SamSung Digimax V700 SamSung Digimax 410
240-0000478 240-0000477 240-0000476 240-0000476 240-0000476 240-0000477 240-0000477 240-0000477
3. Backing up the GPS data from the Photo Finder
By connecting the ATP Photo Finder directly to your PC via USB connection, you can back up all the logged GPS position information. The Photo Finder will show up as a USB removable drive and you can directly view the internal log information. You can copy this data anywhere on your PCs harddrive.
4. Appearance dimension and Color scheme: H: 82.0 mm x W:44.0 mm x T: 26.0 mm