Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Shooting Modes (Part 5 of FZ1000 Review)

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 shooting modes (Part 5 of FZ1000 Review)

If you haven't read them yet, parts 1, 2, 3 & 4 can be found at the links below.
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Review (part 1)
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 review (Part 2)
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Review (Part 3)
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Review (Part 4)

 

The Lumix FZ1000's mode dial has all the shooting modes represented by a white icon on a black background. There are two intelligent Auto modes: Intelligent Auto and Intelligent Auto Plus. Both use scene detection to determine correct exposure using one of nine scene modes including portrait, macro, handheld night shot, baby, and sunset.

 

If the camera is on a tripod, Intelligent Auto sets a slower shutter speed than for hand-held shots and automatically sets face/eye detect autofocus, backlight compensation, and intelligent ISO, i.resolution, and i.dynamic and enhances images with sharpness or contrast.

 

Intelligent Auto Plus allows you to change the auto exposure settings. Both modes allow background defocus to produce more or less depth of field, but Intelligent Auto Plus allows exposure compensation and color balance adjustment using the rear thumb dial. Other menu settings available in Intelligent Auto Plus include photo styles, image quality, and single or continuous AF.

 

In the PASM modes the rear thumb dial is used to change exposure settings. In Manual mode you switch between aperture and shutter speed control by pressing the dial.

 

The FZ1000 can use a mechanical or electronic shutter. The range of the mechanical shutter is 60s to 1/4000 plus a bulb setting with a maximum of two minutes. The electronic shutter extends the shutter speed range to 1/16000. Silent mode automatically selects the electronic shutter and turns off the flash, AF illuminator, and other sounds.

 

The FZ1000's mode dial's palette icon provides access to 22 Creative control filter effects.

 

Four of the filters are monochrome- Monochrome, Rough Monochrome, Silky monochrome, and Dynamic monochrome. Others include Old days, Toy pop, Bleach bypass, Fantasy and sunshine.

  

Most Creative effects filters can be adjusted, and can be used with video, except Rough monochrome, Silky monochrome, Soft focus, Star filter and Sunshine. Creative effects cannot be applied in 4K which needs the mode dial to be set to Creative video.

 

The Multiple Exposure mode can automatically combine up to four images. The Lumix FZ1000 has a traditional Time Lapse Shot mode and Stop Motion Animation. In either mode, the FZ1000 can assemble the sequence into a movie; the still photos are kept if you want to use them later.

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Autofocus (Part 3 of FZ1000 Review)

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 review (Part 3)

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Autofocus

If you haven't read them yet, parts 1 & 2 can be found at the links below.

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Review (part 1)
Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 review (Part 2)

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Autofocus

 

The FZ1000 has a contrast-based AF system with 49 AF areas. It supports eye as well as face detection.

 

The FZ1000 uses the same defocus DFD technology as the Panasonic GH4, which profiles the out-of-focus characteristics of the lens to establish where the focus is. This lets the FZ1000 get close to the correct point of focus quickly, before using traditional contrast-based method to fine-tune.

 

The autofocus is quite fast, even in fairly low light levels. The FZ1000 has good focusing assistance for manual focusing including peaking, and the ring on the lens barrel can be configured to adjust focus rather than zoom.


See part 4 here: FZ1000 Viewfinder and LCD Screen

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Design and Controls (Part 2 of FZ1000 Review)

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 review (Part 2)

Part 1 of the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 review can be found here. 

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Design and Controls

 

The Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 is more like a DSLR than a standard super zoom. The only similarity to a super zoom is the fixed lens. I did consider the Sony RX10 or RX100 instead as they are smaller form factors and both have the criteria I wanted.

 

The FZ1000 measures 137x99x131 mm and weighs 831 g with battery and SD card. It is quite hefty; an entry level DSLR such as the Nikon D3300 with a 18-55mm kit lens actually weighs 20% less than a FZ1000.

 

The size makes it comfortable to hold and also allows ample room for the FZ1000's numerous physical controls.

 

The FZ1000's large lens barrel diameter provides good support for your left hand and allows comfortable operation on the dual purpose zoom/focus ring. The zoom ring is smooth but slow, so small adjustments are better with the rocker switch around the shutter.

 

There's a mode dial on the top left, and the main mode dial on the upper right side. A rear thumb dial is only control wheel. The dial is pushed in to switch function between aperture and shutter in manual mode.

 

The FZ1000 has five programmable function buttons. Fn1 is slightly larger and protrudes slightly, making it easy to differentiate from the smaller, flush mounted Fn2 behind it. Fn5 to the back left of the viewfinder toggles the display between the electronic viewfinder and the LCD screen. In default mode this happens automatically via an eye sensor below the eyepiece, but it's good to have the override when shooting from the waist using the articulated screen. Fn3, the Q.menu button, is on the right side of the viewfinder close to Fn4 which is the four-way controller. Also on the back right are a three-way switch for selecting AF modes, the playback button, and display overlay toggle button.

 

There's a mini HDMI port, USB / A/V out port, and a socket for the DMW-RSL1 wired remote on the right side of the body. On the other side there's a port for an external stereo microphone, but no headphone socket.

 

From a full charge you can get 360 shots from the FZ1000's DMW-BLC12E battery, so spare batteries are essential. I bought an extra three and so far haven't needed more.

 

The FZ1000 has a pop-up flash which is raised by sliding a switch on the right of the viewfinder. It has a maximum range of 13.5 meters and has forced on, forced on red-eye, slow sync and slow sync red-eye modes. The standard hot shoe allows you to fit an external flash. I've tested it with a few Yongnous and it works fine.


Read Part 3 of Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Review