Panasonic Lumix FZ200, The User Guide Illustrated Part 4 - the A, S and M modes

[@ninak7284]

Thanks for responding so quickly. I continue to watch your videos and learn more about my camera but about photography in general. You are a wonderful teacher.

[@joycegrieves7284]

You are an angel! I have been racking my brains trying to work out what that symbol was that kept appearing on my screen. White balance! Gone at last! Thanks ever so much. Am slowly working my way through your tutorials for the fz200, replicating your every move step by step. Great fun and SO helpful.

[@mackykm1]

After 5 years Graham's tutorials are still my go to's for my refresher courses. They are as invaluable today as they were the day I got the camera and my son discovered him and, quickly, referred me to him. And what is so gratifying is that thanks to all Graham has taught me, my photography has improved, which in turn means it's, even, more fun!!😊

[@BGoldtone]

Graham, all I can say is you are a gift to the world of those who love and want to get the most from the art of photography. Even down to the most useful detail of mounting a protective washer around the navigation ring on this camera to prevent pressing the ring by mistake with one's thumb. Only a brilliant mind would think of such fine details.I plan on saving these FZ-200 videos permanently for future reference!

[@richardcotgrove2485]

Hi Graham from New Zealand, I bought the fz200 at Christmas and struggled to use the manual, now after finding you on youtube my wife says I spend more time listing to you than I do to her-- love the video's ,please don't stop as you are turning a mystery camera into an amazing piece of kit, can't wait for the next video , regards Richard P.S. one minor dislike is that with the petal hood in the reverse position (when not in use) if you are not careful it traps your fingers against the grip.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you Joyce, glad you are finding the series helpful. I am pleased that hundreds of people like yourself have cited the videos as a great learning experience for using this camera.

[@b.d.schiers2068]

Your videos are extremely helpful. They are some of the best instructional design material I've seen. Everything is explained in a way that can easily be grasped by a complete novice. And they are visually pleasing. I've enjoyed them all.

[@jerrywilson2837]

Been watching your videos for about 2 weeks. Really enjoy your style of teaching. I have several cameras now, including one DSLR. Have decided to purchase the Panasonic FZ200 after seeing your videos on it. Keep up the good work and have a wonderful 2013.

[@Nailapr]

Thank You so much for making this video. I just started a Basic Photography class and was extremely confused and dissapointed until I watched this video, took notes, reviewed my notes and watched it again! I finally got it! Thanks!!

[@redniwmra]

Thank you Graham, your videos are very informative and professionally done. I just purchased the fz200 and am very happy with it. My last "decent" camera was a Topcon Unirex from Padgetts in Hull, back in the day. I therefore have lots of catching up to do. I paid $490:00 over here (Canada") about 310 pounds. Thank you again; you are a real help and inspiration. Bryan

[@GrahamHoughton12]

you can set the grid lines in the tools set up menu and you do have a few choices depending upon your needs. This arrangement allows you to compose images with respect to rules of thirds placement

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you for the kind comment, as always really appreciated

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Many thanks for your pleasant comment on my video series. It is very much appreciated.

[@MichaelHogueGrovetownGeorgia]

Thanks for this series; I just recently purchased an FZ200. I'm about what you'd call an "enthusiast level", with some professional training & darkroom knowledge based on some classes I took back in the 35mm film days, and I face a nicely self-imposed deadline of 10 days to master all the features of this camera (I can almost hear you saying 'good luck'!). Your videos and downloaded manual are helping me surmount that mountain and I am enjoying the neat, no nonsense approach in your video tutorials. Good job, well done, and thank you.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Yes there is the facility to set a single point focus area and you can define its size from large to very small and its position on screen. Hope that helps.

[@Erro99]

First of all: I'll hope you'll have a happy, photographic and creative new year. An excellent series, Graham! Thanks for spending time to teach us how to use this magnificent camera. Although not a new user I've got some unvaluable tips from you in using the camera. Keep your instruction video's coming!

[@geralddonaldson3454]

Mr. Houghton: I cannot exaggerate how helpful your systematic instruction on the use of the FZX200 has been for my neophyte use of my Panasonic DMC-G5 digital camera. I am 71, so my photography over several decades has been match-needle Nikon F2 and Olympus OM-1. To say I was flummoxed and intimidated by the G5 would be an understatement -- I thought I had been given a Martian technology product from the year 2061! I am still learning (gradually and with considerable error), but I am no longer terrified by the numerous menus and icons of the G5. However, I did make a baseline error in purchasing the G5, believing that I could only get the highest-quality shots with an interchangeable lens camera if I were to choose non-DSLR cameras. I now wish I had encountered your instructional video prior to making an (expensive) purchase, one which limits me considerably due to the short zoom lens included with the G5 camera. Since I shoot lots of nature shots with moving subjects, switching back and forth to a much longer zoom lens has been a bother that I cannot surmount with the G5. The result is that I miss lots of shots that almost bring tears to my eyes! The FZ200 would have been a far better choice for my photography. But I also was captured by the Siren call of a bigger gb sensor, when the 12.1 of the FZ200 -- especially with ISO100 as against the ISO160 of the G5 as the lowest "film" speed -- would have been as much as I could desire. Ah, well, I still have hundreds of rolls of Kodak and Fujichrome in the freezer that I cannot bring myself to abandon. But I now realize that I can produce shots, both in camera and later with a good photo processing system such as PhotoStudio6, that would not be possible with my manual film cameras. Thank you again so much. I downloaded and tried to work my way through the advanced user's manual for the G5, and all I can say is that despair increasingly took over to be replaced only by a sensation of desperation and defeat. Jerry

[@GrahamHoughton12]

hi Jerry, you may be pleased to hear I will be doing a short series for G5 users early in 2014. thank you for your kind comment.

[@wentizz]

thank you so much... I've had this camera for 5 years but I understand it so much better now

[@satishnaidup]

Happy new year Graham. I am a big fan of you . This year we want more videos from you. thanks

[@jerryfrechette1908]

Happy New Year Graham! Thanks for such short and easy to understand explanations of issues that others take reams of comp;lex information to explain.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Many thanks for the feedback on the video productions, it does help. Enjoy the new camera when it arrives.

[@scottwa]

Happy New Year Graham! Been following your videos to get weaned off auto settings as I try to capture more interesting images. The bit in this video that took me some rewinding and "How the heck did he do that!?!" was the part where you moved the focal point for manual focus. I've had this same camera since the week it was released in the US and that bit was what I needed to figure out how to focus manually correctly and maybe more importantly... move the focal point. Thanks!

Thanks so much for your very informative videos Graham! I enjoy & benefit from your videos a lot! Warm greetings from Turkey.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

When you are shooting still the camera will always attempt to show you an image on screen, irrespective of any settings - aperture/shutter/iso. It is only when you half depress the shutter button will the camera show what the final exposure will be. If it is dark or light at this point then you must make adjustments to either of the exposure parameters to make it appear correct. This way you will get exactly what you see on the viewfinder

[@niceprguy2]

I am new with this type of camera... I think lots of people would like tutorials on the GH2... keep the cool videos coming.... :)

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you once again for the kind comment, as always really appreciated

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Yes, the settings are applied to the video mode and can be used to good advantage in some situations

[@flurblewibble7735]

Thank you for posting these extremely helpful videos. I am amazed that people can give them a thumbs down.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

I am truly grateful for your kind comment and i'm glad you find my video series informative, thank you.

[@karimtarab8206]

Merci pour vos vidéo, et pour vos explications c'est un vrai plaisir de vous suivre

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Hi Richard, thanks for the comments, really appreciated. With the regards to the lens hood I always keep mine on, the right way. It adds extra protection and it REALLY bugs me when I see people taking pictures with the lens hood reversed - its like wearing white socks with sandals - if you know what I mean.

[@misererenobis8900]

Thanks for uploading Graham, very clear and easy to follow instructions.

[@paulocunha8575]

In the left sentence, I believe that "shutter speed" as the same meaning of exposure time. In fact, increasing exposure time (T), means more light that has to be balanced closing the aperture (less light) or decreasing ISO (less light). But in the right sentence, as you said, shutter speed has a different meaning: it really means the speed that the shutter uses to open and close again, and not the exposure time, that are opposites (the fast is the shutter, the short is the exposition time).

[@kraftynyc]

Thanks for your prompt reply. Panasonic customer support did not know the answer and had me reset the entire camera.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you for your comment. There is lots of competition in the bridge camera market. It really depends upon your needs. The FZ200 is my obvious choice having tried the canon sx50 and disn't like the lens or the image stablisation. have a look at panasonic(dot)net/avc/lumix/gallery/fz200

[@paulocunha8575]

Thank you for your answer. I understand the explanation. Higher ISO means more light, that has to be balanced closing the aperture (less light) or increasing the shuter speed (less exposure time, so less light). What I meant with my first comment was that apparently there is no coherence in the meaning of "shuter speed" in both sentences, at left and at right. Shuter speed is discribed as "long" or "short", and called "T", so I believe meaning Exposure Time.

[@asgerholm2451]

i just spent the last 4 hour watching This dude and he is so amasing now i kan tage pictures like a pro 😂😂❤️❤️👍👍

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you, glad you find the videos informative

[@tonyspittle6523]

hi thanks for making these video iv been going to a camera class for a good few weeks i understand about ISO A and SS now i need to know how to work my FZ 200 and thanks to your videos i hope i can understand how things work many thanks

[@buggiala]

Graham, I have the Canon SX50 HS and I'm using your tutorial to learn how to use my Canon. The basics are the same, just that the dials are placed differently. I do have to say that the Panasonic has a better "more professional" interface.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thanks, I hope you will continue to follow the series.

[@QbrianT]

HAPPY NEW YEAR GRAHAM. Thanks for all your help. Brian

[@GrahamHoughton12]

In P Mode and A mode the camera will display almost the same exposure with half press as the live view, In S mode and M mode if any of the exposure icons are red then the half press will be different to the live view. Confirm the camera is working ok by shooting a normal exposure in A mode and use the bracketing. With +/- 2 ev the camera should display 2 under normal 2 over otherwise there is a fault with the exposure metering somehow

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thanks for your comment, glad you found the video useful.

[@richardcotgrove2485]

Hi Graham, I take your point when shooting but I was rather thinking of viewing past pictures on the screen with family etc, sometimes the lens moves while doing this, but I guess its all part of getting used to the camera and knowing where to hold it, regards Richard

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you for the comment and I'm pleased you are experimenting with the semi auto modes and may be the full manual control. I'm pleased the video helped.

[@eleanorcooper5574]

Hi Graham I am only now in 2021 starting as a beginner to use FZ200, and I love your course. I wonder if you explain in any other video how to judge where the hyperfocal distance can be found in an outdoor scene? How exactly do you know where to locate "one third of the way in".?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Many thanks for the critique, really appreciated

[@bryanlee6065]

Extremely informative video, thank you so much Mr. Houghton

[@GrahamHoughton12]

thank you, I hope you continue to learn from the series

[@ReneHorsthuis]

Thanx for this great video... explained a lot of my questions. And I look forward to see the upcoming vids for the FZ200

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thanks for the comment. I should have perhaps shown the fractions for the shutter speed For example increasing ISO is balanced by decreasing aperture (lower f number to higher f number like f2.8 to f4) or increasing the shutter speed (making it faster to a higher fraction like 1/125 to 1/250) hope that makes more sense.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

You could use a download helper program ( search for youtube downloader) and save them as MP4 on your ipad. I was going to make then available for download on my blog page however I don't have enough server space to include them.

[@paulocunha8575]

Thank you Graham, and go on with your great job. I'm learning a lot with it!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

a pleasure, thanks for watching

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thanks for the comment Bryan, hope you enjoy the rest of my tutorials for the FZ200

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Appreciate the comment, thank you

[@deborahbalcanoff6335]

Replaying this one again-lots of information to process. Great video and very informative.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

thank you, really appreciate the feedback

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Hi Paulo I think we are getting locked down on the sematics of the words In my explanations I use increasing shutter speed to be going from 1/125 to 1/250 ie a shorter exposure time and thus decreasing shutter speed would make the exposure time longer, say 1/60 to 1/30 Increasing aperture is going from f5.6 to f4 making the aperture bigger and increasing ISO is 200 to 400. Exposure is balanced if one parameter is adjusted. For under exposure decrease iso, increase f stop or decrease shutter.

[@TheTony111111]

Happy New Year Graham! great video. this video has helped me a great deal. regards tony.

[@DAS-Videos]

I used a slow shutter speed to take a picture of my Christmas lights. The pictures look so interesting. I don't suppose there is a way to have the timer set such that you don't have to select it for each individual shot?

[@DAS-Videos]

Using the ring to prevent hitting the directional button is a great idea.

[@osomax]

Hello Graham. Could you explain how the histogram and Live View work in M mode? I cant understand how the FZ200 manage them. Thanks. Your videos are amazing

[@niceprguy2]

Happy New Year Graham! great videos... Do you know if you will be doing any videos on the GH2... I just got mine at Christmas... and I love the tutorials that you are doing... :)

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Hi the conversion setting of the camera zooms the lens to the point where the vignetting with the panasonic teleconvertor is just out of the frame and this is about x4 magnification. You will need to do the same to zoom in until you loose the vignetting. Are you using the adaptor tube as this also gives a circular shading until you zoom in.

[@buzonperiodista]

Mr Houghton, greetings from Colombia. How can light affect the capture of moving objects, at night for instance? I've been trying to sort out the best settings to capture cars moving fast at night, without getting the blurry effect, and without sacrifying the exposure! Thank you before hand and congratulations on your clear and thorough tutorials!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

You are fighting the laws of physics. You will need shutter speeds of 1/100 (1/125) second to get smooth motion at 50p(60p) so you will need to be in manual video mode and set the shutter speed to this value, then use the aperture & ISO to get the right exposure. If the lighting won't allow this level of exposure then you cannot achieve your goal i would say.

[@neilbrooks7973]

happy new year graham another good video

[@berragazzo]

Hallo Graham, first of all thank you for your precious videos. I would like to ask you iif it is possible to set one single focal point just like I do with my canon 550d. Thank you very much!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you for the comment, appreciated.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you for the feedback, really appreciated.

[@cruisetovictory6536]

sorry if my question a bit odd, but I can not find the button I have to press for viewing taken pics.. Got this camera two days ago.. keep watching your videos.Thank you very much!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Its the button to the right of the viewfinder with a green triangle on it.

[@glennlindamood1097]

Great tutorials Graham! Thank you very much for making these available! I have learned a great deal! Also, I was wondering if you had any advice for taking good photos at a dance performance? My daughter has a recital coming up and it is always tricky getting good shots of a swiftly moving dancer with less than ideal lighting! I was going to try shutter priority mode (perhaps 1/60 or 1/100th of a second) with the lowest ISO mode possible.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

You will probably struggle to freeze the dance motion at this shutter speed. It would be worth considering pushing up the iso to 400/800 even at the expense of a little noise to get better static images. if there is a point in the routine where there is minimum movement shoot at that point also, of course use the f2.8 aperture as well

[@glennlindamood1097]

Graham Houghton Thank you! I'll try that!

[@tcarretti]

Great explanation Graham, thanks again.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

thank you, good luck with the rest of your class.

[@vincentwong5414]

Hi Graham, I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a fair bit about my FZ200 from your series of tutorials. I wish I could have it on my iPad so I can refer to it whenever I need to. Is it at all possible for you to cut these into a DVD? I wouldn't mind paying for it. It would be ever so helpful. Many thanks. Vincent Wong

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thats right the camera disables digital zoom when using RAW as in this mode you want the best image possible to process later.

[@TediousPicturesUK]

Keep these excellent Fz200 videos coming Graham. Don't move onto any other camera just yet :)

[@nigelthomas4346]

Hi Graham. Thanks for these fantastic videos. Not only do they explain how to use the camera but also give a very good course in photography for any camera. I have a question. When I am in M mode and alter either the aperture or speed setting the exposure compensation remains at -3 and I can't seem to change it. What am I doing wrong? Thanks Nigel

[@GrahamHoughton12]

In M mode the EV scale at the bottom of the LCD is actually the exposure meter and shows by how much the current aperture/shutter/iso settings are working together. If the meter is showing - you need to open the aperture, reduce shutter speed or increase iso to get it to centre. I'm doing the video tutorial about manual exposure soon - i have been unable to gain time to produce it right now

[@GrahamHoughton12]

More to come!

[@RIGHT-IN-2]

Thank you so much for all these videos!

[@daviddominguezduboy9204]

Hello Mr. Houghton, thank you for activating the translation of this video but others are missing from the series "FZ200 Camera Tutorial Series" which are the videos: 4-6-9-10-11-12-13-14-16-17-18-19 -20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29. Also missing to subtitle in other series always related to the FZ200. Thanks for your great help. Best regards.

[@youtompsy]

Brilliant as allways!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

I have the GH2 but haven't done any tutorials as I thought most people who bought this would be comfortable with using this class of camera, maybe i'm wrong? Thanks for the comment.

[@bh02csi]

Hy there! I'm watching all your videos and i'm love it! You make great tutorials! I have a question: how can you maintain your f2.8 with half zooming the lens? I can't figure out! Thx and keep your good work!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

The camera will automatically adjust the lens elements as you zoom and their interaction keeps the aperture constant at whatever value you set. So if you are in aperture priority mode and have f2.8 set as the aperture it will still be f2.8 at full zoom - that's the beauty and uniqueness about the camera

[@GrahamHoughton12]

More to come, thanks for the comment.

[@pksubramanian7366]

Very clear presentation.

[@bhuyanmo]

Hello Graham, Thanks for the wonderful videos on the FZ200 of which I am a very recent owner. One question - what does the 'zoom with a mic' sign in the LCD screen indicate? Of what use is that? And how do I get to that setting?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Zoom mic is set in the motion picture menu and changes the gain of the microphone to match the zoom applied to the camera thus mimicking going closer with the microphone - it can make the background hiss more noticeable and pick up zoom motor noise.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Yes I will be covering all of this in a tutorial of advanced features very shortly.

[@buggiala]

Graham, there are no tutorials for the Canon SX50 HS, can you do the same tutorial for the Canon?

[@betsydaviss4138]

Great video...I have a question? Is there a telephoto lens made for the Lumix fz200 yet?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Hi Betsy, there is the optional teleconverter lens the LT55 lens which needs the LA7 adaptor tube to hold it in place.

[@paulocunha8575]

Hello Graham! First at all I want to congratulate you for your excelent vídeos, and wish you a great 2013. About this vídeo, I have a question: in the slide that apears at minute 16:03, it's writen in the right side "increase ISO=decrease Aperture or increase shuter speed". As shuter speed means Exposure Time (T), shouldn't it be increase ISO=decrease shuter speed or increase Aperture? Thank you.

[@tinblourenco]

hello Graham Congratulations for another video what do you have around the cursors of menu?? My FZ200 don't have it ...and happy new year

[@renitacipriani1216]

I love your teaching style.. FINALLY I understand !!... ...... I need your book... is it on Amazon ??

[@kotasthanes]

Hi Graham, Thanks for your informative tips! I purchased a telephoto conversion lens from Polaroid of strength 2.2X. Hoever, I observe excessive vigenneting. Is there something I am missing s part of setting in the camera? What does the 'Conversion' Option do?

[@furlanettil]

excellent tutorial. many thanks

[@MrPanini11]

Graham, a question. Why would you take the effort (in the Aperture mode example) of setting a manual focus on the 4th pawn to achieve maximum depth? Wouldnt it be easier to use 23point AF?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Good question, my initial thoughts are that the 23 area would group several areas together for focus but I'm not sure how precise it would be. I'll repeat the set up and try it.

[@venky_lightbug]

I do half depress the shutter button. Some of the adjustments in the aperture and exposure are shown without even pressing the shutter button half, and some are not even showed even when half pressed. That is what confusing me. I am unable to judge what my final picture would be like. Even when i do exposure bracketing, it does take +2EV, but the other two pics 0EV and -2EV are taken similar images.

[@GrahamHoughton12]

.. 2 From a fractions point of view 1/60 to 1/30 is increasing the time by a factor of 2, however if I am over exposed by 1 stop I need to reduce the exposure time by 1 stop by increasing the shutter speed by 1 stop this would be a bigger fractional number 1/60 from 1/30. This is legacy from cameras which just had 15/30/60/125 etc on the shutter dial and the expression increase shutter speed meant increasing the number which decreases the exposure time. Negative logic but it is how we taught it.

[@ninak7284]

that you so much for your videos. I have noticed that if I am using the Raw quality the camera does not let me select the digital zoom and icy manic. is this correct or am I doing something wrong ?

[@kmarker]

Graham, I'm trying to figure out the slowest shutter speed I can use for hand held shots to avoid camera shake. Do you know what the crop factor is for the FZ200?

[@GrahamHoughton12]

the crop factor is 5.6 for the fz200. generally if you use 1/focal length as the minimum you could then probably get 2-3 extra stops with the OIS of the camera

[@iamequilibrium844]

Awesome video!

[@GrahamHoughton12]

Thank you, much appreciated!