I´m new in digital photos and i really need

[Joao Pedro]

your help, please...
Two days ago i bought a FZ-20, thinking that was the best choice for the amount of money it cost. For two days now i´ve been reading the manual and testing some indoor photos, because i arrive always at night from work.
From my first tests i didn´t like at all the results. And i really need the help from people who works with this camera. I have to be sure that my camera isn´t damaged, because every picture i take (always indoor under artificial light) it becomes blurried with small definition and always shacky, i tried to put it to mode2 and the shake continues, less it is still there.
The jitter sign is always red even if i put the camera over a solid table and take a steady picture, is this normal? is it because i´m indoor with artificial light? i´m really worried about that jitter sign, it could be my mistake, some option that is not correct, etc, because in the manual it says:"when jitter appears we recommend using a tripod" and i´ve read a lot of reviews saying that the OIS system was awesome and shots didn´t need a tripod.
Please guys i really need to know what´s wrong, me or the machine, i´ve bought the FZ-20 in the internet, because i didn´t found it in any store here in Portugal. Can you assure me that the jitter sign is normal under that circumstances, can you give me some tips? like i said in the begining, this my first try in digital photo.

Thank you very much
joao pedro

[b.j.c]

I don't think the jitter sign you are getting is a problem. It is not a measure of the amount to shake in the camera, its just a warning that you are using a low shutter speed that the OIS may not be able to compensate for.

The general rule of thumb for shutter speeds when you hand hold the cameras is to always use

1/(focal length)

or higher. Thus, zoomed out you would normally use 1/35th or so, but with the OIS you can use a shutter speed rather slower than that. The jitter warning may still come on, but that just means you may or may not get a good shot. Your shaky pictures may mean that the shutter speed was just to slow for OIS to cope with. What sort of speeds were you using? (It tells you immediately before you take the photo, when you halfpress the shutter button).

This also means that at the long end of the zoom you would normally use 1/400th or faster, but with OIS you can use a 1/100 or even 1/60 handheld.

You can use as slow a shutter speed as you like if you have the camera on a tripod or table. You may want to use the 2 sec timer to avoid jogging the camera as you press the button.

Trying some daylight shots might be a good idea, just so you know if you have problems or not.

:)

[Joao Pedro]

First of all thank you very much for the answer, it seems that you really know what you´re talking about...can you please explain me a little more that shutter and aperture thing, that 1/(focal lenght) rule, and some other important issues...do you work in manual mode or P, A, S, which is the best?
Can someone explain what are the correct steps to follow:
1- choose the subject
2- ...
3-...

Thank you once more
Joao Pedro

[genece]

The advice you got from BJC is very good.
In addition I would use program mode until you are more accustom to the camera.
Also if you were in the menu, put the sensitivity (ISO) back to auto.
If you have enough light in a room to easily read a paper the FZ20 should take a great picture. Or if you use the Flash the picture should be fine regardless of the light.
I never did this but there is a way to set the camera back to factory defaults explained in the instructions.
One more thing do you understand the 1/2 press of the shutter button to achieve focus and/or maybe the focus switch on the left side of the lens got set to manual.

[Joao Pedro]

Does anyone knows how to put all the settings to default?
Thanks in advance

joao pedro

[genece]

Start with page 24 of the book and it would be my guess that you only need to change the REC settings. It is the next setting after number setting.

Right arrow to "do you want to change rec setting"
down arrow to "Yes"
Right arrow to exit
Menu button to close menu.

Maybe someone else knows more about it.

[FZ20knowitall]

Ok,
1. turn the camera on and press the menu button
2. press the right arrow to select the "setup" menu
3. scroll down to the third page on the top right you should see 3/4 (the third page)
4. the first option is reset, hit the scroll right button (selecting reset)
5. it will say, "RESET REC. SETTINGS?" scroll down to yes and hit the scroll right button to enter your yes setting.
6.It will then say "RESET SETUP PARAMETERS?"-select yes, same as above.
7. your camera is now reset the way it was when you bought it

[FZ20knowitall]

Joao, also when you take those indoor pics, for one, use the flash and see if it comes out ok. If it does then it is just blurry because the light is too low. Also make sure you don't zoom too much, the more you zoom the more blurry your picture could be. If you have a tripod, shoot with a tripod, and you can turn off the OIS when the camera is on the tripod, otherwise always leave it on mode 2, that yields the best image stabilization.

[Joao Pedro]

Thank you very much for the answer FZ20knowitall (and the rest). One last (for now) doubt: i´ve already put it on another thread, the cilinder (lens barrel?) that comes out of my FZ-20 shakes a little bit when i touch it, is it correct? it´s a malfunction? is it to compensate something?

Thanks in advance
Joao Pedro

[FZ20knowitall]

Yes, it does move a little. So does the Olympus C-770. But when you use the adapter ring with the filter, you will shield the lens, and you won't be able to touch the lens

[Joao Pedro]

Thank you once more...
;)

[b.j.c]

First of all thank you very much for the answer, it seems that you really know what you´re talking about...can you please explain me a little more that shutter and aperture thing, that 1/(focal lenght) rule, and some other important issues...do you work in manual mode or P, A, S, which is the best?


Use P mode to start with, and then go on to A or S if you feel like it. S just lets you set the shutter speed to a speed you know is safe, and then the camera will worry about whether it can find an aperture/iso speed to take the photo. If it can't the shutter speed and aperture will go red immediately before you take the photo. A mode just lets you choose the aperture, and the camera will worry about shutter speed.

Use manual (M) if you have another meter or feel like fiddling around.

[Joao Pedro]

Thank you all for the support ;)
I have another question (like a baby when satrting to talk) i want to protect my lens from scratches, finger stains, etc, what´s the best way to do that? what is the correct filter?
I´m sorry if this subject was already discussed in this forum, like i said before i´m really new here

Thank you very much
Joao Pedro

[Joao Pedro]

Ok, i read a little and get to the conclusion that what i need for my FZ-20 is:
-Hoya 62mm thin UV S-HMC PRO1
-ADORAMA 72mm telematic zoom lens hood
-PHAYEE adapter

Please, tell me if this is correct

Thanks

[FZ20knowitall]

That is correct. Once you get these items your camera is good to go!

[b.j.c]

Yes, thats right. Just note that you don't have to get the hood if you don't want to (I probably won't).

Nice to have that complicated thread simplified a bit!

[FZ20knowitall]

Also note that the Panasonic hood (with the screw in it) will screw on to the end of the Phayee adapter, so you don't need to buy another hood. But the Hama (from Adorama) does provide more protection against the sun rays, but it ain't necessary!