TZ1 - White balance in portrait mode?

[guxu]

Seems there is no white balance setting in Portrait mode. And white balance is locked in day-light?

[jough]

Yes, that is what "Portrait Mode" does.

The manual is pretty good about letting you know what each scene mode is for, and what settings it pre-sets the camera to.

There is also a night portrait mode that uses a longer exposure and then a delayed flash to pull in the background and then get a decent exposure of the foreground subject.

Baby mode reduces the level of the flash and puts the camera in macro mode. If you need to take a photo of someone at close range, you can take a photo using baby mode (either one or two) even if they are not a baby!

[mystro544]

Yes, that is what "Portrait Mode" does.

The manual is pretty good about letting you know what each scene mode is for, and what settings it pre-sets the camera to.

There is also a night portrait mode that uses a longer exposure and then a delayed flash to pull in the background and then get a decent exposure of the foreground subject.

Baby mode reduces the level of the flash and puts the camera in macro mode. If you need to take a photo of someone at close range, you can take a photo using baby mode (either one or two) even if they are not a baby!

Very helpful,I didn't realize it went into Macro in Baby Mode..do you recall the range at this setting?

[jough]

I wish I could remember, but thankfully I don't have to because it's in the manual (downloadable from Panasonic's web site if you don't already own a TZ1).

The focus range becomes the same as macro mode. [5cm (0.16ft)(Wide)/1m (3.28ft) (Tele) to infinity]

The difference between baby 1 and baby 2 modes are just to keep track of the ages or birthdays of two different babies. No other difference in settings.

You can set the mode to [WITHOUT AGE] to not display the age of the "baby" in the photo.

I find that while the scene modes are useful for their intended purpose, they're way more useful as generic setups to take photos with certain characteristics.

For instance, I don't think anyone here has mentioned using the "underwater" mode underwater (the underwater housing is ridiculously expensive), but it's the only way to get AF Lock for fast moving subjects. By default UW mode changes the white balance to make the photo a little warmer (in response to the blue of the water) but you can adjust it manually very very easily.

If you need to get a sports action shot, underwater mode is really helpful at times.

[mystro544]

For instance, I don't think anyone here has mentioned using the "underwater" mode underwater (the underwater housing is ridiculously expensive), but it's the only way to get AF Lock for fast moving subjects. By default UW mode changes the white balance to make the photo a little warmer (in response to the blue of the water) but you can adjust it manually very very easily.

If you need to get a sports action shot, underwater mode is really helpful at times.

John Reed mentioned the usefulness of this mode a few weeks ago before I recieved my camera,glad you reminded me. Aren't there some fairly inexpensive zip-lock type bags with a window for use underwater..I thought I saw these on a cruise we took a few years ago which the snorkle divers were using..hmmm?

[jough]

There are some generic underwater bags that don't cost more than $20, yes, but those make me nervous, and don't really give you a good handle on the controls, and of course no pressure protection.

If you just want to shoot your kids swimming at the local Y, though, then it's a more realistic solution than the $200 underwater housing that Panasonic has available (if you can even find a retailer who is selling it).