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Your Lumix camera is equipped with some great creative features, so we asked Peter Eastway to suggest which ones he found most useful when reviewing our cameras.
1 - Using correct exposure
The histogram display on your camera's LCD monitor shows the correct exposure. If the graph is in the middle, you're okay. If it is to the left, you need to increase exposure; if it's to the right, decrease exposure. You change exposure with the Exposure (+/-) button. Of course, this is all in addition to the Lumix's excellent exposure control - chances are the histogram will always be in the middle! |
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Wrong
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Correct
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2 - Always have your camera with you
Surprise your viewers with a tightly cropped close-up of your subject. The TZ series have 300mm (equivalent) telephoto zoom settings which are ideal for sport, action and wildlife. |
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Telephoto  |
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Wide angle 
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| 3 - Take a Wide View
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25 mm wide |
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Indoors you'll find the 25mm (equivalent) wide-angle zoom setting lets you fit everything in. Its also ideal for panoramic landscapes. However, to make a wide-angle subject really interesting, make sure you have something of interest in the foreground. |
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| 4 - Shoot in low light
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Mega O.I.S 
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With the Lumix cameras' MEGA O.I.S. (optical image stabiliser) feature, you can successfully take photos in low light (indoors, after sunset, on the street at night) and still get clear, blur-free photos. Make sure you've set O.I.S. Mode 2 (you can probably leave it set this way permanently). The MEGA O.I.S. feature should also be used for telephoto lens work. |
5 - Let Lumix handle the action
Taking sharp action photos has never been easier with the Lumix's Inteligent ISO Control mode, even in the theatre. When the camera detects movement, it changes the cameras settings to ensure the photo is recorded as sharp as possible under the circumstances. Keep your cameras Mode Dial set to I-ISO and OIS Mode 2 for the ultimate in clear photos. |
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Intelligent ISO 
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| 6 - Fill in flash removes harsh shadows
It might seem strange to use flash in the middle of a sunny day, but with strong sunlight, many subjects can benefit from a little flash as well. Your subject should be quite close to the camera (within 2 metres). Set the flash to Forced Flash On and let your Lumix handle the rest. |
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Forced Flash On |
7 - Small things take notice
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Macro Mode 
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Spin the Mode Dial to macro focusing and take a look at how interesting the close-up world can be. Small insects in flowers or even the cutlery on the dinner table become wonderful subjects when you get in close. Small is beautiful! |
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| 8 - Scene Modes Make You the Professional
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Candle light mode 
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Wouldn't it be great to have a photography coach with you, suggesting all the right camera settings? Well, you do. Turn the Mode Dial to SCN and choose from over 20 different scene modes. Shooting a portrait - there are two to choose from. Photographing by candle light - theres a mode for that as well! |
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| 9 - Picture size and quality
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Photo quality |
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Whatever you do, don't try to cram more photos onto your memory card by choosing a smaller picture size or lower quality. Always leave your Lumix camera set to the largest picture size and highest quality possible - you never know when you might like to print an enlargement or enter a photo competition! |
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| 10 - When You See Something Great, Take Lots of Shots
It costs nothing but time to take a few extra photos and when using the Lumixs Burst mode, you can take lots of photos in quick succession. If you have a great subject in front of you, take several different angles and exposures, then choose the best one later on. |
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Burst Mode 
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