kevmiami
Registered
I have been a huge fan of the series of cameras since the TZ1. IMHO they ruined the camera by going to a CMOS censor, but such is life. Just started diving again and have used this camera for snorkeling, but now have gotten serious and bought a YS110a, a spare camera ($109), aftermarket batteries and am ready to go. Have tried to go through all the discussions/reviews and pull together the best settings to start with and see how it goes. I'm going to Bonaire in early Feb and fortunately/unfortunately, that will be the first time I will have use rig, so trying to eliminate as much trial/error on paper as possible.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!
Panasonic TZ-7 / ZS-3 Best Underwater Settings - On Paper Anyway (DRAFT)
- Compiled from Forums and Reviews - My apologies for no individual credit, but thank you to everyone!
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!
Panasonic TZ-7 / ZS-3 Best Underwater Settings - On Paper Anyway (DRAFT)
- Compiled from Forums and Reviews - My apologies for no individual credit, but thank you to everyone!
Zoom Ranges | Pairs | |||
1x = 5mm = 28mm (Equiv) | 3.3 / 8 | Each focal length uses a set pair of apertures | ||
2x = 10mm = 58mm (Equiv) | 4.4 /10 | |||
4x = 18mm = 112mm (Equiv) | 4.7 /11 | |||
7x = 33mm = 200mm (Equiv) | 4.8 /11 | |||
10x = 46mm = 280mm (Equiv) | 4.9 /11 | |||
Normal Pic Mode | Photo | Video | Menu | Comments |
Exposure | ||||
ISO | 100 | Q-Menu | Keep range within 80 - 200 for best results. | |
Intelligent ISO (i-ISO) | Off | Menu - 3 | Uses 1/125 down to 1/30; increasing ISO to isolate movement, up to ISO 1000 | |
Intelligent Exposure (iФ | Off | Q-Menu | Starts ISO 100 - when hits shutter speed of 1/30th; incr ISO 1/3 step to ISO 200, then decr below 1/30th | |
Min Shutter Speed | 1/125 - 1/250 | Main - 4 | Use 1/250 (fastest available) to stop fast fish | |
EV Compensation | -1/3 | ʌ | Press < > change 1/3 stop | |
Auto Bracket | Off | ʌʌ | Press < > change 1/3 stop (changes shutter speed) | |
Stabilizer (OIS) | Auto (Default 2) | Main - 3 | Mode 2 - Photo; Mode 1 - LCD & Photo (use when set at long zoom) - Off (when on tripod) - Auto | |
Metering Mode | Center Wghtd for Wide Angle | Intelligent Multiple | Main - 2 | Intelligent Multiple (.) - Center Weighted ( ) {75% Center} - Spot {very focused} |
Focusing | ||||
AF (Auto Focus) Mode | Spot (or) AF Tracking | Q-Menu | Preferred to ignore back-scatter or background Moving target - press v to activate | |
Pre AF Mode | Off | Quick | Main - 1 | Off - Quick (focuses when detects camera shake) - Continuous (focuses when shutter pressed halfway) |
AF Assist Lamp | Off | Main - 4 | ||
White Balance & Color | ||||
Color Setting | Vivid | Vivid | Main - 3 | Vivid = Better sharpness & increased saturation |
AWB | White Set | Q-Menu | "Shade Mode" has most red | |
Manual White Bal Set | Main - 2 | Set with white card | ||
Manual White Bal Adjust | ʌʌʌ | Select more red or more blue manually - Press < > | ||
Other Settings | Using Extreme 32gb Class 10 SDHC Card | |||
Aspect Ratio | 4:3 (10mp) | 16:9 (9mp) | Q-Menu | |
LCD Power Mode | High | Off | Q-Menu | Off - Auto - High |
Economy - Auto LCD Off | 30sec | Tool - 3 | (Off - 15sec - 30sec) | |
Economy -Power Save | Off | Tool - 3 | (Off - 2min - 5min - 10min) Turns Camera Off | |
Auto Review | Hold | Tool - 3 | (Off - 1sec - 2sec - Hold - Zoom in for 1 sec) | |
Zoom Resume | On | Tool - 3 | Camera starts zoom at last setting | |
Flash Setting on Camera | Forced | >>> | (Fires pre-flash for TTL, but not red eye pre-flash) | |
Macro | ||||
Macro Zoom | Not Recommend | N/R | vv | Locks lens at 28mm & uses digital zoom |
Tele Macro | Approx 9.5x | v | This is sweet spot (min distance approximately 4.5'), better than wide-angle at 5 cm | |
YS-110a Flash Settings | ||||
TTL | Use TTL when subject fills frame, otherwise manual | |||
Slave | ||||
Power | Start with half-power and approximately f8 | |||
Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode | Nighttime Only | Recommend | Top Dial | Video will select: portrait, scenery, low light and macro; detect any faces and brighten shadows |
Panorama Assist Scene | Main - Scn | Locks Focus and Exposure | ||
Underwater Scene | Not Recommend | Main - Scn | Manually adjust WB below 30'; Uses auto ISO; 1/30th is too slow, but has focus lock |