Lumix G7 - Camera Controls and Capabilities Summary; Exposure Modes Explained

Copyright © 2015-19 Clive Dyson Version 4.5 9
3. Summary of camera controls and capabilities
Exposure (Metering) Controls
Exposure modes
The exposure (PASM or ‘shooting’) modes on the Mode dial determine how the exposure is controlled.
Panasonic refers to them as ‘shooting’ modes, which I find confusing. Turn the Mode dial to select an
exposure mode:
• In program (P) exposure mode the camera selects a combination of aperture and shutter speed. Turn
the front dial to adjust the balance between them: the aperture and shutter speed values will change
in the display and a yellow indicator will appear to the left of the aperture value. Adjusting the exposure
in this way is referred to as ‘Program Shift’.
Any Program Shift will be retained and applied to the next photograph. To cancel Program Shift,
press the ONE PUSH AE button and the yellow indicator will disappear.
• In aperture priority (A) exposure mode, set the aperture using the front dial. The camera will set the
shutter speed for correct exposure.
• In shutter-speed priority (S) exposure mode, set the shutter speed using the front dial. The camera
will set the aperture for correct exposure.
• In manual exposure (M) mode, set the aperture and shutter speed (and ISO setting) to obtain correct
exposure on the exposure indicator (in the location of the exposure compensation indicator) or the
larger exposure meter (which you can enable via the CUSTOM menu). Change the aperture with the
front dial and the shutter speed with the rear dial.
• One of the three Custom modes (C
1
, C
2
, and C
3
). See ‘Custom Modes’ on page 4.
• The Mode dial also has Intelligent Auto (iA), SCENE and CREATIVE exposure modes, which are not
covered in this manual.
ISO value
Press the ISO (cursor up) button and select AUTO ISO, intelligent ISO (iISO) or an ISO value. Intelligent
ISO increases the ISO setting when movement is detected in the scene. Adjust the ISO LIMIT for AUTO
ISO and iISO with the front dial whilst in the ISO menu. The ISO setting being used is displayed when
the shutter button is half depressed
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.
In manual exposure mode, you can either set an ISO value or select AUTO ISO, in which case the camera
will set ISO (up to the ISO LIMIT
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) to obtain correct exposure for the selected aperture and shutter speed.
The camera will produce images with the least noise if operated at as low an ISO as possible. A higher
ISO speed will allow a faster shutter speed (with less motion blur) or operation in lower light.
A lens with a wider maximum aperture will let you use a lower ISO speed, with less noise. Rather than
using high ISO settings, use a tripod or other means of supporting the camera if you can.
Metering modes
The metering modes specify where the camera measures the exposure. Access these via the
METERING MODE button:
Multi-metering: The camera sets the exposure, taking into account the variation in brightness over the
whole scene, the focus mode and where focus is obtained.
Centre-weighted metering: Takes an averaged meter reading, around the centre of the image.
Spot metering: Sets exposure at a point – a blue cross is shown at the point where exposure is metered.
The location of the exposure point depends on the focus mode in use.
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Except in Intelligent ISO, when the ISO setting is selected dynamically.
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Beware: If ISO LIMIT is set to OFF in manual exposure mode then Auto ISO will only use ISO values up to
3200!