More detailed owner's manual is available in “Owner’s Manual for advanced features (PDF format)”. To read it, download it from the website. (P73) Register online at http://shop.panasonic.com/support (U.S. customers only) If you have any questions, visit: USA : http://shop.panasonic.com/support Canada : www.panasonic.ca/english/support...
Dear Customer, Thank you for choosing Panasonic! You have purchased one of the most sophisticated and reliable products on the market today. Used properly, we’re sure it will bring you and your family years of enjoyment. Please take time to fill in the information below. The serial number is on the tag located on the underside of your camera.
Page 3
Declaration of Conformity Trade Name: Panasonic Model No.: DMC-FZ2500 Responsible Party: Panasonic Corporation of North America Two Riverfront Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102-5490 Support Contact: http://shop.panasonic.com/support DMC-FZ2500 (ENG) DVQX1028...
Page 4
THE FOLLOWING APPLIES ONLY IN THE U.S.A. Certification and Compliance See Camera for the certification and compliance mark specific to that device. Select [Wi-Fi] in the [Setup] menu. Select [Wi-Fi Setup] in the [Wi-Fi] menu. Press to select [Approved Regulations], and then press [MENU/SET]. Contains FCC ID: VPYLBXN604 This transmitter must not be co-located or operated in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
∫ About the battery pack CAUTION Battery pack (Lithium ion battery pack) • Use the specified unit to recharge the battery pack. • Do not use the battery pack with equipment other than the specified unit. • Do not get dirt, sand, liquids, or other foreign matter on the terminals. •...
Page 6
“High Speed HDMI micro cable” (Type D– Type A plug, up to 2 m (6.6 feet) long) • Always use a genuine Panasonic shutter remote control (DMW-RSL1: optional). Keep this unit as far away as possible from electromagnetic equipment (such as microwave ovens, TVs, video games etc.).
Page 7
• Before cleaning the camera, remove the battery or the DC coupler (DMW-DCC8: optional), or disconnect the power plug from the outlet. • Do not press the monitor with excessive force. • Do not press the lens with excessive force. •...
Contents Playback Information for Your Safety .....2 Playing Back Pictures ......47 Playing Back Motion Pictures ....47 Preparation/Basic Deleting Pictures........48 Care of the camera .........9 Menu Standard Accessories ......10 Names and Functions of Components ........11 Menu list..........49 About cards that can be used with this unit ..........13 Wi-Fi...
Preparation/Basic Care of the camera Do not subject to strong vibration, shock, or pressure. • The lens, monitor, or external case may be damaged if used in the following conditions. It may also malfunction or image may not be recorded if you: –...
Card are indicated as card in the text. • The card is optional. (For U.S.A. only) • If accessories are lost, customers can visit us at http://shop.panasonic.com/support for further information about obtaining replacement parts. (For Canada only) • If any accessories are lost, customers in Canada should visit our support page at www.panasonic.ca/english/support for further information about obtaining replacement parts.
Preparation/Basic Names and Functions of Components 29 28 27 Drive mode dial (P29) Shutter button (P20) [MIC] socket Zoom lever (P20) Headphone socket Self-timer indicator/ • Excessive sound pressure from earphones AF Assist Lamp and headphones can cause hearing loss. ] (Exposure Compensation) button/ [HDMI] socket [Fn4] button (P25)
Page 12
Panasonic DC coupler (DMW-DCC8: optional) and AC adaptor (DMW-AC10PP: Viewfinder (P19) optional) are used. Eye sensor (P19) • Always use a genuine Panasonic AC adaptor (DMW-AC10PP: optional). [AF/AE LOCK] button • When using an AC adaptor, use the AC Focus mode lever cable supplied with the AC adaptor.
SDHC/SDXC memory cards. (512 MB to 2 GB) • Operation of the cards on the left has been confirmed with SDHC Memory Card Panasonic’s cards. (4 GB to 32 GB) SDXC Memory Card (48 GB to 128 GB) ∫ About motion picture/4K photo recording and speed class ratings Use a card that meets the following ratings of the SD Speed Class or UHS Speed Class.
Preparation/Basic Preparations before Recording Attaching the Lens Hood • Do not hold the lens hood in a way that twists or bends it. • Check that the camera is turned off. • Close the flash. Align the mounting mark on the lens hood slightly above the mounting projection on the edge of the lens.
Page 15
Preparation/Basic Attaching the Lens Cap • When you turn the camera off or carry the camera, attach the lens cap to protect the surface of the lens. • Do not hang or swing around the camera with the lens cap string. •...
Page 16
Inserting the Battery • Always use genuine Panasonic batteries (DMW-BLC12PP). • If you use other batteries, we cannot guarantee the quality of this product. • Being careful about the battery orientation, insert all the way until you hear a locking sound and then check that it is locked by lever A.
Page 17
Preparation/Basic Inserting the Card (Optional) A Check the orientation of the card. • Push it securely all the way until you hear a “click” while being careful about the direction in which you insert it. To remove the card, push the card until it clicks, then pull the card out upright. Monitor At the time when this camera is purchased, the monitor is stowed in the camera body.
Page 18
Preparation/Basic Setting Date/Time (Clock Set) • The clock is not set when the camera is shipped. Turn the camera on. • When the camera is turned on, the status indicator 1 lights up green. Press [MENU/SET]. Press 3/4 to select the language, and press [MENU/SET].
Preparation/Basic Basic Operations Tips for taking good pictures Hold the camera gently with both hands, keep your arms still at your side and stand with your feet slightly apart. • Make sure your footing is stable and there is no danger of colliding with another person or object in the vicinity while taking pictures.
Preparation/Basic ∫ Diopter adjustment Adjust the diopter to suit your vision so that you can see the characters displayed in the viewfinder clearly. Zoom operations You can zoom-out to record landscapes etc. in wide angle (Wide) or zoom-in to make people and objects appear closer (Tele).
Page 21
Preparation/Basic Press the shutter button fully (push it in further), and take the picture. • Be careful not to move the camera when you press the shutter button. • Pictures cannot be taken until focus is achieved when [Focus/Release Priority] is set to [FOCUS].
Page 22
Preparation/Basic Program AE Mode Records at the aperture value and shutter speed set by the camera. Aperture-Priority AE Mode The shutter speed is automatically determined by the aperture value you set. Shutter-Priority AE Mode The aperture value is automatically determined by the shutter speed you set. Manual Exposure Mode The exposure is adjusted by the aperture value and the shutter speed which are manually adjusted.
Page 23
Preparation/Basic [ND FILTER] switch (switching the ND filter setting) Using the [ND FILTER] switch, you can switch the built-in optical ND filter setting. (The filter adjusts the amount of FILTER light.) AUTO 1/64 1/16 • Use this function when recording a bright subject outdoors under a clear sky that causes the screen to look white.
Preparation/Basic Setting menu items Press [MENU/SET]. Press 3/4 of the cursor button to select the menu item and press [MENU/SET]. Press 3/4 of the cursor button to select the setting and press [MENU/SET]. • Depending on the menu item, its setting may not appear or it may be displayed in a different way.
Preparation/Basic Calling frequently-used menus instantly (Quick Menu) By using the Quick Menu, some of the menu settings can be easily found. Press [Q.MENU] to display the Quick Menu. 24 p Rotate the front dial to select the menu item. Rotate the rear dial to select the setting. Press [Q.MENU] to exit the menu once the setting is complete.
Recording Taking Pictures using the Automatic Function (Intelligent Auto Mode) Recording Mode: In this mode, the camera makes the optimal settings for the subject and scene, so we recommend it when you wish to leave the settings to the camera and record without thinking about them.
Recording Taking pictures with customized color defocus control, and brightness settings Recording Mode: ∫ Setting color Press 1 to display the setting screen. Rotate the rear dial to adjust color. • Press [MENU/SET] to return to the recording screen. B B B ∫...
Page 28
Recording Set the focus mode lever to [MF]. Press 2 ( Press 3/4/2/1 to determine the area to be enlarged, and press [MENU/SET]. • The assist screen is displayed, enlarging the area. (MF Assist) • You can also adjust the focus position by dragging (P23) the screen.
Recording Taking Close-up Pictures Applicable modes: This mode allows you to take close-up pictures of a subject, e.g. when taking pictures of flowers. Press 4 [AF#]. Press 2/1 to select the item and then press [MENU/SET]. You can take pictures of a subject as close as 3 cm (0.098 feet) from ] ([AF Macro]) the lens by rotating the zoom lever upmost to Wide (1k).
Recording Recording 4K Photos Applicable modes: The camera allows you to take burst pictures of 8 million pixels (approx.) at 30 frames/ second. After taking these pictures, you can save the desired moment extracted from their burst file. • Use a UHS Speed Class 3 card to record 4K photos. (P13) •...
Page 31
Recording Press the shutter button halfway to exit the menu. Press the shutter button to perform recording. • The camera will perform burst recording of a 4K photo and saves it as a 4K burst file in [MP4] format. • When [Auto Review] is enabled, the picture selection screen will be displayed automatically.
Recording Controlling Focus After Recording (Post Focus/Focus Stacking) Applicable modes: The camera allows you to take 4K burst pictures while shifting the focus to different areas. After taking these pictures, you can select the desired focus area. This function is suited for recording still objects. It is also possible to select multiple focus areas and create a single merged picture.
Page 33
Recording Selecting the desired focus area and saving a picture Select an image with the [ ] icon on the playback screen, and press 3. Select and touch a focus area. • If a picture that is in focus is not available for the selected area, a red frame will be displayed.
Page 34
Recording Merging multiple pictures to widen the focus range (Focus Stacking) Touch [ ] in step of “Selecting the desired focus area and saving a picture”. Touch the merging method. Automatically selects pictures that are suited to be merged, and merges them into a single picture.
Recording Taking Pictures While Adjusting a Setting Automatically (Bracket Recording) Applicable modes: You can take multiple pictures while automatically adjusting a setting by pressing the shutter button. Select the menu. (P24) > [Rec] > [Bracket] > [Bracket Type] MENU Press the shutter button to perform recording while (Exposure Bracket) adjusting the exposure.
Page 36
Recording Exposure Bracket ∫ About [More settings] (step in P35) Sets the number of pictures to be taken and the exposure compensation range. [Step] ] (Takes three pictures with an interval of 1/3 EV ) to ・ ] (Takes seven pictures with an interval of 1 EV) ・...
Recording Image Stabilizer Applicable modes: Automatically detects and prevents jitter. For motion picture recording, the 5-Axis Hybrid Image Stabilizer function is available. It uses both the optical stabilizer of the lens and the electronic stabilizer of the camera’s sensor. It corrects different types of jitters including those that occur during zoom recording and also recording while walking.
Recording Intelligent Zoom Applicable modes: You can zoom in up to twice the original zoom magnification while minimising the deterioration of the image quality. > [Motion Picture] > [i.Zoom] > [ON]/[OFF] [Rec]/ MENU [Digital Zoom] Applicable modes: Although the image quality deteriorates every time you zoom in further, you can zoom in up to four times the original zoom magnification.
Page 39
Recording • [AVCHD]: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided. • [MP4] (with a [Rec Quality] size of [FHD] or [HD]): You can continue recording without interruption even if the continuous recording time exceeds 30 minutes or the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
Page 40
Recording When [MP4] is selected (±: Available, —: Not available) System frequency Recording Sensor Item Size Bit rate 59.94Hz 50.00Hz 24.00Hz frame rate output (NTSC) (PAL) (CINEMA) ¢ [4K/100M/30p] — — 3840k2160 29.97p 29.97 100 Mbps ± ¢ [4K/100M/25p] — —...
Page 42
Recording ∫ Note on recording with the [Slow/Quick], [Dolly Zoom] or [Variable Frame Rate] function • You can use the [Rec Format] and [Rec Quality] settings below. [Rec Format] [System Frequency] [Rec Quality] [59.94 Hz (NTSC)] [FHD/24M/30p]/[FHD/24M/24p] [AVCHD] [50.00 Hz (PAL)] [FHD/24M/25p] [24.00 Hz (CINEMA)] —...
Page 43
Recording Select the menu. (P24) > [Motion Picture] > [Dolly Zoom] > [ON] MENU Align the subject's position with the center frame. • The Auto Focus Mode will be set to Face/Eye Detection. • Adjust so that the face detection frame and center frame appear in the same size.
Page 44
Recording Set the cropping start frame. A Cropping start frame • When making settings for the first time, a cropping start frame of size 1920k1080 is displayed. (After setting the cropping start frame and end frame, the start frame and end frame that you set immediately before will be displayed.) •...
Page 45
Recording Recording motion pictures with manually set aperture value/shutter speed/ISO sensitivity ([Exposure Mode]) Set the mode dial to [ Select the menu. (P24) > [Motion Picture] > [Exposure Mode] > [P]/[A]/[S]/[M] MENU • The operation for changing the aperture value, shutter speed or ISO sensitivity is the same as the operation for setting the mode dial to Press the motion picture button (or shutter button) to start recording.
Page 46
Recording Press 2/1 to select the frame rate you will record the item with. • You can select a value between [2fps] and [120fps]. Press [MENU/SET]. • Exit the menu after it is set. Minimizing operational sounds during motion picture recording The operational sound of the zoom or button operation may be recorded when it is operated during the recording of a motion picture.
Playback Playing Back Pictures Press [(]. Press 2/1. 2: Play back the previous picture 1: Play back the next picture • The playback screen appears if the camera is turned on while pressing [(]. • When the camera is switched to the playback screen from the recording screen, the lens barrel is retracted after approx.
Playback Deleting Pictures Once deleted, pictures cannot be recovered. ∫ To delete a single picture In Playback Mode, select the picture to delete and then press [ ]. • The same operation can be performed by touching Press 3 to select [Delete Single] and then press [MENU/SET].
Menu Menu list To display explanations of the menu items. When [Menu Information] in the [Setup] menu is set to [ON], explanations of the menu items and settings are displayed on the menu screen. A Explanations of the menu • [Photo Style], [Filter Settings], [AFS/AFF], [Metering Mode], [Highlight Shadow], [i.Dynamic], [i.Resolution], [Diffraction Compensation], [i.Zoom], [Digital Zoom] and [Stabilizer] are common to both the [Rec] menu and [Motion Picture] menu.
Menu [Motion Picture] This menu lets you set the [Rec Format], [Rec Quality], and other aspects for motion picture recording. [Photo Style] [Metering Mode] [Sound Output] [Filter Settings] [Highlight Shadow] [Silent Operation] [Slow/Quick] [i.Dynamic] [Mic Level Disp.] [Dolly Zoom] [i.Resolution] [Mic Level Adj.] [4K Live Cropping] [Diffraction Compensation]...
Page 51
Menu [Setup] This menu lets you perform the clock settings, select the operating beep tone settings and set other settings which make it easier for you to operate the camera. You can also configure the settings of Wi-Fi related functions. [Online Manual] [Monitor Luminance] [Exposure Comp.
Page 52
Menu [Picture Size] Applicable modes: Set the number of pixels. The higher the numbers of pixels, the finer the detail of the pictures will appear even when they are printed onto large sheets. > [Rec] > [Picture Size] MENU When the aspect ratio is [4:3]. When the aspect ratio is [3:2].
Page 53
Menu • Use software ("SILKYPIX Developer Studio" (P59) by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) to process and edit RAW files on a PC. [System Frequency] Applicable modes: You can change the system frequency of the motion pictures you record and play back. >...
Wi-Fi What you can do with the Wi-Fi function • The camera cannot be used to connect to a public wireless LAN connection. Controlling with a Smartphone/Tablet (P55) • Recording with a smartphone (P57) • Playing back pictures in the camera (P57) •...
Wi-Fi Controlling with a Smartphone/Tablet Installing the smartphone/tablet app “Image App” The “Panasonic Image App” (hereafter “Image App”) is an application provided by Panasonic. • OS App for Android Android 4.0 or higher App for iOS: iOS 7.0 or higher Connect the smartphone to a network.
Page 56
Wi-Fi Connecting to a smartphone/tablet Connecting without using the password You can easily set up a direct connection to your smartphone without entering a password. On the camera Select the menu. (P24) > [Setup] > [Wi-Fi] > MENU [Wi-Fi Function] > [New Connection] > [Remote Shooting &...
Page 57
Wi-Fi Terminating the connection Set the camera to Recording Mode. Select the camera’s menu items to terminate the Wi-Fi connection. > [Setup] > [Wi-Fi] > [Wi-Fi Function] > [Yes] MENU • You can also terminate the connection by pressing [Wi-Fi] on the camera. On the smartphone, close “Image App”.
Page 58
Wi-Fi Saving images stored in the camera Connect to a smartphone. (P56) Operate the smartphone. 1 Select [ 2 Touch and hold an image, and drag it to save it. • You cannot save pictures in RAW format, motion pictures in [AVCHD], [MP4] (only those recorded with their size set to [4K] in [Rec Quality]), [MP4(LPCM)] or [MOV] format, 4K burst files, and images recorded with the [Post Focus].
Check the site below to download and install the software. Download the software while it is available for download. http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/soft/download/d_pfs99xe.html (This Site is English only.) • Download expiration: November 2021 • For details about information such as the operating environment or operating method, refer to the “Owner’s Manual for advanced features (PDF format)”...
Others Monitor Display/Viewfinder Display • The following images are examples of when the display screen is set to [ ] (monitor style) in the monitor. In recording 24 p × × MINI MINI MINI MINI Fn10 Fn10 Fn10 Fn10 Fn11...
Page 61
Others Quality (P52) AF area A › Focus Mode AFS AFF AFC MF Spot metering target Focus Bracket (P36) Center marker display Self-timer Post Focus (P32) AF Mode Zoom Microphone š Ø Mic level display Pull Focus External Microphone Face Recognition ND filter (P23) ND AUTO ND 4...
Page 62
Others Touch tab Touch zoom Touch Shutter × Touch AE Peaking Function button (P25) Fn10 Fn12 Fn11 SNAP Color (P27) Defocus control function (P27) Brightness (P27) Type of defocus ([Miniature Effect]) One point color Position of the light source Image effect (filter) adjustment Image effect ON/OFF Image effect (filter) MINI...
Page 63
Others In recording On-monitor recording information 1/60 Single Burst AUTO 4K Photo Wi-Fi Self-timer Focus Mode AFS AFF AFC MF AF Mode š Ø Recording Mode (P21) Quality (P52) › EXPS EXPS Picture size/Aspect Ratio (P52) F2.8 Aperture value (P20) Wi-Fi...
Others Troubleshooting First, try out the following procedures. If the problem is not resolved, it may be improved by selecting [Reset] on the [Setup] menu. • Please also refer to the “Owner’s Manual for advanced features (PDF format)”, which describes more detailed information.
Page 65
Others Striping or flicker may appear under lighting such as fluorescent lighting and LED lighting fixture. • This is characteristic of MOS sensors which serve as the camera’s pickup sensors. This is not a malfunction. • Are you taking pictures with the electronic shutter? >...
Page 66
Others The picture is not played back. There are no recorded pictures. • Is the card inserted? • Is this a folder or picture which was processed in the PC? If it is, it cannot be played back by this unit. >...
Page 67
Others The PC is not recognized when I use a Wi-Fi connection. The camera cannot be connected to PC via Wi-Fi connection. • The default workgroup name is set to “WORKGROUP”. If you changed the workgroup name, the PC will not be recognized. In [Change Workgroup Name] in [PC Connection] of the [Wi-Fi Setup] menu, change the workgroup name to that of the PC you are connecting to.
Others Specifications Specifications are subject to change without notice. Digital Camera: Information for your safety Power Source: DC 8.4 V ( 8.4 V) Power Consumption: 2.5 W (When recording with Monitor) 3.1 W (When recording with Viewfinder) 1.6 W (When playing back with Monitor) 1.7 W (When playing back with Viewfinder) Camera effective pixels 20,100,000 pixels Image sensor...
Page 69
Others Shutter speed Still picture B (Bulb) (Max. approx. 120 second), 60 to 1/4000th seconds (with the mechanical shutter) 1 to 1/16000th seconds (with the electronic shutter) Motion picture 1/30th of a second to 1/16000th of a second (When [System Frequency] is set to [59.94 Hz (NTSC)])/ 1/25th of a second to 1/16000th of a second (When [System Frequency] is set to [50.00 Hz (PAL)])/ 1/24th of a second to 1/16000th of a second...
Page 70
Others Interface Digital “USB 2.0” (High Speed) Terminal [REMOTE] ‰ 2.5 mm jack [MIC] ‰ 3.5 mm jack Headphone ‰ 3.5 mm jack [HDMI] MicroHDMI Type D USB 2.0 Micro-B Dimensions Approx. 137.6 mm (W)k101.9 mm (H)k134.7 mm (D) [5.42q(W)k4.01q(H)k5.30q(D)] Mass (Weight) Approx.
Page 71
110 V–240 V 50/60 Hz 0.2 A Output: 8.4 V 0.65 A Equipment mobility: Movable Battery Pack (lithium-ion) (Panasonic DMW-BLC12PP): Information for your safety Voltage/capacity: 7.2 V/1200 mAh The symbols on this product (including the accessories) represent the following: Class II equipment (The construction of the product is double-insulated.)
Upgrade Software Key DMW-SFU1 ¢ The AC Adaptor (optional) can only be used with the designated Panasonic DC Coupler (optional). The AC adaptor (optional) cannot be used by itself. Product numbers correct as of September 2016. These may be subject to change.
Reading the Owner’s Manual (PDF format) More detailed owner’s manual is available in “Owner’s Manual for advanced features (PDF format)”. To read it, download it from the website. http://panasonic.jp/support/dsc/oi/index.html?model=DMC-FZ2500&dest=P • Click the desired language. ∫ To check the URL and QR code on the camera Select the menu.
If your product does not work properly because of a defect in materials or workmanship, Panasonic Corporation of North America (referred to as “the warrantor”) will, for the length of the period indicated on the chart below, which starts with the date of original purchase (“warranty period”), at its option either (a) repair your product with new or refurbished...
Page 75
If a problem with this product develops during or after the warranty period, you may contact your dealer or Service Center. If the problem is not handled to your satisfaction, then write to: Consumer Affairs Department Panasonic Corporation of North America 661 Independence Pkwy Chesapeake, VA 23320 (ENG) DVQX1028...
Page 76
Others PARTS AND SERVICE, WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS LIMITED WARRANTY, ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. As of July 2015 DVQX1028 (ENG)
This warranty is given only to the original purchaser, or the person for whom it was purchased as a gift, of a Panasonic brand product mentioned above sold by an authorized Panasonic dealer in Canada and purchased and used in Canada, which product was not sold “as is”, and which product was delivered to you in new condition in the original...
Page 78
DOES NOT COVER normal wear and tear or cosmetic damage. The warranty ALSO DOES NOT COVER damages which occurred in shipment, or failures which are caused by products not supplied by Panasonic Canada Inc., or failures which result from accidents, misuse, abuse, neglect, mishandling, misapplication, alteration, faulty...
Page 79
This product incorporates the following software: (1) the software developed independently by or for Panasonic Corporation, (2) the software owned by third party and licensed to Panasonic Corporation, and/or (3) open source software The software categorized as (3) is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Page 80
AVC Video. No license is granted or shall be implied for any other use. Additional information may be obtained from MPEG LA, L.L.C. See http://www.mpegla.com Panasonic Corporation of North America Two Riverfront Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102-5490 http://shop.panasonic.com Panasonic Canada Inc.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the Lumix DMC-FZ2500 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers