Lumix TZ10 Spot Focus Question

[MElliottUK]

I'm lucky enough to have got a TZ10 for my birthday, today I have been playing around with the manual settings including the focus options. I have one question about 'spot focus' if anyone has this camera they maybe able to help.

When you select spot focus, the spot is centered in the image, how to i use spot focus with the focus point of interest offset from the center of the image? (i.e how do i move the focus marker?)

Thanks

[iAlex]

Just had a play and can't even find focus options! Intelligent Auto is usually as far as I get.

The GPS annoys me a little in that sometimes it just WILL NOT lock on and then all your pictures are tagged with your previous location. Annoying it most definitely can be.

[fadeaway]

don't know the camera, so no idea if you can't move the focus spot, but the usual method is to put the thing you want in focus in the middle of the frame, half-depress the shutter button, recompose the photo while keeping the button half-way down and then fully press the button. While the button is half depressed the focus will remain locked.

As another thought - have you tried using the touchscreen - ie "touch" the thing you want to be in focus?

[Deluded]

As with most compacts, and DSLRs for that matter... You point the spot at what you want it to focus on, depress the shutter button halfway to focus, then recompose the shot whilst still holding the shutter button halfway. When composed properly, press the button all the way in to take the picture.

Never used a TX10 but this method works on my Lumix LX-3 and the missus' Lumix FX-40. Don't see why the TX10 would be any different.

ETA : ^^^ I should read replies first really .

Also to add though. You can move the spot on my LX-3 although it's a pointless feature really. Much easier to just use the method above.

Edited by Deluded on Sunday 5th December 19:33

[MElliottUK]

Just gave that a try, you do not get an indication that the spot has locked on to the desired point, would expect the spot symbol to follow the desired point as you hold and move.

[Deluded]

On the fx-40 and LX-3, when focused, the spot turns into a green box to indicate that it has focused. If it fails to focus (too close etc.) the box spot turns into a red box.

As long as you keep the shutter button partially depressed, the camera won't refocus.

The camera isn't clever enough to be able to recognise what you have actually focused on. All it does is focus on that point and hold the lens at that fixed focal length. This gives you the ability to alter the composure of the shot without losing focus on that point. It doesn't give you the ability to focus on an object, step back a meter and expect the camera to refocus on that spot.

Edited by Deluded on Sunday 5th December 20:01