Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I just bought a ZS70 the other day, and am stumped regarding the "Q" Menu. The camera comes with factory preset default settings within the Q Menu. A couple of these aren't really of much use to me and I'd like to replace these, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to do it or if it can even be done. I've spent hours going through the camera's menu as well as attempting, to no avail, to Google an answer, and the downloadable user's manual only tells me how to use the Q Menu, but not how to modify it's contents. Does anyone here who has this camera (or the ZS70 which is essentially the same camera) know how to do this or if it can even be done.

On another note, I almost regret exchanging the Sony HX99 for the ZS70. I did so, mainly because I was having a really hard time with handling the micro SD card. But compared to the Panasonic menu, the one in the Sony is a breeze to use. It's very well laid out and easy to maneuver around in. The ZS70, no so much. I like the camera, but it's confusing to do anything with the. menus and trying get it set up the way I want it.

Anyway, if anyone has an answer to my question, other than "google is your friend," or, "read the manual," I'm open to suggestions. I have gooled all over the place and read the user manual, as I already said. In fact, two user manuals. I am frustrated.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Don't be frustrated return The ZS70 and get your Sony

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Well, I had the Sony and returned it to exchange it for the ZS70. I think I'd look a bit dumb doing that. Once I get the menu all sorted out, it'll be fine for using the camera. It's just that there are a couple items in the Q Menu that I'd likely never use, namely the video features, as I'm not into doing videos. Having a couple different features in the Q Menu would just make things a little more convenient if I didn't have to go into the main menu. I'm just wondering if anyone has discovered a way to delete items and load new ones onto the Q Menu.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Weigh briefly ‘looking dumb’ to some outsiders vs having a Sony camera that functions as you want.
I’m completely serious, not making light of your valid concern. /Ralph

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

👍🏻😄😄

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Wingpilot,

Don't be too quick to dismiss video. It can be used to "capture" stills. Since it will shoot 30 frames per second and each frame is an 8 megapixel image, you can "mine" the video for the perfect shot. One of the best video viewers is "VLC". It's free and has a frame capture function.

I don't recall if you can change the quick menu in Panasonic cameras. I'll look at mine to be sure.

Regarding the menu. Panasonic shooters will say the menu makes sense. When they try a Sony, they get really frustrated!

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I'm still getting used to the ZS70. I spent some time playing with it yesterday evening while nursing my back. Somehow I managed to throw it out, and every movement was painful. Made for a great opportunity to just sit with the heating pad and study the camera. I don't think it has a bad menu system, just a different layout from what I'm used to. I did solve one "issue" I was having, trying how to activate digital zoom.

Which brings up an important point I discovered. The ZS70 has optical and intelligent zoom (roughly the same thing as Sony's clear image zoom) as well as digital zoom. Once I figured out how to activate digital zoom, (by actually reading the instruction book I bought online) I went outside to shoot some pics of the moon that was rising and still white in the yet-blue sky. What I discovered is that as some 2300 ISO, the images are virtually useless when zoomed out to 2880mm! I returned to the book and found that the author recommended not using digital zoom, for the very reason I described above. Talk about noise! Images using iZoom are actually pretty decent, though. I finally gave up trying to figure out how to change the features in the Q menu, and decided to just ignore the ones I don't find useful.

As for video, I may give it some thought. It just hasn't interested me so far. But, as they say, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Leitz Loc: Solms

Interesting.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Wingpilot,

Wasilla not a big city. I have a friend there. Do you know anyone named Mark with a tool truck business?

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Doesn't ring a bell. I'm not familiar with anyone who has a tool truck business. Sorry.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Hey, Wing, your ZS70 is a wonderful choice. Use it in good health. You might get Alexander White's book on that camera. It is much better and clearer than the manual and offers many helpful suggestions as well.

JohnR Loc: The Gates of Hell

The Sony HX90 is virtually the same camera as the newer HX99 but uses normal size SD cards. Its also much better optically than the ZS70 - I know as I have both. Beyond about 15x the ZS70 is very poor in IMO. Cheers JohnR

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thanks for the tip on the book.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I've read that before and I wonder why the earlier model is better optically than the newer one.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Re: any camera's digital zoom: I never use it. All it does is to enlarge the picture from it's longest optical zoom and cropping it to the smaller size. It will never have the sharpness of optical zoom.