Panasonic DMC-ZS15K Installation and service instructions

VQT4B27
M1211KZ0
Basic Owner’s Manual
Digital Camera
Model No. DMC-ZS15
Before connecting, operating or adjusting this product,
please read the instructions completely.
More detailed instructions on the operation of
this camera are contained in “Owner’s Manual
for advanced features (PDF format)” in the
supplied CD-ROM. Install it on your PC to read it.
P
For USA and Puerto Rico assistance, please call: 1-800-211-PANA(7262) or,
contact us via the web at: http://www.panasonic.com/contactinfo

2 VQT4B27 (ENG)
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.
Be sure to retain this manual as your convenient camera information
source.
Date of Purchase Dealer Phone No.
Dealer Purchased From Model No.
Dealer Address Serial No.
Please note that the actual controls and components, menu items, etc.
of your Digital Camera may look somewhat different from those shown in
the illustrations in this Owner’s Manual.
Carefully observe copyright laws.
• Recording of pre-recorded tapes or discs or other published or broadcast material
for purposes other than your own private use may infringe copyright laws. Even
for the purpose of private use, recording of certain material may be restricted.
A lithium ion battery that is recyclable powers
the product you have purchased. Please call
1-800-8-BATTERY for information on how to recycle
this battery.
Information for Your Safety
The socket outlet shall be installed near the equipment and shall be
easily accessible.

(ENG) VQT4B27 3
FCC Note:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
FCC Caution: To assure continued compliance, follow the attached
installation instructions and use only shielded interface
cables with ferrite core when connecting to computer or
peripheral devices.
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate
this equipment.
Declaration of Conformity
Trade Name: Panasonic
Model No.: DMC-ZS15
Responsible Party: Panasonic Corporation of
North America
One Panasonic Way,
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Support Contact: Panasonic Consumer
Marketing Company of
North America
1-800-211-PANA (7262)
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
DMC-ZS15

4 VQT4B27 (ENG)
WARNING:
To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock or product damage,
•Do not expose this unit to rain, moisture, dripping or splashing.
•Do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on this
unit.
•Use only the recommended accessories.
•Do not remove covers.
•Do not repair this unit by yourself. Refer servicing to qualified
service personnel.
■Product identification marking
Product Location
Digital camera Bottom
■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.
• Do not touch the plug terminals (+ and −) with metal objects.
• Do not disassemble, remodel, heat or throw into fire.
If any electrolyte should come into contact with your hands or clothes,
wash it off thoroughly with water.
If any electrolyte should come into contact with your eyes, never rub
the eyes. Rinse eyes thoroughly with water, and then consult a doctor.
CAUTION
• Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only
with the type recommended by the manufacturer.
• When disposing the batteries, please contact your local authorities or
dealer and ask for the correct method of disposal.
• Do not heat or expose to flame.
• Do not leave the battery(ies) in a car exposed to direct sunlight for a
long period of time with doors and windows closed.

(ENG) VQT4B27 5
Warning
Risk of fire, explosion and burns. Do not disassemble, heat above
60 °C (140 °F) or incinerate.
■About the AC adaptor (supplied)
CAUTION!
To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock or product damage,
•Do not install or place this unit in a bookcase, built-in cabinet or in
another confined space. Ensure this unit is well ventilated.
•Do not obstruct this unit’s ventilation openings with newspapers,
tablecloths, curtains, and similar items.
•Do not place sources of naked flames, such as lighted candles, on this
unit.
AC adaptor
This AC adaptor operates on AC between 110V and 240V.
But
• In the U.S.A. and Canada, the AC adaptor must be connected to a
120V AC power supply only.
• When connecting to an AC supply outside of the U.S.A. or Canada,
use a plug adaptor to suit the AC outlet configuration.

6 VQT4B27 (ENG)
■Cautions for Use
• Do not use any other USB connection cables except the supplied one.
• Always use a genuine Panasonic HDMI mini cable
(RP-CDHM15, RP-CDHM30: optional).
Part numbers: RP-CDHM15 (1.5 m) (4.9 feet), RP-CDHM30 (3.0 m) (9.8 feet)
• Always use a genuine Panasonic AV cable (DMW-AVC1: optional).
Keep this unit as far away as possible from electromagnetic equipment (such
as microwave ovens, TVs, video games etc.).
• If you use this unit on top of or near a TV, the pictures and/or sound on this unit
may be disrupted by electromagnetic wave radiation.
• Do not use this unit near cell phones because doing so may result in noise
adversely affecting the pictures and/or sound.
• Recorded data may be damaged, or pictures may be distorted, by strong
magnetic fields created by speakers or large motors.
• Electromagnetic wave radiation generated by microprocessors may adversely
affect this unit, disturbing the pictures and/or sound.
• If this unit is adversely affected by electromagnetic equipment and stops
functioning properly, turn this unit off and remove the battery or disconnect AC
adaptor (supplied). Then reinsert the battery or reconnect AC adaptor and turn
this unit on.
Do not use this unit near radio transmitters or high-voltage lines.
• If you record near radio transmitters or high-voltage lines, the recorded pictures
and/or sound may be adversely affected.
For information about the software used for this product, press [MENU/SET] and
select [Setup] to display [Version Disp.] before pressing [MENU/SET] again.
This product is licensed under the AVC patent portfolio license for the personal
and non-commercial use of a consumer to (i) encode video in compliance with
the AVC Standard (“AVC Video”) and/or (ii) decode AVC Video that was encoded
by a consumer engaged in a personal and non-commercial activity and/or was
obtained from a video provider licensed to provide AVC Video. No license is
granted or shall be implied for any other use. Additional information may be
obtained from MPEG LA, LLC.
See http://www.mpegla.com.

(ENG) VQT4B27 7
-If you see this symbol-
Information on Disposal in other Countries outside the European
Union
This symbol is only valid in the European Union.
If you wish to discard this product, please contact your
local authorities or dealer and ask for the correct method
of disposal.

8 VQT4B27 (ENG)
Contents
Before use
Information for Your Safety .......2
Before use ...................................8
Standard accessories ................9
Names and Functions of
Main Parts .................................10
Inserting and removing the
card (optional)/the battery .......11
Charging the battery ................12
Setting the clock .......................13
Setting the menu ......................14
Taking pictures .........................15
Taking motion pictures ............16
Viewing your pictures
[Normal Play] ............................17
Deleting pictures ......................17
Reading the Owner’s Manual
(PDF format) ..............................18
Installing supplied software
(PHOTOfunSTUDIO) .................19
Specifications ...........................20
Digital Camera Accessory
System .......................................23
Digital Camera Accessory
Order Form ................................24
Limited Warranty
(ONLY FOR U.S.A. AND
PUERTO RICO) .........................25
■Camera handling
●Keep the camera away from excessive vibration, force, or pressure.
●The camera is not dust resistant, splash resistant, or waterproof.
Avoid using the camera in places with excessive dust or sand, or
where water can come into contact with the camera.
■Condensation (When the lens or the LCD monitor is fogged up)
●
Condensation may occur when the camera is exposed to sudden
changes of temperature or humidity. Avoid these conditions, which may
make the lens or LCD monitor dirty, cause mold, or damage the camera.
●If condensation does occur, turn off the camera and wait about two
hours before using it. Once the camera adjusts to the surrounding
temperature, the fogging will clear naturally.

(ENG) VQT4B27 9
Standard accessories
Check that all the accessories are supplied before using the camera. Part
numbers are as of January 2012.
Battery pack
DMW-BCG10PP
• Charge the battery
before use.
Battery pack is indicated as
battery pack or battery in the
text.
AC adaptor
VSK0768
Hand strap
VFC4297
USB connection
cable
K1HY08YY0025
CD-ROM
VFF0967
• Software:
Use it to install the
software on your
PC.
• Owner’s Manual for
advanced features
• SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card and SDXC Memory Card are
indicated as card in the text.
• Memory cards are optional. You can record or play back pictures on the
built-in memory when you are not using a card.
• For information about optional accessories, refer to the “Digital Camera
Accessory System”.
• If any accessories are lost, customers should contact Panasonic’s parts
department at 1 800 833-9626 for further information about obtaining
replacement parts.
• Please dispose of all packaging appropriately.
• Keep small parts in a safe place out of the reach of children.
• The illustrations and screens in this manual may differ from the actual
product.

10 VQT4B27 (ENG)
Names and Functions of Main Parts
Camera ON/OFF switch
Shutter button
Mode dial
Flash
Self-timer indicator/AF Assist Lamp
Lens barrel
Lens
Zoom lever
Tripod receptacle
• Ensure that the tripod is stable.
Card/Battery door
Release lever
We recommend using the
supplied hand strap to
avoid dropping the camera.
LCD monitor
Charging lamp
[EXPOSURE] button
Cursor buttons
[DISP.] button
[Q.MENU]/[ / ] (Delete/Cancel)
button
Speaker
Microphone
Motion picture button
REC/PLAY switch
HDMI socket
[AV OUT/DIGITAL]
socket
[MENU/SET] button

(ENG) VQT4B27 11
Inserting and removing the card (optional)/
the battery
To charge the battery, insert it into the camera.
Set the camera ON/OFF switch
to OFF and slide the release
lever ( ) to [OPEN] before
opening the card/battery door [OPEN] [LOCK]
Insert the battery and card,
making sure that their
orientation is correct
• Battery: Insert all the way firmly until a
locking sound is heard, and check
that it is locked by lever ( ).
• Card: Insert all the way firmly until it
clicks.
Do not touch
the terminal
Close the card/battery door
Slide the release lever to the [LOCK]
position.
■To remove
•To remove battery:
Move lever in direction of arrow.
•To remove card:
Push the card until it clicks,
then pull the card out.
Lever
●Always use genuine Panasonic batteries (DMW-BCG10PP).
●If you use other batteries, we cannot guarantee the quality of this
product.
●Keep the Memory Card out of reach of children to prevent swallowing.
●We recommend using a Panasonic Memory card.

12 VQT4B27 (ENG)
Charging the battery
•The battery is not charged when the camera is shipped. Charge
the battery before use.
•Charge the battery with the AC adaptor (supplied) indoors (10 °C
to 30 °C (50 °F to 86 °F)).
•Always use the dedicated AC adaptor (supplied), USB connection
cable (supplied), and battery.
• To charge the battery, insert it into the camera.
• Make sure that the camera is turned off.
Connect the AC adaptor ( ) (supplied) and the
camera using the USB connection cable ( )
(supplied), and plug the AC adaptor ( ) (supplied)
into the electrical outlet
To the electrical outlet
●Do not use any other USB connection cables except the supplied one.
Doing so may cause malfunction of the camera.
●Do not use any other AC adaptors except the supplied one.
■Charging lamp ( )
On: Charging in progress (approx. 260 min. if fully depleted)
Off: Charging stops
■About batteries that you can use with this unit
The battery that can be used with this unit is DMW-BCG10PP.

(ENG) VQT4B27 13
Setting the clock
The clock is not set when the camera is shipped.
Set REC/PLAY switch to before turning the camera on.
Turn the camera on ( )
Press [MENU/SET] ( )
Press to select the items
(year, month, day, hour, minute,
display order or time display
format), and press to set
Press [MENU/SET] to set
Press [MENU/SET]
■To change the time setting
Select [Clock Set] from [Rec] or [Setup] menu, perform and .

14 VQT4B27 (ENG)
Setting the menu
Refer to the following procedures to operate the menus.
Example: Setting [AF Mode] from to in the [Program AE] Mode
Press [MENU/SET] to display the menu
Switching to the [Rec] menu
Select [Rec], and press [MENU/SET].
Press to select [AF Mode]
and then press [MENU/SET]
• Depending on the item, its setting may not
appear or it may be displayed in a different
way.
Press to select and then
press [MENU/SET] to set
Press [ / ] several times to
close the menu

(ENG) VQT4B27 15
Taking pictures
Turn the camera on ( ) Shutter button
Slide the REC/PLAY switch ( )
to
Set to the desired recording mode
( )
■Recording mode
Take pictures with automatic settings.
The subjects are recorded using your own settings.
The shutter speed is automatically determined by the aperture value you
set.
The aperture value is automatically determined by the shutter speed you
set.
The exposure is adjusted by the aperture value and the shutter speed
which are manually adjusted.
Use this mode to take pictures with previously registered setting.
Record 3D still pictures.
Take pictures according to the scene.
Take pictures while confirming the picture effect.
Take a picture
Press halfway
(press lightly and focus) Press fully (press the button
all the way to record)

16 VQT4B27 (ENG)
Taking motion pictures
Recording mode:
●We recommend you use a battery with sufficient battery power when
recording motion pictures.
●Immediately release the motion picture button after pressing it all the
way.
●You can continuously record a motion picture in [MP4] for up to 29
minutes 59 seconds or approx. 4 GB. In this case, you can continuously
record a motion picture in [FHD] for up to approx. 24 minutes
43 seconds.
●If [Rec Quality] of [AVCHD] motion pictures is set to [FSH], you can
continuously record a motion picture for up to 29 minutes 59 seconds.
●You can record a motion picture to the built-in memory only in [MP4]
using the [VGA] setting.
You can record motion pictures with audio (monaural). Zoom can also be
used during recording.
Slide the REC/PLAY switch ( )
to
Press the motion picture button ( )
to start recording
Press the motion picture button ( )
again to end recording
Remaining recording time (approx.)
Elapsed recording time

(ENG) VQT4B27 17
Viewing your pictures [Normal Play]
Deleting pictures
Slide the REC/PLAY switch ( )
to
Press to select the picture
●To play back a motion picture, select a picture with or , and then
press to start playback.
●You can print pictures by connecting a camera to your computer or
printer, or by giving an SD card to a shop assistant at a photo shop.
Deleted pictures cannot be recovered.
Press [ / ] ( ) to delete the
displayed picture
Press to select [Yes] and then
press [MENU/SET] ( )

18 VQT4B27 (ENG)
Reading the Owner’s Manual (PDF format)
More detailed instructions on the operation of this camera are contained
in “Owner’s Manual for advanced features (PDF format)” in the supplied
CD-ROM. Install it on your PC to read it.
■For Windows
Turn the PC on and insert the CD-ROM containing
the Owner’s Manual (supplied)
Click the “Owner’s Manual”
Select the desired language
and then click “Owner’s
Manual” to install
To return to the install menu.
Double click the “Owner’s
Manual” shortcut icon on the
desktop
■When the Owner’s Manual (PDF format) will not open
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later or Adobe Reader 7.0
or later to browse or print the Owner’s Manual (PDF format).
Insert the CD-ROM containing the Owner’s Manual (supplied),
click and then follow the messages on the screen to install.
Compatible OS: Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP2 / Windows 7
• You can download and install a version of Adobe Reader that you can
use with your OS from the following Web Site.
http://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/

(ENG) VQT4B27 19
Installing supplied software (PHOTOfunSTUDIO)
This software allows you to acquire pictures to the PC, and also
categorize these acquired pictures by their recording date or the model
name of the camera used.
• Before inserting the CD-ROM, close all running applications.
Check the environment of your PC
Operating environment of PHOTOfunSTUDIO 8.0 AE
OS Windows XP (32 bit) SP3 Windows Vista (32 bit) SP2
Windows 7 (32 bit/64 bit) and SP1
CPU
Windows XP Pentium III 500 MHz or higher
Windows Vista 800 MHz or higher
Windows 7 1 GHz or higher
Display 1024 × 768 pixels or more
(1920 × 1080 pixels or more recommended)
RAM
Windows XP 512 MB or more
Windows Vista
Windows 7 1 GB or more (32 bit)
2 GB or more (64 bit)
Free hard disk space 450 MB or more for installing software
• Refer to the Operating Instructions of “PHOTOfunSTUDIO” (PDF)
for further information about the operating environment.
Insert the CD-ROM with the supplied software
When you insert the supplied CD-ROM, the install menu will start.
Click on the [Applications] on the install menu
Click on the [Recommended Installation]
• Proceed with installation according to messages appearing on the
screen.
●The software compatible with your PC will be installed.
– PHOTOfunSTUDIO (Windows XP/Vista/7)
– LoiLoScope 30 day full trial version (Windows XP/Vista/7)
(This will only install a shortcut to the trial version download site.)
●PHOTOfunSTUDIO is not compatible with Mac.

20 VQT4B27 (ENG)
Specifications
Digital Camera: Information for your safety
Power Source DC 5.1 V
Power
Consumption
When recording: 1.4 W
When playing back: 0.9 W
Camera effective
pixels
12,100,000 pixels
Image sensor 1/2.3” MOS sensor,
total pixel number 12,800,000 pixels
Primary color filter
Lens
[NANO SURFACE
COATING]
Optical 16 x zoom
f=4.3 mm to 68.8 mm
(35 mm film camera equivalent: 24 mm to 384 mm) /
F3.3 (Max. W) to F5.9 (Max. T)
Image Stabilizer Optical method
Focus range
P / A / S / M 50 cm (1.6 feet) (Wide) /
2 m (6.6 feet) (Tele) to
Macro /
Intelligent
Auto /
Motion picture
3 cm (0.098 feet) (Wide) / 1 m (3.3 feet) (Tele) to
(7 × to 11 × is 2 m (6.6 feet) to )
Scene Mode There may be difference in above settings.
Shutter system Electronic shutter + Mechanical shutter
Minimum
Illumination
Approx. 10 lx (when i-Low light is used, the shutter
speed is 1/30th of a second)
Shutter speed 15 seconds to 1/4000th of a second
Exposure (AE) Program AE (P) / Aperture-priority AE (A) /
Shutter-priority AE (S) / Manual exposure (M)
Metering Mode [Multi Metering] / [Center Weighted] / [Spot]