Under normal lighting conditions, the FZ10 will not choose f8 (the minimum aperture) when in macro-mode. Pressing the `exposure' button often does not help, because the FZ10 will not even offer f8 as an option. This can be pretty annoying, because smaller apertures (the larger the f-stop number, the smaller the aperture) offers larger depths of field. A large depth of field results in a greater range of distances at which objects remain in focus.
Steven Head `Ramblin' (dpreview, Panasonic forum, 18 March 2004)...
You can't use the macro dial setting and get f8. You have to be in aperture priority mode or manual mode to get F8.0
I tried it in aperture mode but it wanted a 1 second exposure that would require a tripod and using the self timer. I was able to focus about 1 {one inch} away which qualifies as a macro.
{Photo below by Steven Head, taken with FZ10 through his dining room window}
Fred 'fmoore' (dpreview, Panasonic forum, 18 March 2004)...
A way around it is to use a closeup filter in aperture priority mode. Of course, you're still going to need alot of light or long exposure at f8.
{Photo below taken by Fred at the Philadelphia Constitution Centre. Taken with an FZ1 (not an FZ10)}
In macro-mode the FZ10 seems to pre-determine what f-stops are suitable. I presume that in lower-light situations (as is the case in many macro shots) the FZ10 simply decides that f8 does not provide adequate light!
Which is pretty annoying, given that I often want maximum depth of field, especially in macro-mode. And f8 is not such a large f-number. (As Steven 'Ramblin' notes, the FZ10 can focus really close objects in manual mode anyway, partly obviating the need to use macro-made)
The FZ10 can choose to make f8 available in macro mode. Try taking a macro-shot of a light globe which is turned on ... :)
