When you don't know which mode will give you the best shooting results, or when a sudden photo opportunity pops up and you don't have time to make any settings, simply choose iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode and let the camera do it all for you. The Face Detection function of the DMC-FX48(FX40) has evolved with the new Face Recognition feature, which memorizes a specific person's face and automatically focuses on it, for even greater shooting convenience. iA Mode includes MEGA O.I.S. to detect hand-shake, Intelligent ISO Control to detect subject movement, Face Detection AF/AE to detect faces in the frame, Intelligent Scene Selector to detect scene conditions, Intelligent Exposure to detect the brightness level and AF Tracking to continually track a moving subject and keep it in focus. These 6 functions work automatically and simultaneously in iA Mode to optimize your settings, making it easier than ever to take beautiful photos every time.

The DMC-FX48(FX40) features Face Recognition, a function that "remembers" faces. Register the person from the menu by taking his/her full-face portrait with his/her name. Once complete, if the familiar face appears into your frame again, the camera will display the name you specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and in sharp focus*. In playback, you can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using Category Playback. Face recognition makes sorting archiving incredibly easy.
This Advanced Face Detection also features Digital Red-eye Correction. The camera takes care of the red-eye effect that often happens when shooting with a flash, to ensure attractive facial expression always. The Face Detection function detects up to 15 faces at a time, making it extremely convenient for group photos. Once the camera detects a face, Face Tracking follows it even when the subject moves around. Plus, the system keeps on detection if a face turns sideways to the camera.

* Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance.
* Recognition performance varies greatly depending on shooting conditions, i.e., according to factors such as angles, facial expression and lighting, so operation under all conditions cannot be guaranteed. Because the camera searches for faces that are similar to registered faces, there are cases where the faces are not correctly recognized when the registered image and the shooting image varies much. When facial characteristics are similar, particularly between parents and their children or brothers and sisters, the camera may not distinguish the faces.

The MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)* in the DMC-FX48(FX40) compensates for the blurring caused by hand-shake. It is now featured on the entire LUMIX range, and is highly popular with users around the world. Even slight hand-shake movement is accurately detected by a sampling frequency of 4,000 times per second, and compensated to produce sharp, clear images. The Venus Engine V controls the shifting of the blur-stopping lens with even greater precision to further increase the detection accuracy and correction effect of MEGA O.I.S.. It works for zoom shots and macro shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake, and lets you shoot in dimly lit rooms or evening illumination to preserve the mood. In short, it lets anybody take beautiful, blur-free shots with ease.

* MEGA O.I.S. is automatically turned on in iA Mode and can be turned on or off in Normal Picture Mode or some Scene Modes.

The Intelligent ISO Control function* in the DMC-FX48(FX40) made possible by the Venus Engine V, detects subject movement and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the movement and light conditions. When it detects subject motion, it automatically raises the ISO setting and increases the shutter speed to prevent motion blur. On the other hand, when the subject is still and no movement is detected, it takes beautifully natural photos with a low ISO setting. Intelligent ISO Control gives you stunning images with ease because there is no need for complicated settings.

* The Intelligent ISO Control function is automatically turned on in iA Mode, and can be turned on or off in Normal Picture Mode to enable a maximum sensitivity setting.

When the camera's in iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the Scene Mode to either Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery*¹. The camera judges it from the various detection results such as focusing and brightness level of the circumstance*². You are free from annoying settings every time scene changes when taking pictures with these most frequently used Scene Modes to get beautiful results even before you know it.

*1 In iA Mode, Night Portrait is not identified when the flash is turned off, and Night Scenery is not identified when the flash is set to Auto.
*2 With some subject and shooting conditions, it is just not possible to judge the best shooting details. When this happens, it is recommended that you shoot with the Scene Mode that best suits your purpose.

The Intelligent Exposure function* increases the exposure only in under-exposed areas by detecting the brightness level part-by-part in the picture. If the background includes the sky, which tends to be easily washed out, the camera automatically adjusts the aperture and shutter speed to keep the setting slightly under-exposed to prevent wash-out while brightening the darkened area by increasing the ISO only in that area. If the background of an indoor portrait receives insufficient lighting from a flash and becomes dark, the ISO sensitivity is raised in only the low-lit area to make it brighter without causing graininess in the subject's face.

* Intelligent Exposure function is automatically turned on in iA Mode and can be turned on or off in Normal Picture Mode.