Kodak PIXPRO FZ45 Settings for Beginners: Photo and Video Guide
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My quick Kodak FZ45 setup
For everyday photos, I start with 16MP image size, Best quality, AiAE metering, Auto white balance and Normal color. I generally turn Continuous AF off, use Multi-AF for the focus area, and disable digital zoom. For most video, I choose Full HD at 30 frames per second.
These are starting points, not settings that will work perfectly in every scene. If an option is missing or grayed out, check the shooting mode: the FZ45 makes different controls available in different modes. The FZ45 manual includes the full menu and mode availability.
Watch me walk through the FZ45 settings.
Recommended starting settings
| Setting | My starting point | Why or when to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure metering | AiAE | A general-purpose automatic metering choice; review the image in difficult light. |
| Image size | 16M, 4608 x 3456 | Retains the camera's full 4:3 photo dimensions. |
| Photo quality | Best | My preference for photo files; leaves fewer images on the card than lower-quality settings. |
| Continuous AF | Off | I prefer focusing when I half-press the shutter rather than listening to continuous focusing. |
| Focus setting | Multi-AF | Try Single-AF for a centered subject; tracking is available but didn't work especially well for me. |
| HDR / white balance / color | HDR Off / Auto / Normal | Try HDR in high-contrast scenes or a different white balance or color effect when you want a specific look. |
| Digital zoom | Off | Keeps zoom limited to the optical range; crop later if needed. |
| Movie size | 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps | Use 720p at 60 fps for moderate slow-motion experiments or VGA 120 fps for a much lower-resolution effect. |
Press the Mode button to choose a shooting mode, then open the shooting menu using the button shown in the video. Some choices depend on the mode, so start in a photo mode and switch to Movie mode for the video settings. After making a change, take a test photo or short clip and check it on a larger screen.
1. Choose AiAE metering for everyday photos
Metering is how the camera evaluates brightness to help choose an exposure. I usually select AiAE, which considers the scene for an automatic exposure. It is a useful general starting point, but it can't guarantee that every bright highlight or dark shadow will be retained.
Center metering gives more weight to the middle of the frame. Spot metering evaluates a smaller central area, which can be useful when the subject and background have very different brightness. Correction to my video: Kodak specifies that the FZ45's spot-metering area is fixed at the center; it is not a freely movable spot. Check the exposure after recomposing and use exposure compensation when available if the result is too bright or dark.
2. Set image size to 16MP and quality to Best
Under Image Size, I choose 16M, which records 4608 x 3456 pixels in a 4:3 shape. This retains the camera's largest photo dimensions and gives more room for cropping or printing than a smaller setting. More pixels alone don't guarantee a sharp image; focus, camera movement and lighting still matter.
In the deeper photo settings menu, I set Quality to Best. Kodak lists Best, Fine and Normal compression options. Best preserves more file data at the cost of larger files; it is separate from the image-size setting. The FZ45 records JPEG photos, so avoid relying on extensive recovery of severely overexposed highlights.
3. Separate Continuous AF from the focus-area setting
These are two different menu choices that sound similar:
- Continuous AF On/Off controls whether the camera continually adjusts focus while you're preparing a photo. I generally leave it off and half-press the shutter to focus when I'm ready.
- Focus Setting selects where or how the camera looks for a subject: Single-AF, Multi-AF or Object Tracking.
I usually choose Multi-AF, which lets the camera select a focus point across a wider area. It may not choose the subject you intended, so check the focus box before taking the shot. Single-AF uses the center focus frame. Object Tracking attempts to follow a moving subject, but I didn't find it especially reliable in my use.
I also enable face detection for photos of people when available. It can help the camera identify a face, but it doesn't guarantee perfectly sharp eyes. With Continuous AF off, I prefer the quieter camera and focus with the shutter half-press; turn it on if you prefer the camera to keep adjusting as you frame.
4. Choose a shooting drive mode
For ordinary snapshots, Single takes one photo per press. Continuous Shot takes multiple images while you hold the shutter, and the camera also offers a three-shot setting. The manual says flash is disabled in Continuous Shot mode.
There are also interval options labeled 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes and 10 minutes. Use them when you want a series of photos over time, and plan for battery life, card space and a stable camera. Pick the drive setting for the scene rather than leaving continuous shooting on all the time.
5. HDR, white balance and color effects
I normally leave HDR off because I prefer the standard look and can make adjustments afterward. HDR can help with very bright and dark areas in a static, high-contrast scene; Kodak suggests using a tripod. Try it when the scene calls for it and compare the result rather than expecting perfect exposure in every condition.
Auto white balance works well for me most of the time. If the camera makes a scene too warm, cool or inconsistent, try the preset that matches the light or set a manual white balance. Adjusting a JPEG later is possible, but it gives you less flexibility than fixing a difficult lighting situation before the shot.
I use the Normal color effect and add a black-and-white or other look later if I want one. Effects chosen in camera are applied to the saved photo or video; save a normal version first if you may want a clean original.
6. Turn off digital zoom and adjust the small preferences
The FZ45 has a 4x optical zoom. I turn Digital Zoom off so I don't accidentally enlarge the image digitally after reaching the optical limit. Digital zoom can reduce visible detail; cropping later gives me a chance to choose the framing afterward, but neither method adds new detail.
I also turn the AF Assist Beam off because I find the front light distracting. If the camera struggles to focus in a dark scene and the light won't bother your subject, turning it on may help. I leave Date Imprint off and set Quick Review to one second. Those are personal preferences: date imprint places a visible date on photos, while Quick Review controls how long a new photo stays on screen.
7. Choose your FZ45 video resolution
Press Mode, select Movie mode and open the video menu. I normally choose 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps for everyday clips. I keep the color effect at Normal and digital zoom off here too; check the settings in Movie mode rather than assuming every photo setting carries over.
| Video setting | When I would use it | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 x 1080, 30 fps | My general-purpose video setting | No 4K or 60 fps at this resolution. |
| 1280 x 720, 60 fps | More frames for a moderate slow-motion edit | Lower resolution than Full HD; slow it down in compatible editing software. |
| 640 x 480, 120 fps high-speed movie | Experimenting with more pronounced slow motion | Very low resolution and no sound; the manual states a 30-second shooting time produces two minutes of playback. |
The 120 fps mode does not record sound, a limitation I didn't mention in the video. Kodak's manual also lists a 29-minute maximum per recording for the normal modes marked in its table; remaining card space, batteries and conditions can limit you sooner. Make a short test clip before an important recording.
Memory cards and batteries
The FZ45 uses two AA batteries. Bring spares or suitable rechargeable AAs for longer outings. Kodak's manual recommends a full-size SD, SDHC or SDXC card rated Class 10 or higher, with a capacity of 4GB to 512GB; its compatibility table does not support microSD cards in an adapter. Check the manual for your camera and back up the card before formatting, because formatting erases its contents.
The SD card I linked in the video opened a SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB full-size SDXC Class 10 card when I checked. Confirm the current listing and variant before ordering, then test the card in your camera.
Still deciding between models? My FZ45 versus FZ55 comparison covers the differences in zoom, batteries and handling.
Frequently asked questions
What photo size should I use on the Kodak FZ45?
I start with 16M, or 4608 x 3456 pixels, and choose Best photo quality separately. Use a smaller size only if the lower resolution suits your needs.
What is the difference between Continuous AF and Multi-AF?
Continuous AF controls whether the camera keeps adjusting focus while you frame. Multi-AF is a focus-area choice that lets the camera select a point over a wider area. They are separate settings.
Can I move the FZ45's spot-metering point?
No. Kodak specifies that spot metering is fixed to the center of the frame. My video described it as movable, so use the manual's description.
Can the FZ45 record 120 fps?
Yes, in its 640 x 480 high-speed movie mode. It is much lower resolution than Full HD and records no sound. Kodak lists 30 seconds of shooting as two minutes of playback.
Does the FZ45 shoot 4K video?
No. Kodak lists a maximum video resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps.
My final advice
Start with the simple setup above, then change one setting at a time so you can see what it does. Check focus, use good light when possible and review a few images before an important event. The FZ45 is a straightforward camera to learn on once the menu choices make sense.
Watch more camera guides on Adam Harig and FoxTailWhipz.