Product ReviewsPanasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ18 8.1MP Digital Camera - Black

Better than my Nikon D5000

Best camera that I own. My son has one of these cameras that we gave him many years ago. I would borrow the camera often to take on trips due to the compact size and nice zoom. But this camera is much more than the zoom or megapixels, takes very clear pictures at all zoom levels and captures excellent colors. I found this nice used camera on EBay and am ecstatic to have one for myself. Have taken a dozen pictures so far with excellent results. Takes better pictures than my Nikon D5000 and is less than half the size.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: robertscamera

Independent review of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is first of all, in my opinion, a universal camera for an amateur, irreplaceable on trips and hikes. It is not suitable for professional photography.

Pros:

- Good, high resolution shots at optimum conditions.
- Natural colors and superior image processing.
- Large, 18x zoom-objective lens, allows to fully capture objects both far away and as close as half an inch away from the camera.
- Smooth zoom drive, with two speed modes.
- Image can be stabilized.
- Compact.
- All around user-friendly.
- Works very quickly.
- Auto-focusing is fast and accurate.
- High definition display.
- Excellent view finder.
- Speed shooting is actually very fast, as well as recording speed.
- Good video mode.
- Useful RAW mode (1 frame per 4 seconds)
- Large selection of scenes for auto-shooting (family dinner, at the beach, etc.).
- Price affordable to any enthusiast.

Cons:

- Photo resolution does not excel, unfortunately
- High volume of white noise in all formats. RAW format is required to produce high resolution images.
- Small details get lost in JPEG format.
- Sensitivity above ISO400 is impractical, because of white noise and generally marred picture.
- Auto-focusing almost gets a will of its own in low lighting conditions.
- Low battery charge, additional batteries required for trips.

Notes:

This review was written by someone other than the publisher and in Russian. Original available on demand (no strings attached).
Permission to publish both versions was asked for and granted.
Camera has been in reviewer's possession for six months at the time of the review.Read full review...

I rated this 5 stars based on intended usage.

This is not a fine art large print camera. I have three of these only to insure I will be able to replace a daily user in the future. The 8 megapixel size is large enough for images that must be downloaded to a database in moderate numbers. The zoom is powerful enough to image house addresses from a distance of 200 feet or more. So, for its intended use, this is my ideal camera.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mrhemi276

Great price for a great camera--but make sure the dial works!

Got this one as a backup for one I purchased new for $400 in 2008 and still love. This looks new, but apparently got shaken in transit, so dial won't stay in position without effort. I use it when taklng quick shots is not necessary and I have time to work with it. Much lighter and easier to hold and use than its successors, which I bought and returned. Excellent product; wish they still made this particular model!Read full review...

Great camera!

I bought this camera as an upgrade. The biggest draw to it was that it has 18x optical zoom. It's amazing how close this zoom brings things. One thing I don't really like is that when you zoom to the highest level, it lowers the MP so the picture doesn't come out as crisp and clear as I would have liked. The battery life isn't quite as long as you would like either. I would suggest buying a second battery to keep charged for days when you will be using the camera alot.

There are so many options that I haven't even learned how to use them all yet, but I will. For someone not quite ready to spend the bigger bucks on a SLR camera, this one is a fantastic buy. It's the best point and shoot camera I've ever owned and the easiest one to use. All in all this is a great camera and I would recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade.Read full review...

Nice to hold and easy to use.

I like that the price I got was a great deal. It was a used camera but performs like new. Easy to use. Has a great point and shoot feature that cleans up the shot for you and helps you get a foot shot. It uses a normal type battery pack that was easy to get a second to go with. It also takes a normal type memory card that is easy to get more . Has a great zoom in and out feature. Feels like a "professional" camera but really just a nice unit.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: dsdill2

Forget the Other SuperZooms-Hail The New SuperZoom King

After using the Olympus SP-550UZ, the Canon Powershot S3 IS, the Sony DSC-H9 and the Nikon Coolpix S10 Super Zoom Digital Cameras, I have come to the conclusion that the new Panasonic DMC-FZ18K beats them all on features, performance and quality. I bought mine about a week ago and I am amazed at the quality and sharpness of the photos taken with this camera. Even at the full 18X zoom, the results are spectacular. It starts up quickly and shot to shot times are very fast. Exposures are accurate and being able to quickly access the manual controls and settings is really useful when you want total control over the aperture and shutter speed settings.

The Panasonic Mega OIS image stabilization system is superior to all of the other super zoom cameras. Hand held 18X zoom shots are crystal clear thanks to this stabilization system.

The camera is a little bigger than the DMC-FZ8K but still easy to hold and still retains a nice solid feel when aiming and using the camera.

I will add/update this review after I have had more time using the camera in outdoor and indoor lighting situations.

Feb 2008 Update
I've taken about 400 pictures since acquiring this camera and the image quality at low ISO settings (below 400) is excellent. This camera excels with hand-held long zoom shots attributed to te excellent OIS (optical Image Stabilization) system. In a pinch, you can shoot higher ISO (800-1600) but artifacts still appear and though sharper than the older super-zooms, you can still obtain a decent photo albeit with some graininess.

I have found the flash to be powerful with adequate coverage for up to 25 feet in range. Color balance and white balance are very accurate and the factory settings for sharpness are more than acceptable.

I think the Leica Lens contributes a lot to the sharpness of the image. The latest generation of the Venus Imaging engine makes the camera much more responsive (than competing Super zooms and earlier Lumix Models) with minimal shutter lag and snappy menus and image playback.

For the money, I think this camera is worth every penny. If you want a fast responsive super zoom that can capture those fleeting once in a lifetime photo ops, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K will handle any photographic challenge you can throw at it swiftly and efficiently.Read full review...

Excelent camera for this price

Pro-very good image quality,very easy to use,in manual mode you can do everything you want,perfect design,very good battery life,very good image quality at 18X optical zoom,good image stabilization,quick and easy.

Cons - in Recording Mode- can't use zoom,but its a digital camera not camcorder..Read full review...

Excellent camera-as far as I know now

Many functions, but easy to just pick up and start shooting. Has jpeg, raw, and raw+jpeg modes.

Seems to focus easy and take great pics in daylight but have heard it has trouble in darkness (will have to wait and see about this) but since I usually am a day shooter, I won't have much problem with this.

Overall, when I shot the other days, I got very good pix quality. (in natural sunny daylight)Read full review...

Great intro to pro photography

I love this camera! The size and ergonomics of this camera are perfect for what I need. I am a good sized guy and needed a camera that I could learn to shoot great pics and have the ease of point and shoot so my wife could easily handle too. The size and build of this camera is very solid yet light and compact.

I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota and wanted a great zoom to catch the stunning vistas and vast wildlife and the 18x zoom with the quality of Leica glass fits the bill wonderfully! The picture quality and ease of use are hard to beat for a camera under $300.

I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants to buy a great digital camera with amazing zoom and enough options to learn photography and still have the option of easy point and shoot operation.Read full review...