Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Review: 
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K is an excellent camera for everyday use and also for those of you who may want to control your photos more directly. The main reason I got this camera was because of the massive zoom as well as the wide angle ability all in one fixed lens. My FZ20 has a massive telephoto as well, but not the wide angle option built in like the FZ18. Another nice change that I found with this camera is the addition of the joystick on the back panel.
The 4-way-regular selector that has always been on the back of Lumix cameras is still there and still controls the same exposure and flash intensity functions, but the joystick lets you make very quick aperture and shutter speed changes that were a bit harder to do on earlier models. The photo quality is excellent as well. The only thing that I am not 100% happy with is the small size of this camera. My FZ20 is a normal SLR sized camera that fits into my hand normally. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K is smaller and it almost makes my hand feel cramped when I am holding it and trying to get to a function with the 4-way dial or the joystick.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Review: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K is the bridge model for Lumix cameras and it was reviewed in some travel magazines and in Digital Photographer, which compared it to Fujifilm S8000fd (rated 90%) & Olympus SP 560 UZ (rated 86%)–the Lumix was rated #1 at 96%. Out of the box, the pictures were a bit flat and the colors a bit off and less vibrant than the model. The camera needed to be adjusted for color and contrast, but this is a relatively minor considering you can get some very nice, clear shots.
Pros: More options and programming available than for a conventional point & shoot. Great 18x optical zoom, but use a tripod or monopod for best shot. Mega OIS stabilization is great and you can get some decent zoom & macro shots handheld. Leica lens is a saving grace, producing some nice crisp shots. Can pre-program 3 of your most used scene options and switch so you don’t have to fuss with adjustments every shot. Burst mode, bracketing also available. Lightweight and small for a fairly powerful camera with lots of options. Feels comfortable and easy in your hand–great for women who generally have smaller hands and those who don’t want to be lifting hefty cameras and multiple lenses around. Menus were easy to learn. Has eyepiece with adjustment wheel for those of us with less than perfect eyesight. Large LCD. RAW available. Inexpensive so overall a great value and camera.
Cons: Since I found colors a bit flat, almost exclusively shoot in Program mode so iA (intelligent autofocus) is kind of wasted. Autofocus didn’t do as well in low light and shots were grainy but not an issue if you mostly shoot in daylight plus few point & shoot cameras photograph well in low light. LCD has clear shiny “window” that gets “fingerprinty” (I use a microfiber eyeglass cloth to keep it clean) and may scratch eventually (but by then I will probably be ready to buy a new camera). There are LCD protectors available if you want those. 8.1 MP decent, but would wish for higher MP–however not an issue if you don’t do extensive cropping or blow up pictures to large sizes such as poster sized. Would also like to see swing/tilt LCD–great for when you are shooting above your head, but many cameras don’t have this option either.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Description: Experience the power of an incredible 18x optical zoom in a 8.1-megapixel camera that fits in the palm of your hand. From vast landscapes to super telephoto shots, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K gives you crisp, stunning images using a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens. For macro shots, the wide-angle setting lets you shoot all the way down to one centimeter from your subject, while the telephoto setting can be used up to one meter (3.28 feet) from your subject. With the Extended Optical Zoom function, zoom power is boosted to around 28.7x (in 3-megapixel resolution mode).
Panasonic has expanded its Lumix family of digital still cameras with the introduction of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K, an 8.1-megapixel compact camera with an impressive 18x optical zoom. In addition to a premium 28mm wide-angle Leica D C lens, the DMC-FX18 is one of the first Panasonic digital cameras to offer the revolutionary Intelligent Auto Mode, which includes Face De tection, Intelligent Scene Selector, and Continuous Autofocus functions, allowing users t o easily capture clear, professional-quality images in any situation or setting.
When this powerful camera–which features image-stabilized optical zoom up to 18 x–is put into Intelligent Auto Mode, the multifaceted functions engage automatically, so there is no need to adjust s ettings every time conditions change. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K intuitive Intelligent Auto Mode comprises :
* Intelligent Scene Selector, which automatically selects the appropriate scene mode from the most frequently-used modes such as Portrait, Scenery, Macro, Night Scen ery, and Night Portrait;
* Face Detection System, which helps the camera to focus, set autoexposure, an d detects up to 15 human faces, capturing them clearly and brightly; and
* Continuous Autofocus, which allows the camera to keep focus on the subject w ithout having to press the shutter button halfway and allowing for the best results out of a shutter chance by minimizing the autofocus time.
Similar to the entire 2007 line of Lumix digital still cameras, the camera sport s advanced countermeasures against blurring–the Intelligent Image Stabilization system tha t combines MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) to compensate for hand-shake and Intel ligent ISO Control to detect and adjust for motion blur caused by subject movement.
The Lumix Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K
also is equipped with a 2.5-inch large, high-resolution LCD w ith 207,000 pixels, a 0.44-inch electric viewfinder with 188,000 pixels and f2.8 brightness, and is powered by the high-quality, high-performance Venus Engine III, which boasts shooting at IS O 1600 in normal recording mode.
The DMC-FZ18 has been redesigned to make the camera more stylish and easier to u se. The autofocus, autoexposure lock, and Macro buttons are now independent, to allow qu ick and direct operation. A metal-finished mode dial adds design strength, and an enhanc ed rubber grip makes the camera easier to hold. The redesigned body also incorporates the joyst ick made popular by the DMC-FZ8 model, which enables a host of settings, such as manual f ocusing and exposure, to be done quickly and easily.
Other advanced features of the Lumix DMC-FZ18 include:
* Custom Setting Mode that memorizes your frequent setting patterns for in stance use applied by simply selecting this function on the mode dial.
* 1920 x 1080 pixel photos ideal for full-screen viewing on a wide-screen HDTV .
* Six autofocusing methods including face detection, multi, three-point high-s peed, one-point high speed, one-point normal speed, and spot. With the one-point autofocus or spot autofocus method, the autofocusing area can be chosen from as many as 11 points with the joystick or cursor button.
* Advanced Scene Modes provide users more control over some frequently used sc ene modes, such as indoor and outdoor modes, when selecting portrait or sports mode and nature or architecture settings when selecting portrait mode.
* Bundled SILKYPIX Developer Studio 2.0SE software application for editing and developing images in the RAW file format.
* 27MB of built-in memory–perfect for backing up SDHC/SD memory card recordin g.
* Extra Optical Zoom feature extends zoom power to 28.7x at 3 megapixels.
* Compatibility with large-capacity SDHC memory cards.
* Title Edit Function allows inputting of text and additional picture informat ion.
* Picture Playback by category sorts images into categories such as portraits, landscapes, nightscapes, events, and motion pictures. Also, allows slideshow pla yback of images in the same category.
* Optional accessories including a teleconversion lens, close-up lens, ND filt er, MC protector, lens adapter, AC adapter, battery pack, soft case, and camera bag.
* Available in two colors: silver and black.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Review: I bought Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K camera for my beginning photography class. It met all the requirements I had and more. I spent some time reading all the possible reviews out there and compared it to many of the camera in its class. The Panasonic Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K has been rated the top of the the superzoom so that knocked out most of the competing cameras. It really came down to this camera or the Canon S5. However, Panasonic won me over because of several things;
1. Wide Angle (Canon S5 no wide angle)
2. 18x Optical Zoom (Canon S5 at 12x, not that big of a deal but still a plus for Panasonic)
3. RAW Image Format (I’m first a design major so I like the ability to process my own image)
4. LiON Battery (I prefer this to 4 double AA’s, small recharge adapter, one solid battery pack instead of a clutter of 4 double AA’s, weighs less)
5. Image Stabilization (On par with Canon’s)
6. Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT Lens
Although the Canon S5 Image quality is much better than Panasonic’s at 100 ISO and under, Canon S5 has a lot more noise at 200+. And at 800+, it’s pretty much unusable. Although any non-DSLR type cameras will have a lot more noise, I think that the Panasonic FZ18 has a lot less noise than all the other cameras. Yes most places say that it has noise at all range of ISO, but I prefer barely noticeable noise at low ISO and decent image quality from mid to high iso rather than no noise at lowest iso setting and then all other iso settings are crap. That’s why I chose it over the Canon S5 even though at 80 ISO, Canon’s image is super sharp. Too bad Panasonic doesn’t have a swivel lcd screen and a hot shoe but I can live without those two things. Also, Canon S5 can take images up to 0cm away compared to Panasonic’s 1cm, I thought about that and decided I probably wouldnt want to put anything close to my camera lens anyway and risk damaging it.
My first impressions of the Camera was wow it’s a lot smaller than it looks in pictures, and wow it’s super light! I held the Canon S5 in stores and it’s a little bit lighter than the Canon. Oh one thing i noticed was that i could feel the lens move when I tilt the camera back and forth. I was scared that it was broken until I read this info sheet that came with the camera saying if you hear noises that’s just the lens moving when the camera is shaken. As long as it’s not broken, phew. Even though it’s light and makes a little noise, it still feels pretty solid and durable. I mean, no one should go around shaking their camera like a spray can anyways. With the batteries inside, the camera feels a lot more solid and the weight is just right.
This camera looks a lot better than the Canon S5 to me and it feels more comfortable to hold (I keep the hood adapter attach to extend the lens barrel and this helps with the look of the camera and also at 0X the lens doesn’t stick out). After taken several pictures I must say I was really impressed, in good lighting it was spectacular (at 100 ISO in good lighting I can’t see any noise!), in low lighting conditions it was still good. The image stabilizer on this camera is amazing, I can nail a perfectly clear shot at 18x without a tripod. That’s pretty impressive to me. In conclusion, the Panasonic Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K is superior camera, has well-rounded image quality, and the product just feels tighter and more hassle free. If you want anything better than this, then you really need to get a DSLR. Saying that, you have to keep in mind the price difference, the larger size, heavier weight, and having to carry a million lenses and accessories.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K camera is better than average point and shoot but don’t expect the picture quality of an old style film SLR. It’s worth what it costs but it will not knock your socks off. Panasonic doesn’t provide or offer a proper fitting case for this model. I bought the Lowepro mini which works well and I’m very happy with but it would still have been nice to have a perfect fitting case for the camera alone.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Review: Panasonic’s partnership with Leica has created some real gems for photographers who want fast and fun cameras. The latest in their megazoom FZ line is this - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K, so called because of a 28mm-504mm 18x zoom. Those optics are the first of three great things about this camera. The lens is sharp and produces remarkably little distortion, a great achievement for a camera of this zoom range. Second is the optical image stabilization as Panasonic calls it, MEGA OIS. This feature, one of the best available in the market, helps to steady the camera which allows for clearer hand-held shots than was possible before stabilization, which makes the long end of the zoom truly useful. Third is the ergonomics and ease of use. The idiot-proof Intelligent Auto mode gets the shot right most of the time and the camera is fun to use with well-placed controls and a functional body.
Other, less defining achievements are fast response times, good battery life, excellent flash recycling times, a useful burst mode, and customizable shooting settings. That said, there are some faults that inevitably come from the megazoom design an irritatingly small sensor that will be prone to noise. As I’m sure most photographic enthusiasts and electrical engineers will agree, the tiny design of such a chip will create electrical noise, indistinguishable from picture detail, which means in low light (and thus high ISOs), the pictures come out grainy. To correct for this, the camera processes the picture, reducing detail even more to smear out the noise.
However, this isn’t the end of the world. First, the noise is nearly invisible on s
mall prints so if you only make small prints, no one would even notice. Second, the FZ-18’s noise isn’t much worse than its competitors such as the Olympus SP 550 and 560 UZ. And third, better than many of its competitors, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K allow for the user to adjust the amount of noise reduction and also supports RAW output, which retains the detail for processing later. Its movie mode is acceptable but not great. It can’t zoom while filming and it doesn’t have stereo sound like the Canon S5 IS does. If you want that, this camera might not be for you. Get a camcorder instead. Another problem is the blue banding effect, which creates a large band of blue color on the left hand side of the picture under special conditions, but will almost never show in real-world shots. This problem seems to vary from camera to camera and Panasonic (as of X-mas time 2007) is working on a fix.
Movie mode (which I hardly use) and the blue band problem (a nuisance that is rarely seen in real life) aside, the only major drawback this camera has is its noise, a zit upon the forehead of photographic greatness. And although this is annoying, it’s the same problem present in all megazoom cameras, which in this case is more than made up for by the ease of use and incredibly useful zoom range. Overall, a good though not faultless camera that is probably the best-of-the-bunch of the megazoom range. Get to know its limitations and adjust your preferences, and it will give you excellent results. If you don’t want to bother, put it in the Intelligent Auto mode and it will do fine all by itself. As a side note, if you truly wanted to get away from noise, get a DSLR, but don’t expect to be able to use the same zoom range without constantly changing lenses.
Price Range: $292.00 - $389.99