Testseek.com have collected 73 expert reviews of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and the average rating is 83%. Scroll down and see all reviews for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18.
January 2008
(83%)
73 Reviews
Average score from experts who have reviewed this product.
Users
(92%)
64 Reviews
Average score from owners of the product.
83010073
The editors liked
Intelligent Scene Selector makes taking sharp
Evenly exposed pictures a veritable 'no brainer'
Quick AF minimises shutter delay
Venus Engine III with subject motion detection (so ISO and shutter speed increased to compensate)
Very good image quality with adjusted JPEG settings
Excellent image quality with RAW images
Stabilized 18XZ zoom
Aspect ratio choices
Well supported RAW mode
Excellent monitor and EVF
Manual controls
Great videos
Wide
Long 18x lens
Accurate colors
Great resolution
Effective face detection
Simple design with good controls
Lightweight
Good grip
18x optical zoom
Extremely low optical distortion
RAW mode
White balance can be fine-tuned
Selectable AF points
Live histogram
Ability to limit maximum ISO
Broad diopter control
Lens is well-recessed...
Shoots in RAW mode
Excellent value. Images with accurate color and correct exposure. Versatile 18X optical zoom. 28mm wide-angle lens. Intuitive menu system.
Wide-angle
Long zoom lens
Nice set of shooting features.
Very good photos in a variety of settings
Amazing focal range including wide angle
Manual options galore
Good
Sharp results in optimal shooting conditions
Natural color and excellent exposure
Hugely versatile 18x zoom range covering true wideangle to long telephoto
Smooth
Almost stepless 2-speed zoom
Effective image stabilization
Good build qual...
18x optical zoom
Optical image-stabilization
Full manual-mode
RAW support
Excellent 18x optical zoom Leica lens
Burst mode returns clear photos
18x optical zoom with OIS and little fringing
Decent quality 2.5in screen
Intelligent Auto a useful auto mode
Good manual control and RAW facility.
Range of features
Design
Image quality at low ISO
The editors didn't like
Silver bodied version looks and feels a bit plasticy in the 'flesh'
Fine mode JPEG can contains artefacts with default settings
Some shadow noise as of 100 ISO
Wide angle a touch softer focus than all other focal lengths
No flash shoe
207k LCD resolution
Optical zoom nonfunctional in movie mode
Poor audio
Ugly noise apparent above ISO 200
Inconsistent AF in low light
Noise and noise suppression visible even at low ISO
High ISO image noise and noise reduction degrades image quality
Significant chromatic aberration at telephoto
Digital zoom is soft
Moderate barrel distortion at wide angle
Greens are undersaturated
Defau...
Noisy photos at ISO 800 and higher
Zoom doesnt work while capturing video
No MEGA OIS button
Noise in low-light and flash shots.
Cameras JPEG processing choices can produce suboptimal results
No zoom in movie capture
Sluggish LCD/EVF update.
Still too much noise at ISO 400 and above
Poorly designed lens hood
Chuck it
Images lack biting crispness
Some loss of fine detail to noise reduction even at ISO 100
Default noise reduction too high at all ISO settings (use low NR setting or raw)
Occasional odd artefacts at lower ISO settings (some moiré related
Abstract: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 performs quite well for having such an extreme optical zoom. While it is normal that ultra-zooms compromise one image quality, this one compromise very little to pack an 18X zoom along an 8 megapixels sensor. The major d...
Abstract: Panasonic has taken the wraps off the the latest model in their FZ superzoom series, the FZ18 which packs an astonishing eighteen times optical zoom. Sporting a relatively modest 8 megapixel sensor, the SLR-style camera offers an Intelligent Auto Mode...
Published: 2008-06-12, Author: Andrew , review by: techworld.com
All in all, the Lumix DMC FZ-18K does come through for the price, especially if high optical zoom, a great lens, and a beginners' course on manual settings is what you're looking for. ...
For a camera which is going to give you big time optical zoom, high quality 8.1 mega pixels and the ability to use Raw format; pick the Panasonic Lumix FZ18. You won't be disappointed.Pros18x optical zoom lens Light weight SLR type digital camera Panas...
Noisy photos at ISO 800 and higher, Zoom doesnt work while capturing video, No MEGA OIS button
If youre looking for a digital camera but cant decide whether you want one that shoots wide or long, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 will do both for you exceedingly well. Though its 18X focal range is the same as the Olympus SP-550 UZs, this camera is...
Very good photos in a variety of settings, Amazing focal range including wide angle, Manual options galore
Still too much noise at ISO 400 and above, Poorly designed lens hood; chuck it
In this case all the Internet buzz was right on target. This is probably the best super zoom camera (12x and above) I’ve tested to date. It’s responsive, saves files relatively quickly, has a boatload of manual adjustments and its Intelli...
Abstract: The success of the Megazoom cameras lead to a farther advancing of the concept and to equip a small housing with no less than 18x optical zoom. The resolution of 8 Megapixels suffices easily for printing small to large prints. Although the immense popu...
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is a bit of a jack of all trades – you can get crisp close ups with the minimum of fuss whether shooting from safe distance away, and also get cracking macro shots with the cameras lens practically resting on your subjec...