Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

Being a user of DSLR cameras for years, this camera was a surprise, Though it is not a DSLR, it doesn't have to be since it has all the attributes without the weight or the need to carry extra lenses. My comment is WOW. The Panasonic Lumix FZ18K is small and light weight. Its zoom range is everything anyone would ever need. Its Leica lens is excellent. Matters such as resolution and storage are what you make it. This camera seems to do everything and then some, except scratch my back. Having lugged DSLRs and extra lenses for years, this "compact" camera is going to see some serious travel time.

Well, it is unbelievable, however photos taken with this camera are comparable with many photos taken with much more advanced cameras, including SLRs with removable lenses. The lens of this Lumix is very good, much better than the lens bundled with any Canon EOS SLR. The noise level is very low and the image stabilizer indeed allows you to take advantage of the great zoom. This is the first compact camera I know which is worth to be bought for a person who loves to take pictures and want to take beautiful photos. It is also great that the Panasonic decided to put only 8MP into it - it is more than enough with that size of lens. Many other cameras of that size has more MP than the attached lens can handle. And more MP means bigger files. Just buy and enjoy!

The FZ18 is close to being a professional camera--only its lack of a flash-sync connetion keeps it in the point-and-shoot category. Its remarkable zoom range coupled with image stabilization makes shooting at 1/125 or under at 500mm not only possible, but also sharp and clear. I have been able to take long telephoto shots from a power boat in choppy waters--this is the camera I now use on all on-water patrols since I can record distant objects as well as the crews in action. It has very short time-lag between depressing the shutter button and the taking of the picture (except for red-eye reduction with flash).

Its light weight and compact size are only part of the story--it allows eye-piece or screen viewing, and the photographer can change the brightness of the screen to suit lighting conditions. In addition, he can also change the angle of the screen so it is visible while holding the camera high to shoot over a crowd.

Given the cost of this unit and its great performance (except for serious flash photography--bounce, aux units, etc.), I am very glad I bought it. I suggest a 4-gig card and a spare battery (2-hour recharge time).

I have been using a Casio pocket digital for the last two years and have gotten terrific pictures with it, but the 3X zoom just dosen't do it for me any more. After a good deal of research, I decided on the FZ18. It not only has the 18X zoom, but also gives me wide angle. As I travel a good deal, this is an important matter for me.

After getting the camera, it's become apparent that it's capable of doing a great deal more than I care to. I have found however, that I'm starting to use some of the features that I thought I didn't care about, like exposure bracketing.

As other reviewers have noted, as the ISO goes up, the quality goes down. While it's capable of taking photos in low light, if you want great quality, use the flash or put it on a tripod and set it to a very slow speed. Without doing this, your pictures will be grainy. With the flash, they're beautiful and crystal clear.

I also like the backlight compensation. It really solves the problem of an overly bright background and is so easy to use. The camera is not totally intuative, but is mostly so. Once you figure the out the menu system, the rest is easy.

One other problem I had was finding a good bag. After ordering and returning a few I settled on the Lowepro Nova 1. It is inexpensive, very well made, holds the camera, accessories and personal items to get you through the day. I carry an extra battery rather than a charger. At 300-400 shots per charge, this should easily get anyone through even a short vacation.

I think this camera is going to satisfy all my photographic needs and would recommend it to anyone who wants more that a pocket digital but less than an SLR.

I received this camera as a Christmas present. It is an amazing camera. I wanted something with a powerful zoom, as I hike a lot. The pictures are fantastic. It is easy to use without a lot of reading first. The auto intelligent mode is fantastic. It instantly knows what kind of shot I am taking...senic, back light, portrait, and adjusts automatically. The zoom is so sharp! There is no delay, unlike most others I've used. No waiting between shots. I also really like the rechargeable battery pack. It lasts forever compared with the AA use, and charges quickly too. No complaints here...just a very happy digital owner for a change (this is my 4th digital).