Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: The Panasonic DMC-FZ18 is a mammoth superzoom, packing in 18x zoom lens and 8 megapixels. Despite its large dimensions, it's great fun to use, and is an uncluttered and responsive dSLR-like interface giving access to a wealth of features. It's all the fun

Pros: Ginormous, responsive zoom; great pictures; SLR-style controls; decent EVF

Cons: Average-sized sensor leads to some noise issues

Verdict: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is great fun to use, and is an uncluttered and responsive dSLR-like interface giving access to a wealth of features. Just about everything is tweakable, while the giant zoom, accomplished lens and excellent image quality make

Review summary: Panasonic's DMC-FZ18 packs about as much functionality and as many features as you'll find in a point-and-shoot. Did all the bells and whistles add up to great photos and videos?

Pros: Excellent 18x 28mm wide-angle lens, high-quality video mode, intelligent auto mode

Cons: Curious design choices, no zooming during video recording, customization options can be confusing

Review summary: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 aims to be the camera that has it all: a wide 28mm angle for photographing group portraits and architecture as well as the power of a long 18x optical zoom lens.

Pros: Manual controls, Great videos, Wide, long 18x lens, Accurate colors, Great resolution, Effective face detection

Cons: 207k LCD resolution, Optical zoom nonfunctional in movie mode,  Poor audio, Ugly noise apparent above ISO 200, Inconsistent AF in low light

Verdict: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is much improved from the FZ8. It has more resolution, a longer and wider 18x optical zoom lens, and adds features like face detection. The Panasonic FZ18 outperforms its predecessor in almost every way. Its pictures have much

Review summary: Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FZ18 builds on the already excellent FZ8 to deliver one of the best super-zooms on the market. We can give or take the extra megapixel and higher ISO settings, but swapping the already powerful 12x zoom for an 18x lens which extends

Pros: 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.,

Cons: Noise visible throughout ISO range., 50% pricier than earlier FZ8., No flip-out screen., May be too small and light for some., ,

Verdict: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 may cost 50% more than its predecessor but it's still hard not to be impressed. While it no longer offers the same sheer value, it does give you the flexibility of a longer and wider 18x optical zoom with decent stabilisation

Pros: Very good image quality when you keep the ISO low and the lighting up Whopping 18X zoom lens with useful 28 - 504 mm focal range and almost no barrel distortion Optical image stabilization Large, sharp 2.5" LCD display; screen visible outdoors and in low

Cons: Heavy-handed noise reduction smudges details, even at ISO 100; requires shooting in RAW mode to get best results EVF resolution could be better Useless high sensitivity mode No USB 2.0 High Speed support Can't swap memory cards while camera is on tripod L

Verdict: If the slew of 10X and 12X ultra zooms on the market just don't give you enough telephoto power, then you'll definitely want to have a look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18. It packs a whopping 18X, 28 - 504 mm lens into a body that's not much larger than