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Big Zoom, Small Camera - 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 DMC-FZ18 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).
Intelligent Auto Technology Delivers Perfect Shots Every Time - Say good-bye to complicated settings. Just turn the dial to iA and the DMC-FZ18 will not only help eliminate blurring from hand-shake or subject movement, but it will also detect up to 15 faces and automatically select the focus, exposure and scene modes for the best results.
MEGA O.I.S. Prevents Blurring from Hand-Shake - Camera shake is the number one cause of blurry, out-of-focus pictures. That''s why Panasonic Lumix digital cameras come equipped with advanced Optical Image Stabilization (MEGA O.I.S.) that detects even the tiniest camera movement, then automatically adjusts the lens to compensate. With MEGA O.I.S., you''re ensured sharp, clear pictures every time without any loss of image detail or clarity.
Intelligent ISO Control Helps Prevent Motion Blur - Thanks to Intelligent ISO, Panasonic Lumix digital cameras capture crisp, clear images even when your subject moves as you shoot. Advanced subject-motion detection circuitry senses when your subject is moving and raises the camera''s ISO sensitivity and shutter speed settings accordingly. This suppresses motion blur and also makes it easy to shoot scenes with fast moving action.
Face Detection for Blur-Free Portraits - The new Face Detection function automatically chooses the optimal settings to make sure faces appear well-lit and in focus. This advanced technology can detect up to 15 faces in a scene, and will even automatically readjust the settings if their positions change. In Intelligent Auto Mode, the camera automatically begins focusing even before you press the shutter button, so you''ll never miss an opportunity for a great shot.
Scene Detection Chooses the Mode That Best Fits the Situation - With your Panasonic Lumix digital camera in Intelligent Auto Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector will sense the ambient conditions and automatically select either the Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode accordingly. With the camera choosing the settings for you, you''ll get beautiful results every time you shoot, no matter what the scene or subject.
Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
[6 of 6 customers found this review helpful]
from South Jordan, UT on 7/8/2008
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
After 4 years, it finally became a necessity to replace my dependable but slow shutter speed Olympus Stylus 400.
I am a typical home user of a camera, but I want to keep up with my zooming 5 year old, whether she's on the soccer field, or in the dance studio...and get the shot that I see in my mind's eye. After reading everything I could get my hands on, out of all the variables on cameras, I finally decided that for me, the three biggest must haves were:
1) a fast start up/fast shutter response
2) a good zoom/image stabilization
3) good quality images to print
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ18 has all that and more than I could want.
I used a PNY Optima 60x 2GB SD card, and filled it in two days...just with playing around with pics and video.
Start up speed:
I can grab the camera from the bag next to me, and with one hand be turning it on, choose its setting, and the other hand taking the cover off...and by the time I have the camera in front of my face, it's ready to take the picture I'm seeing. It's usually ready before I am!
Shutter lag minimal:
While I think the only way to ALWAYS get the shots I want is to take that step up to SLR, this camera gets the majority of the shots I want...and would get more if I started a bit earlier and used burst mode, instead! I'm VERY happy with the low lag time on this camera.
Zoom/Image Stabilization:
I'm just astounded by this camera. Considering the HUGE zoom factor, Im just floored by the clarity of the picture, and how confident one can be just by looking at the EVF. The image is there, it's stable, and waiting for you to hit the button. Add to that, it uses the stabilization factor in its camcorder mode, and one might think I'd mounted the thing on a tripod! Excellent!
Good Quality Images:
The Leica lens makes this a bit of a cheat, but that was part of the draw for me. Image quality is fantastic, and looks great on not only the camera screen, but on my computer screen, and on paper.
Others have mentioned no zoom on the camcorder mode...they're right...you can't control the zoom once you're recording in camcorder mode. HOWEVER. If you're already zoomed in before hitting 'record', then it stays zoomed in. You can't zoom out without stopping the recording, so that's a drawback, but this is not a camcorder...its a digital camera with a camcorder mode...I'll take it!
Finally, this camera goes from "camera settings for dummies" in the Intelligent Auto mode, to you being able to manually set ANYthing you want. It makes it a fabulous learning piece.
All in all, this is an excellent camera with more features than I know what to do with. And the add-on of the camcorder ability just makes it more of a value as I won't have need of a camcorder, now...the quality is that good!.
Looking forward to a good, long relationship with my FZ18!
4th of July at 10 PM in Night Illuminations mode
Tags: Using Product, Made with Product
Soccer clinic...in Sports Mode (still learning!)
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[4 of 5 customers found this review helpful]
from TN on 6/16/2008
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera and the DMC-FZ7 are by far the best digital cameras. I started out with the FZ7 and wanted an upgrade, so I bought this one, the quality of this camera is great, easy to use, great features, clear pictures. I love this camera, and I also think it is a lot better then all the other brands out there. This one just takes way better pictures.
Scene Mode "Pet"
Tags: Using Product
Scenery "Nature"
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[3 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
from Chicago on 5/17/2008
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
I wanted this camera because of the extended zoom and I am very pleased. There is nearly no purple fringing at longest zoom! It gets me right out on the baseball field! It is light weight so much easier to carry than my DSLR. Sometimes when you just want tp have fun you don't want to carry around a heavy camera!
Sample photo
Tags: Using Product, Made with Product
Sample photo
Tags: Made with Product, Using Product
[10 of 11 customers found this review helpful]
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera has so much to offer. I took a trip with my family to California (Sea World & Disneyland) in November, and I had just had the camera for a couple of weeks. The clarity and color in the photos I took couldn't have been better - even the night shots at Disneyland. I used the auto modes because I don't know much yet about customizing the settings, but am looking forward to learning more. We travel a lot, and I love to take outdoor/wildlife photos as well as photos of family and friends. This camera is perfect for my needs, and I can see myself happily using it for years to come!
[8 of 9 customers found this review helpful]
from Fenton, Mi on 3/12/2008
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
I am thrilled with the clarity of my photos. So far I am happy with the auto modes, but there is so much to do with this camera, I can't wait to learn more.
[5 of 6 customers found this review helpful]
from Louisville, KY on 3/6/2008
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
Good value for money. Has excellent zoom, clarity (I struggled with low light though)
[5 of 6 customers found this review helpful]
from Houston Tx. on 3/6/2008
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
I just love this camera! when it's set to automatic it does it all for you.
[4 of 5 customers found this review helpful]
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
I really like this camera, find it easy to use, takes wonderful pictures.[...]
[6 of 8 customers found this review helpful]
from sandy, utah on 12/26/2007
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
This Panasonic (like all Panasonics i am finding out) suffers from noise in the sensor, and is thus a poor performer in low light and high speed situations. the lieca lens is extreamly nice and has a great depth of field and clarity, but the sensor muddles it up with excessive noise and poor black reproduction. However, i still like this camera for everyday shooting as it is fast, intuitive to use, offers a wide range of professional features (shooting in RAW) and is a lot less of a pain to carry around than a DLSR. As an owner of Panasonics high end DVCPro HD HVX-200 video camera (which suffers from exactly the same problem) i can honestly say that Panasonic needs to get their act together on their sensor end.
[9 of 9 customers found this review helpful]
from Coronado, CA on 12/16/2007
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
Image stabilization adds to ability to use long zoom w/o tripod; does require tripod or monopod at 18X. Face detection and zoom allow good people shots at a distance so subjects are more natural.
Good for action shots w/sport settings. Rapid repeat for action shots. Performed excellently in 3-1/2 week trip thru New Zealand/Australia. Charger is 120/240VAC, 50/60Hz. Good, true color.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on 12/16/2007
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
I use the camera for freelance work.
I really like the custom setting feature. I have customized the three settings for shots I take regularly.
I don't like the fact that stabilizer function doesn't work in Digital zoom because that's when you need it most.
[3 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
from Houston, TX on 12/11/2007
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
I've been using this camera for a year and it has been delivering great pictures at all times.
It looks like a PRO camera which makes it a great value for price.
[2 of 5 customers found this review helpful]
Comments about Panasonic FZ-18 Digital Camera (Black):
THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURES ARE GREAT...LOVE IT...