The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a whopping 18x Optical Zoom lens.

This SLR style camera (it's not actually a DSLR but looks a little like one) has a 1/2.5 inch CCD sensor with a lens that has an equivalent focal range of a massive 28 to 504mm. The DMC-FZ18 comes with image stabilization (mechanical and ISO controlled) and it has an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/4.5 and an ISO setting of up to 6400 in high sensitivity mode.

It's LCD is 2.5 inches with 207,000 pixels and it comes with face detection technology, 27 megabytes of internal memory and shoots in RAW. 

PANASONIC UNVEILS VERSATILE LUMIX DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 18X OPTICAL ZOOM AND 28MM WIDE-ANGLE LEICA DC LENS

LUMIX DMC-FZ18, a High-Zoom Camera, Introduces New Intelligent Auto Mode, Featuring Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector and Continuous Auto-focus

SECAUCUS, N.J. – Panasonic today expanded its LUMIX family of digital still cameras with the introduction of the LUMIX DMC-FZ18, an 8.1 Megapixel compact camera with an impressive 18x optical zoom. In addition to a premium 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC lens, the DMC-FX18 joins the LUMIX DMC-FX33 and DMC-FX55 as the first Panasonic digital cameras to offer the revolutionary Intelligent Auto Mode, which include Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector and Continuous Auto-focus functions, allowing users to easily capture clear, professional-quality images in any situation or setting.

When this powerful camera, with an optical zoom up to 18x, is put into Intelligent Auto Mode, the multi-faceted functions engage automatically, so there is no need to adjust settings every time conditions change. The DMC-FZ18’s intuitive Intelligent Auto Mode is comprised of:

• Intelligent Scene Selector, which automatically selects the appropriate scene mode from the most frequently-used modes such as Portrait, Scenery, Macro, Night Scenery and Night Portrait;
• Face Detection System, which helps the camera to focus, set auto exposure and detects up to 15 human faces capturing them clearly and brightly; and
• Continuous Auto-focus, which allows the camera to keep focus on the subject without having to press the shutter button halfway and allowing for the best results out of a shutter chance by minimizing the auto-focus time.

“The Intelligent Auto Mode in the DMC-FZ18 does all the work for you, making photo-taking trouble-free,” noted Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “When taking into account the camera’s 18x optical zoom, which is among the industry’s longest zooms, and then adding 8.1 Megapixels, a 28mm wide-angle lens, MEGA Optical Image Stabilization, and Intelligent Auto Mode, the DMC-FZ18 delivers professional-level photo quality, in a powerful camera packed with advanced features that is still easy to use.”

Similar to the entire 2007 line of LUMIX digital still cameras, the camera sports advanced countermeasures against blurring – the Intelligent Image Stabilization system, which combines MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) to compensate for hand-shake and Intelligent ISO Control to detect and adjust for motion blur caused by subject movement.

The LUMIX DMC-FZ18 also is equipped with a 2.5-inch large, high resolution LCD with 207,000 pixels, a 0.44-inch Electric Viewfinder with 188,000 pixels, f/2.8 brightness and is powered by the high-quality, high-performance, Venus Engine III, which boasts shooting at ISO 1600 in normal recording mode.

The DMC-FZ18 has been redesigned to make the camera more stylish and easier to use. The auto focus, auto exposure lock, and Macro buttons are now independent, to allow quick and direct operation, a metal-finished mode dial adds design strength and an enhanced rubber grip makes the camera easier to hold. The redesigned body also incorporates the joystick made popular by the DMC-FZ8 model, which enables a host of settings, such as manual focusing and exposure, to be done quickly and easily.

Other advanced features of the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ18 include:

• Custom Setting Mode that memorizes your frequent setting patterns for instance 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 auto-focusing methods including: face detection, multi, three-point high-speed, one-point high-speed, one-point normal-speed, and spot. With the one-point auto-focus or spot auto-focus method, the auto-focusing 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 scene 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.
• 27 MB of built-in memory: Perfect for backing up SDHC/SD Memory Card recording. *
• 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 information.
• Picture Playback by category: Sorts images into categories such as portraits, landscapes, nightscapes, events and motion pictures. Also, allows slideshow playback of images in the same category.
• Optional accessories including a tele-conversion lens, close-up lens, ND filter, MC protector, lens adaptor, AC adaptor, battery pack, soft case and camera Bag.
• Available in two colors: silver and black.

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes, "Finally we come to image quality, and here I'm afraid there is some bad news. Given all the fantastic features and performance, why on Earth has Panasonic chosen to cripple the FZ18 with a 1/2.5-in sensor, the size more commonly found in cheap 3x zoom compacts? The pity is that the lens is far and away the best that I've seen on a super-zoom camera, producing razor-sharp corner-to-corner detail and a total absence of distortion even at the 28mm end. It's the first wide-angle compact lens I've seen that produces perfectly straight parallels in my test shots. The Venus Engine III is a big improvement over earlier versions, producing fantastic colour and tone, but it is labouring against the odds with that cheap little sensor. Overall detail is no better than most 8MP compacts, and the limited dynamic range clips highlights, rendering the sky as featureless white in most shots. The image noise that has plagued every Panasonic camera is also there except at the very lowest ISO setting, causing major problems at higher settings. Don't get me wrong; the image quality isn't bad, and the camera's other qualities more than make up for any shortcomings, it's just that with that brilliant lens it could have been so much better."

Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - "Overall, most casual photographers, and even some enthusiasts, will be very happy with the image quality from the FZ18. Color reproduction was good, details were sharp across the entire frame, and default exposure was good. After looking at all the shots that I took, the camera didn't have as good a dynamic range as I would have liked, which is a function of more pixels crammed into a physically small sensor. I had several shots where the bright areas were over-exposed and the dark areas were under-exposed. The more familiar you get with the camera, the better you can adjust settings (like exposure compensation and metering method) to get the shots that you want.

Even though the shot below is under pretty harsh lighting conditions, I would have liked to see a greater dynamic range. In this shot, the shadow areas are under-exposed and the lit areas are over-exposed."

Photoxels reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - 'The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 continues to be a best value for money and one of my very favourite. In a compact, light and solidly built body, it includes all the features desirable in a digital camera and throws in a couple that are hard to find in many other digital cameras: an effective image stabilization (the real type) and an accurate High Speed AF. All of this wrapped in an interface that is intuitive to use. If you are in the market for an ultra zoom, you definitely owe it to yourself to try the Panasonic FZ18 before finalizing your decision. It is an impressive digital camera and easily the ultra zoom that sets the standard for the others to follow.'

DCRP reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - "Panasonic has created a really nice ultra zoom camera in the FZ18, though once again, image quality needs improvement. It's clear from shooting in RAW mode that the camera is capable of capturing a lot of detail, but unfortunately the Venus III engine removes a lot of it in the name of noise reduction. If you're a typical point-and-shoot user who will be sticking to smaller-sized prints, then this really isn't an issue, and you'll be very satisfied with the FZ18. If you're making large prints, viewing them at 100% on your computer screen, or shooting at high ISOs, then you can still love the camera, but be prepared to post-process to get the best results. While it's not the ultra zoom image quality champion, the FZ18 has so much to offer that it easily earns my recommendation."

DP Review has reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 and gives it a rating of 'recommended'. They conclude - 'If you can live with the compromises that such a camera inevitably comes with (and you mainly shoot in daylight), you will get a lot out of using it, even if it's your first 'serious' camera. On this basis we think it's safe to say that the FZ18 - which is certainly the best of the 'really big' zoom cameras we've tried so far - easily offers enough to earn a Recommended rating, even if overall the IQ doesn't rate our highest honor.'

PhotographyBLOG reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - '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 camera's lens practically resting on your subject matter. Plus, that 28mm wide angle lets you capture the whole scene before you without having to step back too far. The only things putting me off an unequivocal recommendation is that the zoom functionality is disabled when shooting video clips, the joystick that affords quick access to the most important settings in one go is too short, too small and thus tricky to operate, plus – that old argument again – you can now pick up a starter DSLR for round about the same price. That said, you won't have the same focal range, and will need a large and expensive optic to achieve anything near it.'

Imaging Resource reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - "The Panasonic FZ18 is light enough to bring along just about anywhere, and the lens stays in closer than competing 18x designs, a design feature that will likely minimize damage over the life of this fine digital camera. If the lens is the big story with the Panasonic FZ18, the rest is just gravy. Face detect autofocus, multiple aspect ratios, optical image stabilization, white balance fine-tuning, adjustable flash intensity, and live histogram are all good to have with this excellent optic."

CNET reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - "The FZ18 performs typically for its class. From power on to first shot takes only 1.8 seconds, pretty quick for a long-lenser. Time to focus and shoot runs only 0.7 second in good light, rising to 1.1 seconds in dimmer situations--good for a non-dSLR, but still slower than you want. The interval for two consecutive shots is a brisk 1.3 seconds, which rises to an uncommonly fast 1.8 seconds with flash. Raw capture runs a bit slower--2.3 seconds for two sequential shots--which makes raw shooting a suboptimal workaround for the JPEG issues discussed earlier. In burst mode, it snaps at a clip of about 3.7 frames per second, but the camera's continuous shooting is limited to 7 frames at standard quality and 4 frames at fine quality."