Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Review

Barely bisected a year afterwards the addition of the DMC-FZ8, Panasonic added addition archetypal to its accepted ambit of bunched 'super zoom' Lumix cameras in the appearance of the FZ18. Although acutely based on the FZ8 (they are evidently about identical), the FZ18 doesn't alter it; it's a array of 'big brother' with a bigger zoom, added pixels and a scattering of new features.

The better account is the optically counterbalanced lens, which has 'grown' at both ends and now sports a whopping 18x (28-504mm equiv.) zoom, putting the FZ18 into absolute antagonism with Olympus' SP-550UZ (now adapted to the SP-560UZ) and Fujifilm's afresh appear FinePix S8000fd.

Almost accordingly the FZ18 squeezes even added pixels assimilate its 1/2.5-inch sensor, although the access has been adequately abstinent from 7.3 to 8.3 megapixels. Other new appearance cover a committed AF/AE button, Face Detection and a new Intelligent Auto access which integrates Image Stabilization, Intelligent ISO, Face Detection and Scene Detection into a 'Super' Auto Mode.

Despite the accepted babble issues you would apprehend from a tiny sensor/big zoom camera (and our animosity of Panasonic's access to babble reduction), all-embracing we were appealing afflicted with the FZ8 if we advised it a few months ago. This was to a ample amount due to the superb LEICA lens. So let's acquisition out how Panasonic accept tackled the babble claiming - and if the new lens, with it's abundant added aggressive zoom range, can bout its predecessor, starting with a attending at what's changed:

• 18x optical zoom (28-504mm equiv.) - FZ8 has 12x (36-432mm) zoom
• Smaller maximum aperture at long end of zoom (F4.2 vs F3.1)
• 8.3 megapixel sensor (vs 7.2 megapixel)
  
• Face Detection
• Intelligent Auto mode
• Manually selectable ISO 1600
• ISO 6400 High Sensitivity mode
• AF/AE lock button and dedicated AF/MF button
• 1cm macro (was 5cm)
• Custom mode and extra scene modes (plus 'advanced scene modes')
• Five level Noise reduction (was three level)
• Slower continuous shooting (burst)
• Heavier and slightly larger