Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Expert Reviews

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1205 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the sensor. The viewfinder also impresses, but many are less positive about the energy efficiency.

Sensor, Viewfinder, Design, Memory

Energy efficiency, Video, Menu, Lcd

Reviewers rate this product 91/100. We analyzed these ratings, the product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX18 / FZ18 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 93/100 = Excellent quality.

For a camera which is going to give you big time optical zoom, high quality 8.1 mega pixels and the ability to use Raw format; pick the Panasonic Lumix FZ18. You won't be disappointed.

18x optical zoom lens, Light weight slr type digital still camera, Panasonic Mega Optical Image Stabilizer, Intelligent Automatic, Face Detection technology

The Panasonic Lumix FZ18 is full of surprises for a big digital still came

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 performs quite well for having such an extreme optical zoom. While it is normal that ultra-zooms compromise one image quality, this one compromise very little to pack an 18X zoom along an 8 megapixels sensor. The major ...

Extreme wide-angle 18X optical zoom, Good color accuracy, Low optical distortion, Consistent sharpness from corner to corner, Effective stabilization

Image details destroyed from ISO 400 onwards, Useless at high ISO, Poor dynamic range, Softness near telephoto end of zoom, Low resolution EVF

The least expensive camera in our megazoom roundup, the $350 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K offers an 18X optical zoom, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and a host of manual controls for a very reasonable price. An amateur photographer who hasn't used many advanced ...

Excellent 18x optical zoom Leica lens Burst mode returns clear photos

Zoom disabled in video mode Battery life is disappointing

Besides its manual controls and its wide-angle lens, the Lumix FZ18K has other goodies for more-advanced photographers and image editors; for instance, images can be shot in RAW format--but keep in mind that the image size will be about six times ...

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...

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 features a whopping 18x optical zoom, but are its images worth magnifying?

18x optical zoom, optical image-stabilization, full manual-mode, RAW support

terrible noise distortion, middling image-quality for its price, narrow aperture range

If the 10X or 12X lens on your typical ultra zoom camera just isn't enough, then the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 ($399) might interest you. Based on the DMC-FZ8, the FZ18 packs a whopping 18X zoom lens into a body that's still relatively compact (by ...

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 ...

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 ...

Since the cameras share much in common, I'll be reusing portions of the FZ8 review here

Once you step toward the myriad manual options, you'll be happy as a clam if adjusting photo parameters is your thing..

8MP digicam with 18x wide angle zoom ; OIS

Noisy at ISO 400 and above