Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

1495 reviews

Oct, 2024

Positive
usability (405)
zoom (340)
portability (276)
performance (228)
image quality (222)

Negative
contrast (4)
water proof (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1495 reviews of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18. The average rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Views about the image quality and performance are on the whole positive. The portability and zoom are also mentioned favorably. Many are critical about the water proof and contrast, and there are some mixed reviews about the energy efficiency.

usability, zoom, portability, performance, image quality

contrast, water proof

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 89/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 1495 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(52% of reviews)
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Features

usability
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zoom
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portability
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performance
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image quality
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Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

alaTest has collected and analyzed 152 user reviews of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.7/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Comments about the price and image quality are overall positive. The zoom and portability are also mentioned favorably. Some have doubts about the sensor.

usability, portability, zoom, image quality, price

sensor

95% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Oct, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

alaTest has collected and analyzed 286 user reviews of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.6/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. Comments about the price and performance are generally positive. The zoom and portability also get good views. Some have doubts about the shutter. There are some mixed comments about the storage.

usability, portability, zoom, performance, price

shutter

96% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Oct, 2024

Expert review by (pcworld.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Digital Camera

Decently priced megazoom is a great learning tool for point-and-shoot graduates.

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...

Jun, 2008

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Expert review by : Andrew Mager (pcworld.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K

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

Decently priced megazoom is a great learning tool for point-and-shoot graduates

Jun, 2008

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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 review

Though far from perfect, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 shapes up to be the best of the cameras promising 18x-zoom Nirvana we've reviewed so far, a trio rounded out by the slow Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd and the slower Olympus SP-550 UZ . Like those...

Wide-angle, long zoom lens; nice set of shooting features.

Camera's JPEG processing choices can produce suboptimal results; no zoom in movie capture; sluggish LCD/EVF update.

A decent but not great camera, the megazoom Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 still manages to outdo its few competitors.

Nov, 2007

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Expert review by : Simon Joinson , Lars Rehm (dpreview.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Review

Barely half a year after the introduction of the DMC-FZ8, Panasonic added another model to its popular range of compact 'super zoom' Lumix cameras in the shape of the FZ18. Although obviously based on the FZ8 (they are externally almost identical), the...

Good, sharp results in optimal shooting conditions Good, natural color and excellent exposure Hugely versatile 18x zoom range covering true wideangle to long telephoto Smooth, almost stepless 2-speed zoom Effective image stabilization Good build...

Images lack biting crispness, some loss of fine detail to noise reduction even at ISO 100 Default noise reduction too high at all ISO settings (use low NR setting or raw) Occasional odd artefacts at lower ISO settings (some moiré related, some just...

One thing that has become obvious to us as we've looked at the various 18x 'super zoom' models that have appeared since the Olympus SP-550UZ burst onto the scene at the start of the year is that they will always involve a certain degree of compromise,...

Nov, 2007

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Expert review by : Jose Fermoso (wired.com)

Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

If you're shopping for a new digital camera you basically have two options: pick up a toy shooter that can't grow with you; or plunk...

Takes awesome pictures. Very easy to use. The 18x zoom doesn’t sacrifice detail. Great software package with flawless panoramic stitching

You can’t use the zoom option when playing back video with audio on the LCD screen, which caused us to miss the loud 18X version of a seal chomping on a companion’s nose. And the audio coming out of the speaker was a bit tinny

Aug, 2007

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Expert review by (pcmag.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

Our current Editors' Choice superzoom, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, packs a massive array of featuresand an 18X zoom lensinto a relatively compact body. This 8.3-megapixel shooter delivers above-average image quality, and at only $399.95, it's a...

Excellent value. Images with accurate color and correct exposure. Versatile 18X optical zoom. 28mm wide-angle lens. Intuitive menu system

Noise in low-light and flash shots

Not yet reviewed by editors.

Jul, 2007

Partner Source

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Expert review by (steves-digicams.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FZ18 is a powerful "ultra-zoom" models that includes some very high- end features in a compact, stylish, and easy to use package. It combines an 8-megapixel image sensor, mated to a very versatile 18x optical zoom lens as well as...

Panasonic incorporates both MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) to compensate for hand-shake and Intelligent ISO Control system to detect and suppress motion blur into all Lumix cameras, which are the industry's most advanced countermeasures against...

May, 2007

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Expert review by (electronicsme.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

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 lensLight weight SLR type digital cameraPanasonic Mega Optical Image StabilizerIntelligent AutomaticFace Detection technology

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

Jan, 2008

Partner Source

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Expert review by (letsgodigital.org)

Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ18 review

I have said it before: Panasonic are setting the world on fire. Even more so; Panasonic's digital camera assortment is impressive and mature and Panasonic does not yield to the established lot, the renowned photo manufacturer. When we take a look at...

The success of the Megazoom cameras lead to a farther advancing of the concept and to equip a small housing with no less than 18x optical zoom. The resolution of 8 Megapixels suffices easily for printing small to large prints. Although the immense...

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Expert review by : Gavin Stoker (photographyblog.com)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Review

The defining feature of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 digital camera is its massive 18x zoom lens, equivalent to a very versatile 28-504mm focal length, which should cover virtually every imaginable photographic situation. The FZ18 is a bridge-style...

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...

Dec, 2007

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