Hello Derrick, always enjoy listening to your podcasts and reading your blogs. Just would like to let you know that there is a typo. This camera has a 18x zoom, not 12x.

Hi Calvin, Good catch! I added a correction to the original text. Thanks :)

I have a Leica M4, and have used Lumix FZ20. Am using Lumix FX 50. Have been admiring the smaller series. With the FZ 18, I feel like switching over to the dainty and sexy smaller series. Unless, of course, there's more coming in the regular range after the FZ 50. Any idea?

Hi; would you compare the benefit of the FZ-50 with the FZ-18

I've wanted to try a Panasonic Digital....and probably will consider the FZ 18...sounds good tho I wish it had a barrel focus like the FZ 50.

However, isn't anyone ever concerned about the poor, or what I would consider 'poor' warranty Panasonic offers? 'one yr limited labor, 3 months limited parts?'

Perhaps they make a very good product, but there warranty makes me suspicious.......any thots.

I've wanted to try a Panasonic Digital....and probably will consider the FZ 18...sounds good tho I wish it had a barrel focus like the FZ 50.

However, isn't anyone ever concerned about the poor, or what I would consider 'poor' warranty Panasonic offers? 'one yr limited labor, 3 months limited parts?'

Perhaps they make a very good product, but there warranty makes me suspicious.......any thots.

I've wanted to try a Panasonic Digital....and probably will consider the FZ 18...sounds good tho I wish it had a barrel focus like the FZ 50.

However, isn't anyone ever concerned about the poor, or what I would consider 'poor' warranty Panasonic offers? 'one yr limited labor, 3 months limited parts?'

Perhaps they make a very good product, but there warranty makes me suspicious.......any thots.

I've wanted to try a Panasonic Digital....and probably will consider the FZ 18...sounds good tho I wish it had a barrel focus like the FZ 50.

However, isn't anyone ever concerned about the poor, or what I would consider 'poor' warranty Panasonic offers? 'one yr limited labor, 3 months limited parts?'

Perhaps they make a very good product, but there warranty makes me suspicious.......any thots.

I've wanted to try a Panasonic Digital....and probably will consider the FZ 18...sounds good tho I wish it had a barrel focus like the FZ 50.

However, isn't anyone ever concerned about the poor, or what I would consider 'poor' warranty Panasonic offers? 'one yr limited labor, 3 months limited parts?'

Perhaps they make a very good product, but there warranty makes me suspicious.......any thots.

In a search for a feature packed SLR-like camera I was directed to the Panasonic FZ series. Although I was then seriously considering the Nikon D40, I was impressed with all the optical features included in the FZ-50. I liked the flip-out LCD screen (although small). NOW I hear about the FZ18 which (overall) appears to offer most of what is important to me with some exceptions (no focus ring, no flip LCD, fewer lens elements). Its like the FZ50 on steroids!!

I enjoy having my camera with me and don't want too many inconveniences while taking great pictures. For the most part I don't care about 10 megapixel file size. The FZ18 has all of that.

My question is whether this camera, compared to the Nikon D40, would result in any regrets down the road. Things I may not be considering. Any thought?

got it on thursday, returned it this morning.
for me, too small - feels like a toy compared to my
z30. internal flash not powerful enough, no external connection. odd filter size, no native aux lens like z30. simple point & shoot mode fine,
limited other control. summary, "a girl's camera" for family snapshots

I bought the Lumix FZ-18 as a travel camera (especially for airplane trips). I have a Canon 10D, with three Canon L lenses taking me from 17 - 200mm (27 - 320mm 35mm equivalent), but the whole setup is a lot to carry around, or to deal with on an airplane. I wanted something with the same sort of flexibility (and range), but a fraction of the space/weight.

I just returned from a two week vacation in Italy, and the Lumix performed admirably. The pictures are sharp, bright, colorful and pleasing. I couldn't be happier. I know that the Canon takes better pictures (close examination shows the noise in the Panasonic images which isn't there in the Canon images), but it's better than I expected for the price (considering the features), and plenty good enough for the purpose I intend for it.

Mike S., I have the benefit of owning both this camera and a very good DSLR. For me, they serve very different purposes. When I'm at home, or traveling in a car with room, the Canon is quite a bit better. But when I'm traveling by airplane, or if I'm going to have the camera around my neck for a long time, the Lumix really shines. If I had to choose one or the other, and money was an issue, I think that the Lumix would satisfy almost everyone.

I looked at the FZ 18 and was very impressed with the stabilizer on it--amazingly steady. I am not sure how much one would need the flash with so steady a camera. I have a Canon Dig. Rebel with extra lenses and would seriously consider buying the FZ18 it I could sell my Canon. With all the improvements happening I think I'll wait for now although I have no doubt that I would get better wildlife pics with the Lumix!

Hello, I would like to know why I can't open FZ18 RAW format in Apple Aperture 2.1.
I recently update my system including Digital Camera RAW Compatibily to 2.0.
And I still have this problem.
I need a Plug-in?

Thanks

Hello, I would like to know why I can't open FZ18 RAW format in Apple Aperture 2.1.
I recently update my system including Digital Camera RAW Compatibily to 2.0.
And I still have this problem.
I need a Plug-in?

Thanks

Es una super camara, yo tengo una nikon D 200 y esta camara no le pide nada, y tiene una calidad de imagen impresionante.

En papel hace mejores impresiones que mi nikon d 200

si no me creen pruebenla.

y solo por $400 usd