Panasonic FZ18

[RobinP]

Hi

First post on here (hopefully not the last).

Has anyone had any experience with the Panasonic FZ18 yet? I'm thinkking of using it for birds and butterflies primarily.

Robin

[Brocker]

Hi Robin. Welcome to WAB. I have had no experience with this camera but a friend has the previous model to this I believe and loves it. Thats about all I can give you but I am sure someone else has or is using one. . . . Enjoy the site

[Pete Collins]

Hi Robin,

Welcome to WAB!

I bought a Panasonic FZ18 just before Christmas, and I'm quite happy with it. But I'm not really a photographer - my main hobby is walking and I just wanted something to take snaps with as I go along, plus I wanted something with a reasonable zoom lens so I could maybe start taking photos of birds. I didn't want a digital SLR, as it would be too heavy and bulky for my long walks. From the reviews I read on the internet, this seemed to be the best 'bridge' camera with a reasonable zoom.

As you probably already know, the FZ18 can be used fully manually (just like a digital SLR) or automatically, with different amounts of control in between. I've just been experimenting with Apperture Priority (whatever that is!) and have tried ajusting the exposure. I do hope to eventually learn how to take photographs properly, rather than just 'point and shoot', and this camera does have all the necessary facilities. You can even shoot in RAW mode (not that I've tried it yet). The 'intelligent Auto' mode seems to work well, recognising whether your taking a nature photo or a portrait, for instance.

You can see some of my photos (snaps would be a better word!) taken with the camera here - note that they've usually been 'cropped' and the quality reduced to lower the file size:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...00&ppuser=3287

All the photos from 15/12/07 onwards were taken with the FZ18. Someone who actually knows about photography would certainly get much better results with the camera than those!

It has an 18x optical zoom (made by Leica), which actually goes to 28.7x if you reduce the image size to 3 Megapixels (I think - might be 5). I don't use the digital zoom on top of that, I think it's better to just enlarge the photo using software on a PC. But even at 28.7 times, you still need to be fairly close to get good shots of birds. The Image stabilisation works very well, but you do really need to use a tripod or hide clamp to get the best results at a distance (though I think I've got particularly shaky hands).

Hope that helps. In general I am very happy with it, my only slight disappointment (not the camera's fault!) is that the 28.7 zoom doesn't bring the birds quite as close as I'd hoped. I'm thinking of saving up for the adaptor and 1.7x converter, just for use when I go bird watching rather than walking.

[Ukwildlifeo]

I havr the Fz7 and my gf has the Fz18. They work well but you do have to get closer than you think to smaller birds. While my gf has got some better/closer up pictures than me - the fz7 has 21x optical zoom and 6mp while the fz18 has 12x optical zoom and 8mp sensor - I have notice that at 1x zoom the picture is large (the lense is wider angled?) which i think means the 8mp wont mean I can crop harder than my current 6mp images. But that aside it has many other advantages over my fz7: better shutter speed in lower light, with less noise
and the iA mode is the best 'idiot mode' ive seen on a camera. Also the fzs have a fantastic super macro, which takes macros at full zoom from 1m away, which is brillant for dragonflys, butterflies and reptiles. So I would recommend it

[mh68]

I was just about to post mentioning the telemacro mode, but Ukwildlifeo beat me to it

The 18x zoom on the fz18 is a bit misleading as the short focal length is less than standard 12x compacts (fz18 being 28mm at the wide end compared to 35mm on most others).It does give more reach than the 12x models, but not as much as the 18x figure suggests.
Image quality wise, the fz18 is on a par with the fz50, which is rated as the best non-dslr you can buy at present, so unless you want to go the dslr route, the fz18 will be a good choice

Mark H

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by mh68

I was just about to post mentioning the telemacro mode, but Ukwildlifeo beat me to it

The 18x zoom on the fz18 is a bit misleading as the short focal length is less than standard 12x compacts (fz18 being 28mm at the wide end compared to 35mm on most others).It does give more reach than the 12x models, but not as much as the 18x figure suggests.
Image quality wise, the fz18 is on a par with the fz50, which is rated as the best non-dslr you can buy at present, so unless you want to go the dslr route, the fz18 will be a good choice

Mark H

Thankd for clearing that up. Thinking about it her camear does have 28mm written on the side. On a previous thread on fz18 some suggested the fz50 is better than the fz50 by having less noise. Ive never used a fz50 (which is more dslr style/use) but i think that is offset by the greater range of the fz18. I'd say look at both and decide for yourself

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Thankd for clearing that up. Thinking about it her camear does have 28mm written on the side. On a previous thread on fz18 some suggested the fz50 is better than the fz50 by having less noise. Ive never used a fz50 (which is more dslr style/use) but i think that is offset by the greater range of the fz18. I'd say look at both and decide for yourself

Not so much "less noise" Neil, more that the fz18 processor has improved upon the original Venus III engine in the fz50, so it smears detail less and isnt so aggressive, it isnt a huge difference, but an improvement all the same.

Mark H

[RobinP]

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies, I will be trying it out this weekend if the weather improves, hopefully on something more interesting than the harlequin ladybirds that are invading the house so if I get some pics I will put them in the gallery.

I've also ordered the lens adapter and teleconverter so I will report back when those arrive too.

I did consider the FZ50 but the extra zoom on the FZ18 and the fact it is £50 cheaper just swung it, I'm not too bothered about the megapixels.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by RobinP

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies, I will be trying it out this weekend if the weather improves, hopefully on something more interesting than the harlequin ladybirds that are invading the house so if I get some pics I will put them in the gallery.

I've also ordered the lens adapter and teleconverter so I will report back when those arrive too.

I did consider the FZ50 but the extra zoom on the FZ18 and the fact it is £50 cheaper just swung it, I'm not too bothered about the megapixels.

Which teleconvortor did u get. is it the offical one or did u hunt down another one?

[RobinP]

Yes, I've ordered the Panasonic DMW-LT55E teleconverter from Amazon but it is yet to arrive. The adapter is even more elusive, nobody seems to have any stock of the DMC-LA3 so I've got it on back order.

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by RobinP

Yes, I've ordered the Panasonic DMW-LT55E teleconverter from Amazon but it is yet to arrive. The adapter is even more elusive, nobody seems to have any stock of the DMC-LA3 so I've got it on back order.

Yes, I've got the same problem - I'm going to have to wait at least 14 days for the adaptor and tele-converter to arrive. A bit annoying, as it means I won't have them when a friend and I are going to Norfolk in about 10 days time.

[ianmandy]

UKDigital now has the DMW-LA3 in stock at £24.99

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by ianmandy

UKDigital now has the DMW-LA3 in stock at £24.99

Thanks for that - they're the company I've ordered an adaptor and teleconverter from. They said they'd be getting new stock in 14 working days, but it's been almost four weeks since then. Hopefully I'll be getting them soon.

Meanwhile I'm enjoying using the FZ18. It's the first camera I've had that's given me the opportunity to photograph birds, and I've had several enjoyable hours sitting in the garden snapping the chaffinches and tits on the feeders. A siskin was a very pleasant bonus the other day. In fact I've just been out in the garden for an hour or so, and have only come in now to swap batteries and have a cuppa before going out again. I managed a shot of a Muntjac Deer on my walk yesterday, and finally managed some shots of Red Kites, which is what I want above all - not very good shots, but they're clearly recognisable as Red Kites.

I've generally been using A mode (aperture priority) for the garden birds, as recommended by big bill, eeyore and glsammy on other threads here, but also tried S mode (shutter priority) with a fast shutter speed which seemed to work ok (when the light was very good!). On some of the shots I've taken when I've been out walking, I've occasionally adjusted the exposure. I've never claimed to be a photographer, and I've never before experimented so much with a camera. I can feel myslef slowly being dragged into the world of photography!

I'm very pleased with the FZ18 - a digital SLR with a decent lens for photographing birds would have been too heavy and bulky for the long walks I go on (that's my main hobby). I can now take photos of birds and animals I see on my walks, and it adds further interest on my trips to reserves to go bird watching.

On another note, I came across a very detailed review of the FZ18 on the web, where the reviewer suggested going to the 'Pict Adj' menu and setting Contrast and Sharpness to -1 and Noise Reduction to +1. In his opinion that gave better results (when shooting JPEG rather than RAW), but it's a very personal opinion. I did experiment with those settings, but couldn't really detect any differece myself.

[shirl]

All my gallery pics and forum pics were taken with the FZ18, I am not a photographer but love wildlife so I wanted something that was easy to use with a good zoom lens, it has lots of manual features which I haven't managed to get to grips with yet- lets face it with the recent Water Shrew pic even focusing was out of the question. So I do use the IA mode alot, it's great when I surveying for Water Voles and something catches your eye so you can point & shoot.

My old SLR camera is a Nikon, still takes fantastic pics but using that to photograph the Water Shrew would have costs lots of money in developing photos of mud! I am really happy with the FZ18, perfect for what I want to do.

Shirl

[ianmandy]

My DMW-LA3 arrived yesterday afternoon. I just need a 55-50 step down ring as i want to try the Nikon E15ED. I went for the Nikon because it has ED glass which should help with the CA. The TCON17 has good reviews but has normal glass. I have only had the FZ18 for about a week and i have seen some stunning pictures taken with it. DPreview has a panasonic talk forum and i have found that very helpful. I love Red Kites but getting a bit blase about them as they are as common as Robins in the garden. They are always soaring above the house I have tried to take pictures of them with the FZ18 but always come out blurred. I have taken some nice pictures i the past but that was with a DSLR. I just can't find the right setting.

[RobinP]

I'm still waiting fro my LA3 Ordered it through Jessops, who were out of stock, than cancelled that and ordered through Hilton Photographic, very nice people and they assured me I was next in line for one but no news yet.

I too have had a few blurry pics but only hand-held from max zoom and on a moving target, i.e birds. At less than max zoom, particularly close up, you do get some excellent results. I have only used IA mode so far but when I get the chance I will try the A and S settings. Taking pics with the teleconerter (LT55E) will definitely require a tripod, it weighs almost as much as the camera!

[ianmandy]

Typical Jessops. I rang to see if they stock the LA3. They said no its a special order only. I have never ordered anything from Jessops, if its not in store then go somewhere else. Hiltons are very helpful but have a low order rate like my local camera shop. They have to place a minimum order so they have to wait until they have that amount in orders before they can place it with the manufacturer so again you may have to wait a while. Ring UKdigital ask them if they have one in stock, order over the phone and you will have it by Friday. I am playing with the various settings to see which will work best. The Red Kites are over my house every day so i can get an idea of a moving bird.

[RobinP]

UK Digital are out of stock and they don't have a delivery date - as of now.

Let me know how you get with your various settings, Ian (or is it Andy?)

[ianmandy]

Its IAn, Mandy is the better half

[RobinP]

Oops, sorry Ian and Mandy. As for the DMW-LA3, I'm now getting one from Digitaltoyshop, £12.59 plus £6.96 for postage from Spain.

[Pete Collins]

This month's Which? magazine has a survey of 18 'bridge' cameras in the £150-300 range, and the FZ18 got the highest mark! They describe it as one of their all-time favourite cameras.

[agrumpycow]

I'm going to collect my new FZ18 tomorrow and it was after reading this thread that I made up my mind which camera to buy - it better be good or I'll charge it to you guys!

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

I'm going to collect my new FZ18 tomorrow and it was after reading this thread that I made up my mind which camera to buy - it better be good or I'll charge it to you guys!

I don't think you'll be disappointed with it, Claire. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos you take with it.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

I'm going to collect my new FZ18 tomorrow and it was after reading this thread that I made up my mind which camera to buy - it better be good or I'll charge it to you guys!

Well, picked it up this morning, I'm still getting to grips with all but the very basic features, will post some pics when I feel they're worthy