Im taking up wildlife photography can u help

[BradsDad]

Hi all im taking up wildlife photography, mainly wild birds/fungi and wild flowers, i am thinking of buying the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ 18 Digital Camera and would like to know if im making the right choice, any advice is most helpful.
thanks
rob

[badgerwatcher]

I've got the DMC FZ7 and love it. Don't know the 18.

[glsammy]

Have a look at this thread: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...have-clue.html

Should help a bit.

[BradsDad]

thanks for the link glsammy,
i think it will be a good starter camera,
cheers
rob

[Pete Collins]

There is also this thread that might be useful: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...onic-fz18.html

Here's an example of a bird shot that I took with my FZ18 recently. The photo was taken from about 35 feet away, and the image has been quite heavily cropped:



This is another example, taken from about 10 feet away (it was raining slightly, and the fastest shutter speed I could get was 1/125sec):



I am sure there are much better photos taken with an FZ18 in the galleries, just thought I'd show some examples of what a completely novice photographer can manage with the camera. As recommended by Graham (glsammy) and others here, I used Aperture Priority mode with a wide aperture.

I haven't really used the camera much for wildflower shots yet, but I'm looking forward to doing so!

[BradsDad]

Thanks for the great photos pete, i have made up my mind and am going to get the FZ18 and look forward to getting out in the fields with it.
looking forward to sending in some pics with it.
cheers
rob