|
The camera worked very well and took great pictures but then the lens "stuck". I sent it to Panasonic and they claimed that it was damp inside. It was never dropped in water but I took pictures is some very damp conditions. They would not fix it even though it was under warranty.I would not recommend this company.
I have had this camera (replacing FZ-8) for over a year now, so I can really say I have tested it and found it is the BEST super-zoom camera for the price unless you want to step up to a DSLR with bulky lense collections and pay a fortune for them. I used it for snap shots during sightseeing, as well as semi-professional photos for architectural and interior design projects (I am a professional interior designer).I especially like the "wide-angle" lense and the "raw/jepg" setting which can really produce professionally looking photos. The "raw" software included is very easy to use for higher-quality photos.The newer FZ-28 model basically is very similar to FZ-18, so it should be a good choice if you can get a good price.highly recommend it.
From portraits, panorama's and my forte macro world. I will not sit here and dissect this camera from top to bottom, that is what the manufacturer's manual is for. I will say this, I have had an absolute blast with this camera. This is a great bridge camera and I highly recommend it. If you are considering buying this camera don't hesitate, buy it and enjoy.
The video zoom has been resolved with the new FZ28. The outdoor shots are perfect, indoor shots are great and even the indoor pictures in lowlight using the zoom (these are the toughest to get good results) come out very acceptable, and the video is as good as it gets. This is my third superzoom camera and it is wonderful. I have owned two cameras in the Canon S series of superzooms and was very happy with them, but I like this even better. Its not perfect but what is. There is some shutter delay using the flash in the auto mode (just like most digital cameras), and you can't zoom while taking a video. Before you buy this model check out the FZ28 - it has some improvements that may be important to you. However, if there is a significant price difference, I am sure you will be pleased with the FZ18.
The only cons I've found are that they have problems indoors with low artificial light. I'm a tech teacher for a high school and I've worked with lots of different cameras and the Panasonic Lumixes have always been my best buys for the price range. If you don't watch what you are doing you end up with a lot of yellowed images. My students love the built in zoom lens (no need to change lenses on the run) and they feel like they're using something more sophisticated than a basic point and shoot. You also get a large number of pictures on one battery charge even if you constantly use the LCD. I often have to adjust the white balance and iso settings. You can't beat the Lumixes if you're trying to buy a versitile camera with zoom for under $300.
|
