Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Review
Review Date: December 3rd 2007
Author: Gavin Stoker
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Image Quality
All of the sample images in this Review were captured using the 8M Fine (3264
x 2448 pixels) JPEG image size option producing a file that
is around 3.5Mb in size.
Noise
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 has 6
ISO settings. Under examination image noise presents
itself from ISO 200 upwards – which is surprisingly low –
though not aggressively so, meaning that if you stick to
ISO 800 or below you'll get pleasing results. It's arguable
whether you'll want to attempt images at ISO 1250 or ISO 1600
– the latter much
more gritty – though it's nice to have them there for use
at a push. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise
levels for each ISO setting.
Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have
been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand
image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the
camera images at the default setting are soft and benefit
from some further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop.
You can also change the in-camera sharpening level
if you don't like the default results.
Chromatic Aberrations
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 dealt
very well with chromatic aberrations during the review, with
only limited purple fringing present around the edges of
objects in certain high-contrast situations. Here is a 100%
crop which shows the typical chromatic aberrations that you
can expect:
Macro
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 offers
a Macro setting that allows you to focus on a subject that
is 5cms away from the camera. The first image shows how close
you can get to the subject in Macro mode (in this case a
compact flash card). The second image is a 100% crop.
Flash
The flash settings on the Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FZ18 are Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On,
Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction and Forced Off. These shots
of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
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Auto
Flash - Telephoto (504mm) |
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And here are some portrait shots.
As you can see, both the Auto and Red-Eye Reduction options
caused a tiny amount of red-eye.
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Auto
(100% Crop) |
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Flash
- Red-Eye Reduction (100% Crop) |
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Night Shot
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 maximum
shutter speed is 60 seconds in Starry Sky Mode, which is
excellent news if you're interested in night photography.
The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 5 seconds,
aperture of f/6.3 at ISO 100. I've included a 100% crop of
the image to show what the quality is like.
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Night
Shot (100% Crop) |
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Overall Image Quality
We've given recent Panasonic cameras a warm welcome on PhotographyBLOG, and
when it comes to assessing the images, the Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ18 doesn't look like
it'll be the one to buck the trend and receive a frosty reception
instead. Even when shooting at maximum telephoto on an overcast
day, the majority of our images were richly detailed and
free of any tell tale softness
from hand wobble, suggesting that the built-in MEGA OIS feature
cuts the proverbial mustard under most conditions. Under
artificial light we did get the occasional soft shot, but
a simple re-focus and second fire of the shutter and we had
what we were after. For the most part images are well
saturated, though not over-saturated, meaning that realistic
skin tones are achievable. Pixel fringing between areas of
contrast is respectably absent on most occasions. White balance
doesn't always get it right however, especially when operating
under mixed lighting, but again a simple manual adjustment
solves any problems. Exposures are even however and metering
generally spot on. Under examination image noise presents
itself from ISO 200 upwards – which is surprisingly low –
though not aggressively so, meaning that if you stick to
ISO 800 or below you'll get pleasing results. It's arguable
whether you'll want to attempt images at ISO 1250 or ISO 1600
– the latter much
more gritty – though it's nice to have them there for use
at a push. It also brings the Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ18's specification into line
with what you'd expect for this class of camera and its asking
price.
 PhotographyBLOG
is a member of the DIWA
organisation. Our test results for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 have
been submitted to DIWA
for comparison with test results for different samples of
the same camera model supplied by other DIWA
member sites.
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