New Panasonic Lumix FZ18

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aniramca@gmail.com - 26 Jul 2007 03:59 GMT

A new Panasonic digital camera just came out. It has an 18x optical
zoom, similar to Olympus SP-550UZ. I wonder how do they prize it in
comparison to the smaller FZ8 and the larger FZ50? Will FZ8 be slowly
pull out, or is this camera a new series?
I can't help wondering whether there will be a more close association
between Matsushita (creator of Panasonic) and Olympus. Panasonic has
LC-1 DSLR and Olympus has E-volt 330, which looks similar and share
the four third lens system (Leica lens for Panasonic and Zuikor lens
for Olympus). Is FZ18 and SP550UZ a competition, or do they end up as
a partner?
Is pushing optical zoom 18x a little too far, e specially using a
small P&S sensor size? FZ8 is 7 MP, FZ50 is 10MP and FZ18 will be 8
MP. I am looking forward to hear some news about this camera as it
goes into the market. I also wonder if Panasonic will enter an entry
level DSLR soon.

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Paul Furman - 26 Jul 2007 05:15 GMT

> Is pushing optical zoom 18x a little too far

Yes.

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Michael J Davis - 26 Jul 2007 10:18 GMT

Paul Furman <paul-@-edgehill.net> observed

>> Is pushing optical zoom 18x a little too far
>
>Yes.

I've only read the PR, but the difficult bit (cf the FZ8) is at the 28mm
equiv. end - the long end is not a lot different from the excellent lens
on the FZ5 that I have. The real problem (without seeing any
reviews[1]) is likely to be a further increase in the pixel count,
although RAW will give a work around.

[1] And the reviews are not very helpful in general, as they
tend to use factory settings. On my FZ5 & FZ50 I have always
used minimum interference from the Venus II & III engines and
done sharpening, and noise adjustments on the computer.

Mike
[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]

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Tony Polson - 26 Jul 2007 10:52 GMT

>A new Panasonic digital camera just came out. It has an 18x optical
>zoom, similar to Olympus SP-550UZ. I wonder how do they prize it in
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>for Olympus). Is FZ18 and SP550UZ a competition, or do they end up as
>a partner?

All current Olympus Four Thirds DSLRs use Panasonic sensors. The
Panasonic LC-1, Leica Digilux 3 and Olympus E-330 all use the same
Panasonic 7.5 MP sensor and Olympus viewfinder.

>Is pushing optical zoom 18x a little too far, e specially using a
>small P&S sensor size?

Oh yes it is!

> I also wonder if Panasonic will enter an entry
>level DSLR soon.

The Panasonic DMC LC-1 is an entry level DSLR camera, but with a very
expensive price tag of £999. You can pay another £800 for the Leica
version which is virtually identical at a whopping £1799 !!!

The Olympus E-330 is now discontinued, but is probably still available
at rather less than half the price of the Panasonic DSLR. Of course
the Panasonic has the excellent Leica zoom lens with built-in
anti-shake, as does the ridiculously expensive Leica Digilux 3.

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Stan Beck - 26 Jul 2007 14:19 GMT

I have the DMC FZ10 - 5 mp - (besides my D200) and it delivers good photos.
I would be less concerned with the 18x zoom than the size of the sensor. I
think 6 or 7 mp is plenty - 8mp, and certainly 10 mp, on a chip that size
will produce a lot of noise.

As for the lens - you will probably have pincushion/barrel distortion, but
that is usually at both ends of the zoom range.

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>A new Panasonic digital camera just came out. It has an 18x optical
> zoom, similar to Olympus SP-550UZ. I wonder how do they prize it in
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> goes into the market. I also wonder if Panasonic will enter an entry
> level DSLR soon.

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