Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Digital Camera Review

by Emily Raymond
Published on October 25, 2007

Navigation
Intro	Testing/Performance
Components	Design / Layout
Modes	Control Options
Image Parameters	Connectivity / Extras
Overall Impressions	Conclusion
Sample Photos	Photo Gallery
Specs / Ratings

Picture Quality / Size Options (9.0)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 has 8 megapixels on a standard 1/2.5-inch CCD image sensor. It has a plethora of image size options, mainly because it can record pictures in three different formats – the standard 4:3, the 4 x 6-inch print-optimized 3:2, and the widescreen television-friendly 16:9. The 4:3-formatted image sensor can record RAW 3264 x 2448-pixel files and can record them simultaneously with JPEGs if desired.

JPEG images can be shot in fine or standard compression in the following resolutions.

4:3 - 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480

3:2 - 3264 x 2176, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1360

16:9 - 3264 x 1840, 2560 x 1440, 1920 x 1080

Images can be resized and trimmed in the Playback menu to any resolution smaller than the current image size. The file can be saved separately or simply replace the larger image.

Picture Effects Mode (7.0)
There are several picture effects available, but they are hard to find. They are buried in the Recording menu under the Color Effect and Picture Adjust titles. The color effect offers cool, warm, black & white, and sepia filters and shows a live view. The picture adjust does not have a live view but shows full-step +/- 2 scales for contrast, sharpness, saturation, and noise reduction. The picture effects aren’t very elaborate; the Canon S5 comes with about a dozen interesting Color modes and adjustments that are available in Recording and Playback. The Panasonic FZ18’s effects are only effective before pictures are taken.