FZ18 questions

I'm in the market for a new digital camera - I need at least a 15X optical zoom, so the FZ 18 is one of the cameras I'm considering.

I have a couple other requirements, and I'm having trouble determining whether the FZ 18 would fill those.

1) If the camera has an auto-power off feature, it absolutely MUST have an override - at least when it is being operated on A/C power.

2) If it has a wireless remote (does it?) the remote sensor must be able to receive the signal from the side as well as from the front. I don't want to take pictures of myself.

3) Of slightly less importance, but would be nice, if the camera had an external control for manual focus for quick change-overs.

Can anyone comment on whether the FZ18 has at least the 1st two features above?

BluebirdNut said:

I'm in the market for a new digital camera - I need at least a 15X
optical zoom, so the FZ 18 is one of the cameras I'm considering.

I have a couple other requirements, and I'm having trouble
determining whether the FZ 18 would fill those.

1) If the camera has an auto-power off feature, it absolutely MUST
have an override - at least when it is being operated on A/C power.

Click to expand...

You can disable auto power-off. It does have an AC adapter - but I don't know anybody who's purchased one

BluebirdNut said:

2) If it has a wireless remote (does it?) the remote sensor must be
able to receive the signal from the side as well as from the front. I
don't want to take pictures of myself.

Click to expand...

No remote.

BluebirdNut said:

3) Of slightly less importance, but would be nice, if the camera had
an external control for manual focus for quick change-overs.

Click to expand...

No external control

BluebirdNut said:

Can anyone comment on whether the FZ18 has at least the 1st two
features above?

Click to expand...

BluebirdNut said:

I'm in the market for a new digital camera - I need at least a 15X
optical zoom, so the FZ 18 is one of the cameras I'm considering.

I have a couple other requirements, and I'm having trouble
determining whether the FZ 18 would fill those.

1) If the camera has an auto-power off feature, it absolutely MUST
have an override - at least when it is being operated on A/C power.

Click to expand...

• Power save mode is not activated in the
following cases.
–When using the AC adaptor
(DMW-AC7PP; optional)
–When connecting to a PC or a printer
–When recording or playing back motion
pictures
– During a slide show

In addition, it also has an OFF mode you can set yourself.

BluebirdNut said:

2) If it has a wireless remote (does it?) the remote sensor must be
able to receive the signal from the side as well as from the front. I
don't want to take pictures of myself.

Click to expand...

Sorry. It does not support a remote.

BluebirdNut said:

3) Of slightly less importance, but would be nice, if the camera had
an external control for manual focus for quick change-overs.

Click to expand...

I am not sure what this means.

BluebirdNut said:

Can anyone comment on whether the FZ18 has at least the 1st two
features above?

Click to expand...

--
Gallery is online at eklisiewicz.smugmug.com
Nikon D70s, Fuji Finepix F30

BluebirdNut said:

I'm in the market for a new digital camera - I need at least a 15X
optical zoom, so the FZ 18 is one of the cameras I'm considering.

I have a couple other requirements, and I'm having trouble
determining whether the FZ 18 would fill those.

1) If the camera has an auto-power off feature, it absolutely MUST
have an override - at least when it is being operated on A/C power.

Click to expand...

It does have auto power off, but it can be disabled, turned OFF, via the menu.

BluebirdNut said:

2) If it has a wireless remote (does it?) the remote sensor must be
able to receive the signal from the side as well as from the front. I
don't want to take pictures of myself.

Click to expand...

No remote input. You can get a gadget with a velcro strap that lets you use an old-fashioned cable release with the camera from Adorama. You can also use the self-timer, for 2- and 10-second delays.

BluebirdNut said:

3) Of slightly less importance, but would be nice, if the camera had
an external control for manual focus for quick change-overs.

Click to expand...

Only the joystick on the back, far as I know.

BluebirdNut said:

Can anyone comment on whether the FZ18 has at least the 1st two
features above?

Click to expand...

No, but if you're looking for the best 18X camera, this is where the buck stops.
--
Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), EffZeeEighteen, TeeZeeThree

After a little search on Google, I have found that the remote shutter DMW-RSL1 works with the L1 and with the fz50. Why not with the fz18 ? Alas, it's not wireless.

But... here it is, there's a wireless gadget on Ebay which works for FZ50S, FZ50K, FZ50, FZ30S, FZ30K, FZ30, FZ20S, FZ20K, FZ20, FZ15, LC1, L1... so probably also for the fz18. With it, "you can control the shutter of your camera from as far as 100 meters away. The package comes with a handheld wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver to be plugged into the the shutter release port of the camera.

Different from the infrared remote control, you may let the camera auto-foucs before finally taking a shot by pressing the focus button. Another improvement over the infrared remote would be the support of the bulb mode. You can obtain an exposure for as long as you wish".

It costs $44.95. Search "wireless shutter Panasonic" on Google.

--
http://imagesdedanse.over-blog.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10360406@N08/sets/72157602283949984/

... I forgot that there is no socket for remote control on the fz18. It's a shame.
--
http://imagesdedanse.over-blog.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10360406@N08/sets/72157602283949984/

...and it's not listed as an accessory in the manual

DD70 said:

But... here it is, there's a wireless gadget on Ebay which works for
FZ50S, FZ50K, FZ50, FZ30S, FZ30K, FZ30, FZ20S, FZ20K, FZ20, FZ15,
LC1, L1... so probably also for the fz18. With it, "you can control
the shutter of your camera from as far as 100 meters away. The
package comes with a handheld wireless transmitter and a wireless
receiver to be plugged into the the shutter release port of the
camera.

Click to expand...

The FZ18 does not have a shutter release port. The FZ20, FZ30 and FZ50 do provide one because they are intended for more advanced users.

If the remote shutter release is important, you should consider the FZ50. It has other useful features like the swivel LCD and the zoom and focus rings.

--
http://imagesdedanse.over-blog.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10360406@N08/sets/72157602283949984/

I've been going back and forth with someone on the Open Talk forum about the FZ50. Might actually work, as long as it has an override for the automatic power-off, and I can make it work with the remote mentioned above.

Does the FZ50 have an external manual focus control (not menu driven?)

If you search wireless remote for FZ30 on Ebay you will find a couple wireless remotes that are said to work. I never tried them as I made my own.
--
Gene from Western Pa
see profile for equipment
http://imageevent.com/grc6
http://grc225.zenfolio.com/



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!

You might want to re-post as something like "FZ50 with remote trigger" or something similar.. A different group of people will read it (not everybody reads everything)