More from my new FZ18

Yesterday morning I went back to the wildlife refuge, then took a drive out to Seneca Lake State Park.

The more I use this camera the more I love it! Still learning all the buttons and features. I've found the iA mode works VERY well. Colors are spot on.

All photos are resized and a small amount of USM applied in Paint Shop Pro (.50 radius, 100 strength).

There are 8 photos so rather than post here I created a web page:

http://www.joannesplace.com/fz18/fz18pics.html

Joanne

Excellent shots. Did you use iA mode for these? Colors look great.

Thanks for setting up the website and sharing your photos. Hope to see more as you continue having fun with the FZ18.

-Gary
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Did anyone find a lens cap?

Nice shots. Good eye for telling the story. While the sea gull shot didn't give the best color and contrast, it did speak volumes about congestion! Please keep shooting and posting. I'm debating on picking up a Panny and your shots are very helpful.

I'm trying to find a reasonable level of expectation for a P&S since I have a Nikon D80 and I'm used to comparing my shots using good consumer-grade lenses with those of my colleagues using pro-grade glass. And, as you might assume, that's difficult in itself.

Joanne,
Those are really nice. I like the color and perspectives
Remember, you have to go back to work tomorrow

Sherm

My favorite one of your shots is #4, quite arty, well composed. Nice use of blurred background (some call it "Bokeh") to emphasize the subject. #3 suffers from too little headroom and footroom for the great subject. A "Portrait" orientation for this one would have let your subject "breathe" a little more in the composition. And I liked #1, but there's a blurred bright vertical twig sticking up from the bottom in the middle that distracts from the overall mood.
Thanks for posting, hope you don't mind some mild critiques? Keep on shooting!
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Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), EffZeeEighteen, TeeZeeThree

Hi John - I don't mind your critiques at all, I'm always willing to learn! I agree with all of your comments, btw

I need to learn how to really look at my composition, e.g. your comment about the bright vertical twig/grass in the first shot. I tend to look at the overall picture rather than individual components.

Thanks!

Such crisp detail and natural colors in all the photos. I particularly like the frost on the green plants and the flower, #3, that looks almost like ribbons. Oh, and those seagulls and ducks seem to like their segregation.
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http://fotolat.blogspot.com/

Joane:

I like your photos very much. You are improving a lot, just on a few days. In one month I will be let behind, but happy for you.
Kind regards,
Joao

thank you for these fine pics. I was headed toward the FZ50 but may have had my mind changed by your pics.
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Russ

These are beatiful shots Joanne!

A few days ago i've selled my good old "Uzi" Olympus C2100-UZ as my "everyday camera" because it's outdated now with it's 2.1 megapixel sensor and for that reason i'm looking out for a worthy successor and the Panny FZ8 and FZ18 make a good change to fall into my little photobag which I have with me most of the time. I own a lovely Nikon D70 as well but with the lenses it's not that portable to lug around every day..

So, i'm looking at the FZ8 and FZ18 and read many reviews (why haven't Phil reviewed the FZ18 yet?) and see that the small sensor is considerable noisy, but when I look to your pictures it seems ok. I would love to see these images at full size! With the samples I have seen so far it seems that anything over ISO 100 is not very usable, isn't it?

I have also kept my Olympus B-300 1.7x teleconverter which I used with the Uzi and to my surprise it can be used with the Panny! This possibility would give the FZ(1)8 a real advantage over other models. The FZ8 seems nice and reasonably cheap while the FZ18 have a truly remarkable lens with more wideangle and particularly no destortion at both ends.

Difficult, difficult...
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Ruud

so you're going to hide the drainpipe from day 1's pictures?

Sherm

Ruud,

Take a look at the images here - Very broad range of ISO, zoom etc etc.
I think you can see individual images at full size.

Sherm

http://www.pbase.com/nc_bill/panasonicfz18

There is obviously some benefit to be had from post processing, but is it unreasonable to expect to find a group of settings on the FZ18 that will get the results from photo 2 (PP) rather than the original photo 1?

1. 1

http://www.pbase.com/nc_bill/image/85921044

1. 2

http://www.pbase.com/nc_bill/image/85943446

I'm just not a big fan of spending my time adjusting most every shot. That's why I traded my Nikon D70s for a D80. Less PP required for my taste.

I appreciate the positive feedback as well as the constructive criticisms!

My next project will be to learn the best settings for low light. I've been trying out different settings but haven't been able to get the good results I've seen posted here. Practice practice practice!

Thank you for sharing Joanne. The images are lovely, I especially like #3 & 4.

I have had my FZ18 for a couple of days now and really like it, It does seem like a cracking little camera!
Regards
Yorkie
http://www.pbase.com/yorkie

I love these pictures Joanne. They are alive and gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

Terrific series Joane. You have a great eye for composition.

Jack

Thanks for the link Sherm.

These shots show the almost unbelievable sharpness from the Leica glass and the colors are just great. The tack-sharpness is totally different than the soft pictures I was used to see from my old 10x Oly C2100-UZ. Yes, there is noise visible at ISO100 but I think I'm to spoiled with the clean noisefree images my D70 produces at ISO200 and 400.

I view the images on a 24" Dell monitor (1920x1200) so I can see them with ease at full size with a little scrolling and that is no good for judging noise...

But all in all I found it acceptable at normal sizes and prints and I'm fairly impressed by the image quality the FZ18 produce. I think it's the best superzoom available at this moment. In fact, I have already ordered one this evening!

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Ruud

Good decision
I'm sure you'll enjoy the camera
Sherm