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Imaging Resource - FZ18 review

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andreas23

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Here it is. Not sure if posted before
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/FZ18A.HTM

It´s pretty funny to me that the reviewers of the FZ18 seldom try it at NR -2 which offers significantly better sharpness than normal NR. It helps only at ISO 100. If using higher ISO, the NR is so heavy anyway you dont need to bother, and better go RAW+Jpeg.

I always see negative about noise and NR at ISO 100 in reviews but no mentions that things get better at NR -2 (or -1).
 
andreas23 said:
Here it is. Not sure if posted before
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/FZ18A.HTM
Click to expand...
New to me: Thanks!
andreas23 said:
It´s pretty funny to me that the reviewers of the FZ18 seldom try it
at NR -2 which offers significantly better sharpness than normal NR.
It helps only at ISO 100. If using higher ISO, the NR is so heavy
anyway you dont need to bother, and better go RAW+Jpeg.

I always see negative about noise and NR at ISO 100 in reviews but no
mentions that things get better at NR -2 (or -1).
Click to expand...
I just checked mine and it was at NR = 0, so I've changed it to -1 and will see how that works.

I've just passed 1000 images with my FZ18 and am very pleased with it viewing images full screen. There are nits to pick if pixel peeking, but it is a very good shooter at ISO 100 -- a fine travel camera. And the 28 mm wide end lets me get shots I need to use my DSLR for otherwise.

Optics (and purple fringing) seem far better than with my Canon S3 IS .. and so is the EVF. I sold a Canon G9 (great camera, but only 6x optical zoom) and replaced it with the FZ18: No regrets!

--
Phil .. Panny FZ18, Canon S3 IS, SD700IS, 300D & EOS 20D; Fuji F20 & F31fd.
http://www.pbase.com/phil_wheeler
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_ox/
 
I've always wished more reviewers would spend the time & effort to find their personal best combination of in-cam parameters that gets the best from the cam... Maybe even two sets of parameters, one for no PP, the other meant to be PP'd.... Preferably just JPG since finding the best RAW workflow would turn into a software review, plus Raw isn't effected by in-cam parameters...
I don't think I've ever used factory default setting on any cam...
--

The Amateur Formerly Known as 'UZ'pShoot'ERS' 'Happy Shootin' Comments, Critique, Ridicule, Limericks, Jokes, Hi-jackings, EnthUZIastically, Encouraged... I Insist!



* [email protected] * http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz * EffZeeThreeZero / CeeEightZeroEightZeroDoubleUZee / CeeTwoOneZeroZeroUZee / EOneHuderedAreEss
 
Rossuziers said:
I've always wished more reviewers would spend the time & effort to
find their personal best combination of in-cam parameters that gets
the best from the cam... Maybe even two sets of parameters, one for
no PP, the other meant to be PP'd.... Preferably just JPG since
finding the best RAW workflow would turn into a software review, plus
Raw isn't effected by in-cam parameters...
I don't think I've ever used factory default setting on any cam...
Click to expand...
But surely the factory defaults are chosen by the manufacturer as the best compromise for the average conditions that could be expected in normal photography. That is why iA and the variety of scene modes have fixed settings (with nominal tweaking in some) for what the camera gurus consider their best choices. The variable parameters in the "manual" modes P, A and S are there for individuals to adjust to their tastes.

Even now after months of discussion in this forum there is no "accepted" batch of settings that will suit every user for every situation. If we take the 4 Pict. Adj. (contrast, sharpness, saturation, nr) settings, each with 5 positions, and then throw in the 13 EV steps on top of the aperture/time/ISO manual settings, you need a computer program to sort it out - which is what the camera chip has built in, for better or for worse!

Sure, any professional worth his salt should be able to pick his spots with some reflection but then he is often accused of being selective in his judgements - "he obviously prefers Canon because they support his site" or vice versa for Sony or Panasonic et al. Look at the threads here on what I felt were good balanced reviews of the FZ18 from two top sites.

We all know what this camera can achieve, after all there have been a multitude of superb posts, but equally I (?we) know what a pile of garbage it can produce at times when iA or personal settings didn't fit the conditions.

I for one am grateful that there are still dedicated people out there who are willing to put in their time and effort in reasonable objective reviews at no cost to the readers, just as I am grateful to the people on these forums who can show there is more to a camera than two weeks detailed professional work may find.

--
RicM
Thursday's child...
 
RcMAu said:
Rossuziers said:
I've always wished more reviewers would spend the time & effort to
find their personal best combination of in-cam parameters that gets
the best from the cam... Maybe even two sets of parameters, one for
no PP, the other meant to be PP'd.... Preferably just JPG since
finding the best RAW workflow would turn into a software review, plus
Raw isn't effected by in-cam parameters...
I don't think I've ever used factory default setting on any cam...
Click to expand...
But surely the factory defaults are chosen by the manufacturer as the
best compromise for the average conditions that could be expected in
normal photography. That is why iA and the variety of scene modes
have fixed settings (with nominal tweaking in some) for what the
camera gurus consider their best choices. The variable parameters in
the "manual" modes P, A and S are there for individuals to adjust to
their tastes.
Even now after months of discussion in this forum there is no
"accepted" batch of settings that will suit every user for every
situation. If we take the 4 Pict. Adj. (contrast, sharpness,
saturation, nr) settings, each with 5 positions, and then throw in
the 13 EV steps on top of the aperture/time/ISO manual settings, you
need a computer program to sort it out - which is what the camera
chip has built in, for better or for worse!
Sure, any professional worth his salt should be able to pick his
spots with some reflection but then he is often accused of being
selective in his judgements - "he obviously prefers Canon because
they support his site" or vice versa for Sony or Panasonic et al.
Look at the threads here on what I felt were good balanced reviews of
the FZ18 from two top sites.
We all know what this camera can achieve, after all there have been a
multitude of superb posts, but equally I (?we) know what a pile of
garbage it can produce at times when iA or personal settings didn't
fit the conditions.
I for one am grateful that there are still dedicated people out there
who are willing to put in their time and effort in reasonable
objective reviews at no cost to the readers, just as I am grateful to
the people on these forums who can show there is more to a camera
than two weeks detailed professional work may find.

--
RicM
Thursday's child...
Click to expand...
I really was referring more to the in-cam defaults specifically pertaining to sharpness, saturation, contrast & NR that when changed from default, especially in JPG, can benefit the look of a cams general IQ regardless what mode or changes in exposure settings are introduced....
--

The Amateur Formerly Known as 'UZ'pShoot'ERS' 'Happy Shootin' Comments, Critique, Ridicule, Limericks, Jokes, Hi-jackings, EnthUZIastically, Encouraged... I Insist!



* [email protected] * http://www.pbase.com/rrawzz * EffZeeThreeZero / CeeEightZeroEightZeroDoubleUZee / CeeTwoOneZeroZeroUZee / EOneHuderedAreEss
 
andreas23 said:
Here it is. Not sure if posted before
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/FZ18A.HTM

It´s pretty funny to me that the reviewers of the FZ18 seldom try it
at NR -2 which offers significantly better sharpness than normal NR.
It helps only at ISO 100. If using higher ISO, the NR is so heavy
anyway you dont need to bother, and better go RAW+Jpeg.

I always see negative about noise and NR at ISO 100 in reviews but no
mentions that things get better at NR -2 (or -1).
Click to expand...
There is extensive discussion of the effect of NR settings in the review at this very web site: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz18/page7.asp

Bob
 
I have not read Imaging-resources review yet, but at least two of the online reviews (dpreview and dcresource) showed the results of using -1 and -2 NR levels. BOTH of these reviewers concluded that these adjustments made little if no difference.

Peter F.
 
PeterNMIF said:
I have not read Imaging-resources review yet, but at least two of the
online reviews (dpreview and dcresource) showed the results of using
-1 and -2 NR levels. BOTH of these reviewers concluded that these
adjustments made little if no difference.
Click to expand...
Quite true .. though some users say otherwise. I've not played with this setting but will now.

--
Phil .. Panny FZ18, Canon S3 IS, SD700IS, 300D & EOS 20D; Fuji F20 & F31fd.
http://www.pbase.com/phil_wheeler
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_ox/
 
I am new to the camera, and have been playing with setting. Haven't played with NR either. After the opinions of Simon and the others I thought I would play with NR last, as it is very likely they are "right". But perhaps I will come out with different opinion. I think my presets that I like are a bit different than the general recommendations here, so I wouldn't be surprised if I come out different on NR too grin

Peter F.
 
Hi Peter,

Plz read carefully:

Using NR -2 (or -1) significantly improves fine detail for landscape shots etc, but JUST at ISO 100. When you use a higher ISO, there is small difference between NR -2 and NR 0 andn you´ve better go RAW.

But when using ISO 100, there really is significant difference between NR -2 and 0. Try it out for nature and fine detail shots and tell me whether you agree or disagree.
 
From dpreview.com you can download the full image of the resolution chart for the FZ18 and for the FZ50 at ISO 100. Then look at both on your monitor side by side and zoom in (Faststone and Xnview are good free programs for this). The FZ18 has lots of purple fringing in all the corners, the FZ50 has none. Even the highly criticized (by some) Sony DSC-H5 actually has a little less purple fringing than the FZ18.

I always thought Panasonic removed the purple fringing with their camera's internal software, but apparently the purple fringing is either a characteristic of the lens or of the sensor. This must be so because the older FZ50 has none and the new FZ18 has it. If it is the lens that is at fault, I wonder why the Leica engineers could eliminate it in their 12X lens used on the FZ50 but not in the 18X lens used on the FZ18? This must be an example of the compromises that must be made in the lens design to increase the zoom range. There is no free lunch.

I hope they do not mess with the FZ50 lens design by increasing its zoom range for a possible FZ50 replacement if the consequence is FZ18's purple corners. I know many of you FZ51 hopefulls would gladly accept an increase of purple fringing in exchange for the FZ18's increased zoom range. Not me, 12X without purple is what I want. But this is a personal preference.

Note from the charts that the center resolution of the FZ50 is better than for the FZ18, but that is to be expected because it has 25% more pixels.
 
andreas23 said:
Here it is. Not sure if posted before
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ18/FZ18A.HTM

It´s pretty funny to me that the reviewers of the FZ18 seldom try it
at NR -2 which offers significantly better sharpness than normal NR.
It helps only at ISO 100. If using higher ISO, the NR is so heavy
anyway you dont need to bother, and better go RAW+Jpeg.

I always see negative about noise and NR at ISO 100 in reviews but no
mentions that things get better at NR -2 (or -1).
Click to expand...
Look here

http://www . cameralabs.com/ reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FZ18/noise.shtml
 
Yup, FZ18 is complete tosh. All my pics are noisy and look terrible. I always forget that. It takes a good review to remind me to chuck the thing in the toilet. Even with NR -2 any pics I take look like dog vomit.

Smeary dog vomit.

You've been warned. Don't buy it. Just ask all the FZ18 owners here. They all despise their cams too. The only reason we hang on to them is that it reinforces our low self esteem.

Honestly.

;)
andreas23 said:
I always see negative about noise and NR at ISO 100 in reviews but no
mentions that things get better at NR -2 (or -1).
Click to expand...
--
Mark Jones
Olympus 2100 (UZI), FZ18, OLY B-300, OLY A-Macro.
http://www.pbase.com/mjonesgraphics
 
I look forward to trying your recommendation! It is my plan to use ISO 100 whenever I can outdoors. So, if I use NR at -2 then I assume there will be more, well, noise in my pictures. What software to you like to use in postprocessing?

Peter F.
 
As user of both the H5 and FZ18, I can assure you there is no comparison when it comes to fringing. The H-series are FAR worse, the FZ 18 hardly shows any in reallife conidtions. See also dpreview reviews.
 
I've been looking for a camera to take photos of my kids, in and outdoors. I need the zoom for school functions and a fast shutter for multiple pics. I really like the FZ18 but have also been looking at the canon S5. Any input? Looking for prints no bigger then 5x7.
 
Betarover said:
I always thought Panasonic removed the purple fringing with their
camera's internal software, but apparently the purple fringing is
either a characteristic of the lens or of the sensor. This must be so
because the older FZ50 has none and the new FZ18 has it.
Click to expand...
Curious observation. My FZ18 is the cleanest digicam I've owned from a purple fringing point of view; only L-glass with my EOS 40D does better -- with the Canon G9 on a par with the FZ18.

FZ18 is far better than the Canon S3 IS, SD700IS and either of the Fujis I own. Really remarkable considering the 18x optical zoom range.

--
Phil .. Panny FZ18, Canon S3 IS, SD700IS, 300D & EOS 20D; Fuji F20 & F31fd.
http://www.pbase.com/phil_wheeler
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_ox/
 
PC Wheeler said:
Betarover said:
I always thought Panasonic removed the purple fringing with their
camera's internal software, but apparently the purple fringing is
either a characteristic of the lens or of the sensor. This must be so
because the older FZ50 has none and the new FZ18 has it.
Click to expand...
Curious observation. My FZ18 is the cleanest digicam I've owned from
a purple fringing point of view;
Click to expand...
I am still puzzled by the very obvious difference in purple fringing between the FZ18 and FZ50. I think my observation stands. The test charts on dpreview.com do show this fact. Too bad we customer never hear the exact details of the design struggles and considerations of acutal camera engineers. I am sure going to 18X from 12X caused the purple fringing. After all, the Leica engineers had the FZ50 lens design done when they began designing the 18X.
PC Wheeler said:
--
Click to expand...
 
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