Clearly a rival of the recently released Olympus SP-550 UZ “Ultra Zoom” camera, which also features an 18x optical zoom.

Introducing the Panasonic Lumix FZ-18.

The Olympus got reasonable reviews, it’s not very fast, not very sharp and the pictures are ok - but it has 18x zoom! The ultimate travelling partner perhaps.

Now Panasonic counters with this, a massive 18x zoom to match and wider at the wide angle end with 28mm rather than the normal 35/36mm and of course the quality of the Leica lens helps. Plus the great Panasonic stabiliser. They just really need to sort out the image quality and noise problems with the Venus processor.

Looks to be a well specced camera.

• 8.1 effective Megapixel CCD
• F2.8-4.2, 18X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28 - 504 mm
• Optical image stabilization
• 2.5″ LCD display with 207,000 pixels + electronic viewfinder with 188,000 pixels
• Full manual controls
• Intelligent Auto mode features auto scene selection, face detection (for up to 15 faces), and continuous AF
• High sensitivity mode can boost ISO to 6400 (oh, good)
• RAW image format support
• Records widescreen movies at 848 x 480, with sound
• 27MB onboard memory + SD/SDHC/MMC card slot
• Support for conversion lenses and filters
• Uses proprietary li-ion battery; 400 shots per charge
• Comes in silver and black
• Ships this September for $400

But please - ISO6400? On a Panasonic, they must be kidding!

And why can’t people make f/2.0 lenses like the old Canon G2!

You can read more here:

First look: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 preview

The perfect choice for any photographer with varied photographic needs and high ambitions – Panasonic is pleased to introduce the new DMC-FZ8 7.2-megapixel Lumix camera, featuring a powerful 12x optical zoom, LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens and the ever popular and indispensable Optical Image Stabiliser (O.I.S). With a joystick control for manual adjustment of focusing and exposure setting, the DMC-FZ8 offers high end specification and portability.

A fast, long 12x optical zoom lens and easy-to-use controls help make up a little for the DMC-FZ8’s image-quality issues.

A few reviews have come out, and I do like the Panasonic cameras, apart from the noise issues of course…

The FZ-8 is a slightly more compact choice than the FZ-50 series and a bit bigger than the TZ-1 series, something comparable to a Canon S3 IS.

Reviews:

Panasonic FZ-8 Consumer Review

In comparison to its predecessor, the Panasonic Lumix FZ8 is a very welcome upgrade with some great features for a very competitive price. Along with fast operation, great battery life and the bonus of a very effective image stabilisation, the FZ8 should be very seriously considered.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Review - DPReview

If you accept that the size and convenience of this type of product means a certain level of compromise you won’t be disappointed. Viewed on-screen at 100% the output often leaves a little to be desired, but for ‘normal’ use (standard sized prints, full screen viewing) the excellent lens and reliable focus/exposure systems cannot fail to impress. On this basis I think it’s safe to say that the FZ8 just about offers enough to earn a qualified Highly Recommended, but I’d urge you to check out the sample images - and decide if you’re prepared to shoot raw when it matters and to stick to ISO 100 whenever possible - before deciding.

Review: Panasonic DMC-FZ8 compared to the Olympus SP-550 UZ

The SP-550 is better built with very good ergonomics and many features. The FZ8, though, is faster and has a slight advantage in image quality with less distortion, color noise, chromatic aberration and workable RAW. Looking at the plain figures, this match ends in a draw. However, considering the price difference (the FZ8 is over 100 dollar cheaper than the SP-550), the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 wins by a nose.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 - CNET

While the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 has problems with noise, in many other ways it is a very nice camera. Its controls make it easy to use, and it packs a very impressive feature set. If you’re not persnickety about noise or image quality, it makes a nice camera for beginner and intermediate photographers to learn on. Advanced shooters who want pristine image quality should look elsewhere.

This is the camera I’m currently recommending people when they ask me what to get for a ‘bridge’ or ‘prosumer’ camera.

Image from dpreview.com

These are the range of cameras with advanced features, superb lenses and usually 10x or 12x optical zoom, similar in this range are Canon S3 IS and the Sony H2 or H5.

Once again this is still THE best camera in the range, but has high ISO problems as with all Panasonic cameras, I hope they take a leaf out of the Fujifilm book and stop racing for more megapixels and start going for image quality and high ISO performance.

The perfect blend right now would be a Panasonic camera (Best usability and lenses, best picture quality in bright light) and a Fuji SuperCCD (Best detail capture and by FAR the best high ISO performance, it can almost equal a Nikon D50 at ISO 1600).

Anyway back to the FZ-50, here are some reviews and info if you have this in your wishlist.

Specifications

• 10.1 megapixels
• 12x optical zoom / 2-4x digital zoom
• Auto and manual focus
• Auto and manual exposure
• JPEG and RAW file formats
• ISO 80-3200
• Secure Digital storage (32MB SD card included)
• Movie mode, with sound
• Lithium-ion battery

The first review to come out was DPReview:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review

Others:

Photography Blog - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review

CNET - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50S (silver)

Camera Labs - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review

Ah every manufacturer seems to be taking part in the megapixel race, plenty of people have bought the Lumix FZ-30, now they come out with the FZ-50, almost the same but 10 megapixels..

As for Panasonic, I really think they ought to stop looking at the count of pixels and start working on the hideous noise problems they have at any ISO over 100!

Image from dpreview.com

Panasonic has announced the latest in the FZ ‘double digit’ series of prosumer digital cameras (a replacement for the FZ30). The Lumix DMC-FZ50 features a twelve times optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization, a ten megapixel sensor, up to ISO 1600 sensitivity and something Panasonic call IIC (Intelligent ISO control). This new feature monitors the amount of movement in the frame and adjusts the ISO sensitivity automatically at the time of exposure (higher for more movement).

Summary of differences compared to the Lumix DMC-FZ30

• Ten megapixel 1/1.8″ CCD
• 16:9 movie record mode (848 x 480 pixels)
• TIFF file format dropped (RAW remains)
• Venus Engine III image processor
• Scene modes adjusted
• Sensitivity up to ISO 1600 at full size, ISO 3200 (upsampled)
• TTL Flash hot-shoe
• Slower continuous shooting (from 3 to 2 fps, max images from 7 to 5 in standard)
• Lower resolution LCD monitor (from 230,000 to 207,000 pixels)
• Support for SDHC cards (SD greater than 2 GB)
• ‘SilkyPix Developer Studio’ for RAW conversion

Full spec here.

I’m still unsure what camera to get as my backup compact, something small for the pocket like a Lumix FX01 or the Casio Exilim or something with a superzoom like the FZ7 or the Sony H2..

Ah choices choices!