The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is an 8.1 Megapixel super-zoom camera with a massive 18x optically stabilised lens. Announced in July 2007, it comes just seven months after its predecessor the Lumix FZ8.

The FZ18 may greatly resemble the earlier FZ8 from the outside, but internally there’s two major differences: first the inevitable – and somewhat unnecessary – boost in resolution from 7.2 to 8.1 Megapixels, and secondly a much more important increase in zoom range from 12x to 18x. Crucially, this doesn’t just result in a more powerful telephoto reach either, as the FZ18 now zooms wider too. So out goes the 36-432mm equivalent 12x range of the FZ8, and in comes the new and much more useful 28-504mm 18x range of the FZ18.
 

While these are the headline new features of the FZ18, look a little closer and you’ll notice a raft of small, but (mostly) worthwhile tweaks and enhancements. To pick a few, the macro mode now focuses as close as 1cm rather than five, the RAW mode now allows you to choose whether it's accompanied by a JPEG file or not, the command dial has been revamped to include popular scene presets along with Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto mode, and there’s now the addition of face detection technology. In the perhaps less worthy category you’ll also find the maximum sensitivity has been increased to a somewhat optimistic 6400 ISO.

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