[pilsman]

Hi, all.

Just signed up. First post. I've been lurking for a few weeks. I'm a beginning birder and was planning on buying a DSLR, but after reading the very informative posts from everyone here about the FZ18, I decided to order it instead. (I think I got one of the last new ones available!) I definitely would prefer not to have a big and heavy camera and your photos of what the FZ18 can do convinced me. I used to own a film SLR years ago, so I know the FZ18 - from what you've shown me with your excellent photos - can come mighty close to SLR photo standards. Also, I decided I did not want the FZ28 after reading your comments about the smaller EVF, regardless of the other improvements.

So now I'm patiently waiting for my FZ18 to arrive. Maybe next week...

Tom

[TSM23]

You won't regret it. I bought one earlier this year along with Olympus TCON 17, very happy with it.

[njlarsen]

Tom, Welcome on board! (both as a FZ18 user and Birdforum member)

Niels

[Sandpiper]

Hi Tom,

A warm welcome to BirdForum. I am sure you will find plenty to interest you on this wonderful, informative website. A friend of mine uses a FZ18 and has had good results with it. Best of luck!

Mike

[pilsman]

Thank you all for the welcomes.

Camera arrived today. Wow - manual is almost 150 pages! A little overwhelming to this "old fart" in his 60s. But, I guess more is better, compared to some of the skimpy documentation some complex electronic gadgets come with these days.

I plan to take it slow. Lots of shooting in Automatic Mode at first. And I'm glad it's there. But I'm sure I'll have some questions later... Good to know you guys and gals are here...

Tom

[Cactusdave]

'Intelligent auto, iA' is a good place to start. I use it a lot. The one button push 'backlight' facility available in iA is useful to compensate lighting for birds perched on branches against the light.

[PSYL]

Hi, all!

I'm in the same boat as pilsman.

My new (well, actually I think it's a demo product) FZ18 (silver) just arrived this morning. I am very excited to go out and take some pictures today!

Pete

[Guizotia]

I never heard of an FZ18 before, but now I look, I find it's "Out of stock" or "Discontinued"... is this a product that came and went or is there a more up to date version?

[Cactusdave]

The FZ28 is the "new improved" version of the FZ18. The two cameras are similar, though not identical in specification and how they work. This thread considers the differences. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....ight=FZ28+FZ18

If you want an FZ18 you will have to look to a second hand one now.

[PSYL]

Yep, FZ18 has been out for more than 1.5 years now (?). FZ28 is the successor of it. But I think FZ18 still get good feedbacks from owners.

After receiving my camera in the morning, I headed outside to try it out in the afternoon. I love it! Some of my photos can be seen here (in my blog):
http://p-s-y-l.blogspot.com/2009/02/...z18-great.html

[Dan3006]

I have an FZ18 and it got me started with bird photography. Stick to the optical zoom and you will get impressive pictures. This camera was my first digital and I am 64. At first it was daunting, but I learned a little at at time. Buying this camera was the smartest thing I have ever done in photography. The coolist thing is you can take as many pictures as you want and you don't have to pay for developing unless you want to. Have fun.

Dan

[pilsman]

I love my FZ18. For those who are trying to find one, you can still find new ones if you search on the internet - but you'll probably have to pay more than the newer FZ28 - which is more available. But, for bird photography, I think the FZ18 is better.

Here are a few of my latest photos - taken on Intelligent Auto - as I'm still learning. Also, they're hand-held - no tripod!

[PSYL]

Great photos, pilsman. Very detailed. How close were you from the subjects?

Thought I share some of mine just taken this afternoon. Most were in Sports mode, I think.

Cheers,

Pete

[Cactusdave]

I just wish I had those birds in my backgarden!

[pilsman]

Pete asked: "How close were you from the subjects?"

1st pic - about 20 feet and 2nd about 40 feet.

I like you pics too. Looks like you've mastered the technique of manual focusing through tree branches. I still find that hard to do quickly before the bird moves. But, I'm working on it.

[PSYL]

Thank you, pilsman. I used Spot Focusing for those pictures. Just have to keep your hands really steady and aim as best as you can on the subject. But yes, this camera focuses slow when the bird is in flight (or the subject is moving fast). I haven't really get a decent bird-in-flight picture yet. Still, I love this camera.

I posted some more of my favorite pictures (from today) in my blog, feel free to visit it.

Pete

[pilsman]

Great blog, Pete! I've bookmarked it and will follow your continuing birding adventures.

I envy your location there on the Pacific coast and with the high mountains in the background. Lots of different environments for raptors, waterfowl, and others. North Alabama, with the Tennessee River running through and all it's dams and lakes and the huge Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is a great birding area also. We have a few bald eagles that hang out during the winter over at Lake Guntersville, but it's about an hour's drive away from me, so, I don't get there often. And seeing them is hit or miss. I saw one a few weeks ago, but just flying by. Not able to get a pic.

P.S. Glad to see you like the FZ18 as much as I do.