Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Digital Camera

I'm a tech teacher for a high school and I've worked with lots of different cameras and the Panasonic Lumixes have always been my best buys for the price range. My students love the built in zoom lens (no need to change lenses on the run) and they feel like they're using something more sophisticated than a basic point and shoot. You also get a large number of pictures on one battery charge even if you constantly use the LCD. The only cons I've found are that they have problems indoors with low artificial light. If you don't watch what you are doing you end up with a lot of yellowed images. I often have to adjust the white balance and iso settings. You can't beat the Lumixes if you're trying to buy a versitile camera with zoom for under $300.

First i use the FZ8k, then this one(FZ18K), the camera take great pictures, i dont need photoshop to clean my pictures anymore.

i got this camera as an entry level piece before i would get an slr. this is surely a dlsr replacement camera. reduces the hassels of lens and manual controls.. had a lot of good pics with it. it also has an awesome batt life, around 400 shots. this camera has convinced my friends around me to buy one as it had all they wanted.. way better than a point and shoot and a good one start before a Dslr

This camera has been a great for me. I use it to take pictures and I also use it to record video. I would recommend this camera.

I've tried the earlier versions from Panasonic, but this is really ultimate... The product was delivered on the said time. I have a suggestion for Panasonic - to provide zoom functionality in video mode. If the camera had a zoom while taking a video, then there would be very few cameras to beat it.