Lumix DMC-FZ18 - short review

This does not feel a very robust camera but you get a lot for your money. It has seemingly endless options to choose from. Although I read that an earlier issue with noise had been dealt with I find the noise levels (noise = graininess for film people)simply unacceptable in poor light at ISO400. I am also disappointed with the RAW mode. I don't seem to get good results but my main camera is a Canon 1D mk III and I'm conscious I'm comparing prices on a ratio of 1:10 ex lens. I bought this to supplement my 1D mk III after I saw the results an elderly Chinese man had got shooting insects in the local nature reserve. The zoom and macro functionality is very good and this is an example of what the Lumix can do in good light (a jpeg) this with a shot coverted from RAW to jpeg using the 1D mk 111 and a 100-400mm IS lens

The camera has had a week-long trip to the Highlands of Malaysia - itself to be blogged - and I can update the comments above. This is indeed a very versatile camera. The 18x zoom is remarkably effective. I find I prefer images with an exposure compensation of EV-1/3 but that may simply be a matter of taste. The battery life isn't great but it just about gets me through a day if I'm not using the review function too much. It is so irritating that nobody yet seems to sell spare batteries for this model. What I loved was the weight - this is so refreshing compared to my usual DSLR. The IA (intelligent auto, designed it is rumoured especially for The Phiz) works well and easily identifies backlit situations.
The camera struggled under poor light and photographing moths on a shiny white wall at night was almost impossible - no flash, massive camera shake; flash, too much reflection on macro shots and I couldn't find a way of reducing the power output. If there is a flash compensation feature it eluded me. I didn't bother with RAW.

All in all this is worth the HK$3800 I paid (list HK$3990 I think) but I wouldn't trust high ISO settings. The 1D mk III is virtually noiseless at ISO1600, the speed the second image was shot at versus ISO 200 on the first.

I would give this 10/10 for value for money but overall maybe 8/10.

Autumn butterflies

Much ado about a goldfinch

Last week the T&S (Trouble and Strife) and I went to Causeway Bay and took lunch in the Goldfinch Restaurant. Now the food was very good, excellent value, acceptable background music and most welcoming staff, who spoke good English. Highly recommended as Mr. Ronay might say but arguably not Mr. Winner. So what is wrong with the restaurant. Well, I give you Exhibits A and B.




I can see that you are already on the trail. The Goldfinch known to and loved by my European reader is a colourful little finch, that bears not a passing resemblance to the depicted bird. And as a stickler for accuracy I took the precautionary measure of checking how a Chinese Goldfinch might look. I turned to that much thumbed tome,
A Field Guide to the Birds of China by Mackinnon and Phillipps. Now apart from having a mildly pretentious spelling to her name (are 2 Ls and 2 Ps really necessary?) Ms Phillipps' illustrations have had mixed reviews. However I would contend that the Goldfinch is one of her finest and here therefore I take the liberty of reproducing her magnum opus.



Now then, doesn't that look like a goldfinch? Bottom left if you are at all confused and of a non-ornithological disposition. The Causeway Bay bird leaves me baffled. It has perhaps the air of a Glossy Starling but nary a goldfinch. Accordingly, until the situation remedies itself and this splendid restaurant adopts a new image, Mrs. Haa (for so her friends now call her) and I shall be boycotting the place. Indeed I feel a letter to the South China Morning Post coming on.

A walk in the park

I was very brave today. I picked up my camera again. So far, so good. Here are some results.






These are "Punchinello", "Lemon Pansy", "Common Five-ring" and a dragonfly I have to check.

Not the big lens of course but the small macro one. Still, as the trouble and strife said, acceptable. In fact the T&S came with me and we pottered about for 2 or more hours. We bumped into an old chap who is frequently there and he uses a small (non DSLR) camera that still produces excellent results. He showed me some of his butterfly images on the screen and I was blown away. Quite coincidentally just this morning I had read a review of the new version of his camera. It is a Lumix, Panasonic DMC FZ18. It got a strong write up. Between the review and the old chap the T&S had enough ammunition to frogmarch me off to buy one straight after lunch. "Only" HK$3800 and packed full of gadgety bits. So tonight and tomorrow I have to find out how it works. The bits that swayed me were the ability to shoot RAW and a Leica Elmarit lens. At a 1/10 of the cost of my DSLR body without lens its got to be a bargain.

Now as you have been very patient, here is a bonus picture from today. Wait a minute, no birds or moths!! Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. Do not adjust your set. Thank you.