What Does Everyone Think of This Camera?

[Polygon]

I want to get a DSLR, but I can't afford the lenses. Besides, I don't think a DSLR would be practicle for vacation. So, I'm looking for some opinions on this camera.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

[leet]

I would get a canon G9 or S5 if I wanted a high end point and shoot, they are in the same price range

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong9/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons5is/

[Macky]

in a nutshell, leet took the words right out of my mouth

[Polygon]

Hmm, so I read the reviews and I would take the S5 IS over the G9. The reason I liked the Lumix was because of the lens and 18x optical zoom. However, I was just reading that the CCD is rather small. This would make it very sensitive to low light and give you noise, correct?

Is that one of the reasons you would suggest against it? If so, that is what I'm trying to get away from with my current Cannon 5mp point and shoot. That is by far and away one of my biggest complaints with my current camera.

[Alan92RTTT]

Low light photography on my S2 is the only thing I'm disappointed with. I was spoiled by my old Olympus C-2100. I'll probably move to an SLR when I wear the S2 out.

[stealthxtreme4]

Originally Posted by leet

I would get a canon G9 or S5 if I wanted a high end point and shoot, they are in the same price range

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong9/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons5is/

Would I be able to take some pretty badass pictures with the S5? I'm not very skilled when it comes to using SLR's. I've gotten lucky, like my signature picture, and a little post processing on the XTi's that I've borrowed, but the options and picture taking is so manual aimed, that I've had trouble getting the settings right. I've wanted to be able to take pictures, and in HDR quite often...

Would a camera like that, fit me more? I'm thinking it would. I could point and shoot good pictures, and take HDR shots that would look outstanding as well without the mess of playing with iso and all of that. Is that auto option on the XTi and I just missed it? I hate to get more camera than I need.

[NightShade]

I can vouch for any of the S - IS series of camera's from Canon. Everytime I get a poster printed at the store the guys behind the counter ask me what kind of camera I took it with. I tell them it's an S2-IS and they start laughing. Then I tell them, no, seriously, an S2-IS. It usually takes me saying it three times before they believe me.

I was going to get an S5 about a month ago since the S2 is only 5mp. But the S5 came out last year, and they'll probably have a new offering soon. I'm hoping it'll be 10mp. Oh, that would be a good camera.

Eventually I'm going to have to get a SLR though. I have a Rebel Ti film SLR so I'm just going to get another Canon DSLR so I can use the lenses I already have.

[91Stealth89]

I too can vouch for the cannon S2, although, good low light shots are very to get, and Im ready to move to SLR, its a great cam.everything you see on my flickr in taken with the S2

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9123403@N07/

[leet]

Originally Posted by stealthxtreme4

Would I be able to take some pretty badass pictures with the S5? I'm not very skilled when it comes to using SLR's. I've gotten lucky, like my signature picture, and a little post processing on the XTi's that I've borrowed, but the options and picture taking is so manual aimed, that I've had trouble getting the settings right. I've wanted to be able to take pictures, and in HDR quite often...

Would a camera like that, fit me more? I'm thinking it would. I could point and shoot good pictures, and take HDR shots that would look outstanding as well without the mess of playing with iso and all of that. Is that auto option on the XTi and I just missed it? I hate to get more camera than I need.

learn how to take good pictures before worrying about things like HDR

HDR doesn't make a picture instantly good, you have to start with something good first

and even then HDR is overused, it's like the selective color craze a few years ago