Panasonic's 2011 value travel zoom — 14.1MP CCD, 24-384mm equiv 16x Leica lens, manual modes; ZS8 in US.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ18 was announced in January 2011 as the simpler, more affordable partner to the flagship TZ20 in Panasonic's Travel Zoom range. In North America it was sold as the Lumix DMC-ZS8; the near-identical DMC-TZ19/ZS9 differed essentially in having a stereo rather than mono microphone.
It pairs a 14.1-megapixel 1/2.33in CCD with a 16x Leica DC Vario-Elmar zoom equivalent to 24-384mm — an unusually wide starting point for the class — with optical image stabilisation. It offers full manual shooting modes alongside Intelligent Auto, records 720p HD video in Motion JPEG, and frames on a 3.0in LCD, storing to SD-family cards.
It suits travellers wanting maximum zoom span in a pocket at minimum cost: the 24mm wide end handles cramped interiors and big landscapes, and manual modes give room to grow. It skips the TZ20's GPS, touchscreen and 1080i video, and the CCD prefers good light.
Used checks: proprietary battery health and genuine charger, full 16x zoom travel without noise, LCD condition, and clean 720p clips. Test for hot pixels on long exposures. SD/SDHC cards remain current, making this an easy camera to run today.