The FZ18 takes outstanding photos in good light. But it’s a mixed bag when shooting in low light without a flash.

Photos taken at IS0 400 may contain unsightly yellow splotching. Photos taken above ISO 400 are particularly prone to yellow splotching and serious smearing of detail.

The yellow blotching can be so bad that images are suitable only as snapshots and may not look good as prints larger than 4×6.”

Available light

For inside shots using higher ISO numbers, the FZ18 does best when low light is mixed with natural light, such as in the sample photo. The room contains a mixture of artificial lighting and outside light filtering through the windows.

If there is no available light in a room, stick to lower ISO numbers. Use a camera support such as tripod or lean the camera against something sturdy. If permitted and you are located in an acceptable range, use the flash.

Darker backgrounds

Scenes that have darker backgrounds are less vulnerable to yellow splotching. There is no guarantee, however, so always take some test photos before an important event.

Zoom in and take a look at the LCD to preview if  unsightly splotching exists, especially in light areas. If so, consider using the methods mentioned above.

When there are no alternatives

For many of us, getting a poor quality shot is better than none at all. If your image ends up with noise or yellow splotching, take steps to reduce them when editing.