Here is a partial listing of the features found on the Panasonic FZ18:

• 8 megapixels
• 18x wide-angle optical zoom - 28mm - 504mm/equivalent
• Extended Optical Zoom - shoot telephoto up to 804mm/equivalent (requires reducing the megapixel setting)
• Two speed zoom lever
• Two optical image stabilization modes
• 2.5″ fixed LCD display
• Electric viewfinder with diopter adjustment
• Six AutoFocus modes including Face Detection; two are high speed
• High Angle mode - makes viewing the LCD easier taking photos when the camera is held above your head.
• Telemacro mode - take close up photos from a distance when using the zoom
• Intelligent Auto Mode - automatically chooses all camera settings, and even changes settings as it detects the type of scene being photographed
• Intelligent ISO - senses when a subject is moving and raises the ISO and shutter speed. This helps prevent motion blur when taking action shots.
• Face Detection - focuses and exposes for up to 15 faces in a scene; automatically adjusts settings if subjects’ faces move or their positions change
• 14 exposure modes, 14 scene modes
• Advanced Scene Modes - for Indoor Portraits, Scenery, Sports and Night Portraits. The Custom function within each mode is cool. Each Advanced Scene Mode is accessed via the mode dial (manual pg. 57).
• Custom Settings Mode - three banks to save favorite camera settings so they can be accessed quickly
• ISO from 100 to 1600, plus a High Sensitivity mode which goes from ISO 1600 - 6400 (if anyone dare use it)
• Picture Adjust - Ability to change factory default image settings for Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation and Noise Reduction
• Exposure Compensation and Flash Compensation
• Joystick - Every camera should have one!

And get a load of this. The FZ18 weighs only 14.4 oz (407 g), including battery.