[Qexit]

I've just picked up one of these at my local QVC Outlet store in the Birchwood Shopping Centre (near Warrington, Cheshire). I'm not sure if the ones on the shelves are customer returns or end of line but at £149.99 I'm not too worried either way The fact that QVC have a no-quibble 30-Day refund policy and 12 months warranty helps too. I don't know if these are available in-store everywhere, it may just be this one branch but they did seem to have a few in stock with at least six boxes on display and several still packed ones back in the storage area. The full details of the camera are:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18EB Digital Camera - Silver
8.1MP CCD
18 x Optical Zoom (28mm - 504mm 35mm equivalent)
Optical image stabiliser
2.5" TFT screen
Face Detection and lots of other fun auto-features
Battery and charger
Lens cap, carrying strap, lens hood, hood adapter ring
USB 2.0 and video leads
2GB SD Memory Card

This is a link to the camera on Amazon (note the black version is around £100 cheaper):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...anddvdbarga-21

and this links to a good review over on Steve's Digicams:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_...onic_fz18.html

I'm pretty pleased with my purchase

One note of caution. As at least some of these are customer returns, do take the time to check that all the bits are present. The first one I got presented with was missing the lens cap.

[droopsnout]

Wow!

Fantastic buy! I spent literally twice that amount on the same camera from PurelyGadgets just four months ago, when it first came out. There weren't the QVC extras, either, like the 2Gb memory card. The lens cap should be attached to the camera by a cord.

The camera was recently a TSV on QVC. (TSV=Bargain of the day, for those who don't "benefit" from this channel).

Highly recommended.

[TheReverend]

I'm on the lookout for a decent camera with a good zoom cos mine's a bit rubbishm and I don't wnt to be spending out on EOS's and buying lenses etc, and this looks a pretty good bargain. It's just a shame I didn't even know QVC had outlets, which'll mean there's none anywhere near me lol (kent, medway, incase anyone knows different ;) )

[homerpovey]

It looks like they've only got two Rev, in Warrington and Shrewsbury.

[TheReverend]

Booo, well thats no good. Thanks for the info :)

[Qexit]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I'm on the lookout for a decent camera with a good zoom cos mine's a bit rubbishm and I don't wnt to be spending out on EOS's and buying lenses etc, and this looks a pretty good bargain. It's just a shame I didn't even know QVC had outlets, which'll mean there's none anywhere near me lol (kent, medway, incase anyone knows different ;) )

Sorry to hear there isn't a QVC outlet near you, especially since the lens on this one is probably its best feature as it's an all-glass optic manufactured by Leica...and you can't get much better than that It was my birthday present to me...from me Just a shame the rest of my birthday today has been a complete disaster. No cards in the post, then I broke down on the motorway and needed to get the RAC out to what appears to be a blown cylinder head gasket At least I can unwind later (after the pain of watching the series finale of 'Primeval') with some nice wine and Cars and/or Ratatouille on DVD

[droopsnout]

Commiserations Qexit, and Happy Birthday!!

It can only get better!

Back on topic, it's a fabulous camera. Mine goes everywhere with me. Agree about the lens.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Qexit

Just a shame the rest of my birthday today has been a complete disaster.

At least you cold take great pictures of it all while it went wrong

[Qexit]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

At least you cold take great pictures of it all while it went wrong

Sad I know, but that's exactly what I did do !!! A couple of shots of steam coming out of the engine and one earlier of my own car just before the scrap dealer loaded it onto his truck. Now, where's that bottle of dessert wine

[Qexit]

Just for the record, the QVC Outlet store still had several DMC-FZ18 cameras for sale at £149.99 when I looked in this afternoon, Friday 28th March.I'm amazed they haven't sold out yet as i now know at least half a dozen people who've bought them since I got mine.