Customer Reviews
Bad Camera, Worse Software 
2008-05-13
The camera is of only average quality, The video is grainy even in the best light. However, two things make this a product to avoid; first, the software is horrible and second, customer service will dodge you, forget to call you back, and argue with you about the terrible software. Proprietary file types never work very well and this camera is no exception. To avoid endless hassles, avoid this camera.
Get a JVC Everio GZ-MG335 instead of this camera 
2008-03-12
I read a lot of reviews on this camera and on the JVC Everio HZ-MG335 and too my JVC back to Walmart and bought the Panasonic from an e-store. Well, the video quality on both cameras in the daylight is the same. But in low-light or dark conditions the JVC outperforms the Panasonic hands-down. The JVC has a very useful and effective built-in light to illuminate the subject. The Panasonic offers a program mode called MagicPix and it is as effective driving a car using a penlight. While using MagicPix, I get so frustrated that I want to smash the camera. Your only solution in low light conditions is to find a flashlight. Every day I use my Panasonic I mourn my decision to buy this camcorder. But the e-store wants to charge me a 20% restocking fee.
And the JVC is smaller and easier to hold and stick in one's pocket. The only good thing about the Panasonic is that you can upload videos to Youtube without having to convert the file.
The JVC equivalent costs hundreds less and offers more. And unlike the Panasonic, the JVC's USB port is conveniently located and doesn't require removing the battery to connect it to a PC.
$400 Over List Price From Toyzz 2008-03-11
Great Reviews in Consumer Reports (November 2007) , but give me a break. Not worth $900. It can be found in the low to mid $400 range from reputable dealers. How can anyone charge $400 over list price and still have the nerve to charge almost $30 in shipping. The camera is fine, but the price is insulting to the buyer's intelligence. Always wise to comparison shop at other sites first. Have found such huge discrepancies before and it has saved me. Go to the Panasonic website to check out the list price.
Bundled software not usefull. 
2008-02-07
I have one issue with the bundles software that comes with the H18. In spite
the advertisement, it does not help much. When the camcorder recording, it creates one file for every time you press the play button. That means that typically it can create tens or hundreds files for one typed event. The software, Image Mixer 3 allows you to work only with a few files at a time. So if I want to add titles for different events (lets say a new city I arrived at during my trip)the software does not help. It just not capable of doing it. Otherwise, I like the camera.
Great Camera. I love it 
2008-01-21
I bought this camer because you can take still pictures and videos and looks great on both. HD is great and it is very light
Beware 2008-05-29
I love the camera. It does everything it was marketed to do. I wouldn't buy again from Amazon though. The seller charged me over $30.00 for a 3 day delivery and it took 10. Amazon wouldn't help and the seller never responded to any emails.
good recorder 
2008-05-24
I really enjoy this little gadget. It's small enough to fit in the same bag as my digital camera and the quality of the pictures is excellent. Easy to use.
Very Disappointing 2008-05-18
I got it to upgrade from a tape-based camera that had a difficult user interface. This camcorder has an excellent interface and is easy to shoot good videos with. What's not to like?
I can't get the videos out to download to a useable computer.
1. It is really hard to transfer usable files to a computer. I can transfer to an XP computer, but my computers with video editing software are a Macintosh and a Vista system.
The Macintosh cannot read the files at all, even though they are imported by Panasonic's software to the Mac successfully. Quicktime and iMovie both give error messages that the file is not a video file.
The Vista computer can display the video from the SDR-H18, but there is no audio. Back to silent movies.
By the way, it can make a DVD on the XP computer, but the DVD is just a bunch of unedited clips transferred to DVD.
2. Even on overcast days outdoor shots get "solar flare" diamond-shaped internal reflections into the picture. So it is not a decent outdoor camera.
So for the purpose I had planned to use the camera, it is pretty much useless. I don't enjoy only being able to watch the video on the viewfinder.
panasonic camcorder 2008-05-16
I just got this camcorder so I'm still learning about it but so far it is light and compact and easy to handle. THe instructions are clear and simple and easy to follow. The lighting seems to be good and the pictures clear. So far I haven't transfered the picture to a DVD so can't comment on that.
Great gift for an excellent price 2008-05-15
This camcorder was purchased as a Christmas gift for my 20 year-old son. He uses some very fancy, and very high priced cameras in his film classes at college and wanted a camera of his own for personal use. I couldn't afford $1000s for a high-end camera so decided on this one. After much research online, the price at Amazon couldn't be beat.
The camera itself is an excellent buy for the price. Although the audio isn't the best, the other features work great and my son uses the camera almost daily. I waited this long before leaving feedback because I wanted to see how the camera held up over several months. It works as well after almost six months as the day it came out of the box.
In hindsight, the one thing that has really paid off is the 30GB hard drive. No need for expensive discs. The hard drive holds plenty, and my son also uses a high capacity SD card for even more storage.
