Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: The Lumix DMC-FX55 compact camera has a superb 3-inch LCD, but the screen saps battery life, and images weren't as sharp as those of the Panasonic FX100.

Pros: Settings for 6 x 4 prints and panoramic shots - image stabilisation - LCD screen display - ease of use

Cons: Struggled with lower light shots - noise creeps in

Verdict: Easy to use, takes a decent picture and slips into a pocket. This camera also has a wide angle lens and a few extra features when compared to other simpler, point and shoot digital cameras. Well worth a look.

Review summary: With the integration if a 3 inch LCD, the FX55 can hold its head up proudly to the Canon Ixus 860 IS. Versatile, with nice image quality, and well constructed, the Lumix FX55 is a very attractive compact at the end of 2007.

Pros: Very good photo quality (by ultra-compact standards), though see issues below Wide-angle, 3.6X optical zoom lens Optical image stabilization Ultra-compact metal body, comes in three colors Huge 3-inch LCD display; screen visible outdoors and in low light;

Cons: Visible noise at lowest ISOs; noise reduction kicks in soon after, smudging details; some corner blurriness Redeye a big problem LCD resolution no better than smaller screens No optical viewfinder No metering option; more manual controls would be nice Hi

Verdict: Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FX55 offers some big camera features -- including image stabilization, a wide-angle lens, and a huge 3-inch LCD -- and puts them into a sleek ultra-compact body. For the most part, they've succeeded -- the FX55 is a responsive, capab