Impressed

When eating a gastronomic delight we only know how good it is by comparing it to other meals we've eaten. This analogy is most pertinent when relating to Panasonic's FX01. The camera has to be compared with what is generally available in the market place.

Firstly the build quality is truly superb. I've recently looked carefully at most of the Sony range which in terms of build quality is the FX01's nearest competitor. Fuji is way down on the build quality league.

The reason we buy any camera is to take photos, the reason we don't all rush out to buy Nikon's beautiful D200 is cost. So compromise continues, but lets be realistic, for a price tag of less than '190 there is very little on the market to compare to the FX01's features. The Leica lens produces a constant barrage of high quality images making the most if the 6 million little sensors hidden in the metal case. The shutter lag I've experienced with most compact digital camera does not seem to be present with the FX01.

When turned on the camera is up and running before you can say 'shutter lag?' ensuring that the photo you planed on taking is still there. The tiny controls on the back of the camera are one it's only shortcomings although this is due to the large LCD screen. The overall dimensions make the FX01 able to fit in the palm of your hand and the ergonomics (I hate that word) make it easy to hold and operate.

The camera boasts an x3.6 zoom, this is technically correct, but as the starting point is 28mm, x3.6 means it will get as close as most other x3.0 zoom compacts. The starting point of 28mm means that it is one of the only compact cameras that have a wide angle option.

Battery life is on a par with similar cameras, I managed to take over 380 photos on one charge (without flash).

Noise (slight blur/haze) is apparent on most of the indoor shots, the level varied slightly dependent on the lighting conditions. Even with this slight niggle the overall performance of this camera is bound to impress.