Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Panasonic's newest FX line camera looks pretty, has a Leica lens and a massive screen. We took it for a spin to see if it was up to snuff.

Pros: Outstanding design, high-quality widescreen video, huge LCD screen

Cons: On/off button is too easy to switch, no video zooming

Review summary: Although very expensive for a compact camera - and too large for many pockets - the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS is extremely well made and performs admirably.

Verdict: The Panasonic DMC-FX55 has much to like: It's easy to use and well put together. For the price, though, we'd like a little better image quality.

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

Pros: Super-bright LCD Capable image stabilization

Cons: In-camera help text not very helpful

Verdict: The Panasonic DMC-FX55 has much to like: It's easy to use and well put together. For the price, though, we'd like a little better image quality

Review summary: Intelligence comes to digital cameras

Pros: Rich and detailed images, Rich and detailed images, Very easy to use thanks to automatic modes, Sturdy build, Good lens

Cons: Menu button can get in the way, Menu button can get in the way, Image stabilisation not perfect, No viewfinder

Verdict: A good value sturdy camera for anyone wanting all-round performance. Its images are some of the best we've seen in its class.

Review summary: Built around a lens forged in the vaunted house of Leica, the FX55 is packed with a laundry list of features: an ultra wide zoom with twin mode optical image stabilization, three aspect ratios, and a three-inch LCD. Sweet specs, right? Yup, they are. This

Pros: Beautiful industrial design with superior Leica optics. Shoots in 3:2, 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Sharp QuickTime videos.

Cons: Menus are unnecessarily murky. Key functions like exposure compensation, flash adjustment, and delete require deep menu digging rather than direct access. The function dial makes mode changes slower than a tortoise full of rigor mortis.