The size of a credit card, the attractive and easy to use FX01 is no run-of-the-mill point and shoot digital camera.

Yes, others have a similarly useful wide-angle lens – ideal for framing group photos or landscapes.

A six megapixel resolution is also standard at this price, as is a large-ish 2.5in screen for composing pictures and, increasingly, a high light sensitivity setting of ISO1600 for better shooting in the dim.

But, add to this a better-than-average 3.6x optical zoom, which can be extended to 5x if you don’t mind a resolution drop to three megapixels, plus a Optical Image Stabiliser that nine times out of 10 works to counteract shaky hands and avoid image blur – a feature normally found on semi-professional cameras – and things start to look interesting.

Also worth singling out is a unique High Angle mode that boosts screen visibility for those instances when you need to shoot at an awkward angle; over the heads of a crowd, for example.

Overall brightness can also be improved via a Power LCD setting, which proves very useful for indoor photography.

For sports fans there’s also the ability to shoot a continuous three frames per second up to the capacity of the memory card in use (16Mb SD card supplied), while video clips can be stored in widescreen format.

For the more ambitious photographer, the FX01’s 16 optimised scene modes include a special setting for underwater photography, though you’ll need optional casing to protect the camera.

Alternatively, there’s a ‘simple’ mode, indicated by a heart emblem, which pares the unit’s functionality back to the very basics, indicating not how many pixels are being used, but the print or email sizes that will result.

If there’s a grumble with this Panasonic it’s that fitting a large-ish screen on a pocket camera has resulted in the miniaturisation of key controls.

The result is that fingertip operation is required, though the simple layout means the FX01 is not the worst offender we've seen.

All is forgiven with a slide of the on/off switch; the FX01 is quick to get going in just over a second with a barely perceptible shutter lag – the time it takes between pressing the button and the camera taking the shot.

Battery life is also good, given that there’s no optical viewfinder to fall back on.

Speed aside, images also impress when reviewed on a PC monitor. The FX01 delivers warm, accurate colours, even exposure and sharp detail, thanks in part to a lens supplied by renowned camera manufacturer Leica.

On very close inspection there is occasional evidence of purple fringing on areas of contrasting brightness – visible as a hazy line of same-coloured pixels – but you’d otherwise have to be an expert, or pedant, to pick any holes in the FX01’s performance. 

Also Consider
Canon PowerShot A620
Verdict 4/5
It might not be the sexiest compact, but the A620 performs well and packs a lot in for the asking price.
Price: £320