The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 boasts a mix of easy use, photo quality and shooting options which set it apart from its competition and place it in a class all its own.

The DMC-FX150, which is available from Panasonic in either silver or sleek black, measures 3.8 inches broad by 2.1 inches high by 1 inch wide and weighs 6.2 ounces. While its LCD monitor is a bit smaller than some comparable cameras, we are talking 2.7 inches rather than 3.0, so the difference will go un-noticed by most. The camera is sturdy and stylish, fitting easily into most pants pockets, and, best of all, it is refreshingly simple to use.

The DMC-FX150 also features a movie mode that can capture in 720p HD. Although the zoom function is disabled while recording, the resulting movies – which export in QuickTime motion JPEG format – are superior in quality to many other cameras in the class.

While the camera is a bit slow on the uptake, as is the case with most 14-megapixel subcompact cameras, it is still ready to shoot in a pretty impressive 1.9 seconds and its shot-to-shot time is a quite respectable 2.4 seconds.

While the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 will not replace your digital SLR, its limited manual settings will allow for some creative freedom that lower-end, ultra-subcompact cameras cannot. And its 14-megapixel resolution affords you brilliantly clear pictures, whether you are operating in manual or automatic mode. If you merely want a little more control over exposure than the other typical compact offers, then this is the camera for you.