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Panasonic’s stylish compact is more wallet-friendly than the others recently launched, but is it a looker with nothing going on upstairs? Read our full review Panasonic DMC-FP8 find out.
The Panasonic FP8 is the most stylish of Panasonic’s latest compact line-up. And thanks to a retracting lens with folding optics, it stays completely flat, so when you zoom in, a huge telescopic lens doesn’t protrude out the front like something from a Carry On film. Add the buttons on the back that light up a cool blue and pulse every time you press them, and you’ve got a seriously stylish camera.
The downside is it doesn’t pack quite as much zooming punch as others – the lens isn’t as wide angle as the recently launched ZX1 or TZ7, and the FP8 doesn’t have as much zoom as either of its stable mates. That’s the price you pay for great looks.
Unlike other ‘stylish’ efforts, the FP8 performs like a much more expensive model. It’s quick to start up, the shutter speed impresses, and the shots look great, with excellent colour reproduction. One press of the Intelligent Auto (iA) button simplifies things considerably, automatically picking the best mode for your shooting conditions leaving you to just point and click. But if you want to tinker with the settings, the menu is laid out well and icons clearly labeled.
There are a couple of niggles with the Panasonic FP8, however. You can’t zoom in on your pics when viewing them on the camera. And those flashy blue buttons are a bit spindly and awkward, with the OK button not in the middle of the four direction ones as you’d expect. It’s a bit of an obvious oversight, and smacks of ‘design’ over usability.
Read our Panasonic Lumix G1 review
Elsewhere, the Panasonic FP8 impresses. It starts up in just 0.95 seconds, has a great 2.7-inch LCD that’s visible even in strong sunlight, and the shutter speed is pretty nippy. The 720p HD movies are smooth and judder free, as you’d expect considering they’re running at 30fps. And should iA not do it for you, there are 28 shooting modes to choose from. Although the new Photo Frame mode that borders your pics with graphics (including a low-resolution heart with pixellated stars) is best left for teenage girls.
The FP8 is undoubtedly a solid all round compact, and another victory for Panasonic. But for just £20 more you can get the ZX1 with a wider-angle lens and more zoom, so it’s one for those who value price and looks over performance.
