Panasonic FS20
£200.00
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It may not have the most striking design, but the solid metal body and level of finish give the FS20 from Panasonic a real quality feel. The spec list ticks all the right boxes, too. There’s a 10Mp sensor and a 4x optical zoom lens, with a film-equivalent range of 30-120mm. Not quite as wide as some Panasonic compacts, but it’s still impressive.
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Also featured is Panasonic’s anti-shake system, MEGA O.I.S. This is an optical solution that uses gyros to counteract movement when taking a picture. At the rear is a 3in screen with a handy angle of view that makes composition a breeze. Panasonic has also included its Intelligent Auto mode which activates MEGA O.I.S, chooses the most appropriate Scene Mode, sets the ISO and employs Face Detection when needed. This all happens automatically, so all you need to worry about is what to get in the shot! There are no manual controls, though, which is a shame.
The menu system is very clear – it’s not overly complicated, and is quick and easy to navigate. The MEGA O.I.S. performs well, with a noticeable difference when activated. Shots were well-exposed, while the 10Mp sensor produced some sharp images at ISO 100. Crank it up to ISO 1600 and Noise is quite evident, with detail softening. However, compared to other compacts in this price range, it’s one of the best around. A good, durable compact that has bags of features and images to match.
Price: £200
Resolution: 10Mp
Lens: 4x optical zoom,
30-120mm (equivalent)
ISO range: 100-1600
Image stabilisation: Yes, MEGA O.I.S.
Monitor: 3in, 230k pixels
Memory: SD/SDHC
Weight: 154g (with battery)