Panasonic Lumix ZX1 review

Sliding seamlessly into the Lumix stylish compact range, the ZX1 offers a list of killer features to rival any other in the market. The new Power O.I.S (optical image stabilisation) is twice as powerful as the previous Mega O.I.S system and has been included on all of this year’s new Lumix models. The ZX1 features an ultra-wide 25mm lens – a trademark of recent Lumix models – and an impressive 8x optical zoom, which can be further extended to 15.6x in 3MP mode. The intelligent Auto setting activates all of the functionality of this camera, including the Power O.I.S, intelligent ISO, scene selector, intelligent Exposure, AF tracking, and the improved face detection with face recognition for up to six faces.

Unlike its bigger brother, the TZ7, the ZX1 doesn’t feature manual shooting modes but it does have 29 scene modes available from the SCN (scene) or MS (My Scene Mode) modes, including a very stylish pinhole and film grain effects – though at much reduced resolution. There’s also a Travel mode, which allows you to set your travel dates, destination and local time for easier documenting of your trips away.

Panasonic Lumix ZX1 review – LCD screen

On the rear it sports a 2.7in 230k dot LCD screen, which gives a high level of image reproduction even in strong light, and an almost flawless angle of view. With still plenty of space around the screen edge, however, you do wonder why this wasn’t pushed up to a full 3in screen.

Panasonic Lumix ZX1 review – Auto focus

The autofocus system works quickly to provide focus, and both the tracking and face detection systems are effective at both finding and maintaining their subject. Only at the full extent of the zoom and under particularly low contrast conditions does the focus struggle.

Panasonic Lumix ZX1 review – Video

For video capture the ZX1 records in 1280x720P high definition, or a range of lower qualities, down to QVGA (320×240). This is recorded at 30 frames per second in an AVI motion JPEG format and produces very smooth looking video.