Panasonic tends to play it very safe when it comes to the body design of its slim-build compact cameras. You only have to glance through the latest offerings in its current 'stylish compact' range to note that they all sport a similar look.

We're not complaining, though. It's a formula that works well and the range's simple but functional design makes it a perfect choice for those who want a fuss-free, point-and-click digital camera that looks smart and is reliable to operate.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX40 measures 95.3 x 52.9 x 21.5mm, making it slim in depth and fairly short in height, too. If you like your small and dainty gadgets then you will be pleased to note the excellent build quality of this compact, especially as Panasonic hasn't cut back on aesthetic detail (such as the lovely metallic on/off or playback/shoot switches). However, those with larger hands may find this compact hard work to control and hold comfortably.

There's a reasonably quick start-up time and, with a fast protruding lens and the camera set on Normal Picture mode, it's possible to take a snap within around three seconds.

If you prefer to sit back, press the shutter button and let the camera do all the hard work then you're spoilt for choice when it comes to automatic modes. As well as Normal Picture mode (where you're free to change settings such as Macro, Flash or adjust the AF area) there's also an Intelligent Auto, a real back to basics option for those who don't want to be troubled by settings. During our trials these both proved reliable and the FX-40 managed to tweak aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings successfully helping us to achieve pleasing results with little effort.

Whilst exploring the intuitive menu system in Normal mode we were pleased to see an 'Intelligent ISO' feature enabling us to set a cap on the maximum ISO level used during capture. Giving the option to set a maximum ISO of either 400, 800 or 1600 this would be welcomed by anyone who is worried about spoiling low-light shots with excessive noise.

With a shooting display that clearly confirms when this feature is activated, this is easy enough to access if you're worried about available lighting at any point and need to tweak the maximum ISO, or switch it off completely. Of course, shutter speed is as important, especially if you're worried about image blur. Under the same Record menu you can also set a minimum shutter speed between 1 second and 1/250 second. This is a rare privilege on a compact camera and definitely sets the FX-40 out from a crowded market.

Within the menu there is an option to switch on the camera's Face Detection mode. Once activated the camera automatically adjusts the focus and exposure for faces in the frame. It's also possible to teach the camera to memorise up to six people and tag information such as names or birthdays along with the shot. We found this feature a little bizarre, but some people may find it useful. However, we also noted a distinct lack of 'Smile mode', something that competing manufacturers now offer in abundance.

Using the easy dial neatly set underneath the thumb on the rear of the camera body you can also take pictures on the FX-40 using the dedicated scene modes. All the usual options are here including modes for scenery, sports and night portraits. There's also a bunch of creative modes include Aerial Photo and Pin Hole (for automatically adding convincing vignettes without spending time in image-editing software) which are great fun if you want to get a little more experimental with your shots.

Video is also an option, with a Motion Picture Mode available, helping you to capture Motion JPEG. There's not really much to make a song and dance about here, though. The quality of video is very average so it's best to treat it as an added bonus rather than rely on it to shoot precious footage.

Motion Picture aside, the image quality of the FX-40 is quite adequate for a camera of this budget. Noise was an issue above ISO 400 and this had quite a significant effect on the level of detail captured by the camera. However, as it's so easy to fall back on the Intelligent ISO feature and stop the Panasonic FX-40 from shooting above this level, this didn't pose too much of a problem. Colours had a good level of saturation about them and the FX-40 coped well with quite tricky back-lighting.

Unfortunately, even in Scenery mode it was difficult to capture a good level of detail when photographing landscapes. We were disappointed by just how fuzzy and uninspiring some our wide angle shots looked. Macro photography and close-up work was less of a problem. Able to capture subjects as close as 5cm, the Panasonic FX-40 managed to lock onto a focus point easily and it captured still life and close-up nature shots with an aesthetically pleasing depth of field.

Verdict
The Panasonic DMC-FX40 is a reliable, sturdy camera that's lightweight, sleek in appearance and easy to control. This would be most suited to a user who wants an easy life with point and click operation. However, there's scope for more creative photography, too, thanks to some good scene modes and intuitive menu features allowing the user to set minimum shutter speeds and maximum ISO settings. It may be a little overpriced for its image quality but it's far easier to control than some competitors' models within the same price bracket.

Company: Panasonic

Contact: 0844 844 3852

Tags: panasonic corporation lumix motion jpeg normal mode point-and-shoot camera camera digital single-lens reflex camera live mos