Panasonic's camera division is on a roll, picking up two awards in last month's Labs test and two more this month. The LS85 couldn't be more different to the GH1 but it's just as impressive.
It's the cheapest camera in Panasonic's range, although there's no sign of scrimping in the lens. The 4x optical zoom is a pleasant surprise, but the optical image stabilisation is really impressive at this price. The f/2.8 maximum aperture is also welcome, too. There's a trend towards using f/3.5 lenses in compact cameras, so this one captures a little more light. This and the optical stabilisation are good news for low-light photography.
The 2?in screen's 230,000-dot resolution is more detailed than we expected, but colours looked washed out when viewed from above. Otherwise, the LS85 is simple and functional. A Quick Menu button provides access to key settings such as ISO speed, white balance and face detection. There are no metering options, but we can't imagine anyone missing them at this price. The camera was a tad slow to switch on and shoot, at just under four seconds, and focus could be lethargic at telephoto settings. Otherwise, performance was good and the 1.8fps continuous mode was excellent. Use of AA batteries isn't as convenient as a Li-ion battery but 550 shots from two NiMH batteries is admirable.
The lens lived up to expectations and the sensor and image processing didn't let it down. The fully automatic mode delivered well-judged exposures. Details were sharp, colours natural and the modest resolution kept noise levels down. Outdoor shots were very smooth, and while indoor shots without the flash exhibited fuzzy halos around sharp lines, the noise reduction handled this without sacrificing too much detail. Its image quality is the best we have seen for under £100.
System Specifications
8 megapixels (3,264x2,448 pixels), 4x optical zoom (33-132mm), SDHC slot (50MB internal), 2x AA batteries, 62x97x30mm, 128g
Verdict
The LS85 is just what we look for in a low-cost camera, cutting back on frivolous extras but delivering on design, performance and image quality.
Author: Ben Pitt
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS85