What is it?
A travel-oriented compact camera. Snapping photographs and video using our smartphones may be the default for many of us these days, but nothing beats the feeling of a real camera in your hand. Step forward the Panasonic Lumix ZS70.
Good points?
The in-built image stabilisation works well in conjunction with the flexible autofocus when moving. It looks and feels like the target is pinned to your lens.
It is easy and intuitive to operate which negates the need to fumble around looking for the instruction manual at every turn.
The crisp 4K video quality is impressive for a camera at this price point, while the LCD screen is sharp and gives an accurate representation of how the image will look through a computer screen before adding filters or editing.
Bad points?
A lack of a flip screen will limit any budding vloggers or selfie fans looking to enjoy their close-up. The viewfinder is a tad small and can hinder those moments when you need to grab precise shots in a hurry.
Picture quality seems to fade with fuzzy edges when switching to wide-angle mode. The device can feel a little awkward to hold and often it is hard to replicate the right grip once you find it.
Best for ...
Those who like to document or vlog their road trips as Panasonic have made recording enjoyable and foolproof.
Avoid if ...
You're looking to capture simple family get-togethers as there are arguably far cheaper ways to do it.
Score: 7/10.
Panasonic Lumix ZS70, £399.99 (panasonic.com)
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