We've seen plenty of tough, waterproof, pretty-much-everything-proof compact cameras over the years. Even if none that we've handled produce the most pristine of picture quality, we've settled on the Panasonic Lumix FT5 as being the most well-rounded and complete tough model out there.
This brick-like beast comes complete with a 4.6x optical zoom for a 28-128mm equivalent zoom, all housed within a rigid body that's waterproof up to 13m under the waves. There's even built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (near field communication) for sharing images direct from the camera itself.
PRICE: £299
QUICK VERDICT: Tech-packed, built like a tank and with decent autofocus performance, it's the image quality limitations typical of tough cameras that holds the FT5 back from greater things. A good yet rather pricey all-rounder, it's not exactly a revelation but there're bags of features and decent movie mode in tow for the cash.
FULL REVIEW: Panasonic Lumix FT5
it's said that smartphones are overtaking the bottom end of the compact world, so when it comes to buying a more serious dedicated compact camera there's a lot to think about. A model such as the Panasonic Lumix TZ40 has a wide-ranging 20x zoom that can deal with 24mm wide-angle shots for those group photos, or extend right through its 480mm equivalent to snap those far-away subjects large in the frame.
Built-in image stabilisation moves the lens by microscopic amounts to counteract any wobbly handshake, while the super-fast autofocus and hands-on touchscreen control is about as good as we've seen from a compact camera.
All that delivered from a small-bodied and pocketable model that can be carried anywhere. There's even built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for sharing pictures via a smartphone.
PRICE: £299
QUICK VERDICT: The TZ40's combination of 20x optical zoom, an excellent image stabilisation system and Venus processing engine open up a world of imaging potential. We've snapped close-up, from afar, in all manner of conditions and, despite some picky image quality quibbles when viewed at absolute scale, the overall sense is that pictures are good. The near-£300 price isn't small, but considering what's on board we think the TZ40 is worth every penny.
FULL REVIEW: Panasonic Lumix TZ40
