Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2

The DMC-LZ2 is a mixed bag. It has some wonderful features, which it cancels out with a few irritating problems that don't sound particularly important, but quickly make using it a pain.

During our testing, the DMC-LZ2 momentarily locked up at several key points during use. These included when the memory filled up, and when we activated certain menu functions. This lag lasted a good three or four seconds, and when it occurred a couple of times in a few minutes, it really detracted from the experience of using the camera.

There was also lag between taking photographs. Indoor shots seem to be OK, with a standard two to three second write time; however, with outdoor shots, the camera took as long as three or four seconds between shots.

That is not to say the DMC-LZ2 doesn't have some good features. The images it produced were rich and had some of the best colour we've seen in a 5 megapixel camera. They did tend to blur a little around the edges, but this did not detract too much from the result.

It also has a number of great functions, particularly the unlimited continuous shot mode, which goes until the memory is full (usually cameras have a limit, such as 10 or 30 shots). The downside to this is that there is noticeable slowdown in the shot rate if you take more than a few seconds worth of shots. It also has an image stabiliser that helps to remove blurring caused by the camera moving, but we didn't think it made too much of a difference.

The Panasonic offers a number of different shooting modes, and basic control over exposure, white balance and shutter speed, but it doesn't really distinguish itself by providing either complete manual controls or being incredibly newbie-friendly. The other feature worth mentioning is the 6X zoom.

The camera uses AA batteries. In our tests the battery lasted about 350 shots.