Overview
The Panasonic DMC LS80 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a standard 3x optical zoom lens. This is an easy to use, point and shoot camera.
Why Buy The Panasonic DMC LS80
The DMC LS80 offers good value for money. It is one of the easier to use cameras. This is also one of the few cameras available in this price range to offer image stabilisation and a widescreen video setting. All in all, this is a straightforward camera and will appeal to someone looking for a "no fuss" digital camera.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
2.5 inches
62 x 93 x 29.7mm
138g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
No
No
AA
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
This is a fairly solid start. Focusing is roughly average for this type of point and shoot camera and the colours are well balanced. There is some loss of detail on the boats where the lens is not quite able to cope with sun glare.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
As in the first picture the DMC LS80 sits in the middle rank when it comes to the sharpness of the photo. Colours are strong here. One improvement I can think of is that the picture is on the dark side and a bit of extra light would have set the scene off better.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
This photo is similar to the first two. This Panasonic digital camera handles the scene well.
Outdoor 4 (Building):
With the emphasis on focusing this test confirms that the DMC LS80 is in the middle rank when it comes to sharpness. If you are on the lookout for another entry level point and shoot camera that is able to produce sharper images then try taking a look at the Canon Powershot A580.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
I like the colours the camera has produced in this photo. It has a warm feel to it. Sharpness levels are better in this photo.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
This is another decent photo, but despite using the flash the shot is darker than I would like it to be.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
In my opinion this is the best result out of the three portrait shots. I especially like the skin tones and the photo has a natural feel to it.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro:
The DMC LS80 gets most factors right. The shot is sharp and clear. Once again I find myself wishing it was just that bit brighter. It is still a good effort from a less expensive camera.
Colours:
Colours are strong and consistent throughout my tests. As with other Panasonic digital cameras I have tested, colours are stronger than most brands produce.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600:
At ISO 400 you can still produce an acceptable photo. Noise does creep in, but the DMC LS80 holds up well when compared to other cameras in this price bracket. Once you push the ISO rating up to 1600 the quality inevitably falls away sharply.
Summary
Overall I am quite happy with the results produced by this Panasonic digital camera. It handles most snapshot situations well, although I would like to have seen a bit of extra brightness in one or two of the photos.
Style
This is a fairly typical entry level camera when it comes to both looks and build quality. It is available in silver, black and pink.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.49 seconds
16.17 seconds
0.55 seconds
22.46 seconds
Ease of Use
You should not find it a problem getting to know this camera. The menus are simple and it is just a case of running through them until you find the option you are looking for.
Points I Like
Ease of use - wide screen movies
Where it Could Improve
Shutter delay could be that little bit faster
Verdict
The Panasonic DMC LS80 is a standard entry level digital camera. When it comes to overall picture quality it is above average when compared to its nearest rivals. Even so there are cameras that I feel offer better picture quality as mentioned above.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
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You get quite a lot for your money with the Canon Powershot A4000 IS. If you only plan to make small sized prints or share your photos on the Internet you may not see a great deal of difference between the photos taken with this camera and those taken with other models available at around the same price. What you might notice is that the pictures have a touch more clarity. This is likely to become more evident if you make larger prints. To sum up, if you are looking for a handy compact camera, at a reasonable price, that can cope very well with most photo opportunities this camera is hard to beat.
Read Review: Canon Powershot A4000 IS Review
Panasonic DMC S5 Rating 84/100
If you are looking for a cheap pocket sized digital camera it is difficult to find one offering better picture quality than the Panasonic Lumix DMC S5. It is such a small camera and very easy to use. It is almost the ideal snapshot camera if you do not want to spend a great deal of money.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC S5 Review
Panasonic DMC S3 Rating 84/100
The Panasonic Lumix DMC S3 is an excellent value for money pocket camera. It is very hard to beat when compared alongside its direct rivals. Picture quality and features have an edge over many of its competitors while the rapid response times are also a big plus point. If you are looking for a cheaper compact digital camera then you can’t go far wrong with the Lumix DMC S3.
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Related Pages
Panasonic DMC LS80 Review Panasonic DMC LS80 Specification Panasonic DMC LS80 Sample Images Panasonic DMC LS80 Features Panasonic Digital Cameras
Review Date
May 2008
