The Panasonic DMC FX07 is a pretty straight forward camera. It is just about pocket sized (width 24mm), although there are smaller cameras around. It is available in black and silver.
This is a seven megapixel camera with a 3.6x zoom lens. The lens is wide angle. In fact the DMC FX07 is one of the smallest cameras around to offer a wide angle lens. In case you are wondering if you need a camera with a wide angle lens they really come into their own when you are taking photos with a wide expanse to fit into the shot. Typical examples include landscapes, groups of people and interiors.
When it comes to features the camera is really a simple, point and shoot model. It does have image stabilisation. Although not rare on smaller cameras now you still need to hunt around a bit to find a camera of this size with this feature.
The LCD screen is a good size (2.5"). I am not sure what is special about the technology Panasonic uses, but I found the screen much easier to see in bright sunlight than most other brands. This can be a real pain and it is good to see that Panasonic and also Casio are producing screens that perform noticeably better than previous models in this area. I also find the menu easier to read with Panasonic digital cameras than with other brands.
Another useful feature related to the screen is its special high angle mode. This means that if you need to hold the DMC FX07 above eye level to take a shot it is much easier to see the screen. An example of when this comes into its own is if you need to take photos over the top of a crowd.
One area that many people are unaware of when they buy a digital camera is the effect of something called the aspect ratio. This is the relationship between the height of a photograph and its width. Panasonic provide a number of different aspect ratios giving you the chance to select the one you need at the point when you are taking a photo. There are special settings allowing you to take photos with the optimum dimensions for creating 6 x 4" prints and for displaying your photos on a widescreen television. The DMC FX07 also caters for widescreen televisions when you are shooting a movie, with a special aspect ratio for this type of playback.
For anyone who finds digital cameras complicated there is a special simple mode. This cuts down the number of menu options to a minimum, leaving just the most important ones available. This can certainly help in the early stages as you are getting to know the camera. Once you become more confident you can introduce the full menu system when you feel ready to do so.
In summary I would describe the main attractions of the DMC FX07 as a fairly small size, a wide angle lens, ease of use, image stabilisation and a high quality LCD screen.
