Labs

With its 3x zoom, plastic body and AA batteries, the LS60 lacks the allure of the pricier Lumix cameras, but it's a top-notch budget model. Speed is fine: you get a photo every 1.5 seconds, thanks in part to fast auto-focus. Controls are well laid out, and the lack of full manual control is offset by some novel features to help take great pictures. Image quality is the highlight, with sharp detail, vibrant colours, and consistent auto exposure. Noise is a problem at high ISO, but with optical image stabilisation built in - amazing at this price - you can usually get away with lower sensitivity.