The camera (available in silver or black) is 3.8 inches wide by 2.1 inches high by 1 inch thick and weighs 6.2 ounces with battery and SD/SDHC card–definitely small enough for a pants pocket, though just sliding under our thickness criterion for an ultracompact. On top sits a power switch, shutter release surrounded by a zoom ring, and a button for Panasonic’s Extra Optical Zoom feature. A single press of the E.Zoom button fully extends the wide-angle 3.6x f2.8-5.6 28-100mm lens. Press it again and it increases the optical zoom power to 7.7x, but drops the resolution to 3 megapixels. A third press brings the lens all the way back. The quick-zoom aspect of this button is nice, but the “extra optical zoom” is digital trickery.

In addition to its 14.7 megapixel 1/1.72 inch CCD image sensor, the FX150 also features a relatively fast (f/2.8) 3.6x Leica DC Vario-Elmarit zoom that starts at the equivalent of 28mm, a 2.7 inch LCD, and Mega O.I.S. image stabilization.

Basic shooting modes include an Intelligent Auto setting, plus manual exposure control and a wide-ranging list of scene modes. Auto bracketing, a live histogram, 720p HD video recording, an 11-point AF system with Face Detection, manual white balance, and a high-sensitivity ISO mode are also included, as are claimed 2.5 fps burst shooting and very good battery life.

DMC-FX150 Major Features:

• 14.7-megapixel imager with 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios
• 3.6x Leica zoom lens, equivalent to 28-100mm on a 35mm camera
• Optical image stabilization to prevent camera shake and blurring
• RAW and JPEG still image modes
• 11-point AF system with Face detection technology
• 2.7-inch TFT color LCD with High Angle mode and 100% frame coverage
• Intelligent Auto, Program, Manual and 25 scene modes
• ISO Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600; High Sensitivity Mode (1600 - 6400)
• 2.5fps Burst mode (Max 4 JPEG Fine images, 3 RAW)
• QuickTime movies in either standard (640×480/320×240) or wide (1280×720/848×480) aspects
• Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow synchro and red-eye reduction modes
• TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
• 50MB of internal flash memory
• Card slot supports SD/SDHC/MMC card storage
• Plug-n-Play USB, Mass Storage compliant
• PictBridge Direct-Print compatible
• Powered by rechargeable Li-ion battery

The camera  is 3.8 inches wide by 2.1 inches high by 1 inch thick and weighs 6.2 ounces with battery and SD/SDHC card–definitely small enough for a pants pocket, though just sliding under our thickness criterion for an ultracompact. On top sits a power switch, shutter release surrounded by a zoom ring, and a button for Panasonic’s Extra Optical Zoom feature. A single press of the E.Zoom button fully extends the wide-angle 3.6x f2.8-5.6 28-100mm lens. Press it again and it increases the optical zoom power to 7.7x, but drops the resolution to 3 megapixels. A third press brings the lens all the way back. The quick-zoom aspect of this button is nice, but the “extra optical zoom” is digital trickery.

Equipped with a 28mm wide-angle lens, the* FX150 lets users capture images of expansive scenery just as they appear to the naked eye. The wide-angle lens allows the user to capture a much wider scene into one shot – something not possible with most ordinary cameras. And when shooting in tight or crowded indoor spaces, the wide-angle lens fits more people in the photo. The 14.7 megapixels – the most offered in a compact camera – ensure that photos are crisp, clear and sharply detailed even when enlarged. This high resolution also means you can crop unwanted parts of an image and enlarge the rest, creating a beautifully composed photo that retains outstanding detail.

Basic settings include being able to tweak contrast, sharpness, saturation, and the amount of noise reduction; shooting in black and white, sepia, or with cool or warm temperatures; and setting the sensitivity up to ISO 1,600 (this can also be locked so it never shoots above a particular ISO). But then you get things like normal exposure bracketing as well as color bracketing that will take shots in standard and black and white, standard and sepia, or standard, black and white, and sepia. And mixed in with the scene modes are things like Multi-Exposure mode that superimposes up to three consecutively shot images together and lets you view them onscreen as you shoot so you can compose the final result, and Starry Sky that reduces shutter speed to 15, 30, or 60 seconds. You also get the option to capture JPEG, raw, or raw plus a low-resolution JPEG photos.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37 is a small and light compact camera aimed firmly at the point-and-shoot user. At first glance the FX37 is rather unassuming, with “only” 10 megapixels, a standard 2.5 inch LCD screen and understated styling, but there are a couple of stand-out features. The 5x zoom lens is the main one, an unusually versatile focal range on such a small camera, but even more so when you find out that the Panasonic FX37 offers a wide-angle setting of 25mm. The second is the ability to shoot high-definition 1280 x 720p video at 30 fps, a feature retained from the previous FX35 model but still something of a rarity in this class of camera.

Panasonic is pleased to introduce the new Lumix 10.1-megapixel DMC-FX37 with astonishing 25mm equivalent ultra-wide-angle* LEICA DC lens and a powerful 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 25mm to 125 mm on a 35mm film camera), which captures almost double the viewing space at the same shooting distance compared to ordinary 35mm cameras, resulting in remarkable images with unprecedented width and depth. The world-acclaimed FX series pursues high picture quality and unique features in an urbane, sophisticated profile to which the DMC-FX37 proudly joins.

Panasonic’s iA (intelligent auto) mode, which makes it easy for anyone to take beautiful photos, has been further enhanced. The newly added AF Tracking function automatically tracks the subject once the AF has been set even if the subject moves around, making it easier to capture sharp, well-focused photos of decisive moments. The FX37 continually monitors the light source and automatically activates the backlight compensation function if it detects that the light source is behind the subject. Face detection accuracy has also been increased, allowing continuous AF/AE adjustment even if a face moves or turns sideways to the camera. The Intelligent Exposure function helps capture natural-looking, true-to-life images by suppressing blocked shadows and blown highlights.

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ28 is a 10.1 Megapixel super-zoom camera with DSLR-styling and an 18x optically-stabilised zoom range. Announced in July 2008, it comes one year after the Lumix FZ18. The new model is strongly based on its predecessor, but features higher resolution, a larger screen, HD movie recording and quicker burst mode, along with a number of tweaks to the controls, viewfinder, menus and auto systems.

The AF Tracking function is the latest component to be added to Panasonic’s iA system, and allows users to lock focus on a moving subject. The camera then automatically tracks the subject as it moves, keeping it in focus without the need to hold the shutter halfway down. AF Tracking makes it easier to capture moving subjects and spur-of-the-moment action shots. The AF Tracking technology also improves Face Detection (up to 15 faces), by providing continuous adjustment of the focus and exposure, even if the face is turned away from the camera.

The FZ28 is a bridge-style compact camera, looking just like a true DSLR at first glance, but featuring a non-interchangeable lens instead. The Panasonic DMC-FZ28 offers an increase to 10 megapixels, larger 2.7-inch LCD screen, new Venus Engine IV processing engine which promises better low-light performance, and updated iA (intelligent auto) mode with newly added AF Tracking function.

Major DMC-FZ28 Features:

• 10.1-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 3648 x 2736 pixels
• Leica DC-VARIO ELMARIT 18x zoom, equivalent to 27-486mm on a 35mm camera
• Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) system to help prevent camera shake and blurring
• Venus Engine IV LSI for robust camera operations
• JPEG and RAW still image capture
• Full-Resolution Burst capture at 2.5fps (total of 3 images in Fine mode)
• Face Detection AF technology for great portraits
• Macro focus with autofocus down to 0.39 inches (wide)
• 2.7-inch TFT color LCD monitor with 230K pixels of resolution
• Eye-level color electronic viewfinder with 201K pixels and dioptric adjustment
• Intelligent Auto, Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual modes
• Five Advanced (Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Macro) and 17 Normal scene modes
• Four programmable Custom modes
• High Speed and Low Speed Continuous or “Burst” modes
• QuickTime movies WVGA (848×480), VGA (640×480) or HD (1280×720) at 30fps w/audio
• Shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 8 seconds in Shutter priority, (up to 60 secs. in Manual/Starry Sky modes)
• Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow synchro and red-eye reduction modes
• Intelligent Multiple and Spot exposure metering
• TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
• Approx. 50MB of internal memory, plus SD/SDHC/MMC memory card slot
• Plug-n-Play USB 2.0 High-speed, Mass Storage compliant
• PictBridge Direct-Print compatible
• Li-ion rechargeable battery and rapid charger included

The exterior design is nearly identical to the DMP-BD35. Compared with the sleek and glossy designs of Samsung and LG, the DMP-BD60 looks pedestrian, as if it has a job to do, rather than attract attention. The disc tray is in the center of the unit, behind an automatic flip-down door, and farther right is a manual flip-down panel that reveals an SD card slot, a USB port, and some minimal playback controls.

VieraCast is Panasonic’s proprietary online content portal, available on its Blu-ray players and some HDTVs. As of publication time, the available services on VieraCast include YouTube, Picasa, weather, and stock quotes; Amazon Video On Demand is slated to be available in May. The inclusion of Amazon’s streaming service contrasts to competing Samsung and LG Blu-ray players, which offer Netflix streaming on all their players. Both online video services have different strengths and weaknesses. Netflix streaming is free with a subscription, but has a somewhat limited selection of content with few new releases; Amazon has more new releases, but it costs about $4 per rental. Which service is “better” is to some extent a matter of personal preference, but we find Netflix’s service more attractive, especially since your subscription can be used to rent new Blu-ray releases.

A lot of the buyers don’t pay too much attention to the remote control when they are purchasing television or disc players. The remote control for the DMP-BD60 doesn’t change much from the previous remote controls. The top of the remote houses the volume and channel buttons. This can take some time getting used to since most remotes have them in the middle or the bottom. However, there is separate volume button for your receiver. This is particularly convenient if you have receiver set up and don’t have a universal remote control. The numeric buttons are right below the channel and volume buttons. The playback function buttons and directional buttons are in the middle. The menu buttons surround the directional pad. The bottom of the remote houses the special function buttons like Viera Cast and set up buttons. Overall, it’s a solid remote control. It’s not Harmony but you can do much worse.

The DMP-BD60  includes an SD Memory card slot and USB slot, making it easy for the consumer to view and share both digital still images and HD video recorded with an HD camcorder in the AVCHD format.

In order to produce the ultimate picture quality, the Panasonic’s DMP-BD60 Blu-ray players employs high precision 4:4:4 signal technology, which working in tandem with PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus processes each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the horizontal direction, to compliment vertical direction processing. P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD) is another technology that contributes to the superior picture quality of the Blu-ray players. P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimal processing to every pixel.