Panny takes wraps off budget Lumix

Is it time to reflect on the spec list of the budget compact camera circa 2008? Panasonic’s new 8.3-megapixel  LS80, for example, has a 3x zoom, 2.5in LCD, 640x480pixel video mode at 30fps and MEGA OIS optical image stabilisation. And it comes in three colours – silver, black and pink.

All of which would have sounded pant-wettingly exciting a year or two ago.

But we must have been spoiled by the crop of cameras unveiled so far in 2008. Just because the LS80 isn’t the world’s thinnest, like the BenQ X800, and it doesn’t shoot time-stopping video like the Casio EX-F1, our boxers remain tinder-dry.

Hold on a minute – UK pricing has yet to be announced, but it’s going on sale Stateside for the equivalent of just £75. Nurse! More pads!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS80

Price: £TBA ($150 in US)

On sale: TBA

Contact: Panasonic

Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home