Panasonic Lumix ZS80

Panasonic's 2019 Lumix ZS80 is a compact camera with a fixed lens, so the body and its optics travel as one unit. It measures 112 x 69 x 42mm and weighs 327g, which means it fits a jacket pocket rather than a camera bag.

That portability does not come at the cost of features: you still get an electronic viewfinder for eye-level work, a flip-out screen for angled shots, and wireless connectivity.

Owning it means accepting a small 1/2.3-inch sensor in exchange for a camera you will actually carry every day.

The 20 megapixel CMOS sensor produces files with plenty of resolution for prints and generous cropping. The 1/2.3-inch format is what keeps the camera pocketable, and it pairs with the Venus Engine processor.

Image stabilisation reduces camera shake, which keeps handheld shots sharp at slower shutter speeds. It works against your own movement, not your subject's. With the ISO range running from 80 to 3200, dim conditions call for a steadier hold or the flash rather than a higher sensitivity.

The maximum burst of 10fps is enough to catch a fleeting expression or a bird mid-takeoff, and the 1/2000s top shutter speed helps freeze motion in good light. Focus comes from a single autofocus point.

A 2,330,000-dot electronic viewfinder gives a detailed eye-level framing view alongside the rear screen. The fixed lens means no lens changes, so what you carry is what you shoot with.

The ZS80 records 4K video, which offers more recording pixels than Full HD and leaves room to crop footage in editing.

Frame-rate support includes 60fps, enough for smooth motion in everyday clips and some flexibility in post.

MPEG-4 and MOV recording gives you two file-format choices for video.

The three-inch touchscreen supports direct on-screen control, while the flip screen helps when filming from low or high angles.

A 3-inch LCD with 1,040,000 dots shows plenty of detail for checking focus and playback. Touch control makes settings quick to adjust, and the screen flips out for waist-level, overhead and self-framed shots.

A built-in flash is on hand for fill light indoors or on backlit portraits. External flash is not supported, so lighting options beyond the built-in unit are limited.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth give the camera wireless connectivity. GPS is absent, so any location tagging has to happen outside the camera.

The body has no weather sealing, so rain and blowing dust call for a cover or a quick retreat indoors.

Cards go into a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot with UHS-I support. Carrying a spare card gives you somewhere to continue when the first fills.

The DMW-BLG10 battery is rated at 380 shots per charge. A second battery makes sense for long days out.

USB charging lets you top the battery up between shoots.