Panasonic introduces the Lumix DMC-FP8, an ultra compact point-and-shoot camera that is said to have the fastest auto focus among its camera class. The Lumix DMC-FP8 starts up in less than a second and shoots nearly 2 frames per second. Panasonic designed the Lumix DMC-FP8 camera for users who complain about the lag time of point-and-shoot cameras.

The body the Pansonic Lumix FP8 is a card style body design with folding optics. The ultra compact point-and-shoot-camera has a 12.1 mega pixel sensor, 4.6x optical zoom and has a 2.7 LCD.

Panasonic’s Intelligent ISO helps limit the sensitivity to a maximum of ISO 400, 800, or 1,600 for low-light conditions.  Tests for the Lumix FP8 at 1600 ISO is poor, so the best ISO to use is ISO Max 800 for low-light situations.

The Lumix DMC-FP8 uses a 28-128mm equivalent lens. It also employs Panasonic cameras’ Power OIS image stabilizer for decent photo results. As the normal feature in digital cameras today, it offers High Definition video recording.

The battery life of the Lumix FP8 is said to be exceptional.

There have been many point-and-shoot cameras released in the market this year and most of them have the same features more or less. The Lumix FP8 seemingly looks the same as the cameras in its class however it runs faster than most.

The ultra compact camera is truly small and easy to store in handbags or pockets. The folding optics eliminates accidental lens damages. The buttons are simple and easy to figure out.

The Panasonic Lumix FP8 is a true just point-and-shoot camera with no aperture or shutter speed control. However the Normal Picture mode offers automatic control over settings for focus, light metering, color effects, white balance, ISO, and exposure.

Available in red, silver and black for £ 132.401/ US$199.89, this camera is a good buy camera for its price range.