The good: Firm handgrip on camera facilitates one-hand snapping; familiar and user-friendly menu interface; 10x optical zoom for still and motion image snapping; travel-related functions.

The bad: Removable lens cap a hassle; lack of manual (aperture- and shutter-priority) controls; can snap a total of only three frames in Fine image quality; slow zoom startup; noisy images beyond ISO 800.

The bottom line: For users who don’t care for manual options on a 10x optical zoom camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 is a good choice.

So says CNET, who reviewed the TZ1 and rated it 7 out of 10 or Very Good.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 houses 5 megapixels on its 1/2.5-inch CCD and couples it with a lengthy Leica DC Vario Elmarit 10x optical zoom lens. This amount of zoom is fairly generous considering that the TZ1 is only an inch and a half thick. The lens does extend from the body and is balanced by a slightly thicker right-hand grip. On the back of this Lumix is a 2.5-inch LCD screen that has the world’s first High Angle mode. While many compact models now offer a wide viewing angle on the LCD screen, the TZ1 is the first to have a designated mode for it.