Panasonic DMC-FS25

Overview

The Panasonic DMC-FS25 is a generic point-and-shoot with a boxy design. It will be available in silver, black and gold — as seen here, we had the chance to work with a pre-production version of the silver model at the PMA show.
 

Front

The lens is the largest feature on the front of the FS25. The flash is located above the lens and to the left, while the autofocus illuminator is off in the top right corner. There's a speed bump-like grip on the left side. This grip is the only unique feature on the FS25's face.
 

The thin metal bump on the left side is a tiny grip.

Back

The back is dominated by a single feature: the 3-inch LCD screen. To the right of the screen is a panel of controls. The first button is a switch to alternate between playback mode and capture mode. Below this is a speaker, then the mode button, display button, and menu/set button. The four buttons arranged in a cloverleaf pattern provide access to exposure compensation, self-timer, flash and macro mode settings. The button in the middle is actually a joystick; navigation doesn't use the four control buttons at all.
 

The back of the FS25 is basic, but we liked the joystick in lieu of a four-way pad.

Sides

Like most of the cameras we've seen at PMA, there are really only two noteworthy features on the FS25's sides: the wrist strap loop and the USB connection port.
 

No excitement to be found on the camera sides.

Top

The top of the FS25 doesn't have many features. Beneath the holes above the lens is a microphone, followed by the power switch. Next is the shutter button and the zoom ring. The final button launches automatic mode.
 

That little red button on the right will automate every option.

Bottom

That black disk on the right is a security device; we were looking at a show floor model. As such, you can't see the camera's tripod socket. On the left is the battery/memory card hatch.
 

The tripod socket seems to have wandered towards the camera's outskirts.