Panasonic Lumix FZ7 digital camera

Panasonic and Leica team up to create the best sub £400 super-zoom.

Consumer electronics giant Panasonic has joined forces with lensmeisters Leica to produce this stunning, six-megapixel camera.

The 12x Leica lens is superb: it may be slower to zoom and focus than the Canon, but it has superior stabilisation.You'll need that steadying influence, as this is the smallest camera on test, and the most susceptible to wobbles.

There are fewer advanced features than on some of the others, but you still get ISO 1600, priority exposure modes and manual, continuous or spot focusing. The interface is a breeze to use, although the joystick could be a bit bigger.

Thanks to a good 3fps burst mode and no processing delays, this camera makes taking high-speed shots easy, and the 2.5-inch screen is as comfortable in dingy rooms as it is in a sunny street.

Panasonic's CCD isn't quite up to the quality of Leica's lens, so beware slightly soft detail, over-sharpened edges and a splash of digital noise, but overall this is a class act, combining street-chic sexiness with world-beating optics.