A WIDE angle lens and a focal length reduced by a few millimetres make an amazing difference. Suddenly, familiar scenes look fresh. You literally see things from a new angle.

Most wide-angle lens compacts fall into the 35-38mm range. Panasonic's Lumix FX36, however, boasts an angle of 25mm. This beats the 28mm benchmark for wide-angle compacts.

Manufacturers regularly churn out cameras with higher zooms but rarely go wider. Wide angle lenses are simply more complex to build than telephoto ones.

The fun and useful benefits of the 25mm wide angle cannot be overemphasised. It packs in twice the area compared to a 35mm lens. No more stepping back for group photos or begging people to squeeze closer together to fit into a frame.

The Leica 25-100mm (equivalent) lens performs well throughout its range but is sharpest at 25mm. The camera is typical of the Lumix FX series: sleek, elegant and reliable.

The FX36 weighs just 146g fully loaded - the weight of a full-featured mobile phone. It's even smaller and thinner than my wallet. It is a skinny 22mm like its predecessor, although the FX36 has a slightly larger 10.1megapixel sensor.

It is powered by Panasonic's latest processor, the Venue Engine IV, which is faster and controls noise and colour bleeding better.

The FX36 is full of endearing little tricks. Some examples: For the narcissistic, there's a Self-Portrait mode, complete with face recognition; for the absent-minded, there's a Clipboard Mode to stash a hundred pictures of timetables, route maps, etc in the camera's own memory.

And for proud HD screen owners, there's an optional HD component cable that will allow you to show off your photos and videos in full glory.

While stuck at a traffic light in my car one morning, I got the FX36 out, switched it on, turned it backwards in the general direction of my wife and daughter who were sitting behind me, fired two flash shots, and returned the camera safely to where it belonged. All this before the lights turned green. Great, effortless snaps.

The image quality is designed to please but, as with most compacts, do not do well under scrutiny. That said, with its handy size and abilities, the FX36 does allow for the best thing: spontaneity. And it doesn't hurt that the FX36 comes in five colours.

FINAL SAY

Already a competent ultra-compact, the FX36 has learnt new tricks and its 25mm wide angle just makes it that much more entertaining and convenient.

• Panasonic Lumix FX36
• $599
• Buy it at authorised dealers

By Tan Chong Yaw

This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Apr 1, 2008.