Panasonic's 14mm-slim 2013 compact — 16MP CCD, 5x 24-120mm f/2.8 stabilised zoom, microSD storage
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 was an ultra-slim point-and-shoot announced in January 2013, one of the thinnest cameras in the Lumix range at just 14mm deep and about 103g. It targeted buyers who wanted something smaller than a typical compact — closer to a card in the pocket — as smartphones were beginning to squeeze the category.
Inside is a 16.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a 5x optical zoom covering 24-120mm equivalent, opening to f/2.8 at the wide end and backed by Mega OIS stabilisation; Intelligent Zoom extends reach to 8x with interpolation. The 2.7-inch LCD handles framing, video records at 1280x720 30fps, sensitivity spans ISO 100-6400, and around 90MB of internal memory supplements microSD/microSDHC cards. Power is a small proprietary lithium-ion battery.
The XS1 suits anyone wanting a truly pocketable camera for casual daylight shooting — its 24mm wide end is handy for street scenes and interiors. The trade-offs of the slim body are a small battery, no viewfinder, limited controls and a CCD that struggles as light falls, so it is a fair-weather companion rather than a main camera.
Note the storage format: the XS1 takes microSD/microSDHC rather than full-size SD, so check a card is included or have one ready. The compact battery has modest capacity, making a spare worthwhile, and chargers are often missing from used kits. Inspect the slim lens barrel for dents that could jam extension, and test the flash and screen — the internal 90MB memory at least allows basic function checks without a card.