Design

A close eye on style

Kudos must go to the Panasonic HX-A500E for its unique snake cam (the camera is attached to the recording unit by a flexible cable) allowing interesting set-ups – and, of course, it is wearable, unlike the DSLRshaped cameras.

The HERO3+ has gone for the standard and recognisable GoPro little box design: classic and stylish though a little dull. The Lumix FZ1000 has a rather disappointing cheap, plasticky feel when compared to its big brother, the Lumix GH4, which has a well-placed grip and buttons. Both have nice flip-out screens, but the FZ1000’s poorly placed battery and memory card compartment was infuriating. The Sony FDR-AX100E’s classic matte black finish, well-placed buttons and ‘proper video camera’ shape is lovely to behold, but the winner with sheer wow factor is the Canon EOS-1D C. It is a massive, solid magnesium alloy variation of the classic pro DSLR look and cries out ‘I am expensive’ – which, in comparison to the other models tested, it really is.