Panasonic ToughPad FZ-A1 review

Designed for workers and people who like to drop things

Panasonic ToughPad FZ-A1
Tough enough?

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Neither the front facing 2MP camera on the ToughPad or the rear-facing 5MP camera are anything to get excited about. Given the types of professions that are likely to use this tablet though, it can't be held against it.

Images are noisy, washed out and lack detail. The interface is the standard ICS interface, which makes it relatively easy to snap photos, but the results aren't anything to get excited about.

More disappointing is the poor audio quality of the microphone, which pops and crackles on every video recording. When coupled with the tablet's in-built speaker, the results are hard to listen to.

Also disappointing is Panasonic's decision to record video in the 3gp format instead of mp4. While many devices can play back the mobile video format, it lacks the ubiquity of mp4 and doesn't offer too much more in the way of compression.

Panasonic ToughPad FZ-A1 review

Panasonic ToughPad FZ-A1 review

Panasonic ToughPad FZ-A1 review

Panasonic ToughPad FZ-A1 review

Panasonic ToughPad FZ-A1 review

Having spent the past decade editing some of Australia's leading technology publications, Nick's passion for the latest gadgetry is matched only by his love of watching Australia beat England in the rugby.