Preview posted 01/05/2016 by William Chambers
Full review posted 04/22/2016 by Josh Fate

Quick Take

Pros

iAuto and Program shooting modes are accurate and easy in all situations Dedicated Video Capture Button is always ready to record 4K or Full 1080p HD Lightning AF in still image shooting modes 30x optical zoom lens is useful in all shooting situations 5-Axis image stabilization allows for sharper images and smooth video when shooting handheld and on the move LCD and EVF offer a great way to compose your images no matter what situation or shooting style you prefer 4K Burst means you will never miss an action shot Nice, Bright 2.7-inch LCD Excellent overall shooting performance HDMI Output Decent Battery Life

Cons

Noise present in all images at all ISO settings / More than we would like to see at the lower ISO settings Very weak built-in flash unit Bad placement of flash allows it to be easily blocked AF system does not keep up while recording video No input for external audio

Bottom Line

The Panasonic Lumix ZS60 is a compact and extremely versatile digicam with full manual controls. Loaded with great features, the camera is ready for any situation and portable enough to go anywhere. Its only major drawback is the image noise we saw in all of our sample images. Read more in our Full Conclusion.

Panasonic continues to update their compact ZS line of Lumix cameras, with the ZS60 being one of two new models for 2016. Building upon the ZS50 from last year, the ZS60 offers various upgrades to appeal to consumers in 2016. While it still sports a versatile 30x optical zoom lens, like its predecessor, the ZS60 offers increased resolution with an all new 18-megapixel MOS image sensor.

Its massive lens, for such a compact camera, covers an equivalent zoom range of 24-720mm! This is coupled with Panasonic's new 5-axis HYBRID Optical Image Stabilization system, giving users even more confidence when shooting handheld photos using the long telephoto reach of the lens, or when shooting in lower lighting conditions.

Video buffs will appreciate the ability to record UHD 4K video at 30fps in .MP4 format, and you social types will appreciate the ZS60's built-in Wi-Fi for quickly and easily sharing your moments on Facebook and other social media sites. The ZS60's Wi-Fi function also allows you to control the camera from your smart device, giving you a remote viewfinder and shutter release (at no additional charge). Lastly, the ZS60 boasts impressive displays with both an EVF and touchscreen LCD that feature over 1 million dots of resolution.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 Features:

• 18-megapixel, 1/2.3" High Sensitivity MOS image sensor
• 30x LEICA optical zoom lens that covers 24-720mm (equivalent)
• 5-axis HYBRID OIS system
• 4K video (30p/.mp4) and 4K still image capture options
• 0.2" 1,116K dot EVF
• 3.0" 1,040K dot touchscreen LCD
• Burst shooting at 10fps at full resolution (5fps with continuous AF)
• Built-in Wi-Fi
  

The ZS60 is available in black or silver, with a suggested retail price of $449.99. See our best price box at the top right of this page to see current online pricing.

What's in the box?:

• ZS60 camera body
  
• Li-Ion Battery
• Portable Charger
• USB cable
• Hand Strap
• Owner's Manual