Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 / TZ80

The Lumix DMC-ZS60, known as the TZ80 in some regions, is a compact camera from 2016. At 112 x 64 x 38 mm and 282 g, it fits a jacket pocket rather than a camera bag.

The lens is fixed to the body, so you shoot with the zoom Panasonic built in and never carry extra glass. That simplicity is the appeal for travel and everyday use.

It suits anyone who wants one small camera for stills and 4K video, with an eye-level viewfinder included. Ownership involves planning around a single card slot and a 320-shot battery rating.

Stills come from an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor in the small 1/2.3-inch format, handled by the Venus Engine processor. That resolution covers prints and everyday cropping, and the small sensor format suits the compact body.

For action, the fastest burst setting reaches 40 fps. Treat that as a maximum rather than a sustained speed, but it gives you frames to pick from when a moment is brief. The shutter tops out at 1/2000 s, and the autofocus system offers 49 points.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps when you shoot handheld in dim light. The ISO range runs from 80 to 3200, so bright light is comfortable while very dark scenes push against the ceiling.

Framing works at eye level through a 1,166,000-dot electronic viewfinder, a useful fallback when sunlight washes out the rear screen. Live view is on hand for tripod work or waist-level shooting.

Video is one of this camera's stronger areas, with a section score of 83 out of 100, which rates as very good. Its highest resolution setting is 4K, and its fastest recording setting reaches 60 fps. Sixty frames per second gives editors extra frames for smooth motion.

For context, its video capability sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Video.

A built-in time-lapse mode assembles moving sequences from a series of frames inside the camera, so you can produce clip-style footage without extra gear or desktop assembly.

Footage records as MPEG-4 or AVCHD. Having two formats gives you some flexibility, since playback support varies between devices and software.

Handling centres on a 3-inch LCD touchscreen with 1,040,000 dots and live view. The panel shows enough detail to check focus while shooting, and touch input gives direct control over settings.

The features score of 57 is modest, and the absent weather sealing and Bluetooth cost the camera points here. There is no flip screen, so high and low angles mean bending or estimating your framing. No external flash option is provided, leaving the built-in flash as your only artificial light.

Wi-Fi offers a wireless connection, while GPS is missing, so the camera itself adds no location data to your files.

That absent weather sealing makes this a fair-weather companion that needs shelter from dust and rain.

This is the camera's weakest rated section, with a score of 21 out of 100, rated as limited. None of it makes the camera unusable, but it shapes how you plan a day out.

A single slot takes SD, SDHC or SDXC cards, one at a time. There is no second card, so carry a spare and download your work often rather than relying on overflow.

The lithium-ion battery is rated at 320 shots per charge. That rating is not an all-day promise, and real endurance depends on how much you use the screen and viewfinder.

USB charging is not supported, so you cannot top up from a power bank between stops. Build charging time into your routine before each outing.