Panasonic FX580 vs Panasonic ZS60: A Hands-On Comparative Review of Two Compact Travel Companions

In the broad landscape of compact cameras, Panasonic’s Lumix lineup has long stood out for marrying portability with imaging capabilities. Today, after extensive testing and side-by-side comparisons, we’re placing two specific models under the microscope: the older Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 (hereafter FX580) and the newer Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 (aka TZ80), a notable evolution in Panasonic’s small-sensor compact category.

These two cameras share the brand’s DNA - both hail from the compact class aimed at casual or travel photography enthusiasts - but diverge significantly in designs, specifications, and real-world usability. Having spent hours testing, critiquing, and evaluating them across a swath of photographic genres, I’ll guide you through how they stack up technically and practically.

Whether you’re a casual shutterbug, a seasoned enthusiast, or a professional seeking a lightweight backup or travel camera, this comparison aims to pinpoint which Panasonic compact deserves serious consideration for your needs.

First Impressions: Design and Ergonomics Up Close

Before we even look through the lens, the tactile experience - the feel and handling - sets the stage for user satisfaction.

The FX580 is a classic early compact: pocket-friendly, sleek, and minimal. Weighing in at just 167 grams and measuring 95x57x22 mm, it slips easily into a jacket pocket or small purse. The diminutive size is great for portability but also means limited grip and control real estate.

Meanwhile, the ZS60 is notably larger and heavier at 282 grams and 112x64x38 mm, reflecting its superzoom ambitions and feature-rich design. While it lacks the svelte minimalism of the FX580, it compensates with a more robust grip, better control layout, and a sturdier feel.

The top-plate views illustrate this difference clearly. The FX580’s top hosts the essentials only: a basic hardware shutter button and a power toggle. The ZS60, however, sports a more thoughtful control cluster with dedicated exposure compensation dial, zoom rocker, and mode dial - an advantage for those who want creative control without diving into menus.

In my hands, the FX580 felt a bit cramped after prolonged shoots, especially for users with larger hands. The ZS60’s added heft and button placement lend it a more confident hold, reducing fatigue and ensuring quicker access to essential functions.

Ergonomics takeaway: If pocketability and lightness are paramount, FX580 wins. But for comfortable one-handed operation and better tactile controls - critical for street or wildlife shooting - the ZS60 is clearly superior.

Sensor and Image Quality: Old CCD vs Modern CMOS in the Trenches

The FX580 is built around an older 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring roughly 6.08x4.56mm with 12MP resolution, while the ZS60 sports a newer 1/2.3” CMOS sensor (6.17x4.55 mm) with a leap to 18MP.

At face value, both use the same nominal sensor size - a compact “small sensor” class common in travel optics - but the CMOS tech in the ZS60 offers superior noise control, dynamic range, and speed advantages.

Testing both under standardized conditions revealed the ZS60’s 18MP CMOS sensor delivers cleaner images through wider ISO ranges. While the FX580 tops out at ISO 1600 (boosted to 6400), noise appears early and can be quite aggressive beyond ISO 400, limiting its usefulness in low light.

The ZS60 natively maxes at ISO 3200 and manages noise noticeably better; its DxOMark score of 37 overall (color depth 19.3 bits, dynamic range 10.6 EV, low-light ISO 109) reflects significantly improved image quality for handheld and challenging light scenarios.

Shooting landscapes at base ISO, the ZS60 yields more detailed, textured capture with better preserved highlights and shadows. The FX580 is serviceable but can render flatter colors and more compression artifacts - unsurprising given its 2009-era CCD sensor.

Portrait skin tones from the ZS60 appear more natural and refined, likely aided by the higher resolution and better color processing. The FX580 is softer and sometimes prone to slight overexposure in bright sunlight.

The marginally larger sensor area of the ZS60 (28.07 mm² vs 27.72 mm²) doesn’t tell the full story - the newer processing engine (“Venus Engine”) in the ZS60 works wonders enhancing perceived detail and dynamic range.

For bokeh and shallow depth of field, both cameras struggle due to small sensors and limited apertures (F2.8-5.9 FX580, F3.3-6.4 ZS60). However, the ZS60, with its longer zoom (24-720 mm 30x vs 25-125 mm 5x), enables more compressed background rendering at telephoto ends, helping isolate subjects better.

These subtle but practical enhancements underscore why sensor tech progression seriously impacts day-to-day photography quality - even in compact form factors.

LCD and User Interface: The Window to Your World

Viewing and composing your shot is a direct experience influenced heavily by screen quality and touchscreen capability.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch fixed LCD, but here the ZS60 shows a stark advantage. While the FX580’s screen resolution is a mere 230k dots, sufficient for basic framing, it feels grainy and makes critical focusing difficult in bright light.

The ZS60 counters this with a much sharper 1040k-dot display, notable for vivid color and clean detail. Moreover, its touchscreen capability enables tap-to-focus and more intuitive menu navigation, elevating usability.

Neither camera offers a swivel or articulating screen, which slightly restricts shooting versatility, but the ZS60 adds a 0.46x magnification electronic viewfinder (1166k-dot OLED), a feature the FX580 lacks entirely - hugely beneficial when composing in bright sunlight or when precise framing is essential.

In my tests, the LCD experience on the ZS60 was night and day compared to the FX580, enabling faster focusing confirmations and more confident shot composition.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy and Versatility

AF technology is critical across nearly all genres, from quick street snaps to fast-moving wildlife or sports.

The FX580 utilizes a rudimentary contrast-detection autofocus system with only 11 focus points and no continuous AF or eye detection. Face detection is present but fairly basic.

The ZS60 steps up with 49 focus points, face detection, touch-focus, continuous AF, and even object tracking - features rare for compacts of this size.

Testing under daylight and dim conditions confirmed the ZS60’s autofocus is markedly faster and more reliable. For instance, tracking a walking subject or wildlife was smoother and less prone to hunting.

The FX580’s AF often lagged, especially in lower light or against complex backgrounds, leading to missed moments.

When shooting portraits, the ZS60’s improved face detection enabled quick lock-on and accurate exposure adjustment, something the FX580 struggled with consistently.

For macro photography, the ZS60’s minimum focus distance of 3 cm vs 5 cm on the FX580, combined with touchscreen focus selection, allowed me to nail detailed close-ups with ease.

Zoom Range and Lens Versatility: How Far Can You Go?

Here is perhaps the most dramatic contrast between these two Panasonic compacts.

The FX580 is equipped with a 25-125mm equivalent 5x zoom lens with apertures ranging from F2.8-f5.9. This short zoom range suits casual shooting, portraits, and basic landscapes but limits reach for distant wildlife or sports.

Conversely, the ZS60 boasts a massively versatile 24-720mm equivalent 30x zoom, though its apertures are slightly smaller at F3.3-6.4. This superzoom approach provides extraordinary flexibility for landscapes, wildlife, and travel, all without carrying extra lenses.

Image stabilization is optical on both, essential for handheld telephoto shots, but the ZS60 benefits from updated vibration reduction technology, improving sharpness at full zoom.

Practically, the ZS60’s extensive reach unlocks photographic opportunities impossible on the FX580, from distant bird shots to detailed architectural capture without cropping.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds

When capturing quick action, burst rate and shutter options matter.

The FX580 has a slow 2.0 fps continuous shooting rate and a max shutter speed of 1/2000s, limiting sports or fast-paced street shooting potential.

The ZS60 offers a much snappier 10 fps burst, alongside an impressive electronic shutter up to 1/16000s, enabling freeze-frame capture in bright light and silent shooting modes - useful in performance or wildlife photography.

This capability could be a dealbreaker for shooters wanting to capture decisive moments with confidence.

Video Capabilities: Who Comes Out on Top?

Video is no longer a side feature but often a core consideration.

The FX580 tops out at 720p HD (1280x720) at 30fps, recording in Motion JPEG format. While serviceable for casual clips, its file sizes are large and limited to low resolution - far behind modern expectations.

The ZS60 boasts full 4K UHD video (3840x2160) at 30fps, plus 1080p at 60fps, encoded in efficient MPEG-4 or AVCHD formats. It supports Panasonic’s signature 4K Photo mode, allowing extraction of 8MP stills from 4K video - a gem for fast shutter action and maximizing capture chances.

Though neither camera offers external mic inputs or advanced audio controls, the ZS60’s video versatility and quality put it leagues ahead.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Powering your shooting day is fundamental.

The FX580’s battery life is unspecified in official specs but generally, early compacts of this class provide moderate shooting endurance (~200 shots). Its internal power pack limits quick recharging.

The ZS60’s 320-shot CIPA rating is respectable for compacts, aided by energy-efficient CMOS sensor tech and Venus Engine processor. It uses standard Panasonic battery packs allowing for easy spares during travel.

Both use SD cards; the ZS60 supports SDXC, allowing considerably larger storage cards - important for 4K video recording.

Connectivity: Going Wireless or Staying Wired

A notable lag for the FX580 is the absence of any wireless connectivity - no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth.

The ZS60, introduced seven years later, integrates built-in Wi-Fi for smooth image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps - hugely convenient for sharing or tethered shooting.

Both include HDMI and USB 2.0 ports for wired connections.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, or shockproof features. Both are pocket-level compacts designed for casual everyday use rather than rugged conditions.

The ZS60’s slightly sturdier build and heft inspire more confidence than the FX580’s lightweight shell.

Putting It All Together: Performance Overview and Scores

After thorough hands-on testing across many shooting types, we compiled comprehensive performance metrics.

Not surprisingly, the ZS60 dominates in overall imaging performance, autofocus, burst speed, video, and versatility metrics. FX580, while respectable for its class and era, falls short in modern standards.

Genre-Specific Insights: Which Camera Excels Where?

Looking deeper into photographic disciplines helps clarify real-world choices.

• Portraits: The ZS60’s higher resolution, better AF face detection, and more accurate skin tone rendition give it a clear edge.
• Landscape: The ZS60’s superior dynamic range coupled with 30x zoom flexibility offers better framing and detail capture.
• Wildlife: The FX580’s 5x zoom is insufficient; ZS60’s long reach and faster continuous AF are far better suited.
• Sports: FX580’s slow 2 fps burst is clunky; ZS60’s 10 fps and electronic shutter provide real utility.
• Street Photography: FX580 is smaller and less obtrusive, but ZS60’s EVF and faster AF could give an advantage in quick candid shots.
• Macro: ZS60’s 3 cm focus and touch AF trump FX580’s 5 cm minimum.
• Night/Astro: ZS60’s higher ISO capability and low-light performance help capture cleaner images.
• Video: ZS60 offers professional-grade 4K recording; FX580’s 720p is outdated.
• Travel: ZS60’s versatile zoom and Wi-Fi make it a better travel companion despite size tradeoffs.
• Professional Use: Neither replace a pro camera, but ZS60’s RAW support and file quality make it a more competent backup.

Sample Images: Visual Evidence from Real Shooting

Examining sample photos side by side from both cameras showcases the tangible differences we’ve discussed.

Panasonic FX580 front Panasonic FX580 screen back Panasonic ZS60 front Panasonic ZS60 screen back

Notably, the ZS60’s images are richer in detail, better exposed, and display less noise at high ISOs.

Who Should Choose Which?

Choose the Panasonic FX580 if you:

• Prioritize ultra-compact size and lightweight design
• Mainly shoot casual daylight scenes or snapshots
• Prefer a simple, no-frills camera for quick grab-and-go use
• Have a limited budget (though current pricing still high relative to used market)
• Don’t need 4K video or fast action capture

Opt for the Panasonic ZS60 if you:

• Want a feature-rich compact with extensive zoom reach
• Need reliable and fast autofocus with continuous tracking
• Shoot in varied lighting conditions including low light or night scenes
• Desire 4K video and advanced photographic flexibility
• Value connectivity and modern interface with touchscreen and EVF
• Seek a versatile all-around travel companion with good battery life

Final Thoughts: Technology Evolution Reflects in Practical Gains

Comparing these two Panasonic compacts side-by-side charts nearly a decade of progress in sensor, processor, and system design packed into similarly sized bodies.

While the FX580 remains a capable compact for basic photography, the ZS60 truly shines as a technologically packed compact superzoom, better suited to enthusiasts wanting more control, speed, and image quality without bulk.

Personally, I find the ZS60’s blend of advanced features, improved ergonomics, and image performance justifies its size and weight increase. For photographers hunting a nimble travel or everyday camera with room to grow, the ZS60 is my clear recommendation.

In the end, your ideal choice depends on your shooting style, priorities, and budget - but with the evidence laid out here, your decision can be both confident and informed.

Happy shooting!