That reminds me at my old IXUS with your 10x zoom upwards still something missing focal length (eg for taking pictures of animals in the wild, or if I was at concerts), I looked for alternatives. I quickly got stuck in my search again on the Panasonic, which I then also allowed to call a short time later my own. At the beginning I was a little overwhelmed with all the extensive menu (my first Panasonic), which were very manageable and easily maintained at the old IXUS. After several days of intensive use you but but soon used to it and the settings go afloat by hand. Regarding the size, the camera is a small chunk (of course, based on compact cameras), as opposed to smart IXUS-series of Canon. This is of course the huge 30x zoom owed, among others, but you will find just enough space in the narrow pocket. Encouraging the Panasonic has managed so much technology in a housing of just 3,3cm depth to place (by means of a swing-lens element from the beam path during retraction of the lens). The competition in this class of camera falls because marginal from massive. Visually, the camera is very chic and precipitated with its retro touch. Too bad that only a small ridge serves as a handle support here on the front, which is not quite as optimal fails for larger hands. Nevertheless, it is very comfortable to hold, even if the larger rubberized surface of the TZ41 was slightly better. On the back we have the display with 920,000 pixels that dissolves and the obligatory buttons as FN, DISP, WI-FI, etc. Of course, the 4-way switch by which a collar is that can be proven with useful features. Also located in the upper left corner, an electronic viewfinder, which so far is a novelty in the travel zoom range. Although the triggers on not particularly high, but in strong sunlight it is a great help. Between the display and the viewfinder can be easily via switch button. On the top there are triggers including zoom button, the Modusdrehrad, the on / off button and the same about the record button for video. Many people become annoyed, because you probably often accidentally press the record button when you want to turn off the camera. That's me not happened yet, also both buttons are built into it a little deeper in order to prevent exactly such a thing. So I find this arrangement perfectly okay. Flash is installed in the housing front. I think that's better than a folding flash. This is namely often as attached where you hang up his finger and I always worry because that can be done in hectic actions inadvertently damage to the said party times. Of course, one permanently installed flash has one drawback: it snaps close objects (eg a document from the desk abfotografieren) ensteht left down through the lens a clearly visible shadow. Striking is also the slightly larger lens ring and this time is even not only ornament. It can be demonstrated with practical features such as manual focusing or with exposure compensation and use. Overall, the housing feels quite wertig, although it is made entirely of plastic. The functional scope is enormous. The mandatory PASM modes for aperture, shutter speed, manual adjustment etc. should also provide more experienced photographers happy. As with all recent compact cameras with this: the Panorama mode. The easy going of the hand and the result is most impressive. Two memory (C1 / C2) are available again and can be assigned individually. To "just start knipsen" extends the "Intelligent Auto" (iA) all. In iA + brightness and color are also corrected automatically. Who likes it like playful, can let off steam "creative mode" in. Here are the also almost obligatory become Filter Toy Camera, Miniature Effect, Monochrome, etc. are available. Quite practical: most filters can even be used in video mode and also lay beyond even retroactively on already shot photos. Last but not least there is still the "Scenes mode." There are several presets for eg portrait or landscape shots. Even a function for recording images through glass. Very useful is also the "starry sky" because only here can be adjusted to a slow shutter speed (optional 15 or 30 seconds). But now to my two FAVORITE MODES: one that would be the inclusion of high-speed videos. Here you can select whether you want to record a video with 100 frames or 200 frames per second. The former is about a 4-fold slow motion and can be taken in eye HD (720p). In the latter, one can truly speak of a "super slow motion" here but quality is only in VGA added and the result like optically only conditionally. Nevertheless could so the next time the zoo and when playing with the dog in the garden, a few spectacular videos arise. Secondly, if it were still the "3D Photo Mode." Here's a 3D photo is created by swings after triggering 10cm slowly from left to right over the subject. Here it is important to have a steady hand and also you should be in a bright environment. So best outside in the sunshine. Just looking in the garden a photo over the flower bed making (the numerous levels look fantastic). It captures the image in MPO format, which can be identified and considered on all popular 3D televisions. For image quality: The is very good up to ISO 800. For best results you get only in wide angle to ISO 200 and under good lighting conditions. Here convince the images with a high edge sharpness and vibrant colors. After that, noise is clearly noticeable. Even ISO 1600 should only be used in emergencies and anything beyond actually provides only muddy results. Since it does not help more if the automatic then in poor lighting conditions from multiple images tries to create a clever. Of course, the picture quality is much weaker in the telephoto range. At full zoom sharpness waste can no longer be overlooked towards the edges (but that is for nearly all superzoom cameras so). Speaking of zoom: which can be expanded with the help of the so-called "i.Zoom" again. Of course, these are only a digital zoom. Although Panasonic promises that the quality here is just a little worse than the normal zoom, but that of course is not true. What I was getting at, but if you "Spot" setting at the Metering Europe and has a steady hand or a tripod, then you can use the i.Zooms some reasonably (and especially near) take pictures of the moon. Finding the right digital zoom (which also is still switched on), but you should leave it off. Here you can really reap only distorted mush. Focusing can be center-weighted (1 box), multi-pattern, auto focus tracking, by facial recognition, automatically and of course manually. When focusing manually, you can set the points "MF" and "Focus Peaking". In the latter case, the edges are color caused when they are placed optimally focused. This can be very helpful in certain situations, for example if you added several small objects in front of the camera, but you want to only show a certain sharp. Video: Since Panasonic times the top dog in the camcorder area was and for some time also with excellent video capabilities equip their cameras (eg in the in-house system or bridge cameras), it is of course not surprising that the TZ61 shines in the video area. Is filmed in Full HD (1080p) with 50 frames and an excellent bit rate of 28Mbps in AVCHD format (which Panasonic has developed years ago together with Sony). Of course, can be filmed with 50 fields, or only in normal HD at 720p. Who does something like less space on the memory card, you can switch to MP4. Here is but filmed with a lower bit rate, but are here with 1080p and 720p, 480p and (therefore normal SD quality) available. Laudable, incidentally, that during filming, also can shoot photos. The offer in the compact camera range not all manufacturers. The audio recording (stereo) is very good. When "Zoom Microphone" the sound of the zoom position is adjusted. This works very well, only in a completely quiet environment the noise when is back just a little to hear. A small drawback which my old IXUS 255 had, was that it has received only hum and pops under extreme conditions in tone. Thus, most shots were no longer usable (particularly in a hall) on a rock festival from sound forth, for me a KO criterion. Curiously compensated quite well my old snapping the years before ever. As the TZ61 under extreme conditions suggests the tone, I could not test. But I will supply later at a later date. Useful is in video mode and the "continuous autofocus," especially with moving subjects. If you shoot, but you should let him off because he eats only the battery unnecessarily and focus to do anyway with half-pressed shutter button. That the relatively faint lens in darker environments also provides only noisy results in video mode, the way should be clear. Otherwise, the video quality for such a small notches is impressive and makes itself on a large HD TV still an excellent impression. No modern travel zoom camera without GPS. The TZ61 offers the possibility of photo and video to be provided with the geotagging data to track after the holiday to where selbige incurred. It may have been at times somewhat made take up a connection. Of course you need not like it used mobile as the TZ61 connects selbt with the satellite. Of course, the Wi-Fi function on board to deal with PC, mobile, tablet and co. connect to. On the phone you can download the free app Image of Panasonic. Can connect to your smartphone and TZ61 via Near Field Communication, or if one scans the QR code. The is displayed when pressing and holding on the TZ61 longer the WiFi button. The app is very useful, especially if you even want a photographer with on image. It is suitable not only for the transmission of photos, but also as a remote control for the camera. So you can eg zoom and access the features of the 4-way switch. Furthermore, there is a Quick menu in which you can adjust other settings such as flash, focus mode, image size etc. Very large for one app that has hardly any other manufacturer currently. The Image Stabilizer with its 3-point ball system works well and can therefore compensate for some stops. Even at full telephoto you can do with a quiet little hands still relatively good blur photos. In video mode, it is imperative and remains even in hectic wiggle always master of the situation. Today, the electronic level is one with good form and of course has the TZ61 an on board. As Bildseitenverhältnnis are 4: 3/16: 9/3: 2/1: 1 available. It should be noted that the full 18 megapixel camera only in 4: 3 format are possible. For the other settings, the resolution varies logically a little. Laudable that is you can store photos with the TZ61 not only in the JPEG format but also in RAW format, which experienced photographers beneficial in post and in the compact camera range is no Selbstbverständlichkeit. Burst mode is fast and creates almost 8 images in sequence with continuous AF, but after triggering device also falter quickly into. But honestly, who would then use a camera for example, for sports photography or something similar? The missing touch function is not a nuisance for me, since I have not had so far anyway camera having such a function and operate the buttons loose goes out of hand. The battery life is rather average on the whole. But for a photo trip, ranging from easy. Who is filming a lot, but should definitely flirting with a spare battery. At best with charging cradle, which is unfortunately not included, because the battery from from home in the camera is charged. Finally, one can say that the TZ61 is probably currently the best travel zoom camera. But be fair, it remains to indicate that the Sony HX50v or HX60v delivers a tad better pictures. Both in good and in poor Lichverhältnissen because of the noise filter does something better job here. This contrasts with the TZ61 with its phenomenal amenities. Complainers should remember, moreover, that one can expect from a 1 / 2.3 inch sensor miracles. I am satisfied with the TZ61 as everyday companion, in the conscience a (for this class) carry good camera, first-class mini camcorder and "binoculars replacement" in your pocket.
"Only" 4 stars because of the image quality is a little room for improvement.
