Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Digital Camera Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification


The FZ200 is Panasonic's return to a fixed aperture, ultra zoom camera, something they were previously known for with their first FZ1/2/3 models. It is available now, priced at £469.95.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Features

The FZ200 has a 12.1 megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor which is designed to take pictures with low noise even at higher ISO settings and in low light. It also allows you to shoot full resolution pictures at 12 fps. The lens is 24x optical zoom, a 35mm equivalent of 25-600mm, with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, allowing faster shutter speeds. The lens has a Nano Surface Coating to minimise ghosting and flare. To aid the shooting of the sharpest pictures, the FZ200 is also armed with Power Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS).

To make shooting as easy as possible there is iA (Intelligent Auto) mode which changes the appropriate camera settings automatically for the scene. There is also full manual controls as well as a range of scene modes. Creative Control allows you to choose from 14 artistic effects when shooting, as well as HDR and panoramas. The FZ200 also as an approximate 0.95 sec quick start-up and Light Speed AF. As well as using the screen to frame your shots, there is a 0.2 inch Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) with a 1,312,000 dot equivalent resolution and 100% field of view.

Videos are recorded at full 1080p HD in AVCHD and MP4 format with stereo sound. The 24x optical zoom, Power OIS, iA (Intelligent Auto) mode and creative control are also available in video recording. There is also a zoom noise reduction system and auto wind cut function. High-speed videos can be recorded at 120 fps in 720p HD or 240 fps in VGA (640 x 480) format.

Key Features

• 12.1 megapixel MOS sensor
• 24x optical zoom, f/2.8 lens (35mm equiv: 25-600mm)
• Power Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS)
• 3 inch 460k dot tilting screen
• 1.31million dot EVF, 60fps
• Full 1080p HD video with stereo sound
• ISO 100-6400
• 1cm minimum focusing distance
• HDR / Sweep Panorama
• 12fps full resolution continuous shooting
• 540 shot battery rating

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Handling

The FZ200 is a large bridge style ultra zoom camera with a large rubber hand grip and a textured thumb grip on the rear. On the left side of the zoom barrel is a zoom control as well as a manual focus mode switch, letting you choose between AF / AF-Macro / Manual. A focus button lets you set the focus point. The build quality feels very good with a rigid body and the inclusion of a lens hood, and neck strap add to the quality feel of the camera. The camera features a number of customisable function buttons dotted around the camera, as well as dedicated buttons for continuous shooting.

The Panasonic menus are well laid out with Q. Menu (Quick) giving quick access to the most common settings at the top of the screen. Within the photo menus there are new options including an auto-HDR mode that combines three photos into one. The iA button and mode dial makes it easy to get good results even if you're a beginner, making it easy to use.

The LCD screen is adjustable into many angles, making it easy to shoot with the camera low down or high up. If you prefer to use the EVF you won't be disappointed, it's extremely bright - ideal for use in low light or in bright sunlight where the screen is difficult to see clearly.

The battery has an impressive CIPA rating of 540 shots, we managed well over this number and the battery was still going strong. We tested the camera's performance at focusing, shutter response, shot-to-shot time, continuous shooting etc. and have posted the results below. To test this we took 6 or more shots and calculated the average.

Shutter Response		0.05 seconds
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response		0.2 seconds
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response		0.3 seconds
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo		1.5 seconds
Shot to Shot (without flash)		0.98 seconds
Shot to Shot with Flash		1.28 seconds
Burst Shooting 2		2.1 fps
Burst Shooting 5.5		5 fps
Burst Shooting 12		12 fps
Burst Shooting 40		39 fps
Burst Shooting 60		59 fps
Flash burst		1.2 fps

The burst modes recorded at full 12 megapixel resolution at the stated fps, we couldn't achieve 12 fps when shooting RAW, just when switched to JPEG only. Burst Shooting 40 and 60 recorded at a reduced number of megapixels (5 and 2.5 respectively).

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Performance

Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Sample Photos

Sample Photos - The FZ200 does an excellent job at portraits, with pleasant skin tones and no red-eye. Colour reproduction is good and images are well exposed.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Lens test images

Lens Performance - Detail is good when shooting at both ends of the lens, with a good control over purple fringing, although there is some in contrasting areas. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of just 1cm which allows you to get really close for an impressive macro shot.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 ISO test images

ISO Noise Performance - With no noise at ISO 100, there is only a small increase when you start to go through the ISO range, including ISO 200, 400 and 800. Images at ISO 1600 are a little soft in places, with the first signs that image quality has decreased with any significance. ISO 3200 takes an even softer picture, with quite a lot of detail lost. Yes, probably best avoided, but image quality is decent enough if you do need to go to this setting.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 White-balance test images

White Balance Performance - Under both our incandescent and fluorescent lights, the AWB preset copes really well. The incandescent preset has a slight orange cast in the image, there is no fluorescent preset available, this isn't a problem given the impressive AWB performance.


Panorama | 1/100 sec | f/8.0 | 4.5 mm | ISO 100

Panorama mode - Panorama images are taken using a sweeping method while holding the shutter release. They have a decent amount of detail and are stitched together really well.

Zoom Example 1 | 1/500 sec | f/4.0 | 108.0 mm | ISO 100		Action Shot | 1/800 sec | f/5.0 | 41.1 mm | ISO 100
Low Light | 0.3 sec | f/2.8 | 17.8 mm | ISO 100		Fast Shutter Speed | 1/2000 sec | f/2.8 | 70.5 mm | ISO 100

The first image above shots the camera using the lens at its longest length. The second shot has utilised the FZ200's fast continuous shooting modes to capture the running dog. The third image has been taken using our studio lights turned down as low as possible.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Digital filters

Digital Filters - There are a number of picture styles which can be used when shooting in modes such as manual, aperture and shutter priority. The creative control modes can only be used as their own independent modes, but you can increase or decrease the level of their affect.

Video - Below is a video recorded at full 1080p HD. Quality is good, with excellent stabilisation even in windy conditions. Optical zoom is available during recording, an example of which can be seen on the ePHOTOzine Youtube Page. where you'll also be able to watch a video using the high-speed mode.

Value For Money

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 (24x zoom) at £469.95, it's one of the higher priced super-zoom cameras around, but there are options for all budgets.

Pentax X-5	Canon PowerShot SX260 HS	Olympus SZ-31MR	Sony Cybershot DSC-HX20V	Fujifilm X-S1
Not yet scored
£229.00	£229.00	£247.00	£289.00	£479.95

You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Verdict

We recently highly recommended the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ62. The FZ200 is very similar with a few extras for the extra money. On the FZ200 you'll find that the screen rotates, has 12 fps continuous shooting (10 fps on the FZ62), a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 through the lens range and better, if only slightly, image quality. If none of these extra features are appealing to you, the FZ62 won't disappoint, but this higher spec version is great if you want to try your hand at shooting sports or other fast moving objects, whether they are close-up or in the distance.

As per the FZ62, the FZ200 looks and feels very much like a DSLR - it has a mode dial with full manual controls, plenty of buttons for easy access to many settings and an electronic viewfinder and the battery life is excellent. Overall we are happy to highly recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200.

	The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 offers fantastic image quality and has a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout its lens range.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Pros

Feature packed
Good image quality
Plenty of rubber grip
Full manual controls
Excellent battery life
Decent value for money
12 fps full resolution recording
Electronic viewfinder

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Cons

There are smaller cameras with 24x optical zoom
Plastic body
No GPS

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Specifications

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