Panasonic DC-TZ200DEGK Panasonic - Review 🏆

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is a versatile and feature-packed compact camera designed for travel and everyday use. This 20.1MP 1-inch sensor camera packs a powerful 15x optical zoom Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens into a pocketable body. With a 24-360mm equivalent zoom range, 4K video recording, an electronic viewfinder, and an array of features tailored for travel photography, the TZ200 delivers excellent image quality and versatility that exceeds expectations for a compact camera.

Key features of the TZ200 include:

• 20.1MP 1-inch MOS sensor
• Leica 15x optical zoom lens, 24-360mm equivalent
• 5-axis hybrid O.I.S stabilization
• 4K video and 4K photo modes
• 0.21-inch 2.33 million dot EVF
• 3-inch touchscreen LCD
• ISO 25600 maximum sensitivity
• 10 fps continuous shooting
• Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi
• Travel-friendly body with control rings, mode dial, and function buttons

This combination of portability, long zoom range, high-resolution sensor, and advanced features make the TZ200 a versatile option for travel, everyday, and creative photography needs.

Design

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is a high-end compact camera with a sleek and stylish design. It has dimensions of 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8 inches and weighs just 340 grams, making it very portable and easy to carry around. The body is made of metal and has a premium brushed metal finish that looks great and also provides durability.

Despite its compact size, the camera feels very solid and substantial in hand. The controls are thoughtfully laid out, with dedicated dials for exposure compensation and zooming, as well as a control ring around the lens. This allows for quick access and adjustments to settings. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback when pressed. Overall, the build quality is excellent with tight seams and no creaking.

The lens retracts into the body when powered off, maintaining the slim form factor. A rubber gasket around the lens also prevents dust from getting inside. On the whole, the TZ200 has an outstanding design and construction that makes it a joy to use.

For those seeking more advanced features, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G80EB-K is an excellent option. This mirrorless camera boasts a versatile design with a weather-sealed body, ideal for various shooting conditions. It includes an electronic viewfinder and a fully articulating touchscreen, providing flexibility in composition and ease of use. The G80EB-K is equipped with 4K video recording capability and in-body stabilization, making it a superb choice for both photographers and videographers looking for high performance in a compact package.

Image Quality

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has excellent image quality thanks to its large 1-inch 20.1MP MOS sensor and Venus Engine image processor. This sensor size is substantially larger than typical compact cameras, allowing it to capture more light and produce less image noise.

The 20.1MP resolution provides plenty of detail for large prints while keeping file sizes manageable. Images have vivid, accurate colors straight from the camera. The ISO range is 125-12800, expandable to 80-25600. Performance at high ISOs is very good with manageable noise through ISO 3200. At the highest ISOs, noise increases but images remain usable.

Overall, the image quality from the TZ200's 1-inch sensor and Venus processing engine delivers excellent results for a compact camera. The larger sensor size gives it a noticeable advantage over typical small-sensor point-and-shoot models, especially in low light.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II offers outstanding performance with its 1-inch 20.1MP sensor and advanced processor. This model emphasizes a versatile zoom range and superior video capabilities, making it a great choice for both photographers and videographers. It features a Leica 16x zoom lens, 4K video recording, and comprehensive control options. Learn more about the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II.

Video Quality

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 offers excellent video capabilities for a compact camera. It can shoot video at up to 4K resolution at 24 or 30 frames per second. 4K video provides extremely crisp and detailed footage.

The TZ200 also provides 1080p Full HD recording at up to 60fps for smooth, high quality video. Slow motion video can be captured at 120fps in 1080p resolution.

For maximum flexibility, the TZ200 offers both MP4 and AVCHD codec options. The highly efficient MP4 H.264 codec is great for sharing online or on mobile devices. AVCHD provides larger filesizes but maximum quality.

The camera utilizes 5-axis hybrid optical image stabilization to help smooth out shakes and jitters when shooting handheld. This combines optical and electronic stabilization for smoother videos when walking or moving.

Overall, the TZ200 provides an excellent range of video modes and resolutions to handle both casual and more professional video needs. The 4K recording and hybrid stabilization give it capabilities above typical compact cameras.

Autofocus and Performance

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has a very fast and accurate autofocus system thanks to its depth from defocus technology. It uses contrast detection autofocus with 49 areas and can also leverage depth information to quickly lock focus on subjects.

In terms of burst shooting, the TZ200 can shoot up to 10 frames per second in single autofocus mode, or up to 5 fps with continuous autofocus enabled. This allows you to capture fast action sequences with minimal lag between shots. Shutter lag is also impressively fast at just 0.1 seconds.

The autofocus system excels at tracking moving subjects and keeping them in sharp focus. It's able to quickly adjust when shooting video as well. Overall, the autofocus capabilities and burst shooting performance make the TZ200 well-suited to action photography and videography.

Display

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has a 3.0-inch touchscreen LCD with 1,240k dots of resolution. The screen is sharp and bright, making it easy to compose shots and review images and videos.

The camera lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder. For those who prefer composing shots through a viewfinder, you'll need to purchase an optional external viewfinder. The lack of a built-in viewfinder helps keep the camera body slim.

Overall, the rear LCD is high quality and versatile. The touch capabilities allow you to easily navigate menus and settings. The screen can tilt up 180 degrees for selfies and vlogging. While a viewfinder would be nice, the excellent LCD makes up for it.

Connectivity

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has robust connectivity options, making it easy to share photos and videos on the go. It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth for wireless image transfer and remote control.

The WiFi allows you to connect the camera to a smartphone or tablet via the Panasonic Image App. This lets you remotely control the camera, transfer images, and embed location data. Setup is straightforward with a QR code or manual password entry.

Bluetooth LE enables an always-on low-power connection to your mobile device. This allows quick image transfer and remote wake-up when the camera is off. It's very handy for minimizing power consumption.

In terms of wired connections, the TZ200 has both micro HDMI and USB ports. The micro HDMI allows you to playback images and videos on an HDTV. And the USB 2.0 port enables charging, data transfer and tethered shooting capabilities.

Overall, the connectivity options on the Lumix TZ200 are versatile for both wireless and wired needs. The implementation of Bluetooth is a nice addition over previous models.

Battery Life

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 has a decent battery life for a compact camera of its size. It is powered by a DMW-BLG10 lithium-ion battery that provides enough juice for up to 370 shots per charge based on the CIPA standard.

The battery capacity is 1025mAh which is fairly typical for this camera class. Real world battery performance can vary depending on usage. Using the electronic viewfinder or shooting a lot of 4K video will drain the battery faster. But for still photos only, 370 shots per charge is very reasonable.

Enabling the camera's power saving modes can help extend battery life further if you need it to last all day. There is also an optional battery grip (DMW-BGG1) available for the TZ200 that holds an additional battery to double the shots per charge. But the included single battery should be sufficient for most users' needs.

Overall the Lumix DC-TZ200 offers a solid battery performance that is suitable for travel and all-day use. Just be sure to pack the bundled external charger to recharge the battery overnight or between shoots.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent image quality with 20.1MP 1-inch sensor
• Versatile 15x optical zoom Leica lens with wide aperture
• Compact, portable size with good handling
• 4K video recording up to 30fps
• Fast autofocus and good overall performance
• Good touchscreen display and EVF
• Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi
• Useful post focus and 4K photo modes

Cons

• Battery life could be better
• No weather sealing
• No headphone jack
• No external charger included
• High price point

Overall, the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is an excellent travel zoom camera that delivers great image quality, versatile zoom range, compact size and very good video capabilities. The 1-inch sensor, Leica lens and useful 4K photo modes make it stand out compared to smartphones and cheaper compact cameras. Downsides are relatively short battery life, lack of weatherproofing, and high price. But for those seeking top-notch image quality from a take-anywhere camera, the TZ200 delivers impressive performance and features in a pocketable package.

Conclusion

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ200 is an excellent travel zoom camera that packs a wealth of features into a compact body. It builds upon the already impressive TZ100 model by adding a longer 15x zoom lens while retaining a large 1-inch sensor.

Image quality is outstanding, delivering superb detail and natural color rendition. The larger sensor allows for shallower depth of field than typical compact cameras. Low light performance is also excellent.

4K video recording provides exceptional quality and flexibility. Advanced features like 4K Photo Mode and Post Focus let you extract high-res stills from video footage. The camera also shoots great Full HD video at up to 120fps for slow motion.

Autofocus is lightning fast and accurate thanks to the Depth from Defocus technology. The electronic viewfinder is sharp and lag-free. The touchscreen display tilts for flexible shooting angles. Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth allow wireless image transfer and remote control.

Battery life is rated at around 250-340 shots per charge depending on use of EVF/LCD. This is decent but you may want to pack a spare battery for all-day shooting.

Overall, the Lumix DC-TZ200 delivers outstanding image quality and video in a highly portable body. It's a superb travel companion that's well deserving of its reputation as one of the best compact cameras around. For those seeking top-tier performance and versatility in a pocket-friendly package, the TZ200 comes highly recommended.